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Preserving History To Make A Better Future

Bodegas Faustino
Cava Brut NV
D.O. Cava Guarda
Macabeo (mostly) & Chardonnay
Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection (SWfCP)
Oyón (Álava), Spain
Current generation of the Martinez Family: Carmen Martínez Zabala & Lourdes Martínez Zabala

Golden shimmer with very active bubbles. After a few sniffs there’s apples, pears, touch of brioche, fresh from the beehive honey & wax but not overly sweet, cantaloupe, honeydew, and ripe cucumbers. Tasting crisp apples & pears, honeydew, green watermelon rind, splash of lemon, that honey again (not too sweet but just right), a bubbly sizzle, lick of salt, and a delightful longing for how it will grow & bloom over time.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: definitely and bring on a seafood tower too

Bodegas Faustino has over 160 years history in wine, and they were also the 1st winery in Rioja to be certified SWfCP, which is something everyone should be thinking about with how climate change is affecting our world. This designation includes the sustainability of the environment (greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, water & waste management, biodiversity, and healthy soil), sustainable management (proper communication and ethical behavior), ability to change & evolve to benefit the industry, being socially conscious and care about their employees & working partners, make sure their products and work environments are safe, and a part that I am always happy to see…holding onto and preserving traditions & culture, and their lands. When we all put our minds to a similar way of thinking we not only preserve history, but also look forward to a better future. 🥂

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

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Time To Fire Up That Grill!

Kuentz-Bas
Alsace Blanc 2024
30% Sylvaner, 30% Pinot Blanc, 20% Riesling, 10% Muscat, 5% Pinot Gris, 5% Gewurztraminer
Certified biodynamic & organic
Alsace, France
Owner & vigneron: Jean-Baptiste Adam (father/14th gen) & Laure (daughter/15th gen)

Sniffing and there’s pears, white peaches, a blended splash of mandarin oranges, tangerine, lemon, & kumquats. Then next up tickling my nose are spring fruit tree blossoms (pear, apples, plums, and more), tad of pineapple, gentle honeydew, touch of beeswax fresh from the hive, and that cool & clean springhouse feel. All of those lovely scents are in the sip with honeysuckle, a little kirby, mango, lychee, and that citrus tingle sizzle. It’s one dreamy wine.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: sparky

Kuentz-Bas’ reveal the beauty of their grapes, terroir, and Alsatian heritage. This Alsace Blanc’s pairing suggestions are brats & crab cakes, so I say it’s time to fire up that grill! Actually this domaine got its start from a pairing. First there were the Kuentz from back in 1795 that blended through marriage in 1895 with the Bas family. Now it’s in the hands of Jean-Baptiste Adam (since 2004) and he and his team take great care of their lands and all that inhabit it with their biodynamic ways. If you want a moment of zen, watch this video of them prepping and applying the “Bouse de Corne”. With a workout like that you’ll never need a gym membership and will definitely pump you and your biceps up. 💪 ❤️

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

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What Can Warm The Coldest Heart?

Azienda Ai Galli
Prosecco Rosè 2024
Brut Millesimato DOC
Glera 90%, Pinot Nero 10%
Pramaggiore, Veneto, Italy
Galli Family

Light flash of salmon belly pinkish blush with active bubbles. Sniffing and there’s strawberries (reminds me of the wild Canadian ones we used to get on the roadside), white peaches, green pears & apples, lychee, light mandarin & lemon, and a smidge of kumquat. All of the scents are in the sip that is crisp, bright and lively. It’s one of those lip vibrating bubblies that’s like a first kiss.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: YES

What makes a snowy night better…this rosè prosecco! The once enchanting snowflakes have become annoying and by morning it will be a grey slushy mess. A glass will bring you a blast of life or a touch of spring on the horizon. It’s also a glass of romance that can warm the coldest heart. Cheers to no more snow and to the hope of warmer & sunnier days! 🥂

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Collaboration, Inclusion & Breaking Down Cultural Barriers

Caruso E Minini
Arancino
Bianco Macerato
Catarratto
Terre Siciliane IGP
Organic & sustainable
Marsala, Trapani, Sicily, Italy
Wine team: Stefano Caruso & Mario Minini (co-founders), and Giovanna & Rosanna (Stefano’s daughters)

Light orange golden and as it opens it deepens. Sniffing Valencia orange & blossoms, honeysuckle, mandarins, light tangerine, persimmon, wild flowers and sea breeze. Sipping and all of the scents are right there along with fresh picked basil, marjoram, thyme, parsley and a little shake of salt. It’s so crisp, fresh and delightful.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Big yes

This is my 2nd Caruso E Minini wine, and I just love their labels, but I didn’t know the history until now. Turns out the illustrations are created by people from Turin’s Laboratorio Zanzara. The program is a non-profit that is “dedicated to the integration and creativity of people with intellectual and behavioral disabilities, under the direction of Gianluca Cannizzo”. They work from pics & objects from Marsala & then combine their ideas with a touch of Matisse’s style. While creating, they can share ideas, chat, and grow. As it says on Laboratorio Zanzara’s site, “I make, therefore I am” is the starting point to find fulfillment, both as individuals and as a group. It’s a path of giving back and active participation in society”. The collaboration of the winery & lab “exemplifies how art and business can come together, proposing a new language capable of breaking down cultural barriers; a fusion of taste and beauty, destined to leave an indelible mark on the mind and heart”. Cheers to this project and their others that are a creation of love.

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A Dog’s Tale

Lubanzi Wines
Red 2023
Shiraz
Certified organic Ecocert
Swartland, South Africa
Charles Brain & Walker Brown and their team

Deep purple pour with maroon glints. Sniffing raspberry, rosehips, cherry, blackberries, boysenberry, dried Mission figs, plums & their blossoms, and  a little smoke. Sipping and there’s plums (bright & dark with pits, skin & all), cherries, blackberries, boysenberry, singed orange peel, dates & dried fig, again that smidge of smoke, and at last black pepper tingle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Party time!

You have to love a wine named after a dog. The story told is Charles Brain & Walker Brown (originally from USA) while they were exchange students in South Africa (2014) went on a backpacking adventure. On their second day a “wandering dog” joined their trek. Locals called him “Lubanzi” and he followed alongside them for 6 days/100 miles until one night he just disappeared. Was he really a dog, their protector, or a spirit animal? It’s fitting that their kindred traveling friend’s name is now emblazoned on their wines. In 2016, they moved back to ZA with a plan. They brought the right people & grapes into their lives, and wanted to give back to the country they so loved. Lubanzi Wines “pledged 50% of our net profits to back the Pebbles Project, a Non-Profit that works with the low-income families who live and work on South Africa’s wine farms. They focus on growing families by providing resources and improving access to high-quality health care & educational services.” Charles & Walker are truly not only making great wine, but also making positive impact for people, offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions, and making our planet a better place. As they say, “We believe in the power of business to change the world.” ❤️🍷

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“An Oasis Of Peace”

Azienda Agricola Pojer e Sandri
Palai Müller-Thurgau 2024
100% Müller-Thurgau
Natural winemaking
San Michele all’Adige, Faedo TN, Italy
Mario Pojer & Fiorentino Sandri

Light yellow with a green sheen. Sniff and there’s light peaches, grapefruit, grassy wild flowers along with white blossoms, peppergrass, and lemon zest. Sipping lemon, lemongrass, grapefruit,  peach but not overly fruity…kinda dry, kumquat, crabapple, sourgrass & a touch of peppergrass, lick of mineral, and s dash of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Easy as pie

Back in 1975, Fiorentino inherited his family’s vineyards & Mario had graduated enological school, which sounds like a recipe for a perfect pairing… except some thought the lands might not be great. Boy did they prove the doubters wrong with their 1975 Palai Müller-Thurgau, and have continued as they grew from 2ha to so much more. In 1998, they were the first in Italy to market Chardonnay, then in 2002, they “patented the reduction and press vinification process with nitrogen recovery, which drastically reduces the use of sulfites” & started “washing the grapes in a grape jacuzzi” (I just love the image of 🍇 chilling in a jacuzzi), and in 2013, launched their Zero Infinito project which means, “Zero chemical treatments in the countryside, Zero sulfur dioxide, Zero commercial yeasts, Zero fining agents, Zero filtration, Zero antioxidants”. Along with their wines, they also produce grappas, fruit brandies & vinegars; and you can experience it all by booking a tasting or even better staying in one of their apartments on the farm nestled within the vineyards…or as they call it “an oasis of peace”. ❤️

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A Common Thread

Brogalia
La Meirana 2023
Gavi D.O.C.G. del Comune di Gavi
100% Cortese di Gavi
Gavi, Italy
Brogalia family: current generation – Roberto & Fillipo (Piero’s sons), Bruno (Paolo’s son)

Shining yellow with a green sheen. Breathing in light grapefruit/tangelo, firm pears, white peaches, winter melon & a touch of honeydew, honeysuckle blossoms that later blend with jasmine, and a bit of mineral that is like fresh rained on pavers. What I’m sniffing is in the taste along with a splash of lime, white nectarines, and almonds that give it a dry fresh feel yet still fragrant. Simply lovely.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: just don’t

Before the Broglia family bought their estate “La Meirana” from Count Edilio Raggio in 1972, it had a long history dating back to at least June 3rd AD 972 as found on a lease stored in the l’Archivio di Stato di Genova. Two years after becoming the new owners, the Gavi DOC status was created and just in time for their first bottled wine. Later in 1998, it rose to DOCG. Now their lands are 100 ha in total, and 65 ha are vineyards (oldest are from 1950s) all of their celebrated Cortese. All along they have looked for ways to improve and innovate their grapes & winemaking. Along with renovating the winery, they have also worked with the University of Turin in clonal research and the University in Milan on sulfite-free wine production. All of this research and progress not only assists them in growth & higher quality wine…it also helps their neighbors and even all off us that have a chance to sip a glass from one of their classic bottles.

One more bit to add about this “family rooted in the heart of Gavi”, is a quote from their greeting video that sums up their passion and makes me smile. “We are all connected by a common thread, we love our land, we love the countryside, we love drinking wine, warm fireplaces, dogs, and a good bottle of wine.” Now that’s a beautiful life.

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A Balancing Act

Alberto Ballarin
Dolcetto d’Alba D.O.C. 2022
100% Dolcetto
Sustainable viticulture
La Morra (CN), Italy
Winemaker & grower: Alberto Ballarin

Shining ruby glass. Breathing in cherry, (Twizzlers too), plum, raspberries, wild strawberry, violets, blueberry, & a light citrus spark on the end that blooms a bit over time. Scents are in the sip joined now with boysenberry, touch of blackberry, & a smidge of orange zest. Absolutely delicious!

Pairs w Cheez-Its: Big YES

Wondering what’s behind the logo on Ballarin’s bottles. Turns out it was inspired by a photo/artwork by Teddy Locquard, & the thoughts/emotions it invoked from Alberto which made him want his own version that would represent his life best. The design depicts a man seated on a tightrope (I can’t imagine how difficult that would be to not fall off) reading a newspaper along w other personal marks of Alberto. This is from his site & sums it all so much better than I could relay. 

“I was able to see myself in that image, suspended between the choices I had to make and those I had already made. Choices that led me to find my personal balance thanks to the possibility that I was given to live through my passions and to love my job. As the Chinese philosopher Confucius reports ‘Do what you love and you will not work a single day of your life’.”

“I therefore decided to include what I consider the essential elements of my life as a producer:

  • the glass of wine: the symbol par excellence of sharing and for me an emblem of leisure, well-being and pleasure;
  • the book: a symbol of knowledge, but above all of the curiosity with which you have to look at every challenge, as the world of wine and its culture are immense and it is impossible to be satisfied with them;
  • the umbrella: representation of the weather and its instability; quality grape bunches and wine cannot be produced without the right weather conditions. Due to its essentiality it could not be missing from my label.”

Means so much more than the steampunk figure, I assumed. Instead it’s is an elegant representation of a passionate, creative & knowledgable winemaker that is Alberto. 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #winestagram #instawine

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Sparking Up The Holidays

Maison Idiart
Nico
Crémant de Loire AOC NV
Brut Blanc
Méthode Traditionelle
Chenin Blanc (mainly), Chardonnay, Grolleau, & Cabernet Franc
Loire Valley, France
Winemaker: Nicolas Idiart

Light yellow/gold with a splash of green that shimmers in and out and very active small bubbles. Breathing in Ggreen apples & pears, faint touch of lemon/lime, and over time there’s a sprinkle of hazelnuts that really sets a holiday vibe. All of the scents are in the very crisp taste along with the lemon/lime a bit more ramped up that has my lips vibrating, also with I do believe a drop of lychee, and almonds join the hazelnuts in a festive dance. It’s fresh, joyful, sparky, and oh so easy to dress up or down at home or out on the town.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: don’t even try or Santa will leave a lump of coal in your stocking.

This is now my 2nd Maison Idiart bottle. 1st was the Pinot Noir 2022, which was quite a delight and a wonderful introduction to Nicolas’ achievements, his “modern day wine company” that works with select natural growers whose grapes sing from where they are born, and passion for reducing carbon footprints with their “keg wines”. Albeit this is not a wine on tap, but it’s a bottled burst of happiness that I think my and I bet your holidays need right now. Nothing says celebrate like a glass of bubbly and especially one as fun as Nico. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #brut #sparklingwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #organic #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #naturalwine #sustainable #cwdistributing #maisonidiart #docwinebar #docwineshop

 

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Guided By Etna

Sentieri Siciliani
Rosso 2022
Nerello Mascalese 80% & Nerello Cappuccio 20%
Etna DOC
Sustainable
Sicily, Italy
Agronomist: Elisa Trovato

Shining bright ruby. Scents flow out of cherries (all sorts), tart plum, dried Mission figs, drop of cola with a bit of earthiness, juniper berries/pine sap & alpine herbal blend, and fennel pollen. Sipping and there’s the tart plums & cherries again, pomegranate, cranberries, red licorice, shave of orange, mandarin, & kumquat zest, and a smidge of cola again followed by a dry lime tingle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

Elisa Trovato is an agronomist who is very in tune to her beloved Etna. She started out renting vineyards prior to finding her way to purchasing her current 3 ha of lands & vines: Vigneti Ammirato, Spallarello, and Lu Meo. Each benefit from the gifts Mt. Etna spews and also from Elisa’s care, passion, and sustainable agricultural knowledge. I love this quote about the vineyards from her site, “I go on walks and end up getting lost in them. Fortunately, there is always you, Etna, guiding me.” How wonderful it must be to wake up to a life of traversing her ancient & rich Sicilian paths; and know that she is weaving her own part into their history. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #organic #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Italy #Sicily #naturalwine #sustainable #cwdistributing #SentieriSiciliani #docwinebar #docwineshop