Raise a Glass and Amplify Your Art

Collective Arts Brewing
Stranger Than Fiction
Porter
5.5% abv
Artist: Tim Barnard
Brewed in Stratford CT, (small contract batch made at Two Roads). Collective Arts Brewing is based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Acquired at Sugarburg

After cracking the can, it’s a dark chocolate coffee color with a big frothy head. Letting it settle down. Now here comes the wafts of coffee or should I say coffee cola, chocolate, molasses, and a touch of bitter like an almond or a roasted coffee bean. Tipping back my glass and tasting chocolate, coffee, refreshing, smooth, some sweetness but not overpowering, and a bit of baker’s chocolate cookie bitter delicious bite.

Pairs with Cheez-its: Turns the porter more bitter. If you really love the true essence of this beer, do not pair it with Cheez-It’s. I’ve only ever had to say this once before and that was a sherry, but let me repeat myself…IN NO CASE SHOULD YOU PAIR THIS WITH CHEEZ-IT’S!

Collective Arts Brewing has a fabulous program of pairing artists, musicians, video artists, etc. If anyone out there wants to join their long list of amazing artists, they are having a call out for “Amplified Voices”. From the site: “A call looking to expose issues of social justice and convey a sense of hope for a safer and more inclusive future.” Work fast because the deadline is August 31st.

@sugarburgbk @SugarburgNY @collectiveartsbrewing @collectivebrew @collectiveham #beer #porter #beerstagram @cheezits #cheezit @worldbyglass #needmorebeer #pairswithcheezits #strangerthanfictionporter #creativeartsbrewing #craftbeer #artplusbrewing #ontario #canada

Bubbles and a Boombox

Sanctum
Volk 2019
Pinot Noir 100%
Pét-Nat Rosé
Lipoglav, Lower Styria (Štajerska), Slovenia

Sparkling deep raspberry rose pour. Tons of bubbles and what a loud pop happened when uncapped. Loving the fizz. First sniff and there’s rose that fades away, then salt, fresh bright strawberries and raspberries, touch of tangerine, and a lot of tickling zing. Now for the taste, and it’s a cran-stawberry-raspberry cocktail. Dry yet juicy….hmmmm….it’s a delicious conundrum. Again there are lots of zesty bubbles, and something bakey…yeasty. My lips and tongue are tingling.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: super berry forward

This wild wolf of a pet nat is jamming 80s style, just check out that tie. What would go with this boombox? How about some good ol’ Big Audio Dynamite – C’mon Every Beatbox

@vinewinenyc @sanctum.wine @vinumusa @cheezits #wine #petnat #pétnat #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #vinewinenyc @worldbyglass #pinotnoir #slovenia #rose #rosé #bigaudiodynamite

Ruby Velvet Romance

Buli
Estate 44 2015
Toscano Rosso IGT
Siena Italy
Sangiovese 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah 20%
Organic

Gorgeous deep dark ruby glass. At first vanilla fragrance popped out of the bottle, and not long after was cherry, cola, some oak but not overpowering (it’s elegant like a beautiful romantic dance), plums, tiny flowers, and maybe a little basil. On my tongue is tart dark cherry, rustic oak and small smooth vanilla, plum and prune, a tad of white pepper, and smoky. As it opens it’s luscious and velvety.

Pairs with Cheez-its: Just pure lovely vanilla darkness and velvet. Light the candles and close the drapes.

This wine has so much romantic history. It is a story filled with Ukrainian immigrants, Pennsylvania, two U.S. Army men on a motorcycle in WW2 in search of a bottle of red wine in Tuscany, but instead one of them finding love at first sight. I could try to weave this tale, but truly, Robert Buly (the true spelling of his last name) does it best on his winery’s site, so please check it out here. Someone could and should make a movie of this story.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @buliwine @cheezits #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #organic #toscano #tuscany #siena #italy #Sangiovese #CabernetSauvignon #Merlot #Syrah

Caterpillar Caterpillar

Cantina San Biagio Vecchio
Cacciabruco 2018
Ravenna Bianco IGT
Faenza Emilia-Romagna Italy
Chardonnay 80%, Malvasia di Candia Aromatica 15%, Trebbiano 5%
Winemaker Andrea Balducci
Organic and indigenous yeasts

Color deep rich orange tinted gold due to the 8 days of skin contact. After admiring this gorgeous glass, breathe in orange zest, a little ginger like a gingerbread cookie, honeysuckle, flowers, and apricots. First sip and it’s very floral and then there’s melon, honeysuckle and downright honey. There’s also again delicious apricots and something a little bitter like an almond. This wine has such a heady enchanting mystical fairy-kissed richness.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Weeds out any almond or bitter. Just an explosion of flowers.

