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Win-Win Wines

Maison Idiart
Pinot Noir 2022
Sancerre AOP
Sancerre, France
Winemaker: Nicolas Idiart

Shining crancherry. There’s scents of cherries, plums red & dark purple, light bit of prunes, a scrape of mineral with pinch of salt that grows into something more forest, pomegranate, and bright cranberry. Sipping away a crancherry mix with tart plums, young blackberries, pomegranate, red currants and a sprinkle of dark earth; BUT it’s all so very light, fresh and not heavy at all.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Hell yeah!

Nicolas has quite the achievement in his past. Turns out he graduated Bordeaux University at 19 making him France’s youngest winemaker…pretty impressive. Now he and his “modern day wine company” work with select natural growers whose grapes sing from where they are born and while most are from France there’s also a New Zealand venture. He’s also really into reducing their carbon footprint. Now, I’ve had bad wine in a keg a looooong time ago but this is not that old cringe worthy on tap stuff. Nope, he uses their premium small batch elixirs and as their site says, It keeps the wine more fresh, environmentally friendly, and saves cost on all levels. To me this is a great win-win for all. 🍷

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

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Name Games

Azienda Agricola Trevisana
Gioco Di Vino
????? 2023
Unfiltered Vino Blanco 
Organic, no additives or sulfur, unfiltered, skin contact
Chardonnay
Paese, Treviso, Veneto, Italy

Warm golden pour. Sniff and this is a surprise mix of first scent banana (all I can hear in my head now are the Minions chanting), lemon/lime, mango, dragon fruit, apples & pears, and a waft of light mineral. All of the scents are there with more lemon/lime & zest, Valencia orange, a touch of wild hay that tames down into a little tangerine & clementine, an exhale of tarragon and maybe thyme too or just fresh cut grass, and a shake of salt & lick of slate. It’s fresh, vibrant, happy, and yeah totally party material. 🪩🎉🥳

Pairs with Cheez-Its: hmmm honestly I’m not sure so I say put the box away

This is a small batch winery that also knows how to have fun. Each of Gioco Di Vino’s (English translation “wine game”) labels come with a little puzzle. The key for this one is to connect the dots from 1 through 10, then 24 through 33, then 47 through 52, then 60 through 70, then 72 through 78, then at last 84 through 89; and boom the wine’s name is revealed: “Fermo” which perfectly suits this still elixir. Of course, I recommend using a pencil, in my case put on my spectacles, and maybe try doing it before any of the wine is involved. Cheers!

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

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Protect The Bees And They’ll Protect You

Anne Pichon Wines
“Sauvage”
Vermentino 2024
Vaucluse IGP
Organic (Ecocert France SAS), biodynamic, sustainable, indigenous yeast, grapes grown on the slopes of Mont Ventoux
Mormoiron, Vaucluse, France
Winemakers & nature lovers: Anne Pichon & Véronique (SIL)

Pale or rather light yellow greenish starlight. Breathing in a lovely jumble of kumquat, light mandarin, lemon/lime,  little lychee, green pears, and winter melon. Sip and it’s clean, fresh and crisp. All of the scents but maybe slightly more sharpened but with a delicate vibe. There’s also a mashup of gooseberry & tomatillo in a good way.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: kind of fun but would be better with bbq eel

Anne & Marc (her husband, who sadly passed away in 2016) Pichon found a perfect place to make wine in an already organic yet left behind domaine that came with quite a romantic name in my bee & bug loving book, “Mur-Mur-Ium” (the buzzing song of bees). Its village “Mormoiron” also has local lore that long ago when besieged with invaders the villagers came up with a creative way of defense by lobbing beehives at them. Who wouldn’t hightail it out of there with thousands of buzzers swarming you? Anyway, Domaine Mur-Mur-Ium is now in the hands of the Pichon’s sons (Émile & Niels), and Anne’s line of wines, “Sauvage” or “wild” wines seem to me to be like a love letter to nature, it’s complexity, strength & beauty. ❤️🐝

