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Graceful Composition

Georgas Family
Retsina of Mesogia
Black Label
100% Savatiano
Biodynamic, organic, hand harvested, unfined, unfiltered, skin contact & fresh local pine resin
Spata, Attica, Greece
Family winery in the hands of latest generation: Dimitris Georgas

Yellow gold that deepens over time. Tickling my nose upfront is citrusy (lemon, tangerine, valencia orange) pine, yellow roses, wafts of wintergreen, eucalyptus and a bit of Ricola. It totally clears your sinuses in a good refreshing way. All of the smells are in the taste and it really wakes up my mouth, and the citrus blend becomes more prevalent. It’s a unique and delightful glassful that is full of surprises, and right now I’m thinking there’s some smoked piggy this would match well with and heck even a hot pastrami on rye.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO

Filled with tradition, the Georgas Family winery has been passed through the generations. The latest, Dimitris, originally followed another path with degrees in geology, oceanography, and environmental management, but returned after inheriting from his father. My guess is that his studies had a bit of influence on where their vineyards, wines, etc. are now with organic and biodynamic. So, the more good retsinas I try, I’m discovering they are at times fun & delightful and also can be structured & full of depth but always bursting with creativity. In this bottle it’s reverberates and vibrates like a Zoë Keating composition filled with passion and emotion. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #savatiano #Spata #Greece #Retsina #organic #biodynamic #zoekeating @georgas_family @eklektikon @docwineshop @cheezit

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Flying Through Time

Vína Herzánovi
Pét-Nat Rosé 2020
Cabernet Moravia, St Laurent
Biodynamic, indigenous yeast, unfined
Kobylí, Moravia, Czech Republic
Owner & winemaker: Jakub Herzán along with sister Zuzana and girlfriend Sandra

Shining electric 80s magenta rose. One sniff and…swoop!…I’m transported back home (as a kid) on a hot summer day. It’s that smell of wild berries picked in the heat and the stems/brambles around them, tomato leaves and also field flowers that share that earth/greenish smell, and a sprinkle of warm spice. Sip and hello, I’m instantly back in my apartment (and the adult me but I still know how to have childlike wonderment & fun) it’s a delightful fresh raspberry and blackberry cocktail blended with cranberry, a dash of peppercorn, a spritz of lemon and a tongue vibrating tingle. Well, you can definitely time travel with this bottle without a “Folding”.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nah

Vína Herzánovi is a small family winery now in the hands of the 2nd generation that believe less is more and treat their environment with genuine care so nature can do a lot of the nurturing. Love that they have a dream of one day having a horse to help out in the vines instead of some big green tractor. I also think there’s also a touch of ✨magic✨ in this bio bottle, since it took me traveling through space and time. BTW needless to say it pairs incredibly well with “Paper Girls”. If you haven’t gotten around to reading or watching, just pop open this Pét-Nat Rosé, pop your favorite mixtape into your Walkman, and keep your eyes peeled for the purple glow.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #PétNat #petnat #Rosé #rose #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #80s #Moravia #CzechRepublic #StLaurent #Cabernet #naturalwine #biodynamic #PaperGirls #Danzig #cliffchiang #briankvaughan @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @vinaherzanovi @jennyfrancois @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Special Enough For A 2nd Look

Lectores Vini
Pomagrana Red 2021
100% Trepat
Conca de Barberà
Organic, hand harvested, native yeasts
Penedès, Cataluña, Spain
Winemakers/Owners: Fredi Torres & Marc Lecha

First and very important…chill this baby! Deep shining rose with blue pops. Creamy plush scent start that heads into raspberries, strawberries, pomegranates, cherries, and nice shake of white pepper. This is a lovely flavorful fruit cocktail of strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate, and a citrus splash of lemons & blood oranges. It’s juicy with a little granite/cement floor and shall I say flirty “you hoo, hey there!”…that makes me give a 2nd over the shoulder glance, turn around and go back for more. It’s just delicious, not too sweet/just the right fit, and easy drinking,

