Cork Rules

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Sandbar. A winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, this list features a beautiful selection of Old World and New World favorites. Michaela identifies the tasting notes of full-bodied reds, fresh bright Italian whites, Grand Crus and value wines, and offers pairing suggestions with a wide range of dishes on the...

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier and Robert Tas review the bold and eclectic wine list at Hav & Mar, a restaurant that serves Swedish and Ethiopian cuisine and a delicious selection of wines. Tina discovers the gems on the list, ranging from Austrian orange wine to the most prestigious Barolos and Hungarian Tokaj and offers advice on what to pair with the exo...

Robert Tas talks wine with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde on Instagram. If you have ever wondered what to wine to pair with Southern Fried Chicken or St. Louis Ribs, this is the episode for you. Maria reviews an English sparkling wine, an award-winning cabernet franc, and an insanely delicious Burgundy.  Wines reviewed include: 2020 Chalk...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas talk tasting notes and wine pairings with a stellar selection of wines from Mirabelle at Three Village Inn. This restaurant has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and offers a truly cosmopolitan wine list, featuring wine by region and varietal. Michaela identifies the tasting notes on wines that must not be missed for the discerning oen...

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Sazon, in Santa Fe New Mexico. Sazon serves classic Latin American dishes made by their James Beard Award-winning chef Chef Fernando Olea. Chef Olea creates sophisticated flavors using Old Mexico's indigenous and culinary traditions and he has earned a stellar reputation for his unique interpretation of contemporary and tra...

Certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan, and Robert Tas review the wine list at The Red Fox, a restaurant renowned for locally sourced, four-course dining with local wine pairings. They also offer Pub fare and an exceptional wine list. Michaela reviews the best wines on the list, including a Viognier that is a perfect companion to herb-roasted chicken and salmon, a Cabernet Franc that is an excellent...

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at La Boca in Santa Fe, New Mexico. La Boca features a carefully curated wine list that showcases Spanish varietals and pairs well with their Spanish-inspired menu. Sam reviews wines made from lesser-known varietals from a variety of regions in Spain. If you want to expand your palate and find some new favor...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at The Edge in Jackson, New Jersey where they offer a New American menu, with subtle Latin and Asian influences. If you are uncertain of which wine pairs well with the subtle combination of spices and herbs, don't worry, from seafood and sushi to pasta and proteins, Michaela identifies the wines that pair well with the dish...

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas chat about wines to pair with Latin food as they explore the wine list at  Chica where Chef Lorena Garcia has melded the vibrant flavors from Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico to provide a wholly unique dining experience and to ensure we choose the wine that pairs well with the heat spice, Maria offers pairing...

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa. Bern's offers a sensational wine list with an extensive selection of renowned wines from around the world, including Hungary and China. They also have a special dining room just for the dessert and paired beverages for a not-to-be-missed way to end a meal. Tin...

  Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the 500-acre farm-to-table restaurant Gibbet Hill Grill in Massachusetts. Set in an idyllic pastoral location, this is the place to come if you want to get away from the bustle of the city and relax. The menu is inspired by local, seasonal produce, and the wine list offers a fine selection of Old and New World wines.   From rich full-bo...

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas join forces for a fun review of the wine list at Bar Zazu where they offer wines from around the globe with a special focus on Spain. If you wonder just what to pair with the charred spanish octopus with chorizo, gremolata, almond, romesco or the seafood paella, Maria has the wine for you. In addition to wines that make your meal...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at Strega in Boston's historic North End. Strega's wine list offers renowned wines in half-bottle formats from both Old and New World, and, as a classic Italian restaurant, they offer a standout Italian selection, too. In addition to a few Super Tuscans and superior chardonnays, Michaela chooses wines that showcase ripe p...

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to Coppa in Boston, Massachusetts where Sam reviews their fantastic list of wines which have been curated to highlight small producers, so you know there will be some surprise varietals and hidden gems on this list. Sam chooses the wines that pair well with items on the menu, so if you love Italian food (and who doesn't) get ready to e...

Robert Tas and Channing Frye talk wine culture, wine community, and  Chosen Family Wines . Channing shares his journey from the NBA to winemaking, the community of winemakers he works with and how his company choose the winemakers to work with. He also explains what he loves about the wine industry and what he thinks should change, and, of course, his wines, including a bottle that you'll want to...

Tina Johansson, Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas join forces to navigate the wine list at  Ferraro's Kitchen in Miami where they serve authentic Italian cuisine by Igor Ferraro from Venice. He draws inspiration and experience from all over Italy, so you know the food will be an authentic Italian adventure, and in addition to his culinary experience, Igor was introduced to the world of...

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas dare to review the wine list at Hell's Kitchen, a Chef Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas .  Among many of the stellar wines, Maria suggests are a bottle of bubbles from the UK and a beautiful example of an all-chardonnay sparkling wine made in the champagne method, a Burgundy made in the Champage style, a va...

Certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan, and Robert Tas review the wine list at 1770 House in East Hampton. They have received the annual Wine Spectator Award of Excellence consecutively since 2007, and they offer high-end half bottles and magnums in addition to an extensive list of wines from around the world. As she reviews the list, Michaela identifies wines with bright acidity, lime zest, tropica...

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas talk shellfish, seafood, and, of course, wine to pair with the fresh seafood, enjoy immensely and remember. In this episode, they visit the Helm Oyster Bar in Portland, Maine . Sam introduces a spectacular biodynamic bottle of bubbles from the Montlouis-sur-Loire region in France, a Sicilian rose, and a few reds for the red lovers. If silky tannin...

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde on Instagram, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Brera, on the Las Vegas strip where they offer over 200 wines with a focus on Italian wines from all the best wine producing regions to pair with the delicious Italian cuisine.  Wines reviewed include:   2019 Nero D'Avola Crisera Luna Nuova, Sicilia, Ital...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Delfina, a wholly "Cali-Itali" restaurant that bridges that offers a beautiful amalgamation between the old-world and the new. This cozy and intimate restaurant offers a casual dining experience with fine-dining quality.  This location does not disappoint and neither does the wine list. Grant recommends wines to pair well with...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to Boston's North End where they review the wine list at Bricco where guests enjoy Italian cuisine and a unique wine experience from the enoteca (wine bar) with an exceptional selection of all-Italian wines. Bricco is renowned for their great wine collection and signature cocktails all to be enjoyed in an intimate and cozy atmospher...

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head downtown to Salem, Massachusetts where they review the wine list at  Ledger . This restaurant is located in a beautiful building (circa 1818) and the menu includes traditional 19th-century dishes, cocktails, and techniques. The wine director has brought in wine from all over the world to provide an interesting list of old and new world wines....

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at  Barbrix a wine shop and restaurant hotspot in Los Angeles with a spectacular selection of woman winemakers, orange wine, pet nat wines, and natural wines. Grace identifies must-try wines from the unique selection on offer.     Wines reviewed include: 2020 Prosa Sparkling Rose, Austria 2021 "Ode to Lulu" Rose...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Tresca in Boston's North End . This restaurant wins yearly recognition from Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice and Open Table's Diners' Choice. Their  Italian dominant wine list also features crowd-pleasing New World favorites and Michaela takes us on a tour of Italy's wine regions as she points out stellar wines from vari...