As I read about Cantina San Biagio Vecchio, Andrea Balducci named Cacciabruco after his daughter’s favorite song (well, it was her favorite song when she was 3). I have to say, it’s a whole lot better than Baby Shark. Let’s all dance and hunt that caterpillar.

Andrea and Lucia Balducci’s Cantina San Biagio Vecchio (from what I’m finding) is not just an organic winery, but they also grow the wheat Gentil Rosso. Gentil Rosso is an ancient grain that’s a soft wheat, which is great for cakes and pastries. The vineyards are situated in beautiful hills near the medieval Torre di Oriolo. The tower started out as an old castle that was transformed into a hexagonal military fortress in the late 1400s. Over the years it had been pillaged then restored, used as a dwelling for sharecroppers, in WW2 it became a place of for the citizens of Faenza to ride out bombings, and now restored again, it is a public place where you can a enjoy wine tasting, a night of music under the stars, or the wedding of your dreams.

Branching out to the Emilia-Romagna region. A 30ish minute drive from Faenza is Dozza, a town well known for their murals. The last Biennale del Muro Dipinto was in September 2019, and the town walls are the artists’ canvas. The works, new and old are so diverse in styles and content, but each has their own form of beauty.

Another 35 to 45 minute drive from Faenza is Ravenna. Ravenna is not so far from the Adriatic Sea and has eight monuments that are UNESCO Heritage sites. Each are spectacular, but the one that grabs me is the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. The mosaics are breathtaking. I just get lost in the arrays of blues and a sense of peace from the ceiling mosaic “The Garden of Eden”. “The Good Shepherd” is amazing in its own rights too. I have to say the sheep do look a bit pissed off by the shepherd. Ha! Seriously though, I truly have to find a way to get here when we can travel again.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @CantinaSanBiagioVecchio @visionwinebrands @murodipintodozza @TorreDiOriolo @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #Faenza #EmiliaRomagna #Chardonnay #MalvasiadiCandiaAromatica #Trebbiano #organic

Pucker Up

Trve Brewing Co.
World’s Blood
High Plains Ale
Denver, CO
Golden ale fermented in oak with spontaneous microbes
5.7% abv
Acquired at Sugarburg

A fuzzy gold pour. Letting it air out a little and then there’s lemon, tangerine, hoppiness, something yeasty and should I say bretty. Time for the sip. Whoa, this baby is lemony tart, then celery, yeasty (yeah, I’m talking like what was sprinkled on the free popcorn from my college dive bar days), refreshing, and super early green tart apple. There’s some funk, but I embrace it. The more I drink, the tart levels out a bit, but it is still there. Also some fresh green and dried white pepper. Honestly, this wild ale feels like a sour. As Trve says on their site, “Our beers may or may not exactly adhere to any particular guidelines – we’re style blasphemers and category agnostics – but you can count on the fact that we’ll always brew damn good beer.”

Pairs with Cheez-its: tones back the acid tart

For a heavy metal brewery, this isn’t exactly pairing with a metal song for me, but it’s a sharp sour fun summer beer.  Since it’s not working with metal for me, let’s lean in to the industrial side: Revolting Cocks “da ya think I’m sexy”

@SugarburgNY @sugarburgbk @trvebrewing #beer #ale #sourale #sour #wildale #beerstagram @cheezits #cheezit @worldbyglass #needmorebeer #pairswithcheezits #denver #colorado #revoltingcocks

Afternoon Delight

Conti di Buscareto
Rosè Brut
Sparkling wine
Charmat Method
Marche, Italy
Lacrima di Morro d’Alba 100%

A dancing glass of pale salmon with pretty bubbles. When first opened a vanilla whiff escaped but eventually ran away, roses follow along with sweet cherry and strawberries. Take a refreshing sip and there’s cherries with a touch of lemon. It’s dry, super fresh and perfect on this hot afternoon. Now all I need is to be sitting poolside with someone refilling my glass.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: fun and fresh and just overall smoothes it out

Lacrima translates to tears, but there’s definitely no need to shed any. This sparkler is a glass of happiness. Conti di Buscareto, I’m so happy to be introduced to you!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @buscareto @tedward.newyork @tedward.ws @cheezits #cheezit #wine #sparklingwine #charmat #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #rose #rosè #marche #lacrima #lacrimadimorrodalba

Like the Song of the Summer

Succès Vinicola
Patxanga Rosado 2019
D.O. Conca de Barberà
Catalonia Spain
Trepat 100%
Organic
Winemakers: Mariona Vendrell and Albert Canela

This is a deep and I mean a really deep rosado. Swirling and going in for the first sniff. Juicy cherry and watermelon hit you first. Next there’s salt, plums, strawberries, and something that may be basil. Trust me I’ve had a whole lot of basil lately due to summer. Now for the sip…there’s a tingle on the tongue. Dark cherry and watermelon explosion! Also some citrus tang, salt, and a dash of white pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: the tingle is still there but they intensify this watermelon cherry love gusher

This wine is like a song of the summer, you want to keep it on repeat. Since I’m reading all over that it’s hard to pinpoint the song of this summer, I’m picking a really old fab groove to pair with this lovely glass.

