Cork Rules

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at  Terra Eately, a unique restaurant inspired by earth and fire. The dining room centers around a wood-burning Italian grill, and they offer an extensive wine list with a superb collection of Italian wines.  Wines reviewed include:   2021 OTELO Lugana, Veneto,  Italy 2019 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore...

Robert Tas interviews wine educator, sommelier, and author Jane Lopes about her new book, Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine. Jane talks about her journey from studying Renaissance literature to becoming a master sommelier and wine author. Jane recommends the 100 bottles of wine (and some spirits and beers) that are affordable, accessible, and will expand your wine journey. The book also gives a c...

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Little Donkey , a global tapas restaurant by James Beard Award-Winning Chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. Here, guests can enjoy a menu influenced by global cuisine and local market fare, providing the opportunity to sample food and wine from all over the world. Sam offers excellent advice on what to pair with select...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas enjoy a little joie de vivre at the French bistro  Et Voila , voted the best French restaurant in San Diego in 2022. The menu is fresh, wholly French, and absolutely delightful, and of course, the wine list is spectacular.  Wines reviewed include: 2013 Echezeaux Grand Cru Marchand, Cote de Nuit 2015 Chateau Mouton, Graves, France 20...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the French bistro  Bar-a-Vin . The wine list here is composed of more than 250 different varieties of French wine, not only from Bordeaux, but from across France,  including well-known classics on the list. This restaurant is a tribute to French wine and casual cuisine, and Michaela is here to help find the hidden gems in the list.  Wines...

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at  Sprezzatura , a laid-back but wholly elegant  Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown San Francisco.   Grant kicks off with a review of their creative cocktail menu before moving on to bubbles that will delight your guest, and on to the wines to elevate your dining experience.  Wines reviewed include: Ca...

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head to Las Vegas where they review the wine list at  Skybar in the Waldorf Astoria. High above the Las Vegas Strip, the 23rd-floor SkyBar is the place to enjoy a superb selection of wine while enjoying the unforgettable views. Wines reviewed include: Lucien Crochet Sancerre, a sauvignon blanc, France Chalk Hill Chardonnay, Sono...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the modern Mediterranean restaurant  Porto . This restaurant has a  lively bar scene and outdoor patio in Boston's Back Bay, the perfect location for a fun night out. In addition to a James Beard award-winning menu, Porto's wine list consists of unique and classic varietals and Michaela is here to help find those special bottles and hidde...

The  San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. They compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division and thousands of Giants fans attend their games to watch the sport, and now they can also enjoy a glass or two of top-quality wines while watching the game. That's right, a wine list curated by master sommelier Evan...

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Craftsteak by top chef personality and James Beard Award-winning chef Tom Colicchio. Maria offers excellent pairing suggestions to tantalize your palate and, of course, points out the best bottles on the list.  Wines reviewed include: 2019 William Févre, Champs Royaux, Chablis 2021 Four Graces Willamette...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit  Primo in Rockland, Maine. Primo serves a truly fresh and ever-changing menu, and since they source their produce from their own farm, you can't get fresher than that. This is the ultimate farm-to-table experience and they offer a stellar wine list to match the menu.   Wines reviewed include: 2020 Chateau de Segries, Tavel, France 2019 Sk...

Certified sommelier and wine educator Grace Hood and Robert Tas take a trip to Los Angeles where they review the wine list at  Tutti Mangia an Italian chophouse. This Italian grill offers a delicately composed menu of Italian Cuisine with global influences. They have won many awards including Best Restaurant, Best Italian Restaurant, and a dozen Wine Spectator Awards, so you know this wine list is...

Certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan and Robert Tas review the wine list at  Madcap , an upscale dining establishment in an intimate, casual setting with an urban feel. Chef Ron Siegel is the owner, operator and creator of a tasting menu of seasonal selections and the delicious wine list.  Wines reviewed include: 2021 Nigl Zweitgelt Rose, Austria  2018 Gamba Vineyards Etrusca Velia, Red blend, Rus...

Grace Hood, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas go downtown to Brentwood in West Los Angeles to review the wine list at  Toscana . Toscana is a neighborhood trattoria that celebrates the rustic, authentic, farm-to-table flavors of Northern Italy, and they have a superb selection of Italian, French, and American wines to complement the menu. Wines reviewed include: 2019 Jermann Fr...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head north of the border to visit Montreal and the Syrian restaurant, Damas. Damas feels like a crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures; the atmosphere is inviting and exotic, and the wine list is both adventurous and traditional. Michaela guides us to the bottles that will deliver in quality, including a few Canadian wines.  Wines reviewed...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Terra. Terra is a rooftop restaurant and lounge featuring a wood-burning Italian grill and views of the Hollywood Hills. Named for "earth" in Italian, Terra's menu is centered around the grill, and their wine menu is a fabulous selection of Italian wines. This is the place to explore Italian wines region by r...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas cross the border into Canada where they review the wine list at Stratus, a fine-dining restaurant that serves inspired Canadian cuisine that is a mix of new-world flavors and old-world classics, and their wine list is curated to pair well with their menu. Michaela reviews wines from both sides of the Atlantic, including Canada. Wines reviewed i...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head downtown to  Botegga Louie, where it's all about food. It's a restaurant, gourmet market, patisserie and café, and they offer a well-rounded wine list to complement whatever takes your fancy; bubbles with breakfast, snacks and Sancerre, or Bordeaux and we'll take one more bottle to go.  Wines reviewed include: 2019 Four Graces...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review an interesting selection of wines at  Waypoint, a restaurant with a unique and creative menu and a wine list that offers a few surprises in addition to those well-known and well-loved bottles. Michaela identifies pairing notes in a range of wines from Slovenia, stand-out Greek wines, and organic and biodynamic wines from Washington State...

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at  Bardot Brasserie, a lavishly elegant restaurant where, as Chef Michael Mina explains "Every detail of BARDOT Brasserie was designed to transport guests to a café along the Champs-Élysées in the 1920s. Maria recommends some bubbles by-the-glass if you're feeling constrained, and by-the-bottle if you're al...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas bring a little Hollywood glamor to the airwaves with a review of the wine list at The Palm, a Beverly Hills hotspot. This is a place where people come to celebrate life and enjoy the good food and exceptional wines, and patrons have been enjoying this renowned location since the twenties and through the decades that followed. Wines...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the Mediterranean restaurant Ostra where they discuss some favorite regions and new varietals on the wine list. The menu at Ostra is Inspired by local and European varieties of seafood, and the extensive wine list features over 275 labels. The selection ranges from renowned wine regions across Europe and Napa Valley producers, and Michael...

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas visit Bistro du Midi a classic bistro vibe with a lively bar and a menu that is seasonal and creative. The wine list offers selections from both the old and the new world but places a special emphasis on French wines.  Sam offers a few stellar suggestions to kick off your evening, value wines that won't break the budget, and a sp...

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the Sherman Oaks hot spot, Sushi Note . This restaurant offers not only carefully crafted cuisine but a carefully curated wine list that features a creative selection of wines from around the world, including the little-known wine region of Alsace.  Wines reviewed include: 2018 Willakenzie from the Willamette Valley 2019 Chris...

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore a wonderful selection of wine at the  Italian trattoria Buca's Tuscan Roadhouse , a small restaurant big on ambiance and authentic Italian cuisine. Their wine list has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and features a number of standout selections which Michaela reviews and recommends Super Tuscans, little-known value wine...