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #organic #bees #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Rhone #France #organic #sustainable #tedwardwines #annepichon #annepichonsauvage #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Blue Skies

Famiglia De Cerchio
Idi Di Marzo
Vulgaris 2022
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Organic, sustainable, vegan
Abruzzo, Italy
Federico De Cerchio

Dark purple w a cherry rim. Sniff once then twice…out pops cherries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, licorice, smidge of green olives that’s still there lightly on day 2, & a warmth of stewed strawberries w some spice. Sipping the day away & all the scents are there & juicy along w plums, pomegranate & dark chocolate mmmm, a holiday blend of cinnamon, cardamon, etc, lick of slate, & the slender green zippy peppers I used to grow.

Pairs w Cheez-Its: 😍

The De Cerchio family has a long history back to 1910, when Federico’s great-grandfather Vincenzo (who must have been quite a deal maker) purchased 20 ha in Abruzzo (including the Torre Zambra) from the Zambra family & worked out a direct payment plan. Over the years he planted Montepulciano & Trebbiano vines & only sold the grapes. Sadly WWII broke out, he & some of his other relatives fled to the US, but their son-in-law, Laurentino joined the Italian army & became a prisoner of the Nazis who moved him to Germany & later Poland. When he finally got his freedom & returned home (1947) on foot, he was faced with devastation. Not even the tower was left standing. He didn’t let this break him but went to work on rebuilding, replanting, creating their 1st cellar, winemaking, & their 1st Torre Zambra vintage was in 1961. Other plots in Apulia & Sicily were picked up & after his passing his son Riccardo took the helm & also created his new project “Idi Di Marzo” also in Abruzzo. Now it’s in Federico’s hands, who as a typical teen wasn’t so interested in the vines but into motorbikes & other things that go vroom. As he matured he returned to his calling which is also now his passion of staying true to sustainable, indigenous grapes. They’re rebuilding the tower, adding a new winery, & w these expansions “give people the chance to stay where they were born or to move out to where the grass is green & the sky is blue!!!…& training the next generation of winegrowers.”🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #wineoftheday #organic #italy

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Horse & Bicycle Powered

Illahe Vineyards
Cuveé Miette 2023
Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
Sustainable, hand harvested, wooden basket pressed, 11 months in French oak barrels, & horse-powered vineyards
Dallas, OR
Owners, growers and pioneers: Lowell & Pauline Ford
Winemaker, owner and president: Brad Ford

Shining rosy cherry stained glass. Sniffing and at first it’s light and then grows as cherries wave hello with a little chocolate, gentle oak, licorice/fennel, dash of mint, and a shake of cooler weather holiday spice. First sip is so delicate and delicious. There’s cherries, an old holiday memory of the smell of oranges my mom would alway decorate with cloves & hang in the kitchen, raspberry, blueberry, even a touch of boysenberry, quince cheese, and a jumble of those cooler weather spices: clove, nutmeg, sprig of mint, and others. Over time the delicate sip turns into a strong joyful backbone.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

This truly is a full on family affair that started with an immigration from Russia to Canada and then finally Oregon. They strive to make handcrafted wines with great respect to the land, the water (and salmon) and tradition. Some of the wines don’t even have electricity used during their creation. Percheron horses, Dakota & Takota (2025 harvest) deliver the grapes from the vineyard and mow between the vines. In the case of their 1899 Pinot Noir project, there’s even more. Brad had visited France and wanted to embrace the traditional ways, so he got the horses, made the harvest and winemaking all by hand & foot, including the bottling process. Yes, even putting the wine in the casks and bottling, by sorting out a bicycle powered pump. Please watch the video. Then when it comes time for it to go to the distributor, it gets loaded on a mule driven stagecoach, then into canoes on the Independence River (3 day trek) and then the last bit of the trek are by cargo bicycle. That’s very cool devotion to pure tradition & nature.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #oregon #illahevineyards #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Fast Friends Forever

