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Finding Paradise By The Stars

Hager Matthias
Riesling Terrassen 2022
100% Riesling
Certified biodynamic (Demeter)
Mollands, Kamptal, Austria
Owner & winemaker: Matthias Hager

Shining medium gold, Breathing in pears, something like an Oreo center, refreshing cool spring house scents from my childhood home, white peaches, smidge of grapefruit but not overly strong, tangerine, Valencia orange blend & blossoms, and apricot. Sipping and this lovely glass that brightens my spirits. There’s pears, apples, apricots, a citrus spark & lemon lime sizzle, honeysuckle, and way in the very back the teeniest ginger winks flirtatiously.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Brings on a citrus rolling wave

Matthias has his head in the stars, oh and also the moon, sun, planets, etc. In other words, he is devoted to biodynamics and follows Maria Thun’s calendar (related to the cosmic rhythm) that guides the farmer/winegrower when to plant, tend, and harvest. This is so much better than me reading my daily horoscope. Anyway, he and his family are very in tune and devoted to their lands & vines…as they say, “For us, biodynamic viticulture means much more than ‘just’ making wine. It’s much more about understanding the context of life”. Wine is also as Mattias’ brother Hermann says is his “challenge” to pair with food that he has accepted with their “gourmet paradise” Weinbeisserei. The restaurant (culinary experience) has beautiful views of the vineyards, wonderfully crafted meals with ingredients sourced from locals or from his garden & his Turopolje pigs (they are really cute), and of course the properly selected wines. I guess they truly have found their paradise. ✨✨

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #biodynamic #austria #riesling #worldbyglass #Weinbeisserei #volkerwineco #hagermatthias #docwinebar #docwineshop @hager_matthias @volkerwineco @docwinebar @docwineshop

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HAPPY FRIYAY!

Hugo’s Cocktails
Ginger Fuji Apple Mule
Vodka, Red Jacket Orchards Fuji apple juice (NY), lemon, ginger, cinnamon, lemongrass
10% ABV
New York, NY
Founders: Cristian Molina & Zach Moore

IPA golden-orange. Very fragrant scents of apples, a ginger/cinnamon blend, lemongrass, and a touch of fresh lemon but not tart. All of the scents are right there in the taste with perfumed blossoms, sugarcane, and a welcome cinnamon burn. Damn good cocktail that is way easy to drink, so sip it slow.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just say no

Even though Hugo’s was created out of a heavy necessity of having to navigate, survive and make a living during the pandemic, they have a much lighter motto…”Life lived less seriously”. Now that’s something I would love to be doing right now. Well the weekend is almost here so maybe I’ll take their advice and crack another can with friends because these are drinks to be joyfully shared. Happy Friday!

#cocktails #cannedcocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #smallbusiness #vodka #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #docwinebar #docwineshop #drinkhugos @cheezit @drinkhugos @docwinebar @docwineshop

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🎶Won’t You Be My Neighbor🎶

Noël Bazin
L’Unanime
Blanc des Blancs
100% Chardonnay
375 ml
Villers-Marmery, Champagne-Ardenne, France
Noël and Magali Bazin and their son Hugo

Light straw gold with active fine bubbles. Floating up are scents of a french bakery like croissants, brioche & even fresh baked baguettes, butter cream frosting, baked pears & that Poire Williams smell, apricots, apples fresh & baked, and a teeny squeeze of lemon way in the back. Slowly sipping and it’s so crisp. There’s a lemon/lime sparkle along with a touch of Lemonhead candy, as time goes by there’s the apples & pears waving from far away but they keep venturing closer, the before mentioned bakery goodness, a lick of limestone, and a shake of salt. So delicious!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: really really good!

The Bazins sound like the type of people you’d love to have as neighbors. On their importer’s site (Vom Boden) they’re described as incredibly nice & kind, normal, devoted to spending a lot of time in their vineyard, and probably not of the hipster bent with a record collection and tattoos. Well, my view of that changed when I clicked on their IG and boom, there’s tat pics but they adorn the next generation…Hugo. Take a look for yourself, and you’ll see a man totally into the vines & all the hard work and passion that Noël & Magali have for their 3 ha (25 plots) and also their beloved champagne. Bet he’d make a great neighbor too because who wouldn’t want fabulous bottled bubbly just steps away. 🥂

