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A Rocking Winemaking Jedi Master

Gönc Winery
Anna 2021
Dry Rosè
50% Žametna črnina, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Grigio, 10% Blaufränkisch
Hand harvested, natural winemaking
Štajerska-Slovenia, Eastern Slovenia
Winemaker: Peter Gönc

Salmon on the lighter side. Beautiful mix of scents that sing summer…cantaloupes, honeydew, watermelons, strawberries, red currants, SC peaches from my old orchard (used to make the best hand cranked ice cream), and a whiff of slate. Sipping mild cantaloupe, strawberries, super ripe cucumber, peaches, lemon tingle, and a flinty mineral lick.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes everything more crisp and sharpen

I’m asking all of you to PLEASE watch “I Hate Everything About Wine”, a very short documentary on Gönc Winery. Just going to say it, I’ve never met this man, but I think I’ve just fallen in love with Peter Gönc within over 5 minutes of video. He hated wine because as a boy because his dad kept him working in the vineyard while all the other kids got to go out and play, so when he had his chance to head in a different direction he just took off only to realize later…maybe it’s not so bad after all. On return he realized whoops, he didn’t know how to make wine, so he just Googled & Youtubed. He somehow is like a natural wine Jedi Master or DJ. He feels what is right, and oh boy does it work. While he’s alone in the cellar, rock music keeps him company. One day he just wrote Starman on a barrel and it went from there. Names began to mesh with the labels, so you’re drinking his groove. Albeit the two I had weren’t from that series. Instead I got a UFO abduction and this one “Anna” named for his grandmother. Guess that means I’m going to have to pick up more asap to spin with some Bowie. ⚡️Peter you seriously rock!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #rosé #rosato #Rosè #Slovenia #bowie  @jp.bourgeois @goncwinery @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Grape Obsessions

Otto’s Constant Dream
Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Sustainable farming
Marlborough, New Zealand
Produced by: Hunter’s Estate
Winemakers: Peter and James MacDonald

Light pale yellow with a little green flicker. Scents of pineapple, grapefruit, tangelo, apples, a smidge of pine needle, and slate. Sipping and ok, I was not expecting to love this as much as I do. It is really fabulous! So fresh and bright and sweet and tart all at once. It’s a good smash of a cocktail of pineapples, apples, pears, a spritz of citrus blend and again a pine needle just hanging on the side of the glass, and a touch of that slate again. This is the perfect surprise of joy I needed!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I was thinking really do I have to? But guess what it doesn’t ruin any of that joy and is a perfect snack

This is one motivating wine since it sparked a business. From what I’m reading this is “the wine that launched Communal Brands. Inspired by Melissa Saunders’ obsessive nature about wine, her friend and future business partner, Chris Antista, created a wine in her honor: OCD. She applied said obsessive nature to find the right juice for this eponymous brand, ultimately finding a warm connection in her husband’s native New Zealand.” Their decisions on who to work with is very cool too…they need to be responsible, sustainable, no chemicals, but the one that really says it all is they only work with vineyards where they’d feel good about their kids playing. Good enough for me!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #NewZealand #Marlborough #SauvignonBlanc #ottosconstantdream @communalbrands @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Art The Sicilian Way

Cantine Madaudo
Sicilia Illustrata series
Passione Siciliana
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
2017
Nero d’Avola 60%, Frappato 40%
Vittoria (RG), Sicily, Italy
Madaudo family winery (4 generations strong)

Stained glass shimmering cherry. Breathe and in floats cherries, plums, raspberries, and not fully ripe strawberries. Tasting a tart cherry start then blackberries (seeds and all), a good swish of cranberry juice, tangy plums, a touch of tobacco (no I don’t chew, but I have had my share of cigars), and as it opens dried cherries too. Fresh, awake and alive and a bit juicy but dry at the same time.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nah

“Sicilia Illustrata” is a beautifully depicted bottle series of 4 wines and 1 Spumante Brut (check them out on their site). Not only do you have a wonderfully crafted wine but also a piece of art from the creatives, Lelio Bonaccorso & Tonino Donato to add to your collection. The blend of the native grapes and the visuals weave and capture glimpses of Sicily, and honestly fascinate me even more to raise a glass to this enchanting island in person. Cheers! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #sicily #sicilia #NeroDAvola # Frappato #verdeimports #Sambucese @madaudowine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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An Intergalactic Gift

Gönc Winery
Grape Abduction Company
Orange 2021
Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling
Hand harvested, natural winemaking
Štajerska-Slovenia, Eastern Slovenia
Winemaker: Peter Gönc (and maybe there’s some help from Walter?)

