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Going To Italy Via Brooklyn

St. Agrestis
Spritz
St. Agrestis Inferno Bitter, house-made Torino style vermouth & Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin
12% ABV
Brooklyn (Greenpoint), NY
Louis & Matt Catizone, Steven DeAngelo

Dark amber pour with peachy pink active bubbles. Scents float up of tomato plants & leaves, fir, alpine herbs, hyssop, juniper, singed orange/tangerine & other citrus rind, and as opens orange blossoms. Sipping and it’s all of the above with a good bitter bite, anise, the edible center of a peach pit, almonds and all of it mellows out the longer I linger. Takes me back to an old memory of gliding out onto the pond on a summer night watching the stars twinkle like this drink sparkles.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: surprisingly good, mellow & kinda like a touch of RC Cola

Well, I have to give St. Agrestis’ a 10 for being both delicious & fun! It transports me to Italy for Aperitivo time, or if you want to find an authentic one in Brooklyn, head to DOC Wine Bar for cocktails and a snack. Anyway, the tale of how these bottle came into creation, stems from that same longing for the real Italian deal. Louis & Matt grew up in an Italian family (in NJ) that kept traditions of their heritage, and one of these really makes me smile. Their folks sent them to school with not the dull PBJs many of the other kids were stuck with in their brown paper bags, but they got a true treat of “soppressatta on Nonnina’s freshly baked pane with a small bitter Italian soda”. Oh, what I wouldn’t have given in grade school to have that after recess. Cheers to Louis, Matt & Steven for keeping it lively, modern, chic and real in Brooklyn.🥂

#cocktails #spritztime #aperitivotime #cocktailsofinstagram #smallbusiness #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #aperitivo #friyay #weekend #weekendvibes #worldbyglass #greenpoint #brooklyn #docwinebar #docwineshop #stagrestis @cheezit @docwinebarny @docwineshop

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Life’s Way Too Short…

Protector Cellars
Central Coast Rosé
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
250 ml
Grapes from certified sustainable vineyards, climate positive, 1 tree planted for each wine sold
Paso Robles AVA
Santa Maria, CA
Alex Katz

Shining electric 80s pinky light magenta/orange (it’s so pretty). Breathing in cherries, pomegranate, young not quite ripe strawberries & raspberries still growing in the yard, and fresh rained on gravel. Sipping and there’s strawberries, raspberries & a blend of other bouncing berries, tart cherries, yellow plums, a teeny lemon/lime squeeze sizzle, not fully ripe watermelon, and over time a little bit of earth depth (in a good way & not one of those poop wines). It’s like a happy burst of summer waving from the can, and a very easy drinker.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: bleh

This was an impulse buy at the register, and ended up being a happy one. Turns out Protector Cellars is as they say, “the world’s first climate positive winery”. Not only are the grapes sourced from sustainable vineyards, but they take into account how to package it as in these cans. Both of those choices cut significantly on their greenhouse gas emissions and then they take it a step further….for every wine bought, 1 tree is planted through their relationship with “Trees For The Future” (check out their good work @treesforthefuture). This is an initiative and collaboration I can get behind, and same goes for Protector’s quote, “no excuses, no compromises, no CRAPPY WINE”. Believe me, life is just way too short for crappy wine. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #wineinacan #cannedwine #Rosé #sustainable #winestagram #instawine #climatepositive #carbonneutral #lifeisshort #winelover #winetasting #winetime #california  #protectorcellars #vinewine #vinewinenyc

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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