las vegas restaurants

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head to Las Vegas where they stop in at Buddy V’s an Italian restaurant in the Venetian resort with views of the strip. What a great place to relax, enjoy, and people-watch in Vegas. Maria kicks off the review with wines from the extensive wines-by- the glass list before moving on to a stellar bottle for prosecco lovers, and a fabulous, must-not-be-missed Friuli. For red fans, she also spots a baby Super Tuscan, a certified organic barolo and many more. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2019 Trinchero, Iron & Sand, Paso Robles, California

• Nino Franco Rustico, Prosecco Veneto

• 2015 Ziata, Mia Madre, Bordeaux Blend Napa, 

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Jasmine, in Bellagio Hotel. This restaurant is located in a beautiful setting that serves Cantonese, Szechwan, and Hunan cuisine. If you don’t know what to pair with Asian food, don’t worry, Maria identifies the tasting notes in wines and offers pairing suggestions with meals on the menu, including well-known favorites such as Peking Duck and, for the adventurous oenophile, she suggests trying China’s best wine from the foothills of the Himalayas. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Marc Bredif, Vouvray, Loire Valley, France

• 2019 Sokol Blosser, Dundee Hills, Oregon

• 2018 Ashes & Diamonds, Blanc, a Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend, California 

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas hit the Las Vegas strip and pop in to Estiatoria  Milos to review the wine list at this award-winning Greek restuarant that serves authentic Greek cuisine and an eclectic wine list that features a wonderful selection of Greek wines, including 20 wines-by-the glass options which offers guests the opportunity to branch out and explore new wines, and Maria provides insights and recommendations on which wines to try. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021, Ktima Geravassiliou Malagousia

• Agiorgitiko Ktima Driopi Nemea, Greece

• 2019 Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

 Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria the Wine Blonde, interviews Beverage Program Director Tim Keller at Naxos Taverna at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas. talks about his experience in the hospitality industry, how he first became interest in wine, and his enterprising journey from waiter to restauranteur, and finally, how he was hired at Naxos Taverna. Tim talks about how he chooses wine for the wine list to introduce patrons to Greek wines and wines that pair well with Greek food. He reviews several special bottles, including wines from Macedonia, and a few alternatives to popular favorites such as sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio to help wine lovers find a few new favorites and expand their wine knowledge.

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Holsteins in the Cosmopolitan hotel and casino, home of the best burger in town and a wine list that’s broken into four sections: Reds, Rosé slash Sparkling Rosé, Whites, and Champagne & Sparkling wine. Maria kicks off the review with a cocktail to whet the appetite before diving into the wine list where she finds some spectacular wines to pair with the specialty burgers this restaurant is famed for, or how about a wine that will pair well with the Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Chives, or the Brussel Sprouts Ceaser. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Whitehaven, Marlborough New Zealand

• 2020 Moulin Jamet  Sancerre 

• 2015 North by Northwest Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Lago restaurant in the Bellagio Hotel, a special Italian hot spot with fountain views. The menu reflects the regional cuisine of Italy and the wine list offers carefully selected bottles from various regions of Italy but also noteworthy wines from all over the globe. Maria helps you decide what to pair with the menu including a stellar Barolo with the mushroom risotto, a wine whose vines grow on lava flow, and a mineral-driven fresh white, that is perfect to pair with seafood pastas.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Cordero de Montezemolo, Arneis, Piedmont
• 2019 Edge, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 
• 2019 Greg Linn, Langhe Nebbiolo

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria the Wine Blonde, and Robert Tas head to Vegas where they review the wine list at Vanderpump a Paris, one of the Vanderpump collection of restaurants belonging to reality  TV star Lisa Vanderpump and her husband Todd. The vibe here is classical Paris complete with an old Parisian courtyard, Art Nouveau decor, and crystal chandeliers. Elegant and romantic. They serve a French-inspired menu, and a short but sophisticated wine list that includes a selection of bubbles by-the-glass to kick off a fabulous evening. Maria finds the diamonds on the list and offers pairing suggestions to ensure a sublime wine and dine experience. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020  Saget la Perrière Sancerre, Loire Valley

• 2019 Trimbach Riesling, Alsace, France

• 2012 The Château Montrose, “La Dame de Montrose,” France

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas talk Thai food and wine at Lamaii. This cozy, inviting restaurant offers a wine list that focuses on rieslings, chablis, and, of course, Champagne, which are perfect for pairing with Thai food, but they also offer specialty cocktails, and reds. In addition to excellent pairing suggestions, Maria offers a little background information on how to identify the sweetness levels in rieslings and reds that work with Thai food to help you make a more informed choice.

 Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Carl Graff Himmelreich Spatlese Riesling

• Domaine Petit et Bajan Obsidienne Grand Cru Brut

• 2020 Röettgerding Winninger Riesling Trocken

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas talk about Spanish wine (and a little sherry) at Jaleo by Jose Andres. Jaleo is all about the spirit and flavors of Spain. They provide an authentic Spanish culinary experience and showcase the rich regional diversity of Spanish cuisine, and, of course – Spanish wine. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Ulacia Txakolina, Hondarrabi Zuri 

• 2020 Estenas Vera de Estenas, Bobal, Utiel y Requena

• 2010 Viña Tondonia Reserva López de Heredia

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head to Las Vegas where they review the wine list at North Italia. If Italian wine is your jam, then this review should not be missed. Maria offers tasting notes and pairing suggestions on wines from a variety of varietals and regions. Want to know what to pair with pizza or your favorite pasta dish? Maria can help you choose with confidence.

Wines reviewed include:

• Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico

• Ferrari Blanc de Blanc Sparkling

• Marchesi di Gresi Barbera d’asti

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Carmine’s. This comfortable, low-key eatery offers a big menu of pizza and Italian classics. It’s the perfect place to kick back, relax and enjoy a meal with friends and family, and while the food is mostly Southern Italian in style, and the vibe here is relaxed, they offer a superior selection of wines from all around the world.  

 Wines reviewed include:

• 2016 Damilano Barolo 

• 2020 Abbazia di Novacella Gruner Veltliner

• 2018 Valipolicella-Ripasso, Sant' Antonio 

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Carbone, a high-end Italian restaurant that retains the glamor of mid-20th-century Italian restaurants. The New York-inspired menu is complemented by a wine list that offers a stellar selection of wines from Italy, France, and, of course, California.

 Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Lunae, Colli di Luni, Liguria Vermentino, Italy

• 2018 Barbaresco, Musso, Rio Sordo, Piedmont 

• 2007 Fontodi, Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany

 For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

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’del Bosco Franciacorta, Lombardy

• Frappatto by Valle Dell’acate, Sicilia

• Rosato de Narello Mascalese by Graci,  Mt. Etna

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

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, Sonoma County

• Orin Swift “Eight Years in the Desert” Zinfandel, Napa Valley 

For more information on today’s episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

What's your favorite go to restaurant when you go out? Las Vegas social media foodie, Phil Tzeng (also known as LasVegasFill),  joins Christopher and Jamie on the show to discuss how he became a social media favorite with his mouth watering food videos.  As well as naming his top dining choices and favorite take out foods.  Don't miss this delicious mix of food and fun.