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Making Perishable Permanent

Fontanavecchia
Fiano 2022
100% Fiano
Sannio DOP
Torrecuso (BN), Campania, Italy
The Rillo family: Managed by Libero with extra help & guidance from his father Orazio & brother Giuseppe

Color straw with green pops and flecks. Sniff and there’s nose tickling lime followed by lemon & a citrus blend & their orchard blossoms, apples, pears, honeydew, honeysuckle, fresh rained on slate, and a shake of salt. Dancing on my tongue are all of those lovely scents with a savory smidge smoke/peat accent that is waaaaaaay in the back and just gives a little depth & backbone stability much appreciated.

Pairs with Cheez-Its:  perfect pairing

The Rillo family though the years has kept their goals of cultivating & protecting their vines, grapes & lands; learning from history but not forgetting it or leaving traditions behind even as they & their lives continue to grow & intertwine. As often is said about wine families that span generations that they carry a “passion”, “it’s in their veins”, etc., and with them it’s not just an echo of those words or following through the motions…they truly do. A select quote on their site by John Arnott (journalist, cricket afficionado, wine lover, and poetic wordsmith) really struck me. “Wine is a successful effort to translate the perishable into the permanent”. It’s such a simple sentiment yet so encompassing that you can recognize in Fontanavecchia’s wines whether it be their youngsters or reserves. These lovely bottles capture, cement and imprint their solid place in history one drop at a time. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove  #winetime #Sannio #Campania #Italy #worldbyglass #wineemporium #fontanavecchia #docwinebar #docwineshop

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A Permanent Home In My Heart

Morgante
Rosso 2020
100% Nero d’Avola
Sicilia DOC
Grotte (Agrigento) Italy
The Morgante Family: Antonio (father), Carmelo & Giovanni (sons)
Winemaker: Riccardo Cotarell

Deep ruby. Breathing in plums, cherries, raspberry, blackberry, a creamy frosting bit lightly floats by joined by a raisin, and a little blend of pine, eucalyptus & thyme. From the first sip it’s a very alive jumble of all the scents with a bigger bunch of blackberry, strawberry,  cranberry, black tea, a dark blueberry or maybe dried strawberry, and wild fennel. This is delicious but it has me craving a Thanksgiving sandwich. Yum!

Pairs with Cheez-Its:  it’s complicated

When I started really learning about wine, Nero d’Avola enchanted me and has a permanent home in my heart. I love that it can be dressed up and on the town with a good rare steak with balsamic reduction, lamb chops, and a good cheese board (drunken goat, pecorino, etc); or you can chill and have it on the front stoop munching on a gyro & sausages from the cart down the street. This wine isn’t a snob but it sure is a star, and it’s just another reason to book a trip to Sicily & find out more about the Morgante Family’s passion & dedication to this lovely grape. ✨✈️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove  #winetime #Sicily #Italy #worldbyglass #nerodavola #winebow #morgantevini #docwinebar #docwineshop

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“And When The Music Starts, I Never Wanna Stop”

Azienda Agricola Muzic
Ribolla Gialla 2021
100% Ribolla Gialla
Collio DOC
San Floriano del Collio (Go), Italy
The Muzic Family (Ivan, Orieta, Elija, and Fabijan)

Shining straw yellow. There’s scents of round yellow pears, salty river rock breeze, yellow plums & their blossoms, crisp apples (including my fave golden delicious), touch of lemon, a mix of spring flowers, and a brioche toast crumb. Leisurely sipping on this hot evening and those yellow plums & pears again greet me again with a good sprinkling of salt, golden delicious apples, smidge of honeysuckle, and a lemon lime mild sizzle blend with other citrus thrown in like kumquat, tangelo, etc but overall really light. All of the tastes blend easily and if you aren’t over thinking it like me you’d just say what a nice fresh wine that is begging for langoustines and oysters. I think I need to order a dozen 🦪.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: smoooooth

Back in the day, the Muzic family had pretty much been tenant farmers until they gained a chance to purchase the house/farm where they were residing & 5 ha they had also been tending. Four generations on and their vineyards have spread, their wines are racking up awards & acclaim, and they’re part of the Collio Consortium (2024 is their 60th anniversary) that promotes & protects the authenticity & identity of the Collio wines, their historical traditions and native grapes…as they say, “The Collio is a territory in which harmony with nature is found and time is rediscovered on a human scale, marked by ancient rural rhythms.“ Oh and you can tell Muzic is in the “Collio DOC Club” since all the members’ bottles carry the same distinct shape that some call a rocket. 🚀

