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No Chemistry, No Technology, Just Nature

Vini Conestabile Della Staffa
Grecorange 2020
Umbria IGT
Grechetto
Organic, vegan, unfiltered, native grape, 20 days of skin contact
Monte Melino, Italy
Winemaker: Danilo Marcucci but the winery and land are from his wife’s side of the family

Electric orange…very orange…like Cheez-It orange. Breezing in are orange blossoms, magnolias come out after a bit and fade back, oranges and a twinge of lime. First swig and tastes are of lemon/lime/mandarin zest and a citrus squeezed mix. Give it a little time and then there’s something mineral, and a touch of real saffron threads (not that fake stuff that’s metallic). Just dry enough, fresh and light, and a glass of sunshine.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: pairs up fab, but I prefer the wine solo

It’s pretty obvious how much I love wine, but it’s also the tales, the history, and what drew people to work the vines. Reading about Danilo Marcucci on SelectioNaturel’s site and they write he’s the first to say this is his wife’s land and “he is merely a guest, married to the vines and his wife Alessandra’s noble lineage” (dating back to the Middle Ages w an arranged marriage in the 1700s sealing the families’ deal). He just rebooted everything, and was lucky that  chemicals were never used on the land, since he’s been called “Italy’s Lord of Natural Wine”. He learned from old school masters after being introduced to a glass of nature, and his philosophy is “No chemistry in the vineyard, no technology in the cellar.” Can’t get better than that.

#wine #winelover #orangewine #vino #vin #winetasting #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #naturalwine #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #Grechetto #Umbria #Italy @viniconestabile @selectionaturel @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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A Stellar Pour

Fifth Hammer Brewing Co.
Moons Of Jupiter
Oatmeal Stout
5% ABV
Long Island City, NY

Crack the can, pour and it’s a glass of dark chocolate/black coffee with a caramel head. Smells like unwrapping a chocolate bar along with a chip of baker’s chocolate, roasted coffee beans, and a little toffee. Kicking it back and there’s tastes of deep very dark chocolate and almost bittersweet baker’s, really roasted toasted black coffee (but not Charbuck’s) and burnt brownie edges. It’s a crisp yet smooth easy drinker and not overly heavy. I would love work on a pint for a while and follow up with another. Delicious!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO!

It’s that time of the year again! No not that darn pumpkin spice crap. It’s stout season. Actually I ❤️ stouts 365, but then I’m a chocoholic. If I could I’d swim in a vat of it but that might end up a bit messy. A better idea would be to cue up some old Armin van Buuren and take a 4-pack of these cans for an evening dancing under the twinkling night sky.

#beer #craftbeer #stout #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #wine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #MoonsOfJupiter #arminvanbuuren @fifthhammerbeer @BeerBoutiqueNYC @indiebeer_ @cheezits

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Kitty, What’re You Meowing About?

Viña Echeverria
Miao
Pét-Nat Rosé 2020
98% Chardonnay, 2% Cabernet Franc
Organic, sustainable, vegan friendly, wild yeasts
Curicó Valley, Molina, Chile
Sustainable, low yield vineyards, estate grapes, wild yeasts, unfiltered, family owned & managed winery
Technical Director Chief Winemaker: Roberto Echeverría Jr.

For a rosé this is quite warm hazy antique gold with fine bubbles creating morphing shapes on the surface. Btw what’s up with the side-eye glancing cat. Is a selfie being taken? Breathing in wildly herbal magic, field flowers (like dandelions and daisies), smoke, dried and fresh apricots, peaches, bananas, and silt. Hello you adventurous wine, where are you taking me on a fun ride? Hay and grass tangle on my tongue along with apples, pears (calvados), citrus spritz, apricots, deep peaches, smoke, honey, and dried banana chips.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: ACK ACK ACK (hairball sound effect) ACK

So excited to get my 3rd wine by Viña Echeverria (Es Pituko Cabernet Franc & Es Pituko Chardonnay) and they’re definitely consistent in delightfulness and instructions on the label. This little kitty says to “shake me, chill me, drink me.” I’d listen to her advice…this family knows what they’re doing. Roberto Sr. revitalized the family winery, brought it into the modern age and dedicated so many years of his life to this passion. He had to completely replant and rebuild, but as you can see, it was worth it for his children (Paulina, Viviana, Roberto and Diego) and for of course us. Miao y’all! 😺 Oh and I just have to add, this label is just asking for a little good ol’ Tom Jones.

#wine #winelover #Rosé #petnat #vino #vin #chilewine #miao #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #Chardonnay #CabernetFranc #naturalwine #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #curicovalley #Molina #Chile #TomJones #cat @echeverriawines @tedward_ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Stumbling Upon a Rare Find

Bodega Viña Ijalba
Tempranillo Blanco 2020
Rioja DOC
1st ecological certified winery in Rioja, native yeasts, native grape
Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
Founder: Dionisio Ruiz Ijalba and his winemaking family

Shimmering yellow with green hints. Scents of coconut sunshine and reminds me a little bit of a piña colada (oh no now that song is stuck in my head), wisteria, orange blossoms, pineapple, bananas, lemon/lime, and Valencia oranges. Sipping lemons, limes, pineapple, and as it rolls around a smidge of honeysuckle nectar with slate and a shake of salt. It’s crisp, and a tropical vacation in a bottle.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh yeah baby this is a good one

Tempranillo Blanco is one youngster of a mutant. I guess you could say it was born on 1988, or at least discovered in a vineyard in Murillo de Río Leza. Seriously what an amazing thing to be checking out your vineyard and in a sea of bluish-purple you stumble upon a bunch of yellowish golden beauties. Viña Ijalba was the lucky winery that were first to introduce this as a single varietal (along with Maturana Blanco, Graciano and Maturana Tinta). They worked with the Rioja government and university research to revitalize these native grapes. Also their vineyards were built on old rocky and poor soil so the vines have to go deep for water which may cause low yields but better. Quality is more important than quantity to this family, which makes me love them even more.

#wine #winelover  #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #naturalwine #pairswithcheezits #RupertHolmes #pinacolada #winetasting #winestagram #TempranilloBlanco #Rioja #Spain @baronfrancois.ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @vinaijalba @cheezit

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A Golden Island Cocktail

Vinícola Taro
Blanco 2019
Malvasía
DO Lanzarote
Organic, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Winemaker: Pablo Matallana
Label artist: Carlos Matallana

Pure spun gold. First sniff and something a little wild jumps out to say “hello!”, then follows singed brioche, smoky goodness along with a citrus blend w an IPA grapefruit floating in and out and after time warm honey follows…also some freshly rained on concrete and a salty breeze (yeah it really does, I’m not quoting a cheesy greeting card). Drinking a cocktail of orange, tangerine, and lemon with an IPA twist, melon, pears and apples, serious smoke as time goes by with a kiss of salt, and a granite/mineral (volcanic soil fed) lick. This is crisp yet complex and damn wonderful!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: digging it!

As much as I love this bottle, just looking at it and all I can think is of La Palma’s volcano which is causing evacuations, destruction and terrible air quality. I know Vinícola Taro is from Lanzarote which is fortunately one of the eldest islands (technically dormant) and placed far enough away that so far they are currently safe, but according to El Pais is eventually (far, far in the future) “destined to sink under the effects of erosion”. If you are interested in the birth of the Canary Islands, their growth, and what is currently happening, check out their very informative article/infographics.

#wine #naturalwine #winelife #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Malvasía #Lanzarote #CanaryIslands #Spain #cheezit @worldbyglass @el_pais #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #PabloMatallana @matallana_man @taro.vinicola @matallana.pablo @josepastorselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Gravity’s Pull

Nicolas Arnou
Chouette! 2020
VDF
100% Chenin Blanc
Organic, natural wine, no filtration or pumps, gravity cellar, and following lunar patterns
Les Champ-sur-Layon, Pays de la Loire, France

Deep gold warmth. Scents of apples, oranges, pops of hay, all spice, hazelnut hints, and honeycomb (my great-grandfather was a beekeeper and oh how I love those bees…nothing like chewing the comb). There’s also an underlying funk that fades. First sip and dang that’s natural! Here comes hay, apples, apricots, green pluots, orangina and a light taste of circus peanuts…hmmm. Just lively moon-dappled vibrance!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmmmm crisp

Turning from the life of an electronics engineer to winemaker, now that’s a nice career change. Nicolas definitely doesn’t have bats in the belfry, but he sure does in the cellar. When he took on his 10 hectares of vineyards (part of Domaine de la Raimbaudières) there was also an old 3 level gravity cellar housing his new bio beneficial friends. More new buddies can be found inhabiting (and assisting in) the organic grounds from the small ladybugs to the haunting owl on the label. So, I have to say this is a first for me, another of Nicolas’ wines “Le Canon à moutons” makes an appearance in a comic book (“Sauvages!!!”). Ok, this isn’t like L&R or Deadpool, but the artist Otto T. depicts Thomas Ferrand collecting wild edible wonderments and what is better to pair with a foraged finds menu than natural wine? 🥂

#wine #naturalwine #winelife #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #CheninBlanc #Loire #France #cheezit #organic #owls #Chouette #bats #loveandrockets #deadpool @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #nicolasarnou @terrestrialwine @nicolasarnou @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Grooving Into Fall

Jauma
Disco Special 2020
Grenache Noir & Shiraz
Grapes sourced from McLaren Vale
Organic, indigenous yeasts, unfined & unfiltered
Winery: Lenswood, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Owner & winemaker: James Erskine; Farmer: Fiona Wood

Maroon-violet chilled beauty. Pop the cap, pour, and a whiff of Oreo cream center heads out followed by pine needles, juicy plums, cherries, blueberries, and a little natural funk on day one that blends out to a dark foresty fairyland. Ok, so here’s all the flavors that are dancing and grooving around in my mouth. There’s cherry, forest floor and pine needles, citrus peel (mixed bag), blueberry, blackberries, a big boom of raspberries, boysenberries, tart plums, dried brown figs, and moroccan dry cured olives. Just juicy delicious but a dry bit at the back and has me craving salami and of all things onion rings. Perfect easy drinker to slide into Fall.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Smooth and bright

Hmmm what music pairs up with “Disco Special”? My first thought was Blondie’s “Heart of Glass”, but the more I sipped, nope…It’s Faithless or rather Maxi Jazz. Needle is dropped on “God Is A DJ”.

This is my church

This is where I heal my hurts

It’s in natural grace

Or watching young life shape

It’s in minor keys

Solutions and remedies

Enemies becoming friends

When bitterness ends

This is my church

This is my church

This is my church

This is my church

This is where I heal my hurts

It’s in the world I’ve become

Contained in the hum

Between voice and drum

It’s in the change

The poetic justice of cause and effect

Respect, love, compassion

This is my church

This is where I heal my hurts

For tonight

God is a DJ

For tonight

God is a DJ

This is my church

#wine #naturalwine #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic #Grenache #Shiraz #Australia #winelover #winetasting @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram @jaumawines @tessbryant.wine @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Could Become a Delicious Hoarding Situation

Oltretorrente
Timorasso 2019
Colli Tortonesi DOC
Organic, hand harvested
Paderna (AL), Italy
Winemakers: Chiara Penati and Michele Conoscente

Pale twinkle twinkle starlight. Breezing out are pears, peaches, wet granite, and a basketful of spring orchard blossoms and a little honeysuckle buzzing by.First sip and wow there’s a lot going on here so give me a second to sort it all out. Luscious ripe pears and peaches, apricot (fresh and dried), and mango. Delightfully creamy! Next there’s salt, honeysuckle nectar (don’t eat any other part of the plant unless you know it is not toxic!), a sprig of grass…just a clipping, and a teeny tiny squish of lime hanging out. It’s elegant and very refined, and like a beautiful dream you don’t want to end, so I ran back to the store today and picked up two more bottles. Hoping this doesn’t become a hoarding situation.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nope, ruins the elegance

Restoration, elevation, and celebration of the old, that’s what Chiara Penati and Michele Conoscente embarked on back in 2010 starting their venture/adventure in Paderna. They started with 1.5 hectares and have expanded over the years with old vines ranging from 100 to 15 years old. It’s exciting to know I’m drinking something that has deep roots physically and emotionally. For some reason that feeling started before I even bought the bottle. That badger kept staring at me from the store shelf. I left it behind many times, but for some reason it felt so familiar and finally brought him home. (Side note: I ❤️ badgers! They are so cute and feisty!) Well, lo and behold, now I know why…this little critter was illustrated by Lorenzo Gritti. He’s illustrated works for Bloomberg, NY Times, New Yorker, NPR and many more and if you want to admire more of his art check it out here.

#wine #naturalwine #winelife #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Timorasso #Paderna #Italy #Piedmont #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #Oltretorrente #bowlerwine @hellogritti @Oltretorrente @bowlerwine @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Elbow Grease Guarantee

Julie Karsten
Métaphysique des Cuves 2019
AOP Côtes du Rhône
Grenache, syrah, cinsault
Organic
Castillon-du-Gard, France

Deep dark rubylicious. Plum and cherry scents weave their way out followed by something a little buttercream frosting that blends in citrus and cedar. Slowly sipping those cherries and plums again along with prunes, Fig Newtons, raspberries, cranberries, tangerine and orange peels, and a mixed bag of spice like cloves, anise, cardamon and more. This is going to be a beautiful binge worthy paring. Yeah, I’ll admit, I’m finally getting around to watching all of “The Closer” and this is a wine I could see Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson pouring post case. “Yoohooooo! Please pass me those chocolates. Thank yooouu, thank you so much!”

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a lot of dried fruit like raisins, prunes, and blueberries and also pine sap. I like it better without but I have to admit “with” is quite fun

Julie’s wines come with an “elbow grease guarantee” and “100% happy vines”. Just take a gander at her IG account for proof. Alert roses stand guard at the end of the rows. There’s also all sorts of critters enjoying and roaming the fields and farm from spiders, snakes (and their skins), toads, sheep, praying mantis, a beautiful black cat, dogs, and a majestic horse. Her passion for her “living soil for living wines” is all there captured in perfect snapshots of “work in progress” from vine to cellar. 📸

#wine #naturalwine #winetasting #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Grenache #syrah #cinsault #CôtesduRhône #CotesduRhone #France #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram @julie.karsten @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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It Don’t Mean A Thing, If It Ain’t Got That Swing!

Domaine des Terres Dorées
FRV 100
Sparkling Gamay Semi-Dry Rosé NV
Organic, sustainable, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, méthode ancestrale
Charnay, France
Owner and winemaker: Jean-Paul Brun

Electric rose colored glasses with fine white bubbles. Nose tickling light pops of raspberries, strawberries and clean fresh breeze. Raspberries tumble out first on my tongue quickly followed by strawberries (fresh and preserves), a little cherry juice, and in the back there’s a tiny bit of dark plums that fade and blend back in with this fruited cocktail. Thankfully it’s off-dry, so the sweet is just right and doesn’t hit you over the head with a mallet. Fun and fresh and delightful and has me craving goat cheese or even a spicy pimento cheese sandwich which we all know needs to be made on Sunbeam bread.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: whoa it deliciously works

Just check out the sparkly label and it spells out what is in this bottle: Finese, Funny, Rebelle, Rire, Veritas, Vinification d’Art, Sans Mentir, a splash of Fellini, and much more. After your first glass you’ll want to smooch Jean-Paul Brun firmly on the lips. His Gamays just sing and this one has that jazzy “swing”! Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah!

#wine #TerresDorées #terresdorees #sparklingwine #Rosé #bubbly #rose #jeanpaulbrun #gamay #FRV100 #Charnay #France #ladygaga #tonybennett #jazz #naturalwine #winetasting #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram @louisdressnerselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit