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Perfume of Adventure

Vinos Malaparte
Pico Lunar Amphora
Tempranillo
Natural farming, no pesticides or herbicides, indigenous yeasts & spontaneous fermentation, aged 8 months in amphorae
Cuéllar, Segovia, Spain
Winemaking family: Mariano de Frutos, Elisa de Frutos, Ruben Salamanca

Deep purple tapestry with a ruby rim. Holding the glass up and a puff of buttery caramel that floats out and then morphs into cherries, biscotti, raisins, cola, forest fronds, and a little of the green fairy. Alcohol alert…you have been warned because it will go into hiding as a spicy dried fruit but this is 14.1%, yet it’s soooo smooth. First splash on my tongue and there’s plums, cherry and dried cherries jammy, raisins, hay (that fades), sage/thyme bouquet garni, smoke, and after a bit more breathing time it is so smooth once again. BTW this wine will make you tipsy before you know it, so beware of wine goggles. You might fall in love with more than this wine, and sometimes…well you know, it can spell trouble, oh and don’t go shopping online while drinking…you might end up with a pair of 1976 roller skates…trust me.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: FAB! Love them

My 1st Malaparte wine was their Dindi Blanco which I loved and this one brings on that same feeling but is such a different deep lush creature. The taste and smell of their natural land and all that grows and nourishes their vines just shine in their wines. I love this quote from their site, “When you walk through the vineyard, in a second, you bring clothes caught on forever perfume of adventure. The scent of thyme, lavender, rosemary, odor open field, later, hunting and feathers. And how many of those scents we are in the wine after a spring and summer of coexistence with pines, lavenders, sage, thyme, rock roses and evergreens.” Ah, it’s a celebration of Tempranillo and their part of Segovia in a beautiful bottle.

#wine #winelover #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #Tempranillo #pairswithcheezits #wineinfluencer #winestagram #Segovia #Spain @malapartewine @docwineshop @docwinebar @steephillwine @antosicurezza @cheezits

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Good Groovy Time

Prairie Artisan Ales
Vape Tricks
Sour Ale Aged on Cherries 
5.9% Abv
McAlester, Oklahoma

Psychedelic blur of orangey red that blends up into magenta and a super pale peppermint pink head. Right out of top of the pour pops strawberries, raspberries, cherries and cherry soda with lemon zest and vanilla cream on the end. First tingly sip and oof that is a tastebud wakeup! Tangy raspberries, tart cherries, Lemonhead candy, a touch of Sour Patch Kids, and it has a little oomph to it too. So perfectly beautiful on this hot hazy day.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Whoo…it goes all Warhead sour candy pucker up! I could go either way, just depends on the day.

This is my 3rd from Prairie Artisan Ales…so far I like what I see and sip. Each has been scrumptous and somewhere in them there’s also a fun trip down memory lane of childhood flavors tucked in. Halfway through the first glass an Austin Powers vibe popped into my head. “Vape Tricks” is just asking to turn on some good ol’ Strawberry Alarm Clock and get groovy with some “Incense & Peppermints”!

#beer #cheezit #vapetricks #pairswithcheezits #worldbyglass #craftbeer #sourale #ale #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #wine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #McAlester #Oklahoma #strawberryalarmclock @BeerBoutiqueNYC @prairieales @cheezits

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Wine Saves the World

Bodegas Neleman
Nucli 2020
Macabeo 70%, Sauvignon Blanc 30%
Organic, vegan, dry farmed, and a nifty stopper
Casas del Rey, Valencia, Spain
Founder: Derrick Neleman
Winemaker: Diego Fernández Pons

Warm inviting gold glassful. Breathing in a swirl of honeysuckle and peach swirl, pear, hint of smoke and a little salty, and a smidge of tangerine in the back. Sipping and here come those peaches again but this time joined with lychee, lime, and a tiny grapefruit squirt. It’s all followed with white pepper and some fresh cut grass. So crisp and fresh and makes me feel like I’m back in Spain sipping outside at a table of La Vinya del Señor while people watching and snacking on one of their lovely meatballs. Can’t wait to travel again…

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: luscious!

Derrick Neleman…this guy has my dream life! Looks like this Dutchman fell for Spain pretty hard (I know how that feels) and purchased a winery that used to be a co-op in the tiny Casas del Rey (they say there are only 30 residents now and all I can say is wow to that!). He also says his wines are, “Good Wines To Save The World” and he’s right. They’re organic and vegan but there’s more than that too. He and his crew are doing everything to limit their carbon footprint and believe firmly in using real cork. There’s a special design and it’s really cool. No corkscrews necessary! Just follow the instructions printed on it and twist and pop. Also I’m seeing online that he has a beer or beers named Vrolijkheid (Cheerfulness). Is this true and where can I find a bottle? Who wouldn’t want a good glass of cheer!

#wine #winelover #vino #vin #beer #organicwine #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #wineinfluencer #winestagram #Valencia #Spain #Macabeo #SauvignonBlanc @bodegasneleman @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezits

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Rouge Rebel

Domaine No Control
Délire du Désordre 2019
Vin de France
Gamay
Converting to organic, biodynamic practices, hand harvest, and unfiltered
Auvergne/Beaujolais, France
Winemaker: Vincent Marie (he also has exceptional taste in music 🤘🎸)

A swirl of dark ruby & purple. Before we get any further let it breathe. Decant this baby and out will pop and crack some leather, bright cherry, vanilla whiff, then here come the flowers. There’s roses, lilacs, lilies, and everything just keeps exploding and also some barny (not the dinosaur) funk. On with the show…sipping cherries & dried cherries, olive pits, smidge of leather, and a whole bunch of juicy goodness of cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries laced with balsamic. Is it rustic…is it punk or is it a mix of all with funk?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smooths it all out

This bottle intrigues me like the silent bad boy with the leather jacket and motorcycle that did doughnuts in mom’s flower patch but still manages to pick me a bouquet. Maybe our 2nd rendezvous with this rebel tonight will let me see a bit more his soft sensitive side. Or maybe I’ll just roll with this Gamay Auvergne/Beaujolais fusion mix and crank some “Rage Against The Machine”.

#wine #vinho #vino #vin #Gamay #rageagainstthemachine #pairswithcheezits #worldbyglass #cheezit #vinewinenyc #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winelife #naturalwine #organic #Auvergne #Beaujolais #France @vinewinenyc @vincentnocontrol @steven.graf.imports @cheezits

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Fossil Fueled Wine

Weingut Stephan Steinmetz
Elbling 2020
Sustainable, hand-harvested, and working in rhythm with nature
Mosel, Germany
Winemaker: Stephan Steinmetz

Shining shimmering starlight with a little hints of green interplanetary life. Breathing in a valley breeze of crisp apples and pears, a squeeze of peach, a little fresh melon, lemon wafts, smoke, and lovely salt. Fresh summer sipping much in line with the sniff. Crunchy apples and pears, and a good shake of salty mineral, light peach, lemon spritz, and a teeny tiny leaf of parsley. 

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Fresh and elegant

Ooh Elbling you are such a youthful ancient grape! I can just see the Romans partying with you. All your very fresh and salt goodness fed by Obermosel’s fossil/shell rich fields and the natural care of the Steinmetz family. They do as much as possible by hand, and dwarf sheep live and tend to the vineyard (not sure if they are in the entire vineyard or just the grapes for the “Unkultiviert”). Honestly they are so ruggedly wooly cute! BTW back in December 2020, they had a wine & wool pairing through their wine retailer Frau Hauptmann and Zwei Rechts wool shop. It may not be from the vineyard dwarves, but it is merino, and I can raise a glass to that.

#wine #wein #vin #vino #whitewine #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Elbling #sheep #winelife #Mosel #Germany #cheezit #worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #weingutstephansteinmetz #stephansteinmetz #sussexwinemerchants @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezits

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Roses, Satin, and Romantic Notions

Forti del Vento
AltoFhrà 2018
100% Dolcetto
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested, and native yeasts
Ovada, Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy
Owners and winemakers: Tomaso Armento, Marco and Manuela Tacchino

Light red and somewhat plummy. Fragrances of cherries, cranberry, raspberries, a dozen roses, lilacs, and some natural forest funk that runs out the door. First sip and there’s a little exciting tingle on my tongue. Next are strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and all so deliciously juicy. Also a tangy spark in the very back of my mouth. Smooth easy sipping…like relaxing back on a satin pillow.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Ack! No!

Their name alone conjure up dreams of castles, period dramas, and winds fleeting over the hills of Castelletto D’Orba (as I’ve said before, I’m a hopeless romantic). Guess that’s why I love the stories of the young taking on the mantle of the old and recreating their inherited land (from their grandparents) and winemaking skills into natural, organic, bio, and have been proudly accepted as a member of Vinnatur. They (Tomaso, Marco and Manuela) have such high standards and most importantly respect for their part of the world, and have a very important rule of their cellar, “Do not remove or add anything to the wine, so it can be the expression of the vineyard.” Sounds simple, but it takes a lot of patience, knowledge, practice, and of course the best ingredient…love.

#wine #winelover #vino #vin #organicwine #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #dolcetto #pairswithcheezits #wineinfluencer #winestagram #Piemonte #Italy @fortidelvento @docwineshop @docwinebar @steephillwine @antosicurezza @cheezits

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Country Wine & a City Snack

United Colors of Wine
Giallo 2019
Albana and Trebbiano Romagnolo
Organic, indigenous grapes, hand harvested, spontaneous fermentation, unfined & unfiltered
Brisighella (Ravenna), Romagna, Italy
Winemakers: Andrea Marchetti & Paolo Babini (Vigne nei Boschi).

Cool it but not too much…say like 58F. It’s a lovely glass of coppery orange/amber. Breathing in a whole lot…there’s orange rinds, apple and some apple cider vinegar twinge, celery, and grass. The apples are back again, along with hazelnuts, caramel, brioche, chamomile, and it has a total Manzanilla vibe waving it’s little scarf at me flirtatiously. A little bIt more and it lightens up and brings in some wild flowers, and is ever evolving. Tasting and that scarf starts waving again. Delightful crunchy apples, rhubarb, a sprinkle of hazelnuts or almonds, grassy/herby/hay/tangy/rustic mix, orange rind, and again a little brioche just a smidge in the back with a apple cider twinge, and white pepper. Smell and taste in total synch.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I am very scared to try this…ok so it’s good, really good.

So there’s only 501 bottles of 2019’s Giallo. I had no idea! So happy to be one of a few from all over the world. It’s unique and tons of the spirit of the countryside where the Albana and Trebbiano Romagnolo grew in their own separate vineyards. They do get to mix it up together for 90 days with their skins too. Quite a little steel party until the bottling of this new very natural fun baby. I know this would be good with fried sardines, and you may think I’m crazy, but honestly I’m craving a fresh baked extra salty pretzel and a naked dirty water dog. Why not? A country wine for a city snack.

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #unitedcolorsofwine #PaoloBabini #winestagram #winelife #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #Romagna #Italy #organic #Trebbiano #Albana @cheezits @andrea_marchetti @steephillwine @antosicurezza

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A Polished and Spirited Youth

Gioventù
Falanghina ‘Orange’ 2020
Organic, unfined and unfiltered
Grapes from Campania, Italy
Winemaker: Michael Schmelzer

Warm golden sunrise with an orange streak creeping in. Sniffing Golden Delicious apples (my childhood fave from the orchard), fresh apricots, honeysuckle, a little dancing lemons, some anise, grass, a sprig of hay, and a crumble of a lemon cookie. Sipping and there’s pears, apples, and again fresh apricots, lemons, mandarins, a shake of salt, here comes a little grass, and a smidge of that anise seed again, but really just a smidge and a sprinkle of baking spice.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s elegant and really works. Mellow fruit

A Italian, a Michiganian, and a German walk into a bar…well, that’s all rolled up into one man, Michael Schmelzer. His dad’s job kept him on the go. Born in Italy, grew up in Michigan suburbia, finished high school in Germany and then kept on moving through culinary education in Paris & London to later learning the ropes of winemaking in Australia. Luckily his parents wanted to find a place to retire, have their children near and working with them. Buying Monte Bernardi (long wine heritage) brought that dream to reality. Now with a successful winery, Michael also has another creative outlet in his Gioventù wines. As the name says, he has bottled this essence of “youth” that shines in this orange Falanghina, but this spirited youngun’ has finesse, polish, character, and one more surprise too…it’s not going to break the bank, so pick up two! One sip and you’ll thank me later for that nudge.

#wine #vin #vino #italianwine #orangewine #organicwine #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winelife #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #falanghina #MonteBernardi #Gioventù #Campania #Italy @docwineshop @docwinebar @tedward_ws @cheezits

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Immortalized Affection

Famille Sumeire
Château Coussin
L’Orangé
Vin de Macération
100% Ugni Blanc
Sustainable agriculture
Trets, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France
Winemaking siblings: Olivier and Sophie Sumeire

Color shining shimmering golden orange. That orange keeps on coming with scents of orange and other citrus blossoms, and after a while Orange Julius hence my I’m getting a hint of vanilla. Next are tangerines, mandarins, salt, with a familiar green smell of just whittled branches or fresh buds pre bloom, and at last a tiny smidge of anise. That was delightful! Sipping tangerines, mandarins, and of all things a pinch of those Valentine’s Day “Conversation Hearts”. That was a surprise that faded and then enters pears, crab apples, and grass. It’s just darn fresh and lovely and I would say very picnic friendly. Yeah, get outside, spread that blanket and relax back and stare up at the tree branches with that clean blue sky peaking through.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nice and friendly and weirdly snuggly.

Château Coussin (one of Famille Sumeire’s 3 estates) and has a splendid view of Monte Sainte-Victoire. Maybe this is a better place for a picnic…I can see why Cézanne captured these landscapes time and time again. Another famous artist, César Baldaccini, known for his compression sculptures and being one of the Nouveau Réalisme pack (side note: I used to work for one of his contemporaries and that movement was truly revolutionary) was also affiliated with the area and  a family friend of the Sumeire’s. In 1987, as a symbol of affection for the family, he designed a special wine case from their labels, and part of that art now graces two of their wines (rosé & red) immortalizing his name and signature. As we all know, wine and art are a perfect pairing.

#wine #vin #frenchwine #Provence #France #winelife #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #UgniBlanc #Cézanne #Cezanne #cesarbaldaccini #nouveaurealisme @docwineshop @docwinebar @famillesumeire @cheezits

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Bottled Memories

Lindenlaub
En Équilibre 2018
100% Riesling
Organic, unfined, unfiltered
Dorlisheim, Alsace, France
Winemaker: Christophe Lindenlaub

Yellow gold with a little unfiltered treat. There is a lump at the bottom of my glass that reminds me of  a mini version of what you find in the bottom of a bottle of mezcal. Right from the get go there’s beautiful aromas of honeysuckle, wisteria, and apricot. It’s very fragrant. Then of all things a soft hint of Chanel #5 🤔 and then a squeeze of lime, smoke, and a poof of gas, like for your car…but that is not a bad thing (it’s just a Riesling thing). After all that, here comes tastes of lemon, lime, smoke, and apricot. A whole lot more than I was expecting! Also a tang zing keeping it so lively. It’s bright and happy like chirping birds gossiping.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smooth operator

Say what if a Riesling and Chenin Blanc had a little wild baby. Well, this is what this wine would taste like…the lovely and then the lovely funkilicious. I’m going to be a bit honest, the C#5 has sent me down a rabbit hole of memories. My grandfather brought a bottle back from WW2 for the love of his life, my grandmother. I spent my young years huffing that empty bottle full of fragrance and am still hanging on to that scent filled with so much history. Now on to another glass, and back to an evening of warm recollections of years past.

#wine #vinho #vino #vin #Riesling #chanel #pairswithcheezits #worldbyglass #cheezit #vinewinenyc #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Dorlisheim #Alsace #France @vinewinenyc @christophelindenlaub @super_glou @cheezits