Here we are at the end of my week of songs, so of course this winery deserves a matching one, and I’m betting you can already guess where this post is headed. 🪩🪩

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #madonna #winetime #Collio #Italy #worldbyglass #wineemporium #muzic #muzicwine #docwinebar #docwineshop

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🎶And Howl, Howl, Howl, Howl🎶

Villa Wolf
Gewürztraminer 2022
Certified organic (2021), no artificial fertilizers, no herbicides or pesticides, hand harvested
Wachenheim, Pfalz, Germany
Winemakers: Patrick Möllendorf
Owner: Ernst Loosen

Super light straw with a teeny touch of green. Breathing in gentle spring flowers, peach blossoms, miniature roses, peaches, mango, lychee, grapefruit tangelo blend, and a touch of honeysuckle followed by a mineral dappled cool stream. Sipping away and there’s that honeysuckle again but it’s stepping out from behind the shadows, peaches, lychee, mango, mix of melon, pineapple popsicle, Valencia oranges & zest & a tiny shave of grapefruit with Buddha’s Hand zest too, Lemon Kas with a tingle and fresh, fresh, fresh.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: brings out more pears and silkiness or should I say a pearapalooza

When I see a Villa Wolf wine, I always think of the villa’s gorgeous architecture & design inside and out, that deserves to be on @accidentallywesanderson (If you haven’t followed them, check out the pics). Dating back to the 1700s and previously known as the J.L. Wolf estate, their famous and established shine began to wane in its last years before being rescued by Ernst Loosen (Dr. Loosen) in 1996. A fresh yet classic new energy grew through their vineyards and cellar, also with Patrick Möllendorf’s viticulture & winemaking hands dearly in it. As stated in their philosophy, “A great wine begins in your head, but the true measure of any wine is where it ends – in your glass.”, and this 🐺doesn’t just howl in joy of their ethereal & earthly collaboration…it gets on stage and sings! 🎤✨✨✨

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #florenceandthemachine #wolf #howl #winetime #Gewurztraminer #pfalz #Germany #worldbyglass #drloosen #villawolf #docwinebar

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A Dürerable Experience

La Spinetta
Il Rosé di Casanova
50% Sangiovese, 50% Prugnolo Gentile
Toscano IGT
Organic & sustainable
Terricciola (Pi), Tuscany, Italy
Rivetti family

Copper rose stained glass. First whiff and there’s grapefruit that turns into a tomato leaf blend, roses, cantaloupe, strawberry, and  young raspberry. Sipping and there’s strawberries & raspberries again, a tiny touch of blueberry, grapefruit twang in a good way…”so fresh, so good, so right ba ba ba” (sorry that song has been stuck in my head tonight), light lemon zest, and a mineral rock lick.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: In the famous words of Bill the Cat, “Ack ack ack thppt!”

Such a weighty creature on the label for such a gentle & refreshing wine. Y’all know the distinctive beast that graces many of La Spinetta’s wines. Giorgio Rivetti’s a big fan of Albrecht Dürer, so what better reason to emblazon his woodcut on their bottles. He also picked another work by the artist, “Il Leone di Dürer” to grace their Barolo Campè & Barolo Garretti since “The so-called king of the jungle is the best representation of the king of wines and said the wine of kings.” BTW every time I see that rhinoceros my heart has a longing feeling for not just their wines which are always fabulous but also for Albrecht’s handiwork. I’m a huge fan too and some of you may not know I have a MFA in printmaking and each glance takes me back to the feel of the tools, the smell of the ink in the printshop, and just getting thoroughly dirty but in the most satisfying way. After hours of work there would be nothing better than a long shower and a big glass of a Spinetta wine. Cheers! ❤️🦏❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Italy #worldbyglass #AlbrechtDürer #skurnikwines #laspinetta #laspinettacasanova #docwinebar #docwineshop

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“We Are All Duckman”

João Pato Aka Duckman
Rosa Duck
Pét-Nat
95% Fernão Pires and 5% Baga
Sustainable, unfiltered, unfined, natural, spontaneous fermentation, and hand-harvested
Óis do Bairro, Anadia, Portugal
Winemaker: Maria Pato

Rose gold with active fine white bouncing bubbles. Sniff and there’s a crumb of a yeasty roll, lemon along with orange zest…citrus blend, raspberry, young strawberries, red & green delicious apples, watermelon rind, a faint hint of Pop Rocks, white pepper, and a kind of cideresque tingle. All of it is there in the swig. It really has a cider feel in a very very very good way, and all of my beer buddies (especially Joe) pick it up. As time passes ripe strawberries and roses (or old school pink jelly beans) emerge. Just crisp, dry and so happy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: smoooooth

As some of you know, I’m a huge fangirl of the whole Pato family and how they celebrate Bairrada & their grapes (in particular Baga). In their own words, “Duckman is all of us who embrace this spirit of building a better world together!” They also put their support behind artists from their region and their wines shared with the world help shine a light on these creators of all forms…“photo, music, writing…everything that can be considered as art”. So join in with their flock, because Duckman “does not forget his people, neighbors, and friends who help us to have a more meaningful life”. “We are born human. We were born wild. We’re looking for a tribe. We chase dreams.” So be a duck since, “We are all Duckman”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #rosé #sparklingwine #worldbyglass #portugal #gkselections #luispato #duckman #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Fueling The Spark Of Art

La Moulinière
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Grapes from Chateau Loumelat’s vineyards
Sustainable
Bordeaux, France
Famille Lesgourgues

Twinkle twinkle light yellow that warms on the pulse with green highlights starlight. Scents of pear, very fresh apples picked on a warm summer day, lemon, lime, honeydew, a kneaded dough rising smell, tangerine/grapefruit spritz, and light pineapple. Sipping and there’s lemon, lime, a grapefruit splash with a tangerine cocktail of all the citrus, pineapple, lychee (I remember as a kid  from a restaurant that I only got to go to when I got straight As on report card), ripe cucumbers, cool mineral like from our spring house minus the salamanders, a little honeysuckle, and pinch of salt. 

Pairs with Cheez-Its: tart fireworks

The Lesgourgues family has 5 châteaus in total (as far as I know) and the one that these Sauvignon Blancs grapes are sourced from is Chateau Loumelat. What took me with them in particular was not just their wines, but also their passion for contemporary art which is near and dear to my own ❤️. At Château de Laubade (known for their armagnac) they have residencies for artists, and who wouldn’t want to create in such a beautiful place. People working in the vines, cellar, distillery, etc. are also encouraged to engage and collaborate with the artists, so it’s a full winery venture. The public also has the opportunity to view the finished works during their “open houses”. It’s just wonderful that wine, armagnac, & this family fuel the spark for young artists to grow and bloom.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #France #worldbyglass #baronfrancois #LaMoulinière #ChateauLoumelat #ChateaudeLaubade #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Family Traditions

Cleto Chiarli e Figli
Vecchia Modena
Premium Honorable Mention
Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC
100% Lambrusco di Sorbara
Sustainable
Castelvetro, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Owners: Mauro & Anselmo Chiarli

Sunset rose with tiny light Pinky (Tuscadero) bubbly foam that later trace active designs on the surface. Nose tickling scents pop up of raspberry, strawberry, light Oreo center, cherry blossoms on a cool breeze, and on the back a little alpine herb but not overly. The moment it hits my tongue and there’s those strawberries again (green, pink & red), raspberries, cranberry, a little young blackberry, sorrel, wild backyard sourgrass tang, and a crisp tingly sizzle spark. It’s a little joyful party in a bottle that has a reminder of a Sour Patch Kid in a good adult way.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: BIG NO

This noble sparkler’s roots stem back to the 1800s, when their founder Cleto Chiarli was making wines for his own restaurant, and it’s just continued to grow in estates, vineyards & prestige. This groundbreaker even created his own wine producing company that was the 1st in Emilia-Romagna. Over the years the family has continued to look to the future, how to push & grow, and only stopped for two years after a bombing in WWII, but they rebuilt and kept the momentum going. I was way too young to drink back in the 70s, but I still remember hearing of crappy supposed “Lambruscos”…Cleto has NEVER been one of them. They have from the very beginning been about keeping traditions & quality which can be found in the commitments the current generation has made. Sure you can take my word for it, or just see the awards they’ve garnered, but the best way you can truly know is to pop a bottle for yourself. Once it hits your lips, you’ll get it, your eyes will brighten, and maybe you might even do a little happy dance like I did on my 2nd glass. 💋