@vinewinenyc @succesvinicola @trumpetwine @cheezits #pairswithcheezits #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #cheezit #vinewinenyc #spain #catalonia #trepat #rosado #rose #rosé #organic #djjazzyjeffandthefreshprince #succesvinicola

Naked as the Day You’re Born

Terra di Briganti
Nato Nudo
Fiano 2018
Benevento IGP
Casalduni Campania Italy
Fiano 100%
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts

Super deep glistening gold. Inhale and then there’s blossoms, tangerine, some wafting salt, and then here comes the apples, pears, and something a bit herbal. Go in for the sip and there’s those pears and apples again. Add to that melon, honeysuckle, citrus peel tang, and spice that may be black pepper, or something dried. All I know is I want a plate of salame and mortadella.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: gives it a citrus zing lightness with a touch of celery

Nato Nudo means born naked, and is a natural unfiltered wine with no added sulfites. You can really smell, taste, and feel the benefit of the wild rugged land where the guyot trained Fiano grows.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @TerradiBriganti @steephillwine #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #fiano #Benevento #Casalduni #Campania #organic #biodynamic #vegan

Let’s Hear it for the Bugs!

Christina
Zweigelt Rosé 2019
Göttlesbrunn Carnuntum Austria
Zweigelt 100%
Winemaker Christina Netzl
Organic

A glass of really deep flaming cloudy rosé. Sniff and there’s cherry, watermelon, sea breeze, citrus peel, and mineral. Just a beautiful refreshing fragrance. Tip your glass and take a sip. Whoa it’s super fruity. Again there’s delicious watermelon, tart cherry, some lemon tang, and I do believe pepper. Oh this is so easy to drink, but take your time, unless you have a backup bottle in the fridge.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Sweetens the cherry watermelon

The Netzl family has six generations of wine history, and Christina has taken it to the natural side. She grew up on her parents farm/vineyard (in Carnuntum, Austria) learning the ways of the vine. As her family began further focusing on the wine, she also continued her education in London. Upon her return home, she navigated the winery to it’s now organic status, which is heralded on the labels of her Christina line. I’m a big bee and bug backer, and these cheerful illustrations of the beneficial inhabitants of the vineyard tell it all. There’s no pesticides here. Also interestingly enough, Fritz Zweigelt, who had doctorate in entomology, is the father of the grape Zweigelt. Back in the 1920s he crossed Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent grapes to come up with this hybrid.

On to Carnuntum…what a history, an ancient Roman fortress and a destination on the Amber Road. Now from what I’m reading, it’s a treasure trove for archeologists, and as seen in Christina’s wine, an amazing place to have a vineyard from the rich soil influenced by the Danube. Visiting the city’s website, introduced me to Heidentor or also known as “Heathen’s Gate” which is quite weathered yet still majestic. Their site also has a digital rendering of how it probably looked when it was first constructed back in 351–361 AD. There’s also remains of amphitheaters and a gladiator school which they also recreate here. Alright, while watching the video and listening to the dramatic music, it made me have a GOT moment. Started waiting to see if a dragon would fly in and crisp everyone.

Turning away from the city and now heading to Donau-auen National Park, which is a floodplain area along the Danube. I thought, I was just going to be enjoying discovering the wildlife and land, but as I research, I’ve discovered a political movement that saved and created this area. As industry developed and hydroelectric plants and dams popped up along the Danube, Austrian environmentalists stood up and made their voices herd. They protested and encamped themselves to stop the destruction of nature. The police could not even move them. Thousands occupied the Hainburg area to stop the deforestation which became known as the Hainburg Movement. This led to their Supreme Court stopping the clearing of the land and eventually the power plant losing their fight. Thank goodness! Think of how different this area would be, if people just sat back and let their precious water, wildlife and forests be destroyed. Here’s a gorgeous video provided by the park. Wow, to wake up and see such lush beauty each morning would be amazing. This is definitely a place that was and is worth fighting for.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @Weingut-Franz-Christine-Netzl @christina_netzl @JennyandFrancois @jennyfrancois @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #organic #rosé #rose #zweigelt #Carnuntum #Austria #Danube