Amber with some lovely natural detritus. Breathing in decadent orange blossoms, a little pie spice, mandarins, honeysuckle blooms, peaches and apricots…so lovely! Now on to the sip and it’s Winesap apples, Bartlett pears, apricots (dried & fresh), squish of lemon with oranges & zest, white & a little black pepper (so shake, shake, shake…shake your…), and a little greenery herby flare and granite that checks everything on the end.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: warm goodness like cheddar cheese on pie

This is my first introduction to the intergalactic gift of Gönc wines (shhh another is coming up soon too). According to their IG there’s help from beyond the stars from their otherworldly buddy Walter. ”Grape Abduction Company 👽 is a story of aliens who, in secret missions on planet Earth 🌍, abduct the best crops 🍇 in vineyards and produce them into earthy wine drinks 🍷 in their extraterrestrial laboratories.” Well, thank goodness it’s a liter! It’ll come in handy on the Mother ship 🛸. BTW is this where they put the chip in, because if so count me in…just no probes please.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #orangewine #Slovenia #ufo #aliens @jp.bourgeois @grapeabduction @goncwinery @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Following The Sun

Cantina Canu
Bibi 2020
Cannonau di Sardegna Rosato DOC
Hand harvested
Luogosanto, Sassari, Sardegna, Italy
Family winery; Co-founder: Carla Cualbu

Pretty dancing pink coral. Giving it a sniff and raspberries & light grapefruit breezing in along with salt, rained on granite on a spring day, and a bit of smoke or peat. Sip and zing! That sure wakes up my mouth with lovely raspberries, tiny wild strawberries, light citrus mix twang, a lick of granite, and a smoke hint on the back mixed with salt. As time goes by it’s lively, fresh and goes smooth only to have the zing zip awakened again.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly delightful…ramps all the flavors up a notch

I wonder if I hold this wine glass up to my ear, can I hear the ocean because this rosé sure takes me right to a sun drenched beach. Oh Bibi, you are sweeping me right through a fast spring and then a let’s party summer vibe! So glad I waited to try you last out of the 3 bottles of nicknames (previous ones: Deispanta & Porteddu). Evidently Carla’s sister Clara was dubbed this as a tot since it was the first word to pop out of her mouth. Such an infectiously joyful sound when you say it over and over. Just try it! Or just grab another glass and join me following the sun. ☀️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #Sardegna #sardinia #Sassari #Luogosanto #Gallura #Cannonau #cannonaudisardegna #rosé #rosato #folliwngthesun @docwineshop @docwinebar @cantinacanu @cheezit

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Fresh Breath Of Life

Weingut A.J. Adam
Riesling Trocken 2020
100% Riesling
Hand harvested, indigenous yeast
Neumagen-Dhron, Mosel, Germany
Brother and sister winemaking team: Andreas Adam & Barbara Gudelj

Springy pale yellow-green. Sniff and it’s a yeasty start…like a fresh baked croissant that goes all mellow or pie crust and skirts in and out, sliced pears, apple wedges, pie spice, blended mellow citrus pops, and a bit of grass. Sip and again mixed citrus tang, a little Orangina, tart apples & pears, honeysuckle, some peaches along with mango a bit of papaya, lick of slate, and a smidge of oregano. It’s just a fresh breath of life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s ok. Brings out a lot of citrus

This is a story of the young cherishing and returning to the land of their family. Andreas and Barbara each came back when the time was right to work and devote themselves to their grandparents’ small plot. They even expanded at an insanely low price per sq. meter. At that time, people were just more interested in heading to the city, but it’s an area filled with ancient winemaking history (well, it is called “Germany’s Oldest Winemaking Centre”). The Romans left their viticulture mark and would transport wine by rowing boats on the Mosel, and there’s a really cool sculptural depiction of one of these double dragon headed vessels (date 220AD), “Neumagener Weinschiff” which was part of a tomb/gravestone of a Roman wine merchant. If you want to experience just a touch of that old Roman boating tradition and take in the beautiful view of Neumagen-Dhron, a wooden replica has been built to let you cruise in style. Don’t forget to bring the wine!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Riesling #Mosel #Germany @skurnikwines @docwineshop @docwinebar @weingut_a.j.adam @cheezit

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Good Connections

Cantina Canu
Porteddu 2020
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC
Hand harvested
Luogosanto, Sassari, Sardegna, Italy
Family winery; Co-founder: Carla Cualbu

Deep ruby shining glass. Ooh breathing in and it’s creamy smooth. There’s plums, cherries, and a delightful fruit tree blossoms, next up are raspberries, strawberries, and hmmm a little passion fruit. First sip and it’s so inviting…cherries, raspberries, ripe strawberries, plums & prunes and for that matter of fact dried cherries…can you dry a raspberry? (just checked and evidently you can freeze dry them.) Back to the rest of the flavors, there’s some earth but just like a pinch and a little bit of black olive pit. This is so smooth and makes me soooo happy

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: sharpens everything

Totally enchanted by my 2nd Cantina Canu wine, but then I’m sure you could tell from what I wrote above. As with “Deispanta”, this is another bottle that carries a family nickname. Don’t even bother trying to Google Translate “Porteddu”, it’s not going to get you anywhere, but this is what I’ve found from their IG. In Sardinian, it means a connection between places or locales, and in their own words and interpretation “We like to think that the Porteddu family have been our “connection” with the project we are carrying out today, because, having fallen in love with Gallura several years ago, they have laid the roots of a dream that today has resumed life thanks to the new generation.” For me…this glass I’m staring into is a connection between my senses and their passion. Thank you for letting us all in on your dream. ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #Sardegna #sardinia #Sassari #Luogosanto #Gallura #Cannonau #cannonaudisardegna @docwineshop @docwinebar @cantinacanu @cheezit

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Full Of Personality

Bodegas Altolandon
Enblanco 2020
Manchuela D.O.
Amber Wine
Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Gris
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeasts, unfined, unfiltered
Landete, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Wife & Husband winemaking team: Rosalia Molina & Manolo Garrote

Golden orange or amber without any little critters trapped in it. Scents flow out of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, orange zest, peaches, a bouquet of spring flowers, apricots, mango, and heady goodness. So this is one of those wines where you’re hit from all sides, but in a good way. Tasting honeysuckle nectar, wisteria, peaches, those reddish yellow plums from my grandmama’s trees, oranges and orange zest, peaches, apricots, papaya, mangoes, smidge of fennel, whiff of pine needles, salt, blade of grass, white pepper, and a tart citrus pop hangs out to make this even out with a good round way. This would be so good with unagi kabayaki.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it sharper but I like it better as a full open burst of flavors

Remember the old tale of “The Three Bears” where Goldilocks tastes the porridge and one was too hot, another too cold, and then finally hits the one that is “just right”. Was just listening to Rosalia speak on a video for Simply Spanish Wine, and I think she and her husband found that “just right” place to set up their organic shop at 1,100 meters above sea level (highest part). They have the advantage of cooler climes which is a good thing with climate change being very real, lots of wonderful sun exposure, and also later harvests. They even have a REAL ice wine (Dulce Enero) which I am dying to try. This magical setting also has varied soils, so all of this combined together is the perfect grape recipe for as they say, “wines with their own personality”.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #organic #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Spain #GarnachaBlanca #Garnacha #castillalamancha @skincontactwines @docwineshop @docwinebar @altolandonbodega @cheezit

 

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A Responsible Way Of Life

Bosman Family Vineyards
Generation 8 Chenin Blanc 2021
Chenin Blanc (mostly),and a little bit of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Vermentino
Wellington, South Africa
Vine growers & wine producers: Bosman Family (8 Generations so far)
CEO Petrus Bosman

Pale greenish gold. Hovering over the glass and gentle blips of pear & peach emerge along with a little tangerine that mellows out and then here comes  spring blossoms. Ok let’s find out how this baby tastes. Again there’s pears & peaches, mellow apples, a fresh citrusy zing in the back, a little salt, and it all circles back to the beginning again.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh yeah, it’s even more full fruit

I had no idea how this bottle factors into so much social responsibility. The Bosmans have been an accredited Fairtrade producer since 2009, and back then their 260 employees received a 26% stake of the business. They really care about their workers, community and growing healthy vines that can be spread to other producers which can also be seen with their work with the Adama Trust. Each bottle sold gives back a percentage to the Adama foundation and the community can sort how to allot the funds, such as education, child care, housing, healthcare, a choir and so much more. As Petrus Bosman said, “We have lived together, worked together and cared for each other on this farm for centuries, passing on values and skills from one generation to another, over and over again. For us creating opportunities for advancement within our community is not simply a good idea, it is a way of life.”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #SouthAfrica #cheninblanc @docwineshop @docwinebar @bosmanwines @cheezit

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Wine, Cookies & Family

Bodega Humberto Canale
Canale Black River
Estate Malbec 2020
100% Malbec
Sustainable agriculture, hand harvested
Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina
Family winery since 1909; Guillermo Barzi Canale (president)

Maroon with bluish purply hints. Scents immediately flow out of dried cherries, plums, raspberries, tiny bit of woodsy nature, and a familiar scent from home of apple blossoms floating on a spring breeze. Sipping and again cherries (dried and fresh), plums, raspberries with an addition of a touch of Nilla Wafers. It’s lively and as it grows there’s a tingle in the back that mellows and that woodsy nature flair is there again.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blerg…but it would be fabulous at a good ol’ backyard bbq with some steaks on the grill

This is a winery born from a biscuit…ok it’s more than just that. José Canale, originally from Italy ventured to Argentina, met his wife Blanca Vaccaro, had a small brood, opened the family bakery that expanded and grew, and then here’s the bad news. At 44, José passed but Blanca with strength and determination forged forward in the business to care for herself and her children. Out of the brood Humberto Canale became a civil engineer and later a government official, while the others kept growing and industrializing the family cookie business (which was quite a success). Even though they walked different paths, they were still together. Humberto saw potential in the Rio Negro area and invested in a fruit and wine venture that led to where the family and the winery is today and is in the hands of Guillermo Barzi (Humberto’s nephew) and the future generations. BTW there is a heck of a lot more to this tale but no way to fit it in an IG post. Just enjoy a glass and you’ll be drinking their history and it’s all you need. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Argentina #Patagonia #Malbec  #usawineimports @docwineshop @docwinebar @bodegahcanale @cheezit