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Italy #Lambrusco #worldbyglass #dallaterrawinerydirect #cletochiarli #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Pop Muzik

Domaine Arsac
Pop Color 2022
VDF
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Biodynamic/organic farmed, horses working in the vineyard, compost from their cows, native yeasts
Saint Jean Le Centenier, Ardèche, Rhône Valley, France
Winemaking family: Sebastien & Dimitri Arsac

Lemon yellow with a touch of skin contact orange-ade. Sniffing and there’s lemon, lime, a blend of Valencia & Navel orange. orange blossoms, a refreshing cool mineral rock, and greenery covered in fresh morning dew. Taking a sip and then another and all of the scents are in the sip with a gentle squeeze of light grapefruit, citrus zest with the tiniest touch of thyme on the back, as time passes there’s a bit of green bell pepper, and it all ends in a dry delight. BTW I could see beer drinkers turning to the wine side for this bottle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: ACK I RAN OUT

This is my 2nd wine from Domaine Arsac, and both have been absolutely delicious & delightful. For those that didn’t read the 1st post on their “Rosé La Chaumette 2023”, here’s a recap on who they are, how they see wine, and their dedication to the land & the whole process. “Wine is an incredible social bond, and in order to introduce it to a wider audience, it is important to have an uninhibited, sharing approach. A glass of wine is a story of the lives of men, of territories, but also a story between friends.” The Arsacs’ shared story on their site took me by surprise. Their history begins with Gaston (the grandfather) and his return to France after being a POW in WWII. Honestly, I can’t even imagine what he saw, went through, and then the feeling of returning to his homeland, getting married and channeling his energy & passion into the farm & vines. The latest generation of Sebastien & Dimitri have followed in their grandfather’s footsteps by adhering to his old school teachings which has led them to becoming organic & practicing biodynamic. I know, I know…everyone says “organic”, but this family really cares about keeping tradition, digging deeper & expanding their natural knowledge for the good of all even in our hectic contemporary times. 🐄🐎❤️

BTW this bottle has given me the gift of M’s “Pop Muzik” stuck on repeat in my head.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #orangewine #France #worldbyglass #Rhone #docwinebar #docwineshop #DomaineArsac #SkinContactWines

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Félines, Fêtes, & A Flamboyance

Domaine Félines Jourdan
Picpoul de Pinet 2022
AOP Picpoul de Pinet
Sustainable
Mèze, France
Winemaker: Claude Jourdan

Shimmering gold with green blips. Scents flow out of apples, pears, tangerine, light grapefruit, fresh cool rained on pavers, lemon, lime, honey & comb, and a touch of mango & lychee. All of the scents are there in the sip with a bit more honey, a little mild (maybe even like how it gets milder when roasted) fennel, that rain is now on river rocks & their mineral fresh lick, a few blades of grass, an extra shot of lime-ade, and a pinch of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: bleh no

Domaine Félines Jourdan is situated in such a beautiful part of Languedoc-Roussillon, where they have 100 hectares in 3 plots of differing terroirs ranging from La Coulette (protected from winds by a forest), Les Cadastres (50m alt & has a view of the Mediterranean sea), and finally Félines which benefits from being so close to the water where the winds carry cool moist breezes & my favorite part…you can catch a sight of flamingos & sea dwellers that can pair so very well with this bottle. (BTW do you know what a group of 🦩🦩is called?) Claude’s lovely Mèze also has quite a celebration coming up very soon with the Festival de Thau, July 10-21. It’s filled with music & culture, local wine & food, and promoting sustainability with a goal of zero single use plastic and sparking eco dialogues. So pick up some tickets, get ready to get your groove on this summer, and kick back a few 🦪🦪 with a glass of Claude’s Picpoul. Cheers! Oh and don’t forget your sunscreen.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #France  #worldbyglass #festivaldethau #baronfrancois #felinesjourdan #docwinebar #docwineshop