A Can Of Many Colors

Prisma
Sauvignon Blanc 2022
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Belén & El Principal vineyards
Sustainable, hand harvested, unoaked
Lo Ovalle, Casablanca Valley, Chile
Winemaker: Ricardo Baettig

Crack the can and pour…very light yellow-green shimmer. Scents come running out immediately of a passionfruit/grapefruit/mango cocktail quickly followed by a citrus party blend, tomato leaf, some green pepper & a little pinch of cayenne, and a light river rock in the back, Sipping and so smooth and easy. All of the scents are in the tastes and the green pepper is a little bit amped with cayenne in a good way, now this may sound odd but it’s really good…it tastes like a green tomato plant/leaf smells, some honeysuckle, green pears, Golden Delicious apples, lemon & lime zest, and that musky mineral goodness keeps it all level.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO

Prisma’s vibrant can art kind of spells out all the delight you find inside, and it’s also very portable & easily recyclable which is a huge plus for me. It all comes from a collaboration between Brazos Imports & Grupo Belén, which leads me to search for info on the vineyards. Turns out they have to be from Viña Morandé (one of the most awarded wineries in South America-Decanter 2023), established by Pablo Morandé who is also part of the same Grupo. Ricardo Baettig is also Morandé’s winemaker. So this all comes full circle and I can quit chasing my tail trying to see how all this fits together. Now, that is out of my system, going to just enjoy popping another can & kick back with the perfect music & video pairing for this wine of PRISMA’s “Andy”. If you like the Raveonettes, Vivian Girls, Strawberry Switchblade, PSB & Dave Gahan, etc…then you will love these two Danish sisters. Oh, and one more thing, don’t forget to recycle that can and leave the world a greener place.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #CasablancaValley #Chile #sustainable #goodvibes #prismawines #wineinacan #cannedwine @prisma.theband @cheezit @brazoswine @docwinebar @docwineshop

Love Can Lead To Controversy

Viña Laurent
Polemico País 2022
150 year old ungifted vines, organic
Secano Interior, Valle del Itata, Chile
Winemakers: Damien & Lorena Laurent

Ruby cranberry cocktail. My nose is first hit with blossoms & smoky toasty goodness that lead to ripe & dried cherries with a light creaminess at first that hides later. Sipping lovely cherries, smoke that fades as time goes by and goes a little nutty, tart plums, dried cranberries, and as opens raspberries breeze in along with strawberries, a blackberry bite & a few blueberries dropped in, and an herby bit of thyme and/or smidge of anise. Overall light, chillable (just a little), and even with the name “Polemico”, there’s nothing controversial going on here…just damn good wine!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yummy

Oh País, how you’ve made me love you over the years. Speaking of love…while Lorena was on vacation in France where as she says, she found her winemaking “prince charming” and now she & Damien are keeping the ❤️ &🍷going in Chile. Their words explain it best, “We seek to do what we like, to express our passion, to make wines with a soul, with our own identity, we do not seek to be pretentious in it, it is simply to look for and interpret what nature gives us. That is why our wines are different every year, every year the imprint that nature wanted to leave us is impregnated and therefore as a result what matters most to us is to share our wines.”

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #Chile #organic #winetime #país #pais #Polemico  #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #zevrovineselections @cheezit @laurent_wines @docwineshop @docwinebar

A Good Cat Scratch

Viña Echeverria
Pét-Nat Wild 2022
100% Chardonnay
Single vineyard grapes, from ungrafted selected clones of prep-phylloxera French rootstock
Curicó Valley, Molina, Chile
Organic (practicing), sustainable (certified), wild yeasts, unfiltered, family owned & managed winery
Technical Director Chief Winemaker: Roberto Echeverría Jr.

Hazy yellow gold with a shimmer of green and a bit of bouncing bubbles. Going in for the sniff and wah! whoa! There’s mango mellow, pears, with salt & touch of smoke, apple, citrus spritz, and a something green. First sip and whoa again! All of the scents are in the taste with that green that’s a fresh stripped apple tree twig & lime zest. It’s crisp, vibrating, and a tingle tangle kiss of the wild or a good cat scratch satisfying that itch.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: dances together well but I prefer going solo

Just have to say I love the fun the Echeverrias bring to their natural wines. There’s always a little tidbit, fanzine, instructions, or like this pet’s label giving you and heads up about what you’re about to get hit with “aromas & flavors up to 11” and that its open & inclusive and pairs with Waldorf salad, BFFs, and true crime podcasts🕵️🔍. Oh this is so my regal feline groove. 😽

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #Chile #organic #winetime #petnat #Chardonnay #cats #catsofinstagram #thesegotoeleven #catscratch #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @echeverriawines @tedward_ws @docwineshop @docwinebar

Back To Bío Bío

Estación Yumbel
Pipeño 2020
100% País
Really old vines (150 years), dry farmed, hand harvested, unfined, unfiltered, (uncertified) organic & biodynamic
Secano Interior de Yumbel (Bío Bío Valley), Chile
Husband & wife wine team: Mauricio González Carreño & Daniela Tapia Berardi

Bright cherry beauty. Breathing in cherries, raisins, tart plum, violet chewing gun, a hint of an Oreo vanilla filling, tobacco, and tomato leaves. Mmmmmm what a first sip of cherries, plum, smoke, good earth, and a bit of home grown dirty cherry tomato that’s been stewing in the sun. You have no idea how much I love that bit of tomato. I’m so addicted I even have candles scented of their stems, leaves and the whole kit and caboodle. BTW could someone please grill me a steak?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it more rich and full

My 2nd  Estación Yumbel wine and well obviously different from their Tinaja 2020 (Moscatel de Alejandria) “Do I Hear Hoofbeats?” (love his horses), and it’s another beautiful expression of what you can find in Bío Bío and from the experience and vine passion of Mauricio & Daniela. I love that they use the hands off & traditional ways, especially in the case of their use pipas made of Raulí wood (beechwood) during the fermentation and aging. Shame that the government wasn’t as fond of these trees linked to their wine heritage and only thought of the paper industry, and the money they could make by planting white pine, etc. Well, at least Estación Yumbel and other like minded winemakers & families are carrying on. Cheers to this beautiful Pipeño and the history it will continue to make! ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #pinotgrigio #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Pipeño #País #Chile #biobio #Yumbel @selectionsdelavina @docwineshop @docwinebar @maurogc_ @daniela.tb @cheezit

Do I Hear Hoofbeats?

Estación Yumbel
Tinaja 2020
Moscatel de Alejandria 100%
Really old vines, dry farmed, hand harvested, skin contact, unfined, unfiltered, (uncertified) organic & biodynamic
Secano Interior de Yumbel (Bío Bío Valley), Chile
Husband & wife wine team: Mauricio González Carreño & Daniela Tapia Berardi

Unfiltered warm golden goodness. Scents of orange blossoms (that grow and grow given time), lilacs, Valencia oranges and a salty breeze. Oooh! There’s a zippy zing that has my lips vibrating. Flavors of oranges and zest and blossoms, tangelo, fragrant floral, lemon, some funky fun pineapple, along with smoke, salt, a teeny tiny sprig of rosemary on the back, and lovely lavender.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NOPE…shudder

Mauricio had a wine degree, worked in the industry but then went in search of the old enchanting vines of Bío Bío. What a beautiful place for he and Daniela to set down roots, make new friends, and raise a family. They’re all old school, low intervention and as you can see on the label this wine is fermented in an over 100 year old tinaja. Oh and Mauricio has another passion, horses (it’s evidently passed down from his father). From what I’m finding he trains majestic Arabians for endurance racing, and as you can see on his IG, he has another mature handsome friend that joins him in the vineyard…and in Mauricio’s own words: “Este caballo que viene para ayudarnos en el trabajo del viñedo, no es cualquier caballo, fue de un gran-super hombre, trabajador como ninguno, sin miedo, luchador y ejemplo para su descendencia. Es un orgullo para mí tenerlo en casa.”

#wine #MoscateldeAlejandria #Moscatel #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Yumbel #biobio #chile #organic #biodynamic #horses @selectionsdelavina @maurogc_ @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

The Brave Vignerons

A Los Viñateros Bravos
Granítico Blanco 2020
Moscatel 60% and Sémillon 40%
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested, native yeasts, old vines, no irrigation
Itata, Chile
Winemaker: Leonardo Erazo

Warm deep golden skin contact goodness. Scents of peaches, nectarines, orange blossoms (heady) that turn into a whole big bouquet by adding in lilacs and a hint of roses, an orange zest zip, and a pinch of coriander floating in on a salty breeze. Pretty, pretty, pretty! Tasting oranges that smack into granite and a bit of smoke. Yeah that’s a very good thing. There’s also a mixed bag of citrus peels, crisp apple crunch, nectarine, and salt. Its tingly and fresh and feels like it’s inviting me to escape what little winter we’ve had and rush into summer.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a richer deeper orange

With all of his education, training and traveling, Leonardo Erazo picked a fabulous place for a winery. The Itata Valley has amazing old vines and a history stemming from the Spanish setting down roots literally and figuratively back in the 1550s. The land is already perfect with volcanic and granite soils, which show through the wines, and Leonardo knew to let a good thing just be. He keeps the whole process simple, natural, and as little intervention possible; and I’m betting this is why he was named one of the Top 10 Best Winemakers of South America in 2019. Just take a look at one of his tweets of “vine love”: “Que privilegio y que responsabilidad cuidar estas hermosas parras.” He fits right in with the brave, dedicated winegrowers and makers of old, which is no wonder he named his winery, “A Los Viñateros Bravos”.

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Chile #Itata #winestagram #instawine  @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #ALosViñaterosBravos @leoerazolynch @ripewineimports @vinewinenyc @cheezit

 

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

Always Read the Instruction Manual

Viña Echeverría
Es Pituko
Chardonnay 2018
Curicó Valley, Molina, Chile
Sustainable, aged 15 months in French barrels
Chief Winemaker: Roberto Echeverría Jr.

Golden drop of sunshine with some sediment hanging around. Inhaling melon, mango, apples, and some light oak. As time goes by becomes deeper and richer. This is another one that says to drink in the next 5 minutes so here goes…melon, pear, a little orange acidic twang, and something rich and creamy. There’s even a kick of grass.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: whoa massive creamy oakiness and not sure how I feel about it. I’m on the fence.

The more I learn, and the more I taste… I find more natural winemakers putting instruction manuals on their back label art. Like with this one and last week’s “Es Pituko, Cabernet Franc 2019”, you’re instructed how much to chill, give it a shake before you pour because it’s natural like that, and how fast to drink. My advice, always take a look at the back, or you might miss out on the true way the wine is supposed to taste. The next red you pick up, could be one that might be screaming to go in the fridge.

While I pour another glass of this “Fancy” Chardonnay, here’s another one from Cerys Matthews.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @echeverriawines @tedward.ws @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #chile #molina #viñaecheverria #curicowines #naturalwine #espituko #Chardonnay #CuricóValley #CuricoValley #CerysMatthews

Old World Meets New

Viña Echeverría
Es Pituko
Cabernet Franc 2019
Curicó Valley, Molina, Chile
Sustainable, aged 11 months in French barrels
Chief Winemaker: Roberto Echeverría Jr.

Murky rosy ruby with nice sediment. From out of the cloud comes whiffs of strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, and something toasty. Btw this is a chilled red and as recommended on the label, drink in the next 5 minutes, so let’s see what comes out first…strawberries, tart cherry tart, and all of the above but the toast. There’s dark stony finish, and a little oak and smoke. Also “Es Pituko” means “It’s Fancy!”, so where’s my bow tie? This is going to be a top notch night.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: fruit goes crazy

I feel like I’m drinking a bit of history from all over the world. Echeverría family roots started in the Basque region of Spain, then they transplanted themselves to Chile in the 1750s. 200 years later a taste of France (and pre-phylloxera French vines) was brought to the town of Molina by Roger Piffre de Vauban coming to Curicó Valley. As time went by and their families blended through marriage, offspring, and two wineries. Next Roberto Echeverría brought in a splash of the U.S. through his studies at Cornell and degrees in agronomy, winemaking, and economics; and living and working for a while in D.C. for the World Bank. Feeling the pull and seeing the great possibilities, they returned to Chile and rebuilt and revitalized the family winery. Now Roberto’s sons and daughters are the latest generation that are hands on and just as passionate about the land, their wines, keeping it sustainable, and keeping it natural.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @echeverriawines @tedward.ws @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #chile #molina #viñaecheverria #curicowines #naturalwine #espituko #CabernetFranc #CuricóValley #CuricoValley

More to Love

Cacique Maravilla
Pipeno Pais 2019
100% Pais
Bio Bio
Yumbel Chile
Organic, biodynamic and vegan friendly
Winemaker Manuel Moraga Gutiérrez

First thing you should do with this red, is slightly chill it. Yes, you heard me, cool it a little. Pour and there’s a deep dark ruby that you can’t see through. First sniff and I’ll let this breathe a little more, so I’ll play with the cats while I wait. Earthiness lingers and opens to plums, blueberries, cherries, and some little salt/mineral. Here goes the first sip, and it’s tart, cherry, and out comes some orange, and wait for it…dark plums appear. It’s lush, delicious, and then there’s a hint of cinnamon, a little pepper, and I do believe a little smoke. I’m in love, and there’s more to love with this bottle. It’s a whole liter.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: mellow goodness cherry plummy

Cacique Maravilla, located in Yumbel, Chile, is helmed by Manuel Moraga Gutiérrez and his amazing mustache. Seriously, it’s a work of art. Back to the winery, from what I find online, the Gutiérrez family has had long ties to Yumbel which stretches back seven generations when Francisco Gutiérrez decided to settled down. Also his nickname is the winery’s namesake, which means Magnificent Chief. The vineyard is dry farmed, and is gifted with rich trumao/volcanic ash soil. There is no intervention and minimal pruning. As for the winemaking, it’s all natural too. It’s made with natural yeasts from the grapes and no filtration. What a beautiful and wild land. There’s a wonderful gallery on their website showing snapshots of the vineyard. There’s sheep wandering in the vines, glistening bunches of grapes and then them being crushed, and what looks like a delicious celebratory barbecue. Oh this is making me hungry, and wishing I had another liter for today.

On to the Bio Bio region…outside of Los Ángeles is the Laguna del Laja National Park where you can find the Antuco Volcano and Laguna del Laja. From what I’m reading the Laguna is a beautiful emerald green and has debris from past eruptions throughout the shoreline. Evidently, you can also go salmon fishing here. The park is also great for birding. Some of the multitude of feathered friends include Bandurria, Condors, and the Rufous-bellied seedsnipe. Other wildlife include pumas, foxes, and my personal favorite the Vizcacha.  The snow capped volcano looming in the background is technically still active but no major eruptions for eons. Back in April 2013, a pilot logged that he saw ash emissions, but after further investigation the VAAC attributed it to a wildfire.

Next we stop off in Concepción to visit the Casa del Arte José Clemente Orozco, located at the University of Concepción. My particular interest is in the mural by Jorge González Camarena. In 1960, Chile had the massive and devestating Valdivia earthquake which was on a scale of 9.4 to 9.6. Mexico reached out to assist the Chilean government on rebuilding (which included rebuilding Casa del Arte) and this is how the Mexican artist, González Camarena, became inspired to become involved. From 1964-1965, he worked on the mural “La Presencia de América Latina” which depicts the history of Latin America with all it’s triumphs, trials, beauty and at times death. Above the mural is a quote by Pablo Neruda, “Y no hay belleza como esta belleza de América extendida en sus infiernos / en sus cerros de piedra y poderío, en sus ríos atávicos y eternos” translation: “There is no beauty like the beauty of America spread out in its hells / in its mountains of rock and power, in its atavistic and eternal rivers”. From just seeing the stills and video, I can feel the intensity and overwhelming emotion of this mural. I can just imagine how powerful it would be to stand before it.

Back to Yumbel and their deep tradition of the Feast of San Sebastian which is celebrated on both January 20th and March 20th. Thousands gather from near and far to visit the San Sebastián Sanctuary, participate in the procession (some on their feet and others on their knees), and light candles. This March’s was cancelled due to covid, but from what I’m seeing in 2016 there were 500,000 that made the pilgrimage. Now that’s passion.

@vinos_naturales #CaciqueMaravilla @docwineshop @docwinebarny @selectionsdelavina @zevrovineselections @cheezits #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #chile #Pais #BioBio #Yumbel #Chile #lagunadellaja #casadelarte #mural #art #SanSebastian #JorgeGonzálezCamarena #PabloNeruda