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it even more juicy

Well I got my wish…the 2nd Pomagrana. It’s a whole different beast (ok beast really isn’t the right word because it’s more of a glammy, fun beauty). Mr. Torres & Lecha bring their talent to the party again (see Artistic Expression By Bottle & Street), and also the design work of Goho Studios. The labels for the Red & Blanco gracefully guide you to the secrets that await, and I’m going to have mention Goho Estudio’s film “BCN Rise&Fall” again, because just like these wines, you’re going to want to revisit it again. I always love giving art/wines a 2nd gander to find something special I might have overlooked. Check it out, bc it’ll give you an insight on Barcelona’s street art history, the zines, shops for cans, the culture, the govt. that at times wipes it out and “penalizes genuine artistic expression”, and most of all the human side of it.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Xarello #Cataluña #Spain #Barcelona #streetart @SelectionsDeLaVina @gohoestudio @lectoresvini @docwineshop @cheezit

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Drink Well, Live Well

Domaine Chasselay
Quatre Saisons 2020
Appellation Beaujolais Controlée
100% Gamay
Organic
Châtillon d’Azergues, France
Family winery: Jean-Gilles & Christiane (parents), Fabien & Claire Chasselay

Give this one a nice cave chill. Ruby with a little bluish coating kind of like those questionable yet so loved rubber coated jeans I had from the 80s. I wish mom hadn’t put them out at a yard sale. Sniffing a pretty bouquet of lilies, lilacs, iris, violets & a sprinkling of other flowers, cherries, raspberries, a fennel frond, snd give it a little time and here comes that welcome forest floor. Wait a bit more and there’s salt cured black Morrocan olives and their pits, and then the flowers creep back in with orange zest. Tasting a blend of cherries, raspberries & orange zest (not heavy at all but full of flavors), that bunch of flowers again, alpine herbal, elderflower, anise, and that olive pit comes back to even it all out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: darker deeper funkier, yeah!

How far back can you trace your family tree? The Chasselays, at least in wine growing date back to 1464, which is pretty darn old…in fact they’re one of the oldest wineries in Beaujolais, and one of the early ones going organic (certified in 2006). Obviously there’s no weedkillers and those other nasty chemicals, but plenty of natural love for their vines through cultivating beneficial flora and fauna. I love their “Drink Well, Live Well” part of their site because it just shows that this family truly cares for their friends. You’ll find not only the Domaine’s goodies in their cellar store, you’ll also find wine and beers they’re promoting for their friends. Now that’s just beautifully neighborly.🍻

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #beer #instawine #winemaking @worldbyglass #Gamay #Beaujolais #France #drinkwell #livewell #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @martineswines @docwineshop @docwinebar @domainejgchasselay @cheezit

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Butterfly Kisses

Famille Bonnin
La Croix des Loges
Anjou Blanc Sec 2021
100% Chenin Blanc
Anjou Blanc AOC
Sustainable, Terra Vitis certification, HVE 3
Martigné-Briand, Loire, France
Winemakers: Jean-Christian and Sophie Bonnin

Pale or even icy yellow green (Can you tell I’m still in the middle of a heatwave? Embracing anything icy even if in color.) Cool and fresh scents of apricots, peaches, little spring blossoms, wet granite, and mellow pear. Sip and it’s light, easy and not overly well everything. Kind of like butterfly kisses…it just gently wakes your tongue to those apricots again, peaches, pear, some honeydew straight from the cooler, a fresh twinge of citrus/tangerine spark, and a lick of that wet granite again. Just simply beautiful…

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Gives it a kick! I like this one both ways.