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #bubbly #winetime #France #champagne #vomboden #noelbazin #NoëlBazin #vinewine #vinewinenyc @vomboden @grappedebazin @vinewinenyc

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Wine Of Joy & Freedom

Azienda Agricola Bugno Martino
Rosso Matilde 2022
Provincia di Mantova Lambrusco IGP
Lambrusco Salamino & Ancellotta
Sparkling Wine
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested
San Benedetto Po, Mantua, Lombardy, Italy
Raffaella and Giuseppe Merlin

Deep ruby with dark pink bubbles. Scents floating up of cherries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, red currants, a little balsamic reduction, red delicious apples, and violets. Going in for the taste and all of those scents are there with a little puff of smoke, and tiny twist of lemon on the back. Lovely, lively and elegant.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: ick

As many of you know, I just love finding out how people end up making wine. The Merlins tale started with Giuseppe whisking Raffaella off on a romantic weekend only to arrive at a cellar to taste wine, and told they don’t have an appointment. Yikes, so much for romance! Actually, the busy winemaker took pity on them and invited both in if they would help him in the vineyard by sampling the grapes. I’d say that’s a pretty great deal. Then the magic happens, they “went to the cellar and felt the wines”. Just imagine being in the dark with very little candle light and becoming immersed in the whole experience. The seed of an idea or inclination had been planted. When life offered them an opportunity in Giuseppe’s dad retiring from working the family farm, the adventure of planting their own vines had begun. Now, they are all about Lambrusco…their own way or as they say, “Lambrusco is freedom, to be yourself, to free yourself from preconceptions and homologations, to toast with friends, to have a carefree evening. Lambrusco is the wine of joy.” Along with that joy, they’ve also brought along 2 flowering fields of happiness where you’ll find hives of my favorite little buzzers. 🐝❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #bees #Italy #lombardy  #worldbyglass #bugnomartino #SkinContactWines  #docwinebar #docwineshop @cantinabugnomartino @SkinContactWines @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Marriage Of Art & Wine

Tenute Orestiadi
Molino a Vento
Carricante 2022
Terre Siciliane IGP
Organic, biodynamic, native yeasts
Gibellina, Sicily, Italy

Bright very festive orange. Breathing in oranges, mandarins, Circus Peanuts, orange blossoms & other orchard blooms on a hot evening, a creamy Orangesicle touch or vanilla, magnolia headiness, and over time persimmons and kumquat join in. Sipping and it’s just like the scents and ALL the different oranges, fun orange and pineapple gummy bears, ripe pears, and a tart zest pop. This carricante is purely delicious and very chuggable.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: walk away from the bag and don’t ruin this wine

Back in 1968, the Belìce earthquake shook and crumbled Gibellina; but from the devastation an idea of necessity was born that became an inspiration for the future. A new city was planned a little away from the old ruins, and these designs/buildings have now grown over the years into a contemporary art destination both open air and indoors. Early on it was championed by Ludovico Corrao (politician, lawyer & art lover) who convinced artists to come & create, and also helped launch the Orestiadi Foundation which led to the Estate, and Tenute Orestiadi (Molino a Vento is their line of monovarietal wines with organic grapes). All of their work is a beautiful marriage of art, wine, exhibitions, and a festival including artists in all forms from visual, music, poetry, theater, etc. There’s also a very cool collaboration with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts to be found in the cellar where the barrels are now wooden canvases, “immersed in the suspended time of the slow evolution of wine, contemporary art finds a new temple” in the “Barriques Museum”. Orestiadi are building and preserving this “essence of contemporary stories”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Italy #Sicily #worldbyglass #art #omniwines #molinoavento #tenuteorestiadi #docwinebar #docwineshop @omniwines @tenuteorestiadi @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Bringing The Party

Domaine Villa Noria
Basic Instinct
Pet’Nat’ Blanc 2022
100% Pinot Noir
VDF
Organic, biodiverse, HVE 3, unfiltered, low carbon footprint
Montagnac, France
Vine grower: Cédric Arnaud; Winemaker: Fabien Gross

Light yellow slightly hazy starlight with green shimmers with tiny bubbles. Breathing in pears, apples (and pie), a little forest floor funk that turns into a light allspice with a puff of smoke, mango, mellow pineapple, vanilla/bakery goodness, touch of lemonade and tangelo. First sip and Whoo! There’s a lemon/lime zip, light orange, salt & lick of granite, and crisp pears & apples (again a little pie). Just so crisp, dry and pert.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: hmm makes it s bit more rich and then it’s like citrus fireworks

“Villa Noria is the dream-come-true of wine enthusiasts who have known how to unite their skills to create an estate from scratch.” Cédric & Fabien both came from vine & wine backgrounds, and when they formed Villa Noria they each brought their passion and individual creative strengths with a goal of going organic, sustainable, and overall naturally healthy. They also are the people you want to invite to a party especially if they are bringing Nori’Art Pet’Nat’ Blanc de noirs that’s IN A KEG! Which is said to be the first of its kind. It also can make a great conversation piece not just for what’s deliciously flowing from it but also the artwork wrapping the outside of the container by MOTTE (Mathieu Bonnet). He’s a fabulous graffiti/visual artist and illustrator and his work is colorful, vibrant and perfectly pairs with a zippy bubbly. Check out their video here and get ready to start your own sparkly fête. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #petnat #graffitiart #motte #mottemicmac #France #Montagnac #worldbyglass  #BoivinSelection #domaine_villa_noria #docwinebar #docwineshop @domaine_villa_noria @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Magically In Tune

Kelley Fox Wines
Nerthus 2022
Willamette Valley A.V.A.
Early Muscat 34%, Pinot Gris 34%, Riesling 18%, Pinot Blanc 14%
Gaston, OR

Pinky peachy pale amber. Oh these growing scents are so lovely and lush. There’s heady magnolias, wisteria & jasmine, grapefruit, cantaloupe & honeydew, pears, peaches of all sorts (that bring back a childhood memory of fresh hand cranked ice cream made from our peaches), smidge of baking spice, and honeysuckle. Sipping and all the scents are here with orange, pineapple, mango, tangerine zest & a little of it singed, joined with a blend of other citrus both sweet and sparky.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Step away from the bag

Why have I never had a Kelley Fox wine until now? It was like opening a long awaited present that only kept getting better the more time I spent with it. My curiosity of course led me to her site and I found such a calming sense of peace from the photos and beautifully drawn illustrations that just spoke to my heart (I think whenever I stress out I’ll pull this site up to reset my mood). Then I found out that Ms. Fox had another life before wine. She was an undergrad & grad student in medical/science/research with multiple degrees & accepted in a PhD program in Biochemistry, but she turned to another form of learning and growth. She went to the source…Oregon winemakers, who taught her by being hands on or off if that’s what is needed by the vines, cellar, etc. I truly admire anyone who has the strength, belief, and brains to follow their calling and especially when they are so naturally in tune & good at what they do that it’s almost magical. ✨✨

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #oregon #KelleyFoxWines #vinewine #vinewinenyc @kelley_fox_wines @vinewinenyc

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A Welcome Kiss Of Spring

Argillae
Orvieto
DOC Superiore 2021
Grechetto, Procanico, Malvasia, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
Orvieto (just NW), Italy
The Bonollo Family
Latest generation: Giulia di Cosimo

Shining straw yellow with a green shimmer. During the pour scents start emerging and growing of mango, pineapple, guava, jasmine & freesia, grapefruit, splash of tangerine, limes, a salty breeze, and fresh rained on slate. Now onto the taste. There’s a lemon/lime spark, pineapple, mango, crabapples, drop of grapefruit sizzle, salt and that lick of slate again. It’s dry, fresh, zingy, and feels like a welcome kiss of Spring.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: blerg

“Our terroir is our soul and our main source of inspiration. It discloses all our potential and draws all our limits.”

Terroir was so important in Giuseppe Bonollo’s decision to buy land in Umbria. Their soil is comprised of clay, sand, limestone, rocks and something else very special…fossils. These creatures that rambled or swam back in the Pliocene period now bring the magic to Argillae’s wine. The estate’s name even is a nod to their earth, since Argillae = clay in Latin. The Bonollo family and their team also look out for their whole surroundings with their “project” of sustainability that spreads from farming, the cellar’s 1st floor is underground so they don’t waste energy on temperature control and when they have to turn up the heat it’s powered by green energy, and then there’s the bottles made of 80% recycled glass & are lighter to transport so less CO2. They are making choices that not only benefit their environ and wines, but also the world. I can raise a glass to that!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Umbria  #Italy #worldbyglass #viaswine #Argillae #docwinebar #docwineshop @viaswine @argillae @docwinebar @docwineshop

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An Artistic Blend

Frequency Wine Company
Artist Series 2021
Grenache 35%, Syrah 35%, Graciano 30%
Santa Barbara County
Los Alamos, CA
Winemaker: Zac Wasserman
Producer: Almond Wasserman
Intuit: Maria Wasserman
Muse: Nicole Wasserman
(As you can see this is a family thing)

Deep maroon with garnet rim. Breathing in a familiar cola scent along with cherries, plums, raspberry jam, blueberries, shave of cedar, pinch of wintergreen /mint, and toasted coriander. Sip and there’s cherries again, cranberries, plums, blueraspblackbosenberry jumble, red currants, grind of black pepper, a teeny sprig of spearmint that vibrates a little, and over time out comes a mellow moment of RC Cola.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: it’s ok

A friend of mine told me I’d love this wine since she did, and she was spot on. The Wassermans sum up their venture best on their site, “Frequency Wines was born in the belief that positive energy can be created, bottled, and shared throughout the world to be sown and harvested for a vast influence.” They also have an “Artist Series” (which is near and dear to my heart) where they work with an artist they appreciate for the label. In 2014, they collaborated with Toro Y Moi’s Chaz Bundick, and he not only created the label art but also a playlist to enjoy while sipping the wine which in my book is very cool, but I can’t find the music anywhere, so if anyone has a link please send it my way. The work gracing this 2021 is by Aria Dean. She’s a writer, critic, curator, and above all amazing artist. Her visual art varies through multiple medias such as 3D printed sculptures, digitally rendered/manipulated drawings, theatrical pieces/videos, and combinations of all set into incredible installations. Her “Abattoir, U.S.A.!,” (2023) is built with Unreal Engine and has a feel of a first-person video game set in an empty slaughterhouse with a haunting soundtrack, and political, historical & cultural meanings. Currently it’s on view (along with her conceptual sculptural work/installation, “Vitrine”) in her UK solo show “Abattoir” through May 5th at London’s ICA. Check out ICA Short Docs | Aria Dean ‘Abattoir’ for a glimpse into her vision behind the show. She and Frequency are quite the pairing and just brilliant.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #winemusic #wineart #art #AriaDean #SantaBarbara #CA #FrequencyWines #vinewine #vinewinenyc @vinewinenyc @frequencywines @lol_prosciutto

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Location, Location, Location & ❤️

Mae Son
Orange 2021
Müller Thurgau
Organic, biodynamic, hand-harvested
Povo, Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Owner & winemaker: Matteo Furlani
Project is a collaboration with Matteo Furlani’s other label Cantina Furlani, Claudio Coronato, and Jenny & Francois Selections

Warm shining orange-gold amber. Give it a little space, let it breathe, and scents start growing of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, oranges, limes & light grapefruit, fresh picked apples and their blossoms, river rock mineral and a shake of salt. Sipping and there’s oranges, limes & their zest, mild grapefruit, apples, and the mineral & salt combo again. So delicious and chuggable.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Nope, nope, nope

Whenever I see a wine that’s picked by Jenny & Francois Selections, it’s an instant buy for me. They always find fabulous winemakers to work or collaborate with on projects…like Matteo. He originally grew up in a wine family so it’s in his DNA, and he followed that up with studies in oenology & agriculture. When time came for him to take on the family’s vineyards in the Dolomites, he established Cantina Furlani that in total has 14 ha, but 6 of them were used for grapes to sell, but Mae Son changed that course starting in 2022 with their wines that sing “location, location, location”. They’re also wines with heart as depicted in the very well thought out label by John Shirk (J & F sales rep) that echos the same locale sentiment with a road sign similar to what can be found in their mountains, and is also “a tribute to the importance of family and family work, as well as the careful craftsmanship of their wines. The name is a playful nod to the beginning of each family member’s name: M for Matteo, A for his wife, Annalisa, and their daughter, Alessia, and E for their son Edoardo. The pronunciation further sheds light on the intimate story behind the label: in English, it’s pronounced ‘my son,’ while in French, it can be read as ‘maison,’ meaning ‘my home.’” See full of ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Italy #worldbyglass #jennyandfrancois #MaeSon #docwinebar #docwineshop @cantinafurlani @jennyfrancois @claudio.coronato @picturehandz @docwinebar @docwineshop