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Don’t Forget To Have Fun

Gabernik 23
Rose Piquette (Pikola)
Sparkling Wine
55% Blaufrankisch, 35% Riesling, 10% Pinot Noir
Sustainable, dry farmed
Štajerska, Slovenia
Small family owned winery passed down from father to son
Owner: Janko Bogatic
Winemaker: Nicholas Gee

Color electric cran-raspberry with a big pale pink poofy foam. Popping out of those bubbles are nose tickling raspberries, pomegranate, faint lemon, apricots and their blossoms, and dainty tiny roses. Tilt the glass and take a taste and it’s fresh, zippy and fun…like a last bit of summer memories. There’s watermelon juice, raspberries, those tiny roadside wild strawberries from Canada that I so love, pomegranate cocktail with a little limoncello splash, lilac, and seltzer. You’re not going to want this bottle to end.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: not bad but better solo. Let those flavors fly!

This wine is a reminder to have fun (and not to always be over thinking everything…like I can have a tendency to do), and if I could pair a painting with this wine, it would be Will Cotton’s 2010, “Cotton Candy Katy”…you know the one that was Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” album cover. I just LOVE Cotton’s confectionery dreams so c’mon join me and let’s head over to Candyfornia!

#wine #holidaywine #holidays #Piquette #rose #sparklingwine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #katyperry #snoopdogg #willcotton #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Blaufrankisch #Riesling #PinotNoir #Slovenia #gabernik23 @vsiwine @gabernik23 @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Flying into the Holidays on Dragonwings

Woodstock Brewing
Baby Dragon
Pale Ale
5.5% ABV
Phoenicia, NY
Founders: Rick Shobin and Scott Shimomura
(Originally caught in the wild at Sugarburg)

Warm golden pour with full on thick white foamy head, and lots of teeny tiny active bubbles. It’s a crisp fresh breath of air with an easy breezy mix of tangerine, grapefruit, a little lemon zest, and a pinch of pine needles that make me go “Hello Christmas!” Sipping and again it’s crisp with some welcome bitter herbiness, lemon, pineapple, and mixed citrus zest. This is one easy drinker.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: perfect snack pairing

So for those of you that love holiday trivia and the chance of winning a $500 tab, then you’ll want to drop by Sugarburg (the place I caught this dragon in the wild). The place looks like Christmas exploded in it and there’s 15 hidden items/scenes from your favorite movies/shows. Just grab a drink, wander through the wonderland, find those festive moments, fill out the answer sheet and cross your fingers! Happy holidays and keep your eyes out for mistletoe!

#beer #craftbeer #paleale #ale #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #holidays #dragons #babydragon #Phoenicia #NY #Woodstock #wine #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @sugarburgbk @woodstockbrewing @cheezits

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What’s in a Name?

Pantaleone
Onirocep 2020
100% Pecorino
Falerio Pecorino DOC
Organic, hand harvested, biodiverse
Ascoli Piceno, Marche, Italy
Family (Pantaloni) owned winery in latest hands of Federica and Francesca (and her husband Giuseppe)

Remember that yellow-green crayon? Well think a little more yellow. Give the glass a little time to grow and scents of pears, apricot, pineapple, and musky white peach are joined with smoke/peat and rained on slate…this is darn lovely. First sip and there’s a little mild sizzle on the front edges of my tongue. Tasting and there are those pears and apricot again followed by Mandarin orange, nectarine, a sliver of dinosaur plum and its skin, pineapple and a smidge of pineapple gummy bear (those are my favorite!) and a little bitter herby like a rosemary and thyme mix. Yum, yum yum!!!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: crisp yet luscious at the same time

So I evidently opened this bottle a tiny bit early. I’m reading online that Federica advises to wait 2 years. Well, we’re almost to 2022 (I can’t believe how time has flown this year), and if it gets better than what I just had then I’m getting another bottle and sitting on it. Heck, maybe I should buy a whole case! As for the name “Onirocep” I kept thinking is that the name of the artwork on the label or is it the name of some ancient beast that roamed the land? Then it hit me…it’s Pecorino spelled backwards. Before it was a DOC (2012) it was an IGT and you weren’t allowed to list the varietal on the bottle. Why do I always overthink things 🤣? Cheers y’all!

#wine #whitewine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Marche #Italy #Pantaleone #Pecorino #organic #jandamorewines @pantaleonewine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Wine By Candlelight

Domaine de la Bergerie
La Cerisaie 2019
Anjou Rouge
AB certified
Champ sur Layon, France
Winemaking Guégniard family: Founded/bought in 1961 by Marie-Scolastique and has passed through the generations

Deep dark goth cherry velvet with a purple shimmer. Swirl and here comes scents of dried and fresh cherry, plums, fresh green bell pepper, olive pit, a bouquet garni of thyme & rosemary, and lilacs as it opens and later expands to a big bouquet of flowers. Nice juicy sipping here of plums, cherries, and here comes that bouquet garni again with coriander added in, a little oil cured black olives, and then here come running some elegant roses and lavender.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: juicy and smooth

Domaine de la Bergerie was purchased in 1961, through an auction known as vente à la bougie, which ok call me ignorant, but I had never heard of that before. Actually it’s a very cool, fair and civilized way of bidding (dating back to the 15th century) timed by the burning of candles. Each are around 30 seconds and the holders/candelabras are pretty cool. When the last candle is out, the auction is over. How exciting that moment must of been when Marie realized the property was now hers! The domaine has continued to be a family driven venture, and they’re in the 8th generation with daughters Anne and Marie. They’ve also brought a chef into the fold too (Anne’s husband David). So when you visit, you can also dine in his Michelin star restaurant, La Table de la Bergerie.

#wine #holidaywine #holidays #bougie #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Anjou #France  #DomainedelaBergerie #sustainable #organic @domaine_de_la_bergerie @martineswines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Everybody Wants To Be A Cat

Domaine de Saint Pierre/Fabrice Dodane
Le Dos D’Chat
Trousseau des Corvées 2019
VDF
Organic, native yeasts
Mathenay, Jura, France
Winemaker: Fabrice Dodane

Dark shiny garnet. Take a breath and here comes strawberries, cherries, blueberries, and raspberries tumbling out and followed by irises, tiny green shoots, and as it grows there’s raisins, pinch of earth, and a tiny zip of lemon zest. Tip back and dancing on my tongue are cherries, plums…and boy is this smoooooth! Keep going and there’s strawblueraspberry with a little blackberry bite, Valencia orange zest, and an earthy underside that plays back on the fringe with a stray strand of hay (and maybe a little pine needle) that wave hello and hide. Now I’m exhaling just a little white pepper (achoo). Give it day of rest and it’ll embrace you with a little bit darker, deeper oomph.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: more berries and soooooo smooooth

This is one happy smooth jazz cat that makes me smile, laugh, and shimmy around the room. He’s not the Cheshire one but more of a whole other clowder. You know like that exuberant, jumping, grooving scene from “The Aristocats”. I’m sure I drove my parents insane playing that song on repeat because you have to know “Everybody Wants To Be A Cat” (Electro Swing Remix by Dave Wave).

#wine #jazz #vino #vin #winelife #redwine #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #trousseaudescorvées #organic #Jura #France #TheAristocats #cats @worldbyglass @dave_wave_official #pairswithcheezits #fabricedodane @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!

Populis Wine
Made in partnership with and farmed by Les Lunes Wine
Pétillant Naturel
Sparkling Wine 2020
Sonoma County
Zinfandel 75%, Pinot Noir 20%, French Colombard 5%
Organic, old vines, no intervention
Orinda, CA
Winemakers: Shaunt Oungoulian and Diego Roig

Shinny plummy cranberry. Take a whiff and there’s a little bit of natural funk/depth and hay that merges into cherries, plums, raspberries, a tiny crush of Sweettarts, and blood orange zest. Sip and poof and magic explosion…bibbidi bobbidi boo…berries and smoke all at once and a bit of a roll in the hay. (Oops, I think I lost my glass slipper!) Throw in some cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, jolly ranchers, and a little citrus spritz with a dash of raspberry vinegar. It’s a glass of fun!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: absolutely delish and fresh

Shaunt and Diego’s Populis (they also have another wine line “Les Lunes”) is their more affordable gift to the world. Grapes are sourced from amazing old & organic vineyards and as they say other site, “And once we hunt down these special vineyards we do all we can to not screw it up — and by that we mean no additions, no intervention, no tomfoolery– just straight up“. Well, they must be doing it right because they are all sold out in their online shop and also Les Lunes  too (shhh…Les Lunes also has a wine club)! So if you want to track one down asap, head out to your local brick & mortar and hope they’re not all snatched up.

#wine #holidaywine #holidays #petnat #Pétnat #sparklingwine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Zinfandel #PinotNoir #Sonoma #CA #california @zevrovineselections #Populiswine @lesluneswine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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I Love Spirited Surprises!

Golden Moon Distillery
Golden Moon Gin
45% ABV
Golden, CO (A little Golden city trivia, this is where Jolly Ranchers were born!)
Founder, CEO, and master distiller: Stephen Gould

Nice clear pour. Nose tingling juniper berries are followed by mint, lavender, coriander, and a breeze of wild flowers. This baby is very fragrant. In fact when I was binge watching with my S.O. this past week and he was sipping away (I had my fave glass of cava), I was so impressed with how the scents flew through the room. Ooh…my mouth is vibrating in a good way. Fabulous tastes of juniper, a few pine needles, mint, lavender, fresh ground coriander, rosemary, thyme, and anise at the back of my tongue along with a smidge of candy cane. Do we see a holiday theme going lately? It’s explosions of all the flavors at once. I recommend to chill well and serve neat. Don’t mess it up by covering it up in a cocktail.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: As would be said on “Wayne’s World”: HURL!

This bottle was quite a surprise gift, and it blew past all expectations. As y’all know, I love when people work with what they have local, and Golden Moon sources as much as they can in Colorado, and they also give back to the earth post distilling by recycling the waste back into compost. Kind of like their own little “Circle of Life”. Also if you want some cocktail cues from the master (Stephen Gould) check out his videos on “The Distiller’s Basement”.

