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Michel Nartz
Cui Cui
Crémant D’Alsace
Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Riesling, Pinot Gris
Alsace, Dambach-la-Ville, France
Sustainable
Winemaker: Laurence Nartz

Sparkling golden glass with tiny bubbles. Inhaling creamy vanilla, orange peel and tangerine but super light. There’s some natural funk, but I just opened this and it rapidly fades away. It’s clean, dry and a little nutty. Sipping apple that has a slight cider feel, also a citrus combo, then it goes all mellow, creamy and some toastiness with vanilla. This is crisp and regal and is making my day!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the toast

The happy little birds on the bottle give this lovely sparkler its name “Cui Cui”, and from what I’m finding is the way they chirp in France. As for the contents of this bottle, Laurence Nartz is the fine winemaker responsible for this delightful bubbly. Her parents Gaby and Michel Nartz founded the winery, but have now left the winemaking part to her. They’re focused more on the vineyards and their 17th century home/bed and breakfast which is also listed as a historic monument. Oh would be so lovely to go for a tasting and stay for the evening learning more about their wines, land and the old town Dambach-la-Ville and their medieval walls.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny #MichelNartz @communalbrands @cheezits #cheezit #wine #cremantdalsace #sparklingwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #LaurenceNartz #Pinot Blanc #Auxerrois #Riesling #Pinot Gris #Alsace #France

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Where’s My Burger?

Château d’Oupia
Les Hérétiques 2018
Pays d’Hérault IGP
Languedoc, France
Carignan 90%, Syrah 10%
Sustainable farming
Owner: Marie-Pierre Iché
Winemaker: Laurent Battle

Beautiful shining ruby just like those famous slippers. Inhaling buttery that goes away to develop into flowers, cherries, raspberries, plums, and earthy dried pine straws. Sipping dark cherry and dried cherries, raspberries, blueberries and a smidge of pepper. This is screaming for a really good fatty burger, or maybe that’s me screaming for that burger. Where on earth is it? Oh, and don’t forget that side of salt and pepper fries to go with that…Sugarburg any chance you’re delivering at this hour?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes the wine more bold and structured.

Marie-Pierre Iché and her mother are now in charge of the Château (along with winemaker Laurent Battle), but Marie-Pierre’s father, André Iché, paved the way for them. As others in Languedoc were just selling their harvest for basically nothing to a co-op, he decided to invest in more sites that he knew would in the end produce in his favor. Being the only independent winemaker around, he took full  advantage of the wonderful terroir and produce quality yet affordable wines. The tales I’m reading, this was an amazing man who had a deep romance with his land, not just for the soil but also the historical beauty that surrounded him. Raising a glass to him and his family, who continue his dream!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @chateauoupia @louisdressnerselections @sugarburgbk @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits  #sustainable #naturalwine #LesHérétiques #France #Languedoc #Syrah #Carignan

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Loving The Alien

Bodegas Maestro Tejero
El Marciano 2018
100% Garnacha (my favorite)
Vino de la Tierra de Castillo y León
Sierra de Gredos, Navarredondilla, Avila, Spain
Biodynamic and organic (but not certified); wild yeasts
Winemaker: Alfredo Maestro

Deep purple ruby goblet. Scents of dark flowers, deep cherry, black pepper, and sweet ripe yellow plums. First taste is a snappy cherry, orange, pepper, earthy funk, and throw in some cardamon. Sweetness yet then tangy. It’s such an interesting combo on each sip. Going from the fruit, pepper, sweet and earth and back around again. Light and fresh and young

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: more tangy earth

Alfredo Maestro is another one of those amazing self taught winemakers that I keep stumbling upon in my wine wanderings. Started out as an economist with interest in wine, so he picked up some books, started with trial and error and testing on his friends to see where it would go. The less chemicals and more natural/old school he went…the more he and his test subjects knew he was on to something. As the old saying goes…less is more. He also learned to listen to the land, the plants, and revert to an old school tractor known as a horse. So let’s talk about the label on “El Marciano” which means the Martian. The village Navarredondilla atop of Sierra de Gredos is a hot spot for checking out UFOs. According to Alfredo, he found two Martians working in his vineyard and thus the tale was born. So here’s the question, do Martians like wine? And if so have their been sightings of tipsy weaving UFOs in the area? Either way, this wine is fun and fabulous and as the David Bowie song title says, I’m “Loving The Alien”.