Paso a Paso Wines
Inmemorial
Criolla Grande Rosé 2024
Viñedo Ancestral
50% Criolla Chica, 27% Moscatel Rosado, 15% Pedro Ximenez, 8% Torrontes
Organic, natural, vegan
Vineyards: Montecaseros, San Martin, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Norberto Páez & Sebastián Bisole

Pretty in pink that grows into a pale 1980s electric magenta orange. Gentle scents start emerging of pink & red strawberries, raspberries, touch of cherry & watermelon, pink grapefruit, swish of creamsicle, and dainty roses. First sip and WOW! Again those strawberries & raspberries joined with boysenberry, papaya, a citrus sizzle, a fun & frisky cherry that makes you want to make a stem knot, ripe watermelon, and a sprinkle of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: surprisingly crunchy good

How many friends do you still have now from back when you were 12? Norberto & Sebastián are some of those fast few that share such a childhood friendship that continued through school, university (Experimental Winery of the Agricultural School of Universidad Nacional de Cuyo) where they learned ropes and began working on their own wine future which led to their garage experiments & now their Paso a Paso wines. Wine is their passion, lifestyle, their timeless gift to the world, and as Sebastián says…”Producing wine means everything to me.” ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #Rosé #Mendoza #argentina #SkinContactWines #PasoaPasoWines #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Vibrant Goals

Vinicola Tombacco
Ca’ Del Doge
Prosecco DOC
Vino Spumante
Extra Dry
Glera 85%, a potential blend (15%) of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero vinified in white, Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera, Long Glera
Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy
Tombacco Family

Very pale yellow/green starlight with teeny fine bubbles. Breathing in memories of homegrown Golden Delicious apples, green pears, a squish of lemon, and donut peaches. First sip is mouth tingling and then here comes a bigger squish of lemon mixed with lime & other citrus, crisp green apples & crabapples, firm green pears, and a sliver of slightly underripe white peach. It’s dry, crisp and so vibrantly full of life.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: yes please

The Tombacco Family has been creating and cultivating wine for 3 generations, and it all started way back with a peach farm that over time grew into a love of the vines. Now they also have different labels/brands showcasing the grapes’ regions of origin. Their “Ca’ Del Doge” line is best described in their own words, “Ancient traditions that speak of beauty, taste and knowing how to live well. Like a reflection in the waters of the most famous lagoon in the world, the Ca’ del Doge Wines reflect ancient and shimmering memories, flavours and aromas of the Veneto region, bringing some of the goodness of our wines to tables around the world.” Love the idea that they’re sending you a bottled bubbly postcard, and I also admire that Vinicola Tombacco has a code of ethics that includes a part about “socially responsible work management” where they actually care about their employees and especially for those still in school or courses to make sure they are provided with the time to achieve their education goals…now that to me is a reason to raise a fizzy glass to them in appreciation & cheers. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #prosecco #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #italy #Tombacco #cadeldoge #docwinebar #docwineshop

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“The Story Is Still Going On”

Barone di Villagrande
Etna Bianco Superiore DOC 2023
Carricante 90%, other Indigenous Etna grapes 10%
Certified organic production (but they don’t shout about it)
Milo, Sicily, Italy
Marco Nicolosi

Shining yellow gold like I remember from a Cimabue viewed years before. Breathing in round ripe pears, a splash of lemon/lime, touch of grapefruit, lychee, mango, and a sprinkle of sage & oregano. All of the sniffs are in the sip with a dryness/sizzle along with golden delicious apples ripe & warm just picked from the tree, lick of a well washed over river rock/conglomerate, fresh grown sage and oregano. That dryness is still there with a weaving in and out of a bit of richness…or should I say moving in sync together like a couple tangoing around the room.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Back away from the bag!