#Gin #distillery #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #Golden #Colorado #CO #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram @goldenmoondistillery @cheezit

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Holiday Wine? Look No Further!

Grosjean Vins
Gamay 2020
Valle D’Aosta DOC
No pesticides or herbicides, organic, biodynamic, natural yeasts
Quart, Valle D’Aosta, Italy
Winemaking family

Ruby stained glass that reminds me of an old chapel window of the Virgin Mary and her sacred heart (we used to have years ago…man, I wish we had never needed to sell that piece). Smooth buttery scents in the beginning that head into warm earth & spice, orange zest, strawberries, and dried cherries. This is going to grow into a really fine sip. Tasting strawberries, a jumble of raspcranblackberries, golden raisins, Brown Turkey figs, a twinge of oranginess, a sage leaf and a grind of black pepper. It’s medium-light, and you can pair this baby with so many holiday treats and meats.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: deeper and delicious

So this now 12 hectare estate (originally 3,000 square meters) got its start all from a friend nudging Dauphin Grosjean to bottle his wine for the “II Exposition des Vins du Val d’Aoste”. Dauphin also got the early organic ball rolling around 50 years ago by banning all pesticides. Now the grandsons and a son-in-law are also following in their grandfather’s path with their Solar PV system. As they say on their site (google translated), “Perhaps our home, with its products and its riches, is really the place to start building something more beautiful and healthier.”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #redwine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Italy #ValleDAosta #italianalps #Gamay #organic #biodynamic #madrosewine @docwineshop @docwinebar @grosjean.vins @cheezit

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Who Needs an Estate?

The Austin Winery
Malvasia Bianca 2019
100% Malvasia
Grapes sourced from Nogalero Estate Vineyards
Texas High Plans
All native, low intervention
Winery in “The Yard”, South Austin, TX

Hazy golden and a little sediment so give that bottle a twirl as pouring. The moment it hits my nose…BOOM and it’s everything! There’s heady peaches and magnolias, pears, honeysuckle, and tangerine. It’s so fragrant. There’s also a little allspice, salt, and a smidge of smoke. Sip and I’m tasting all of the scents and a bit more smoke. Add to that a little bit of Skittles (taste the rainbow), a tiny bit of super duper ripe cucumber, a citrus back kick that include a lovely Valencia orange & a little ruby grapefruit and as it grows apricots, and a smidge of apple pie spice in the back.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: really good. Don’t know how to explain it

The Austin Winery’s site says they are self-funded and self taught, which I guess makes them the “outsider artists” of winemaking, and I’m a huge fan of outsider artists. Their space isn’t your usual estate, but tucked into a warehouse district in South Austin, and they source the best grapes from Texas vineyards they trust. Back to the art part, they have such a passion for what goes into the bottle, and they also feel the same about the label. I’ll admit, when I saw the jackrabbit on this Malvasia, I was instantly intrigued. Turns out they work with the artist Nic Mathis, who has Synesthesia (I’ve know a few artists with this and their work has all been amazing), which is where you experience one sense through another. I could try to describe his work, but it’s better just to see it yourself, here (I really wish they would make t-shirts from the label art, so if you do I promise to buy some). He’s so damn talented! Actually they all are so talented and cheers to their hard work!

#wine #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #theaustinwinery #naturalwine #Malvasia #Texas #Austin #nicmathis #Synesthesia #outsiderart @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits @vinewinenyc @theaustinwinery @cheezit

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Who Let the Dogs Out?

Valdinera
Roero Arneis D.O.C.G. 2020
100% Arneis
Uncertified organic
Roero, Piedmont, Italy
Winemaking Family: Giuseppe “Beppe” Careglio and daughters Pamela and Carol

Palest starlight with a slight green shimmer. Lovely scents of pears and pear blossoms (reminds me of warm southern nights in Granny’s backyard, but thankfully without the mosquitos), slate, salt and mild honeysuckle with hints of Valencia orange and wild flowers. First sip and there’s pears and apples with a little tangelo, nectarine, and honeysuckle nectar following not far behind. Next up is a nice shake of salt, a little granite, and a few fresh blades of grass to balance everything out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: sharpens everything. Nice

2nd encounter with Valdinera and again darn delightful. 1st was their Chiaro di Luna Rosé (see “Rose Dappled Moonlight“ post) and it whisked me away to their breathtaking beautiful Roero. Check out the video footage on their site, and I bet you’ll start scanning around for plane tickets for a visit. You can book a tour and also bring your dog. They are pet friendly and have safe space for them to run around and wear themselves out and also a bowl of fresh water for when they wind down. Of course what else would you expect from a winery with those two stately and regal pups as their logo. Ok, so now due to all this canine talk, it’s pretty obvious I have a certain woofable song stuck in my head, so I just have to share this earworm with y’all. Please don’t hate me…

#wine #winelover #whitewine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #wholetthedogsout #dog #puppy #Arneis #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #Roero #Piedmont #Italy #dogs @valdinera_azienda_agricola @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit