Cork Rules

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Rich Table . If you are looking for a restaurant where food is expertly prepared and served in a modern, friendly, casual and comfortable space, this is the place for you. And to take your dining experience to the next level, Grant offers recommendations and wine pairings.  Wines reviewed include: 2020 Lady...

Maria Valetta, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Babbo Ristorante Enoteca, a restaurant aclaimed as an exuberant celebration of the best of italian food, wine, and lifestyle. The menu incorporates the best and freshest seasonal produce, Italian cheeses, meat, game, and seafood. And to pair with the delicious dishes, a wine list that represents one of the most extensive a...

Tina Johansson, a Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Cote Miami a MICHELIN-starred and James Beard Award-nominated KOREAN STEAKHOUSE™where they navigate the wine list that hosts 1200 labels from around the world and places a big focus on wines from California and Burgundy.  Wines reviewed include: 2017 Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine Combier 2000 Viña Tondonia Rosado, López de Heredia....

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at a Long Beach hotspot, Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina. This restaurant offers a welcoming vibe combined with great food and a bohemian design where guests can drop in for a bite, meet for lunch and stay for dinner and wine. The ethos here is  live long, love life, and get together with good friends for good...

Certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan and Robert Tas demystify the wine list at Row 34, a casually elegant restaurant with deep seafood roots. A few of the wines Michaela recommends include bubbles from the Languedoc, bold wines that are must-try for red lovers, and the perfect whites to pair with seafood.  Wines reviewed include: 2020 Soalheiro Primeiras, Vinhas, Alvarinho, Portugal 2019 Tetramyth...

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Bin 26 Enoteca , an Italian restaurant where one can find simple foods to accompany the wines served there. They offer an international wine list with over sixty wines by the glass and over two hundred wines by bottle. With a list this extensive, it's a good thing Sam is here to offer recommendations and pairing suggestions...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the delicious wine list at The Progress , a restaurant defined by the chef proprietors as: A vehicle for a completely local production. Innovative banquet-style meals served with memorable wines. The greatest dinner party ever.  In addition to identifying the best value and must-try bottles on the list, Grant shares a little...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier and Robert Tas visit the award-winning Carbon Beach Club, Malibu, Miami, located on the coast, this is the perfect place to sample some bubbles on the beach, watch the sunset and enjoy fresh seafood. Grace shares her expertise on the list, and points out the best bubbles, French and Italian wines and a few special bottles for cabernet lovers.   Win...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Sportello , a casual, lively Italian spirit energy in a sleek, minimalist space. This restaurant is a modern interpretation of a diner where guests can enjoy a bowl of handmade pasta and a glass of wine from an approachable, artisanal wine list. Wines reviewed include: 2019 Occhipinti il Frappato 2017 Viola Shiva 2019 Giornata Ramato For...

Sam Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head down to Georgia to review the wine list at Miller Union. Miller Union is an authentic, farmstead-inspired restaurant complete with a rustic, yet modern atmosphere and a guiding ethos of respect for the history of the land. Organic, seasonal, and local produce drive the menu, and they offer dynamic wine list that focuses on small...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the Cantonese restaurant, Empress by Boon.   Owner and operator Chef Ho is a Michelin-starred chef with over 36 years of experience at several of the world's most renowned Asian restaurants. In this restaurant, he combines traditional techniques with fresh ingredients from local purveyors to produce dishes that are both contem...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas put their wine minds together to review the wine list at Neranobh , an Italian-American restaurant in Beverly Hills where  they serve delicious, exceptionally well-prepared food to pair with an exceptionally well-curated wine list.  Wines reviewed include: 2014 San Salvatore Gio, Campania 2019 Greco from Cantine Ippolito 2019 Toscan...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas dive into a deliciously Italian-focused menu at The Fox and the Knife , a family-owned and operated restaurant that serves soul-satisfying Italian food in a warm, welcoming, high-energy atmosphere. It's all about good food and good times here, and that includes the wine list. Michaela reviews their exceptional selection of Italian wines.  Wines...

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Materia Ristorante, a beloved location that offers fresh and seasonal Italian cuisine, distinctive wines and European hospitality in a charming dining room. The focus here is "la Materia prima" so you know they use the finest, freshest ingredients.  Wines reviewed include: 2017 Elvio Cogno Montegrilli 2018 Inama Foscarino S...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Baltaire , an elegant steakhouse with a distinctive California vibe. The light and airy dining room, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and outdoor terrace provide an excellent location for sun-soaked lunches and elegant wining and dining. This is definitely a special occasion location. The wine list is 32-pages...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Foreign Cinema, a vibrant location that weaves food, wine, cocktails, film, and art gallery into one harmonious ambiance. It provides evolving menus in a sensual environment where guests can enjoy fabulous selections of wines, including Champagne and oysters on the half-shell. Wines reviewed include: 2016 Dom Albert Boxler "Du...

Michaela Quinlan, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to Dear Annie , a friendly restaurant with an ethical foundation. They offer a selection of fine and rare natural wines and focus on using sustainable foodways to ensure quality without compromising the environment. Sam identifies tasting notes, offers pairing suggestions, and shares a little background information...

Fernando Silva, artist, wine critic, and sommelier, joins Robert Tas to review the wine list at GlenArbor Golf Club . The dining room and grill room open on to traditional covered porches, taking advantage of sweeping views of the first and eighteenth fairways, and the wine list is as spectacular as the view. Fernando explains how he selects wine for the list in addition to offering suggestions on...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Arroyo Chop House in Pasadena. This restaurant offers the finest traditions of the classic American steakhouse and is a popular location for business dinners, special-occasion dining, and after-work handcrafted cocktails. In addition to a few stellar wine suggestions, Grace also explains why the barrel used in aging chardonnay...

Grant Wood, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Gary Danko on San Francisco's iconic Fisherman's Wharf.  This Michelin-rated restaurant has also earned several James Beard Awards, and has earned its twelfth Five Diamond rating from AAA as well as a coveted Relais & Châteaux designation. The wine list is guaranteed to deliver some spectacular wines and Gran...

Maria Valetta, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Osteria Delbianco . Located in midtown, a stone's throw from Manhattan's fashionable shopping and theater districts, this is a charming Italian gem where you can enjoy authentic Italian fare in a comfortable setting. They also offer an extensive list of award-winning wines which Maria helps us navigate. W...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas travel down Highway 1 to West Hollywood, where they visit the legendary steakhouse on Sunset Boulevard, Boa . They have an award-winning wine list and Grace is here to help us find the best bottles on the list, including a sparkling pinot from Oregon, killer chardonnays, and a few delicious value wines that don't compromise on quali...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Kokkari, a restaurant that has all the old-world charm of a rustic Mediterranean country inn, but offers a quality wine list with traditional wines from Europe and California in addition to a few more wines from off the well-beaten track for the more adventurous oenophiles. Wines reviewed include: 2019 Troup...

Maria Valetta, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas hit the popular Italian date-night spot La Lanterna to review the wine list and shine a light on the hidden gems and special bottles. This restaurant offers a thoughtfully curated selection of wines by the glass, half bottles and full-sized bottles, plus some good finds for after-dinner drinks, and Maria is here to help identify...

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Sportello , a casual, lively Italian spirit energy in a sleek, minimalist space. This restaurant is a modern interpretation of a diner where guests can enjoy a bowl of handmade pasta and a glass of wine from an approachable, artisanal wine list. Wines reviewed include: 2019 Occhipinti il Frappato 2017 Viola Shiva 2019 Giorn...