The Famille Bonnin have deep roots (ok bad vine pun) to Martigné-Briand, dating back to 1920, and they’ve stayed on the wine track all these years. The current generation has kept up their momentum and passion through traditions, modernizing, and proving their love for their environment with certification & transparency. As it says on Steep Hill Imports’ site, their manifesto is “Life is beautiful!“, and this bottle will melodically remind you by each glass. On a personal note, this was a much needed nudge because I’ve had some crazy things thrown my way lately. Famille Bonnin, thank you for turning my vision back to the simple elegance of finding happiness in the little things in life. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking @worldbyglass #cheninblanc #anjou #Loire #France #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #lifeisbeautiful #steephillwine @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @famille_bonnin @cheezit

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Pure Naked Force Of Nature

Galactic Wines
Saravá
Loureiro 2020
Vinho Branco
Sustainable, indigenous yeast, unfiltered, and very natural
Minho, Portugal
Winemakers: MIguel and Leli Viseu

Warm medium golden starlight. Breathing in white peaches, hyacinth wafts, mango, salt, and clean slate…just fresh.  Sipping and here comes those white peaches joined with apricot, citrus blend spark, a rocky sort of salt, and it’s bright and full of life. It’s not like beer or cider, but If you’re into crisp beer and cider, then I think you’re going to like it. Does that make sense? I love this wine for it’s honest, pure beauty inside and outside the bottle. Seriously, doesn’t this slender tall bottle just scream, “take me home!”.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: actually pretty darn good

In the whole universe these two stars found each other and created their own galaxy or should I say Galactic in Portugal. Every time you globe trip for work/life, you bring a part back with you and in Miguel’s case he brought back Leli from Brazil (along with making way through France, Italy, Napa, and Mozambique). Their combined passion for wine, healthy food, nature, humanity (children’s education rights in particular), and now family help drive their natural Saravá (Force of Nature) and a shared project with friends Nua (Naked) Cider and I sooo love cider! Hoping that I can find a bottle and try their indigenous rare Portuguese apples. I bet they are absolutely delicious.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cider #winestagram #instawine #Minho #portugal #Loureiro #naturalwine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #galacticwines @louisdressnerselections @sarava.wine @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Breaking The Cycle

Gabernik 23
Pét-Nat 2020
Sparkling Wine
100% Rumeni Muškat
Sustainable, organic, vegan, hand harvested
Štajerska, Slovenia
Small family owned winery passed down from father to son
Owner: Janko Bogatic
Winemaker: Nicholas Gee

Hazy warm gold with super active white bubbles dancing on the rim. Breathe in and there’s a puff of a “big fat yeast roll” (If you’re a child of the 90s you’ll remember), limes, lemons along with a little lemon hard candy, ginger liveliness, and naturally effervescent water with a little mineral sniff. Sipping and oh all the scents are here in flavor! It’s crisp lemon lime spritzy, more of that ginger, a smidge of a bit of greenery, slivers of mango & banana, and a seltzer dry feel. Yeah, this is good, and it takes me on a refreshing vacation.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: crisp cocktail and fine but prefer without

I love how Gabernik 23 keeps bringing bottles of happiness! They’ve brought me out of my overthinking funk that last week presented me with a ridiculous writer’s block. Just like how this pét-nat coaxed me out of my hamster wheel cycle of banging my head against my desk, Janko and Nicolas finessed a dry & vivacious bubbly from Yellow Muscat. As a kid picking our muscat, I would have never have thought they could be turned into something this fresh, poppy, and crisp. Bravo! 🥂

Oh and side note…Janko, love your “Zero Fs Were Given” t-shirt…seems we are of the same mind.

#wine #PetNat #PétNat #sparklingwine #bubbly #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #RumeniMuškat #rumenimuskat #winestagram #instawine #zerofucksgiven @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Slovenia #gabernik23 @vsiwine @gabernik23 @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

 

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Right Here, Right Now!