@vinewinenyc @alfredo_maestro @josepastorselections @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #organic #biodynamic @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Garnacha #SierradeGredos #Navarredondilla #Avila #Spain #martians #ufos #AlfredoMaestro #DavidBowie

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An Ancient Grape for Modern Times

Winzerkeller Auggener Schaf
Gertie and Max 2019
Produced & Bottled for Willie Glückstern Selections
Gutedel QbA Trocken
Markgräflerland, Baden, Germany

Pretty dainty straw yellow. Inhaling melon, grapefruit (but not overly strong…this ain’t an IPA), nuttiness, and vanilla. Sipping lemon/citrus, pear, melon, and dragging a honeysuckle stamen over my tongue. There’s also something mineral and some almond going on.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: this is the best ever pairing. They are meant for each other. Nothing changes except the sweetness is heightened

For all of you thinking this bottle was picked for it’s cute label, well sorry to disappoint you. This was picked for the delightful wine it truly is and the Gutedel grape is it made from. Gutedel (also known as Chasselas in other places) can be traced back 5000 years ago being cultivated by the Egyptians. Spread from there to the Romans and Greeks and then transported to France and Germany and elsewhere and is still spreading even to the UK from what I’m finding. For the best I’d stick with Markgräflerland.

Back to the label, yes the vineyard mice are enchanting…so enchanting that I googled mice wine thinking others may have used them in their art. Well, don’t google it. You won’t like what you find. It’s horrific. It’s something you can’t unsee. Just stick with enjoying another glass of Gertie and Max. I’m on my second hoping it will help me forget.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @auggenerschaef @bowlerwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #whitewine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #gertieandmax #gutedel #chasselas #trocken #Markgräflerland #Baden #Germany #WillieGlückstern #williegluckstern

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Hopping Down that Trail

Stillwater Artisanal/AZ Wilderness
Stillwater Is Nothing Big Bunny Is Everything Stout*
*AZ Wilderness approves this message
Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout
8% ABV
Brewed & canned in Stratford, CT
Stillwater Brewer and Owner: Brian Strumke

Dark deep chocolate espresso with a half inch tan head. Wow the aroma of chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! Both milk and dark. Also espresso and a toastiness. Drinking in more dark chocolate but there is milk too. It’s also kind of like a baker’s chocolate cookie which I love to eat. Deep coffee/espresso and I’m talking good espresso that you get in Italy or even at Cafe Zurich in Barcelona. They make a fabulous one. Back to the beer…I’m getting a bit of hazelnut too. Absolutely delicious, and I don’t want to put my glass down.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly it only makes it a bit bitter, so if you like it bitter, then go for it.

This is my second Stillwater. First was their Extra Dry Sake Style Saison which is a complete polar opposite to the Bunny but they both are consistently fabulous. This chocolate bunny is not like the type you get in your Easter basket, but I wouldn’t mind it if it was. It’s a much greater quality. It’s like trying to compare one of those minis that you get around Halloween to a great Belgian dark chocolate truffle. Awesome collaboration with AZ Wilderness too. Now, I have to track down one of their non-collabs around here.

@stillwater.artisanal @azwilderness @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelvepercentbeerproject @cheezits #stillwater #brianstrumke #beer #stout #chocolatestout #chocolatemilkstout #cheezit @worldbyglass #nomad #pairswithcheezits #stillwaterartisanal #arizonawildernessbrewing #CT #AZ

 

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For a Good Time…Shake In Bottle

Wandering Barman
Socialite
Old Fashioned with elderflower gin
28% ABV
Ridgewood, NY
Mixmasters/founders: Julian Mohamed, Roxane Mollicchi, and Darren Grenia

Hazy cucumber juice green on the rocks. Mmmm smelling fresh cucumbers, delicate flowers, salt, and gin. I can already sense what is coming before it even hits my lips. Whoooo! Cucumber and elderflower gin that has a bit of a burn down your throat at first but give it a second sip and smoooooth and sweet which is definitely from cane sugar and an aftertaste of light pine. What better drink to have while I’m quarantined due to flying to see my mom. It’s refreshing, cool, elegant, lovely, and dare I say classy.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the sweetness and cucumber

So I was questioning a cocktail in a bottle. I’ve tested some that seemed not quite right, but yes I got sucked in by the label, and it was at a shop I trust. Very glad I went with my gut, and purchased not just one but two and now having a twang of regret that I didn’t grab two more. Follow the instructions on the cap as it says, “shake in bottle” and then pour over some rocks. Had I not been the one pouring this cocktail, I would have thought it was all fresh made. From what I’m reading, restaurants and venues have been snapping them up. Definitely would ease up on time waiting in a line at a concert or play (well, when we get to go back to those again). Also seeing that Wandering Barman creates their own bitters, syrups, and infusions and hold them to a high quality. “Socialite” definitely hits high quality in my book. Oh, just noticing on the back label that 1% of profits is donated to alcohol addiction support groups. Always nice to see people giving back!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @wanderingbarman @cheezits #cheezit #wine #cocktails #spirits #bitters #gin #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #socialite #ridgewood #Brooklyn #newyork

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Ancestropetnoise

Maloof Wines
‘L’Eau Epicée’ 2019
Sparkling White
50% Riesling, 30% Gewürztraminer, 20% skin-contact Gewürztraminer
Willamette Valley, Forest Grove, Oregon
Minimal Intervention, native yeast, organic
Winemakers: Bee & Ross Maloof (wife & husband)

Hazy effervescent gold with a bit of that contact orange. Sniffing and there’s floral bursts which turn to orange blossoms, orange and Orangina, some salt, a spiciness like coriander, and possibly a little grass. Tasting and yep, it’s orange, tangerine, and Orangina. It’s fizzy, crisp, and dry with salt and blossoms again and a warm spice that’s a little peppery at the end

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm more crisp and vibrant and lemony

From what I’m reading about how the 2019, came about, I find it best to just quote Ross Maloof’s own words on David Bowler Wine’s site to get all the juicy details.

“From Ross: This one is a little bit of a doozy.  We pressed the riesling and the gewurz separately, to ferment in neutral oak. A little under half of the Gewurz was fermented in open bins on the skins until dry, then pressed off into barrels.  From there we essentially made still wine out of all of these lots.  When we pressed the riesling, we took a bunch of the must and put into 5gallon buckets and threw them in our chest freezer.  Just after the primary fermentation of the Riesling was through, we racked the wine(s) into tank.  From here, we thawed out a particular amount of the frozen must we held back at crush, threw it in the tank, stirred it all up real good, and bottled in the middle of the winter to lay down in tirage bins.  Come spring and boom, bubbles! We think this is most similar to an ancestral method, hence the back of the bottle stating “Ancestral?”  Since then, we’ve adopted a portmanteau of Champenoise, Ancestral, and Petnat… Ancestropetnoise.”

I think Ancestropetnoise is going to catch on!

