wine tips

Join Erin for this effervescent episode as she guides you through the sparkling world of bubbly just in time for New Year's Eve! Whether you're looking to splurge or save, Erin shares her top tips for selecting the perfect bottle of sparkling wine to suit any budget.

Get insider tips on understanding wine labels – Erin will decode those confusing terms so you can make an informed choice. She'll also offer her favorite food pairing ideas, ensuring your New Year's Eve spread is as delightful as your drink. And for those who find opening a bottle of sparkling wine daunting, fear not! Erin provides step-by-step instructions to pop the cork like a pro, making sure your celebration starts off with a bang.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to add a little sparkle to their New Year's Eve celebration with the perfect bottle of bubbles. Tune in and prepare to raise your glass as we toast the New Year! 🥂🎉

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Join  Sommelier Erin as she shares her expert tips for choosing the perfect wine gift. With a seasoned palate and years of experience, Erin demystifies the art of selecting wines that leave a lasting impression by sharing the questions she asks each time she's helping people shop for a gift bottle of wine that help make it a stress-free experience. Learn the questions Erin asks and discover how to elevate your wine gift-giving game with thoughtful and delightful wine choices. Cheers to thoughtful gifting and uncorking joy!

🎉 Sommelier Erin also has exciting news to share! During the episode, she unveils the release of two new books she has written. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast for a sneak peek into Erin's insightful works.

🥳 NEW! The Newlywed Wine Journal is now available on Amazon.

🥳 NEW! 10 Fun Wine Tastings to Easily Host at Home - Add your name to the waitlist to be the first to know when the book is released - Coming in August 2023

🍷 ✨ Discover your personal wine palate personality. Take the Quiz

Have a question or a comment to share? hello@winegirlacademy.com

Follow WGA! 👇

⭐️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winegirlacademy/

⭐️Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wine-Girl-Academy-102017018628996

⭐️Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@winegirlacademy

⭐️Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/WineGirlAcademy/_saved/

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/WineGirlShop - more products being added

⭐️Wine and Chocolate Course Udemy

⭐️Bubbles 101 Course - Udemy - Udemy

Camila Alvarez, head sommelier and consultant, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Meson, Camila explores the extensive list, including Spanish wines, different grape varieties in different styles, Armenian wines, indigenous varieties and wines from Texas. She suggests Cava which is perfect to pair with seafood and Spanish dishes, an elegant red blend full of red and black plum flavors, blackcurrant and spicy notes, and a Cuve made from 12 Grand Cru.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2015 Yacoubian Hobbs, Vayots Dzor, Armenia

• 2002 Vega Sicilia Unico from Ribera del Duero, Italy

• 1985 Faustino, Rioja, Spain

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

Sam Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Dear Annie, a community-focused neighborhood restaurant that focuses on brand values of sustainable foodways, unique and natural wines and friendly vibes. Sam shares what to pair with the house-made small plates and the menu that has a focus on fresh seafood and shellfish,  including wines from a 400-year-old vineyard, wines with notes of vanilla and spice, or lemon, honeycomb and stone, and sparkling wines from a winery that uses a fermentation process that dates back to the 1500s.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Honeymoon by Martha Stouman, California

• 2018 Collecapretta La Selezione delle Cese, Umbria, Italy

• 2019 Patrimonio Rouge “Cru Des Agriate”, Corsica, Italy

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

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the Italian wine list at the LA hotspot Rossoblu. This fun and funky restaurant will not disappoint serious diners and wine lovers. On the menu, you will find handmade pasta dishes, in-house butchery and salumi, and classic Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist. The wine list offers unique varietals from family-owned wineries. From sensational sparkling wines to light and zesty whites, Grace spots the bottles that will be delicious, delightful, and sometimes downright decadent. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Vermentino, Antonella Corda Vineyard, Sardinia

• 2021 Galanghina, Marisa Cuomo, Campania

• 2016 Margaux, Chalatour de Bessan

 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.

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at Le Farfalle in the Harleston Village of Charleston South Carolina where they put a modern spin on traditional Italian cuisine and offer a stellar wine list. In addition to pairing suggestions and tasting notes, Sam shares background information on the wine regions and producers to take your wine education up a notch. She introduces us to an Italian wine cooperative composed of 400 small winegrowers who sustainably farm the land, rare Italian varietals, and the more well-known and loved barolos and nebbiolos. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Montepulciano Rosato, Viticoltori Riuniti

• 2018 Nero Buono “Polluce”, Italy

• 2021 “Alice” Verdeca, Puglia, Italy

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

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the French bistro Petit Trois in Los Angeles, an unassuming and unpretentious restaurant inspired by classic Parisian bistros and has won many accolades from foodies and food critics alike. They offer two award-winning wine lists and Grace reviews the wines on both to identify the approachable and affordable and the big baller bottles of French wines, including Bordeaux, Burgundies, syrahs, and stellar cab blends. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2019 Melon du Bourgnon, Muscadet

• 2011 Riesling Domaine Marcel, Alsace

• 2019 Domaine Rougeot Pommard

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

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at The Red Dory where the views of the Sakonnet River offer a clue to the Mediterranean-inspired menu featuring fresh ingredients from local farms and docks. And to help you pair wine with seafood, shellfish, or meaty, saucy dishes Michaela identifies tasting notes and offers pairing suggestions to ensure the spices and herbs pair well with the wine. From white Riojas with notes of cantaloupe, green apple, lime zest to bold reds with flavors of blackberries and cassis, along smoke, black pepper, and oak, Michaela helps you understand which wines to pair with meals on the menu. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Ostatu Viura, Rioja, Spain

• 2017 Cantina del Taburno Aglianico, Campania, Italy

• 2021 Movia Sauvignon Blanc, Slovenia

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

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, joins Robert Tas to talk about the wine list at Audrey, a traditional south-eastern inspired restaurant with a menu that serves local and seasonal products to showcase the best of the South. cornbread, heirloom apples and grits, all cooked and presented with a modern take. Want to know what to pair with grilled deer skewer with hickory oil, or ember-baked Candy Roaster squash? Tina offers pairing suggestions to make sure you choose the right wine for your dining experience, and with wines from Slovakia, South Africa, Europe and beyond, Tina’s selection ensures a next-level dining experience.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Testalonga El  Bandito, South Africa

• 2018 Marie-Courtin Blanc de Noirs, Champagne

• 2017, Vino di Anna, “Jeudi 15”, Sicily

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

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Cowboy Star in San Diego’s East Village. This steakhouse and butcher shop sources ethically-raised, meat and seafood. They have a stellar wine list and a reputation to match. From bold, tannic reds to crisp, light whites, champagne that will definitely tickle the taste buds,  and a few surprises in between, Grace identifies the bottles on the list that will please the most discerning palate, including a Margaux from Bordeaux.

 Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Shea Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

• 2020 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc, Napa

• 2017 Joseph Swan from the Russian River Valley

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

Sam Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas talk wine, food, and wine producers as they explore the wine list at Bar Mezzana in Boston. Sam identifies some interesting finds and introduces wines made from hybrid grape varietals, organic vineyards in Greece, and great vintages from family-owned vineyards. If notes of roasted nuts and flower petals, and beautiful bright flavors of apple and peach sound delicious to you, or if you don’t know what to order with PEI mussels, or the Paccheri pasta with lobster,  Sam will point you in the right direction. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2016 Erbaluna “Rocche Dell’Aannunziata” Borolo

• 1701 Franciacorta Satèn, Lombardy, Northern Italy

• 2020 Kontozisis “A-Grafo” Assyrtiko

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.

In this special episode, Robert Tas reviews the wine list of Essential by Christophe with their very own beverage director and sommelier, Andrea Morris. This newly-opened restaurant located on the Upper West Side of New York City has already won many accolades. It is a French restaurant, but rather than imitate the French Brasserie of bygone days, the decor is similar to modern restaurants in Paris, and the tone of casual hospitality renders this fine dining establishment elegant and laid back. Andrea explains how she selects wine for the wine program and why she chooses certain bottles on the list. She points out a few special bottles at spectacular prices in addition to those great finds from lesser-known producers.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Joseph Drouhin, Montagny, Burgundy, France

• 2017 Camp Atthalin SLB Dessus les Vermots 

• 2017 Burklin Wolf Wachenheim Riesling 

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

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wines of Italy at Felix Trattoria region by region. Travel by wine region. What a great way to get to know Italian wines, and Grace is on hand to help you navigate the list and the regions. Both the wine list and menu at Felix are inspired by the deeply rooted culinary traditions of regional Italy. Chef and master pasta maker Evan Funke crafts fresh, handmade pasta on-site and to order while you kick off your evening with a light white or glass of sparkling wine.

 Wines reviewed include:

• 2018 Primitivo, Tenuta Chiaromonte

• 2021 Nebbiolo Rose, GB Burlotto 

• 2019 Verdeccio, La Monacesca

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

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a look through the wine list at Oberlin in Providence, Rhode Island to find the value wines, special bottles, and little-known gems you might miss. A James Beard Award finalist, Oberlin features an extensive menu of seafood and pasta, and the wine list offers an eclectic selection of  Old World and New World wines, organic, skin contact, and local wines from New England. Michaela spots wines made from rare varietals, natural whites from Chile, and unique orange wines from Georgia. If an adventure in wine is what you’re looking for, you’ve arrived. 

 Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Echeverria Viognier, Curico Valley, Chile

• 2020 Hofstatter Meczan Pinot Nero, Alto Adige, Italy

• 2019 Nine Oakes Khikhvi

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

In this episode I have a casual chat with my friend, fellow traveller, and current housemate, founder of Wineisseur, Deanna Lowe.

Getting comfy in the chapel of our Basque Country co-living villa, and popping open a bottle of Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian rose (fancy!), we talk all things wine, travel, co-living, and more! So why not pop open a bottle yourself and join us?

Connect with our guest:

Website: https://www.wineisseur.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wineisseur/

The Wineisseur Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Gx6ZkO1e1VU1xB0Mrjy6i?si=87ad281805c14a4c 

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Follow Jessica on Instagram @traveltransformationcoach and check out her website at https://www.traveltransformationcoach.com  

Get your free Travel Transformation Guide at https://traveltransformationcoach.com/freeguide 

Join the Flip The Script Travel Transformation Academy at https://traveltransformationcoach.com/academy

Check out Jessica’s books at https://traveltransformationcoach.com/books

Email Jessica at info@traveltransformationcoach.com 

We’re partnered with Give The Goodness Global, a brilliant global outreach project. Find out more at https://www.instagram.com/givethegoodnessglobal

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review and share with a friend!

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 hidden gems. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Santo Winery, Assyrtiko from Santorini, Greece

• 2019 Castellare, Poggio alla Guardia, Tuscany

• 2020 Pacher Hoff, Muller Thurgau, from Varna, Italy

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

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 Goldstein.

Topics discussed include:

• Bringing wine into the sports arena

• Top sports celebrities who have entered the wine business

• Upcoming events

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

Wine director Christina Quick makes wine approachable for all, from novice sippers to connoisseurs. At Fairhope's Provision, Christina's passion is guiding people on their wine journeys. She shares insider tips on key wine regions, flavor profiles for popular grapes, and secret hacks for buying, tasting, pairing, and storing. Wine lovers and new explorers alike will gain confidence to navigate menus and shops. Christina makes learning relaxed and fun - join us!