Terra di Briganti
Benepop Vol. I 2021
Pét-Nat
50% Falanghina, 50% Fiano
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts
Sannio, Campania, Italy
Winemakers: Toni and Romeo De Cicco

Very orange golden and active white bubbles tracing cryptic designs on the surface. So many scents all at once! It’s s blend of creaminess & citrus, bananas (Stuart why are you looking at me like that?), papaya, lemon/lime breeze in with apples and orchard blossoms. Taking a sip and BOOM…again it’s everything! No wonder I keep hearing people love this pet. There’s a creamy feel, citrus soda (not sweet), mango, apple cider, sharp apple/pear with a twinge of bitter bite of skin, fresh, crisp & still fragrant goodness, a touch of white pepper, and a smidge of a stripped young apple tree branch (it just popped out of a childhood memory). This just vibrates of life and fun! Could I please have a fountain of this?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh this is the sweet spot! Buy a box

So this is my 6th Terra di Briganti, does this make me a superfan? Benepop now takes the top spot on my list, unseating my oh so loved, Sciascinoso. I have ordered glasses of that wine so many times I’ve lost count. Well, this is definitely going to be the soundtrack of my summer. There’s so much going on with this beauty, I can’t pick just one song to sum it up. It deserves a whole DJ set from the ageless Norman Cook. This one’s an hour and a half so grab a few bottles and get ready to groove…Right Here, Right Now!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #benepop #worldbyglass #fatboyslim #righthererightnow #minions #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Falanghina #Fiano #steephillwine @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @terradibriganti @cheezit

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Prawns Gone Wild

Jaume Prats
BimBollí 2020
Manto Negro, Fogoneu
Organic, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, unfined, unfiltered
Mallorca, Spain
Winemaker: Jaume Prats

Orange red/rose streaked sunset. Breathing strawberries, cherries, and while the glass is still really cold there’s an herbal fragrance like thyme & oregano twisted together, then blood oranges, a wisp of hay, a little funk that blooms into a deeper strawberry scented rose, and as it warms up orange zest appears. Sipping strawberries at all stages, from very young and tart to just the right ripe, cherries, a minerally lick of granite with a drop of saltiness and a little sizzle. Some hay pops out, waves & says goodbye, there’s that orange zest again as it opens and a squish of lemon-lime too, and a lingering smokiness in the back.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I was right to not want to try this pairing. ICK

Can someone please tell me the true meaning of BimBollí? I don’t care if it is naughty, but I have gone down a rabbit hole searching and well, let’s say it’s been interesting (could it be rooted in malespín, or am I the one that is the fool?). Anyway back to this scrumptious wine and Jaume Prats. He embraces grapes of his native Mallorca and naturally nurtures them (via the call vermell) to tell their own wild bottled tale. As for tales or rather tails…I go back to questioning…why is there a prawn joyriding on a scooter? This has to be a fun story, so please someone let me know!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #petnat #pétnat #winestagram #instawine #Mallorca #Spain #mantonegro #fogoneu #scooter #vespa #prawns #shrimp #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #bimbolli #JaumePrats @jaumet.vi @josepastorselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Historic Passion

Castello di Rubbia
100% Terrano 2013
Carso-Kras DOC
Biodynamic, indigenous yeasts, unfiltered
San Michele del Carso, Gorizia, Friuli, Italy
Owner & winemaker: Nataša Černic

Ruby with a magenta rim. Scents start off with prunes & plums, a tad of an oreo center, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and bit of licorice, and other herbal alpine delights. Ooh I love this..tasting fresh cherries and a cocktail of raspbluestrawberry, red plums, a smidge of hay, a tangy flair and at times rare meaty feel but it’s not heavy. Also on the back there’s a mineral salt goodness that you would find mixed with a rare bloody steak so yeah, order one! And not to be left off, white and black pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: eh goes all super tart so I vote no

Passion is a word you may think I throw around a lot. I don’t use it as some romance filled lovey-dovey thing, but a very deep and important emotional term. Nataša Černic and her family have exactly that and you can see it in their wines, pursuit to rebuild what war has damaged, and respect & never forget the history of their land, architecture, people, and native grapes. As said on their site, “San Michele del Carso is our place in the Universe” so what better reason for that passion. You can take a tour of the vineyards, local monuments, remnants of battle, the old castle/grounds, and view the marks that history has left, learn from the past, and see where the future will take them. I bet it’s going to be naturally and artistically beautiful.

wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #redwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #CarsoKras #sanmicheledelcarso #Gorizia #Friuli #biodynamic #organic #Terrano @castellodirubbia @soilairselection @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit