Posted on

Farm to Table Holiday

Five Farms
Single batch Irish Cream Liqueur
17% ABV
County Cork, Ireland

Light caramel milk chocolate on the rocks. Breathing in luscious cream, vanilla, and caramel. Rolling this around in my mouth and there’s that heavenly cream again, chocolate delight, coffee, sugar cookies with sprinkles, and again that addictive caramel. I really want a chocolate chip cookie or a thin extra salty pretzel.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Just don’t!

Touted to be the best Irish Cream Liqueur, and boy I think it probably is. There’s such smooth beauty in this mixture of single batches of fresh cream combined with premium triple-distilled Irish Whiskey. The five farms where the cream is sourced (hence the name) have as they call “happy cows” that roam pastures chomping on grass during the day. I’m a firm believer in treat your cows right, let them have a relaxed life filled with fresh air, and you can always taste the difference in cream, butter, etc. Oh and I followed the instructions and served it on the rocks, and I highly recommend it. This is the perfect holiday in a glass!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @FiveFarmsIrishCream @Holladay1856 @cheezits #cheezit #wine #spirits #liqueur #cream #happycows #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #irishcreamliqueur #CountyCork #Ireland #FiveFarms #IrishWhiskey #Whiskey #farmtotable

Posted on

Hop On and Take a Virtual Trip

Alta Alella
Mirgin
Reserva Brut Nature
Cava 2017
Pansa Blanca (Xarel.lo) 40%, Parellada 30%, Macabeu 30%
Tiana, Spain (closest winery to Barcelona)
Sustainable and organic
Winemaking family: Josep Maria Pujol-Baquests and his wife Cristina Guillen

Glistening pale yellow with really active bubbles. It’s like a graceful eruption. At first lemon, lime and lime zest waft out. Next comes faint vanilla with shortbread. Take a sip and there’s citrus with the lemon and lime again. Then green apples, pears, and some toasty almond that is making me crave a savory croissant. It’s fresh, crisp, light and delightful.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: emboldens the body

This delicate sparkler transports me back to Barcelona, and it would go really well with salty tapas. Would love with some boquerones, a fat blood sausage, or a tower of shellfish of all types. Oh that would be divine! Through this whole year, I have had so little seafood since I’m eating mostly at home. Do you know how bleeping hard it is to eat with two cats staring at you, and just imagine if I brought home a lobster or some shrimps. Olive would probably be sitting on top of my head.

As I mentioned on a previous post on Alta Alella’s Rosé Cava, their family run winery is located not far from Barcelona in the Parc Serralada de Marina. This area provides the Sauló soil that enhances their grapes. Normally they also have wine tourism and you can drink in the beauty of the lands and their wines and cavas, but as we all know, things are a bit different right now. They do offer a virtual visit though, and you get an online visit to the winery, 4 bottles of their wine/cavas and a guided tasting. Check out their site for more details. Hey, we may be stuck at home, but we can still travel the world by glass.

@vinewinenyc @AltaAlella @avantgardews @cheezits #cheezit #wine #sparklingwine #Cava #organic #biodynamic @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #PansaBlanca #Xarello #Parellada #Macabeu #Tiana #Spain #Barcelona

Posted on

A Swede and a Buckeye Walk into a Bar

Collaboration from Hoof Hearted Brewing & Dugges Bryggeri
Faster Than the Future
Imperial Stout with raspberry, vanilla and Marcona almonds added
13.5% ABV
Hoof Hearted Brew Master: Trevor Williams
Dugges Brew Master: Mikael Dugge Engström

Dense dark chocolate color with a small coffee head. Whoa this is total dark chocolate tickling my nose, along with espresso, vanilla, lots of raspberries and nutty. Drinking in tingly chocolate covered raspberries, brownies, sweet and mellow vanilla, espresso that snaps back, and that rich nuttiness of Marcona almonds. Lord, how I love Marconas. I had to cut back on them at one point. It was totally becoming an addiction.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oddly it makes it super sweet. If you want, try them together, but I prefer the Imperial Stout on its own

So excited when I found this Hoof Hearted collaboration and giddily brought it home. They have so much fun with their irreverent ever changing label art. I think “Don’t Microwave It Don’t Boil It” is my favorite. Love their sense of humor! Heck, the brewery’s name came from a fart joke. They also have such a dedicated following (especially for their IPAs) and there’s good reason for that too…it’s damn good beer! As for how Hoof and Dugges decided to collaborate, I’m not sure of that tale, but would love to hear how this power team came about. Funny enough, the Dugges Bryggeri story page starts out with what sounds like the beginning of an old joke, “An Englishman walks into a bar.” So like Hoof, I’m seeing the humor and also that they also have quite a following in Sweden to the point of their having to expand in 2009, and from what it sounds like on their page they may need to do it again. And I’ll leave it with their own motto, “Brewing our beer. Preaching our brews. Living the dream. And, loving every minute of it!”

@hoofheartedbrewing @duggesbryggeri @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelvepercentbeerproject @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #imperialstout #stout #craftbeer #Marengo #Ohio #Sweden #marconaalmonds

Posted on

Harmonic Symphony

Quartomoro
Òrriu Cannonau di Sardegna 2018
100% Cannonau
Arborea, Sardegna, Italy
Low intervention, dry farmed, guyot training
Winemaking couple: Piero Cella and Luciana Baso

Vibrant ruby glory! When the cork came out it was a cloud of vanilla, dark depth, flowers, forest and cherries of course. Sweet yet tangy fragrance makes me think of ponzu sauce.  Dark and rich flavors of plum, cherries, blueberries, dried figs, and a pinch of Sumac.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Plum turns to sweet prune. Just smooth

A little bird sat on my shoulder and whispered, “Rumor has it that this is the best Cannonau right now!” My feathered friend is definitely onto something. Even though this is a young vineyard (located in the Marrubiu vineyard) the pulverized volacnic/granite enrichment of the soil brings out the best of these grapes. As Piero Cella says, “Our goal is always to make a harmonic symphony from the grapes and to put that into our bottles, at the same time with the real essence of our island.” Harmonic symphony is a very lovely way to put it. It’s as graceful and rich as their wine…and guess what? I have two more of their bottles in the mix to try in the near future. It’s going to be a fun week!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @quartomoro @steephillwine @cheezits #steephillwine #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Italy #guyot #Cannonau #Arborea #Sardegna #Sardinia

Posted on

Keep Them Around for Luck

Other Half
Crickets Pilsner/ Kölsch
German pils, Vienna malt, Hopped with motueka
5.1% ABV
Brooklyn, NY

Crisp deep golden with a half inch head. Sniffing a blend of citrus: grapefruit, tangerine, and orange zest. Grass, clovers and their flowers creep in too. It’s a crisp pilsner with some delicate sweetness. On the backend there’s something like licking a sugar cube. It’s not powerful but just reminds me of swiping them from my grandmother’s stockpile as a kid. We didn’t have cubes in my house, so whenever I could get my hands on one it was an amazing treat that I savored. Back to the beer, there’s also light fruitiness as was in scents of grapefruit, tangerine, orange zest, lemon/lime, and also again a grassy splash. Has me craving an everything bagel.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out more sweet and floral hints

So what about this cricket? I’ve searched Other Half’s site to see why and coming up with zip. This little golden chirper is known for good luck, prosperity and wealth, so maybe that’s my answer. And for goodness sake, never accidentally step on one. The ancient tales say you will be doomed…and none of us need that now do we? 2020 was bad enough. Maybe Baby New Year 2020 crushed a couple crickets and that’s what caused this mess. So be kind to the hoppers you find, and treat them well so 2021 will be the best ever.

@otherhalfnyc @BeerBoutiqueInc @cheezits #beer #Pilsner #Kölsch #germanbeer #wine #cheezit @worldbyglass  #pairswithcheezits #motueka #malt #crickets #brooklyn #NY #NewYork #otherhalf

Posted on

Let’s Do Some Winter Grilling

Cantine Due Palme
Sangaetano 2018
Primitivo di Manduria DOP
Puglia, Italy
Aged 6 months in American oak barriques
Winemaker Angelo Maci
*If this is on D.O.C. Wine Bar’s menu for delivery/takeout, grab a bottle and order the lamb chops and if you still want more get the meatballs. Perfect pairing.

Deep ruby with hints of violet. Aromas of cherries, vanilla, and a little oak but not overpowering just enhancing the warmth. It’s a lively sip of fresh cherries, blackberries, blueberries, black pepper, and a snap of chocolate that’s turned to the dark side. Dry and ready for us to do some holiday grilling! Would love some really spicy sausages right now!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: more smooth and silk

Even though Cantine Due Palme produces around 12 million bottles a year, Angelo Maci has stayed dedicated to quality and sticking with the “Alberello Pugliese” bushvine training system, limiting chemicals in the vineyard, and absolutely no insecticides. They’re even continually working toward greater sustainability. That’s a whole lot of work and dedication for such a large and award winning operation.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @cantineduepalme @selectedestatesofeurope @cheezits  #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Italy #primitivo #PrimitivodiManduria #Puglia #Apulia #cantineduepalme

Posted on

Snappy Wake Up Call

Liten Buffel
Mother Makes Glucose
Dry Sparkling Red 2018
Col Fondo
Bookwood homestead blend
11 varietals of grapes, 2 cultivars of pears, Bookwood Homestead Honey
Organic, biodynamic, foot crushed whole cluster, unfined and unfiltered
Niagara, NY
Winemakers: Patrick Vaughn and Zack Klug

Fine pour of bubbly crushed raspberries. Those raspberries are still there on the nose along with strawberries, lemon zest, and a growing floral like a room full of roses. Again raspberries hit you first in the sip then tart like licking a lemon. Firm pears like the type my granny used to make pear hot pepper relish. That stuff was so delicious and I need to get my hand on that old recipe. Oh, back to the wine, there’s also smoke and sour patch kids. This is like a cider and a sour had a baby.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blunts some of the tart and sour

Going out of my comfort zone and trying a NY wine. Many, many years ago NY State wines were just not known as the wine to go searching out. Yes, many of us went on wine trails and hit the tasting rooms, but except for some late harvest and ice wines, I just took the rest of it for granted and dismissed them. Well, things have really changed, and I’m late to coming on board so feel free to call me an idiot. Whether it’s climate change, expansion in grapes, or the fact that there are so many more natural wines out there now; I am now fully chastised. Liten Buffel, blew me out of the water with this crazy dry sparkling red. Your whole mouth just erupts in all sorts of flavors and wakes you up. Hats off to y’all! Looking forward to discovering more of your creations.

@vinewinenyc @litenbuffel @zevrovineselections @red_wizard_collage @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #sparklingwine #cider #beer #sour @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #sustainable #biodynamic #organic #naturalwine #Niagara #NY #NewYork

Posted on

Pass the Fried Chicken

Domaine Christophe Pacalet
Beaujolais Nouveau 2019
Gamay
Beaujolais AOP
Les Bruyères, Cercie, France
Native yeasts, hand harvested, “lutte raisonnée” vine cultivation
Winemaker: Christophe Pacalet

Light young garnet. Open that door and release that touch of barn that runs out the yard. Next are aromas of cinnamon, plum, raspberries, cloves, and cherries. Taking the first sip and there’s more of that plum with a touch of sharp twang, chocolate, cherry (but not chocolate covered cherries), smoke, a ping of orange, and oddly blueberry and mango.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: just more juicy

Christophe Pacalet did have wine in his blood but took on a stint of biochemistry and cooking before returning to Beaujolais to learn from his famed (Morgon) uncle Marcel Lapierre. Who better to guide him along this path. Christophe has taken the route of renting instead of purchasing a vineyard. This gives him a chance to work with old vines and pick from the best. Yes, there’s less grapes, but better wine in the end. Have to add, this is a great wine for southern food. Seriously, it is. It went fab with my potato salad with hot peppers and capers. Also would work well with a good homemade fried chicken, especially the legs and thighs. Just remember, as I was taught by my mom…if you want good fried chicken soak it in salt water in the fridge over night. Don’t forget to make a side of jalapeño cornbread and mustard greens doused in hot pepper vinegar too, for a delicious evening you aren’t soon to forget.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @pacaletchristophe #ChristophePacalet #artisanwineselections @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #France #gamay #Beaujolais #LesBruyères #Cercie #friedchicken

Posted on

The Great Seducer

Fatalone
Bianco Spinomarino
Greco 2019
100% Greco
Puglia I.G.T.
Gioia delle Colle, Spinomarino, Puglia, Italy
Organic, dry farming, sustainable, green manure, and zero emission
Winemaker: Pasquale Petrera

Pale pretty yellow with a little haze. It’s like a fresh breeze of roses, lilies (not overly heavy), lilacs, and honeysuckle. It’s a unique and beautiful mouthful of honeydew, peaches, pear, honeysuckle nectar, honey fresh from my great grandfather’s hives, and a spice that could be a hint of thyme. This is total enchantment.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Nope! Absolutely not!!! It kills all the ethereal angelic flavors

Fatalone has been around since the 1800s but didn’t starts bottling till 1987. Everything else was bring your own bottle and fill’er up. Spinomarino is their only white wine, and those vines were not planted till 1990. Such a beautiful exotic heady and very unique wine. Kind of fits their name Fatalone. Filippo Petrera was the 2nd generation of this family and had the nickname of Il Fatalone which pretty much translates to “Lady Killer” or seducer. Throw in a bottle of this in a special someone’s Christmas stocking, and I bet you may have a fun night on your hands. Pivoting my head from these thoughts lest I get put on Santa’s naughty list. The winemakers also go above and beyond in making sure the grapes have the utmost care throughout the whole process. They even went as far as soundproofing the cellar and piping in classical music and nature sounds. Now that’s quite a spa treatment.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @FataloneWines @bonvivantimports @cheezits #cheezit #wine #whitewine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Greco #GioiadelleColle #Puglia #Apulia #organic #sustainable #Fatalone #Spinomarino

Posted on

Genie in a Bottle

Cantina Orgosa di Musina Giuseppe
Bianco
Granazza (Granatza – Sardinian spelling)
Orgosolo, Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy
Natural, organic, biodynamic
Winemaker: Giuseppe Musina

Vibrant copper orange color. Hmm maybe this is a new hair color for me. Really fresh scents of orange and orange peels, and in particular mandarins, then salt, smoke, and back to orange blossoms…ok we’re going with a whole lot of orange here. Like walking through a grove in the morning as the dew is still glistening on the grass and the fragrance of the fruit and flowers surround you. Mmmm this tastes smooth yet zippy, light, and fresh. Here comes that orange again, mandarin, tangerine, apricot, and a splash of peach. There’s also good old salt, white pepper, and almond.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: maybe a little more tangy but doesn’t change much

Here’s another wonderful wine by Giuseppe Musina. Never fails and as always love the depiction of one of the infamous local murals on the label. You can read more about them on my earlier post https://worldbyglass.com/a-town-of-murals/

The lovely grape living in this bottle like a genie is Granazza (Granatza), and is an ancient and somewhat rare white grape variety found around the town of Mamoiada in the centre of Sardinia. Some people believe it to be a synonym of Nuragus, and others mistake it for Vernaccia di Oristano. From what I’m finding, Giuseppe (I believe in 2014) lost a few stumps due to frost and other elements, but didn’t loose heart, and replanted with Granazza. I see those lost vines as a win for him as I sit here sipping this beautiful glass.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @cantinaorgosa @musinagiuseppe @zevrovineselections @cheezits #cheezit #wine #orangewine #whitewine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits  #organic #biodynamic #naturalwine #sustainable #Granazza #Granatza #Orgosolo #Nuoro #Sardinia #Sardegna #Italy