Cork Rules

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Mistral , an elegant French restaurant located in Boston's stylish South end. Their wine list covers all regions in France and includes some classics, a few favorite hidden gems, in addition to value wines that are sure to please your guests. They also provide both half and large-format bottles. Wines reviewed include:...

Whitney Grant, wine educator and certified sommelier, joins Robert Tas at Ray's Boathouse in Seattle where they review the wine menu and identify the best bottles on the list. Ray's Boathouse is a James Beard award-winning restaurant located on Puget Sound, a great place to go for seafood, and, of course, a little wine. Whitney breaks down the blend in a fabulous Rioja, explains why old vines make...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at State Bird Provisions, a restaurant that provides an adventurous and inventive menu of contemporary American cuisine. The focus here is on local, organic and well-crafted ingredients and this emphasis on quality extends to the wine list. Grant identifies a pet-nat wine that offers great value, a riesling an...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas dive into the wine list at Le Penguin , a French bistro that delivers local seasonal ingredients with farm-to-table freshness. Tantalizing appetizers and select wine pairings have been chosen to complement their menu of fish, chicken and beef entrees. Wines reviewed include: 2019 Caillou Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy 2016 Domaine de l'Olivette 2018...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas peruse the wine list at the all-Italian restaurant Trattoria Dell'Arte . This establishment celebrates the art of food and wine, and even though the wine list is only one page, it is carefully curated to ensure a fabulous oenophile experience. Grace points out a lovely small production of Italian sparkling wine that is hard to find...

Robert Tas interviews David Kong of Glassvin, a cool NYC company that specializes in hand-blown glassware designed to maximize the wine-tasting experience.  Visit Glasvin to learn more about this unique company and order spectacular glassware because indulging in life's little pleasures makes every day a little better.   For more information on today's episode, and the wines you love to love, visi...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit one of Grant's favourite Italian restaurants and wine bars in the city, A16 . Their award-winning wine list has been curated with passion and the prices are reasonable, allowing patrons to peruse the list with pleasure. Grant recommends a fragrant, lively wine that is great value, a fabulous Lambrusco that pairs well with the...

Whitney Grant, wine educator and certified sommelier and Robert Tas head west to Seattle where they explore the wine list at the Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. A thirty-foot tower of wine sits in the middle of this glass-panelled restaurant, so you know their attention to their wine list is front facing. The menu and wine list have been carefully curated to pair well with food and wine from regions in...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Paci , a romantic Italian restaurant that hosts the best collections of Italian wines in the state. Michaela reviews the wines on the list, identifies tasting notes, and offers pairing suggestions. She also points out a few top-quality value wines and special occasion bottles.  Wines reviewed include: 2015 Fenocchio Ren...

Wine educator and certified sommelier, Grace Hood, joins Robert Tas for an exploration of the exotic location, Bavel . This restaurant serves traditional Middle Eastern dishes inspired by the traditional cuisine of Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt. Grace explains how to pair wine with Middle Eastern cuisine and identifies which wines pair with strong herbs such as parsley, cilantro, and cumin. She also...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the celebrated, three-star Michelin restaurant Benu . This establishment has won a James Beard award for both wining and dining, but, of course, the focus here is all on the juice. Grant navigates the list to find some big, beautiful and bold reds, vivacious bubbles, and scintillating whites that will spoil your senses and mak...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to Boston where they review the wine list of No. 9 Park Chef Barbara Lynch's flagship restaurant in Beacon Hill. The menu is an artful blend of regionally-inspired Italian and French dishes and the James Beard Award-winning wine list includes a number of old-world wines from boutique vintners. Michaela identifies the perfect wine to...

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Match 65 , a restaurant located on the Upper East Side that is loved for its "come as you are" atmosphere in an authentic Parisian-style brasserie. Sam identifies the pairing notes that work well with select items on the menu. And to take your wine knowledge up a notch, she explains what maceration means and how it affects...

Whitney Grant, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the extensive wine list at the award-winning restaurant and raw bar Seastar . The wine program boasts more than 750 wines from around the world; fortunately, Whitney is here to help navigate the list and find the juice that suits your needs whether it's choosing a wine to pair with oysters, nigiri, or sashimi, or a bottle...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to California where they review the wine list at Nopa, a San Franciscan gathering place for foodies and winies who also enjoy a good time and a good cocktail. Grant shares his knowledge of wine and the producers as he reviews some stellar biodynamic bottles, bottles of bubbly, and the best value bottles, and of course, t...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Mooo to find the best wine to pair with your meal at this renowned steakhouse that boasts a stellar wine cellar.  Michaela identifies the tasting notes that pair well with items on the menu, points out the value wines for the times when you want to show a little fiscal restraint, and recommends a special occasion wine f...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to Silver Lake hotspot in L.A., Botanica. As the name suggests, the restaurant is all about fresh, healthy, and farmer-centric food that is vibrant, exciting and nourishing. And their wine list follows their ethos with a great selection of natural wines. In addition to the special bottles, value wines, and hidden gems, G...

Samatha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to Massachusetts to explore the wine list at Pammy's . Pammy's is an American trattoria with a wine list that focuses on natural wines from American and Italian producers, including New and Old World wines from small vineyards in both countries. Sam provides a little background info on the wines, vines, tasting notes a...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Stamford Prime , an American kitchen and bar. If steak, seafood, and sushi are what you want, this is the place to go to enjoy cocktails, wine, and scenic water views. Michaela reviews wines that pair well with sushi, seafood, and steak that will take your meal to a whole new level of deliciousness. Wines reviewed include: 2017 Castellare...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Lazy Bear , located in the Mission district. Lazy Bear professes to deliver a dinner party experience. In fact, it was the owner's hobby to throw elaborate dinner parties, which turned into a career when he opened this restaurant, which has won two Michelin stars. They offer a stellar wine program, which Gra...

Whitney Grant, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Seattle's favorite steak house, The Butcher's Table . This restaurant has won many awards for both the cuisine and the wine. Whitney identifies a few stellar blends on the menu in addition to value wines and those special bottles. She also explains what the difference is between Old World and New World wines and takes a clo...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list of the exotic restaurant Oleana where they celebrate the cuisine of Turkey and the Middle East and peruse the wine list to find the special bottles, value wines, and hidden gems that accentuate the herbs and spices of the Middle Eastern plates.  Wines reviewed include: 2020 Stadt Krems, Grüner Veltliner, from Kremstal, Aus...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Dama , a Latin fusion-inspired restaurant Dama in LA's fashion district where the tapas are a must-try and Grace identifies the best wines to pair with the small plates. She points out a sparkling Austrian that will delight, a Spanish sparkling rose that will not disappoint, and an interesting, effervescent blend from the Tala...