@vinewinenyc @maloofwines @bowlerwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #sparklingwine #champenoise #Ancestral #petnat #pétnat #organic @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Riesling #Gewürztraminer #WillametteValley #ForestGrove #Oregon #MaloofWines

 

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Sexy Time

Mas Del Périé
You F&@K My Wine ?! 2019 (also spelled in many other ways but you get the point)
Vin de France
Le Bourg, Occitanie, France
Jurançon Noir
Biodynamic, organic, native yeasts
Winemaker: Fabian Jouves

Cran-cherry dark cocktail color. Just as I lift my glass there’s intense flowers, berries such as raspberries and strawberries, Froot Loops, and very light Za’atar smashed with Cola. Sipping again those berries but more…strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cherry jolly rancher. It’s light, fun and of all it’s a playful “sexy time” afternoon wine. Let’s all take a roll. If you need inspiration, just check out the positions on the label

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Dark fruit punch. Oh Yeah!

I want to shake Fabian Jouves’ hand (a big Paul Hollywood handshake). This man is full on bio, organic, etc. and this wine totally sings it. Which brings me to the name and label, “You F&@K My Wine ?!“ Evidently his use of Jurançon Noir was frowned upon by Cahors AOC laws, and that variety isn’t included. So, I applaud his bucking their rules and in my interpretation (I’ve never met the fellow)…a way to giving them the finger by creating this delicious bottle. Let’s also give a nod to De Niro’s infamous scene: Raging Bull

Sidenote: Can you guess how many different films and tv bits are referred to in this post?

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @fabienjouves @zevrovineselections @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #masdelpérié #jurançonnoir #Biodynamic #organic #nativeyeasts #naturalwine #FabianJouves #LeBourg #Occitanie #France #robertdeniro #ragingbull @boratsagdiyev @sachabaroncohen #sexytime #Borat

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We Are Family

Cantina Stroppiana
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC 2017
La Morra, Italy
100% Dolcetto
Winemaking Family: Dario (dad), Stefania (mom), Leonardo (son) and Altea (daughter)

Deep beautiful dark ruby glass. First thing that hits your nose are the cherries, followed by strawberries, which then blueberries appear. This is fruity fun. Oh now comes a spice that is warm…I almost have it…it’s like a tiny pinch of holiday style cinnamon/clove. Nice and smooth. Again with the first sip is cherry, plum that’s deep almost prune but not that dried thing darkness. Next sip and all of a sudden strawberries that turn into blackberries with seeds and all. You know the fresh picked ones that are well worth digging through the bramble and thorns and eating fresh as the juice dribbles down your chin. Those type of blackberries. It’s a wine that you can relax to and it’s true velvet with a little rustic earth. This is couture and not RTW.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it earthy warm and more rustic. I love it this pairing!

Passed down from Dario’s grandfather and his father, Cantina Stroppiana is a full on family affair. Dario learned from his grandfather and then took it a step further with agricultural school, or as he calls it, “the best of both worlds”. Stefania (Dario’s wife) also came from a farming background, but later in life went into nursing and this is how they met. She is now all in working with the vineyard and as she says, “I’ll always be left wondering whether it was me or my vineyards that Dario fell in love with first?!” That makes me smile. Stefania, I’m betting it was you first. Their children also took to different paths. Leonardo went into business communications but knows that it will help with the Cantina. Altea turned to the arts and in particular sculpture (I would love to see some of her creations) and realized her love for the land and is learning and working in all aspects of the winery. Oh, and they both have wines named after them! All of this warms my heart. Family is so important and to be able to work like a well oiled machine altogether is so wonderful. One more thing to add is that they not only cultivate the vines and make their wine, but they also have hazelnuts! Their’s is Tonda Gentile Trilobata which is known as the best hazelnut in the world. Come to think of it, I bet a nice hazelnut cookie would go great with this dolcetto. I think I might have to go dig through the cabinet and find one, pour another glass and turn on some good ol’ happy Sister Sledge – We Are Family

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @cantina_stroppiana @steephillwine @antosicurezza @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #LaMorra #steephillwine #CantinaStroppiana ##DolcettodAlba #Dolcetto #hazelnut #SisterSledge #wearefamily