The Nicolosi family’s connection to their lands date back to the 17th century but it was in the 18th when the Bishop of Catania came to them with a not so easy task to transform the wild, gnarly, difficult fields of Etna into a flourishing “delicious garden”. Guess they impressed the powers that be in 1727, and Emperor Charles VI of Augsburg, King of Naples, gave Don Carmelo Nicolosi the title of Baron of Villagrande. Over all this time passion for their territory and grape grew, new cellars were built, and a focus began on keeping the red and white grapes separate bucking the ways of old that just blended them all. They’ve kept growing in knowledge, passion, and just making the best darn wine they can. As they say on their site: “We wrote a fundamental page on the Etna wines history. The story is still going on.”

Side note: Do you want to combine a delicious & educational winecation with a bit of added pleasure? Check out their site and book one of their 4 rooms. Blend & immerse yourself with the history of the manor & local nature, bask in the sun, and of course view the vineyards while chilling in the infinity pool. Oh, what I wouldn’t do to be there right now.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #Sicily #italy #omniwines #baronedivillagrande #villagrande_winery #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Hanging Onto The Last Strands Of Summer

Domaine de l’Abbaye
Grand Beylesse
Rosé 2023
Syrah, Cinsault, & Grenache
Côtes De Provence AOP
HVE3, hand harvested at night
Chinon, France
Owner: Franc Petit

Pale pinky salmon that deepens over time. Breathing in strawberries, raspberries, a bit of cantaloupe, honeydew & a mix of other melons, cool free flowing river rock mineral, touch of grapefruit but not overly funky, and a smidge of lemon crispiness. Completely all of the scents in the sip along with a light bit of cranberry, a little pomegranate, pinch of salt, & it’s a fresh smile, wink and smooch in a bottle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: pretty good

At first I wondered why this bottle was blue. Turns out Mr. Petit takes great pride in this rosé, and cares about extending the freshness as long possible and hence is why he chose this UV protectant cobalt blue bottle. Each glass reminds me of a feeling I’ve been having…the pleasure of hanging onto the last strands of summer, and stretching that warm glow for as long as possible. Maybe I need to squirrel a few more away to brighten the cooler days of fall and winter ahead. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #Rosé #Rose #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #France #wineemporium  #domaineabbaye #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Full Of Charm

Viña Casalibre
Siete Perros 2022
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Organic, native yeasts, single vineyard, low intervention, no oak
Vineyard: Los Guindos
Maipo Valley, Chile
Founder: Fred Skwara

Deep dark cherry maroon that still shimmers & shines. Inhale and there’s cherry, pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry, red currants, and a “light breeze of cherry bubblegum that turns into an earthy goodness that grounds all. Sip and there’s all of the scents along with a green tomato spark & a bit more of the red currant that blends together into a little sizzle, touch butterfly lilac exhale on the back of my tongue that flutters in and out, overtime it’s a bit more dried plums, raisins, cherries & mission figs, and those raspberries are still here and oh so bright. This is one friendly smooth operator that’s also a bit comfy rustic.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: perfectly mouth watering

Mr. Skwara had an eye opening experience on a family trip outside of Chile. While dining out he decided to try a wine not from his homeland only to be questioned by his brother “why?”. This is the part that shocked me, the waiter piped up and “told the whole table that I wanted to choose a wine with more charm than the Chilean ones, which had little personality. We all stared, open-mouthed, especially my mom.” Man, either that dude had some massive “cojones” or was an idiot with no tact. It did start a drive in Fred to let the world know that Chile is special, full of surprises, and can make wine that is full of expression which is very much seen in their “Siete Perros” project since they use “no oak”. These grapes sing & shine baby, and believe me this little bulldog (Humphrey) is full of charm. Would love to see that opinionated/biased waiter try this wine and have to humbly eat his words. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #Chile #SkinContactWines #casalibrewines #docwinebar #docwineshop