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Breaking The Cycle

Gabernik 23
Pét-Nat 2020
Sparkling Wine
100% Rumeni Muškat
Sustainable, organic, vegan, hand harvested
Štajerska, Slovenia
Small family owned winery passed down from father to son
Owner: Janko Bogatic
Winemaker: Nicholas Gee

Hazy warm gold with super active white bubbles dancing on the rim. Breathe in and there’s a puff of a “big fat yeast roll” (If you’re a child of the 90s you’ll remember), limes, lemons along with a little lemon hard candy, ginger liveliness, and naturally effervescent water with a little mineral sniff. Sipping and oh all the scents are here in flavor! It’s crisp lemon lime spritzy, more of that ginger, a smidge of a bit of greenery, slivers of mango & banana, and a seltzer dry feel. Yeah, this is good, and it takes me on a refreshing vacation.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: crisp cocktail and fine but prefer without

I love how Gabernik 23 keeps bringing bottles of happiness! They’ve brought me out of my overthinking funk that last week presented me with a ridiculous writer’s block. Just like how this pét-nat coaxed me out of my hamster wheel cycle of banging my head against my desk, Janko and Nicolas finessed a dry & vivacious bubbly from Yellow Muscat. As a kid picking our muscat, I would have never have thought they could be turned into something this fresh, poppy, and crisp. Bravo! 🥂

Oh and side note…Janko, love your “Zero Fs Were Given” t-shirt…seems we are of the same mind.

#wine #PetNat #PétNat #sparklingwine #bubbly #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #RumeniMuškat #rumenimuskat #winestagram #instawine #zerofucksgiven @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Slovenia #gabernik23 @vsiwine @gabernik23 @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

 

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Right Here, Right Now!

Terra di Briganti
Benepop Vol. I 2021
Pét-Nat
50% Falanghina, 50% Fiano
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts
Sannio, Campania, Italy
Winemakers: Toni and Romeo De Cicco

Very orange golden and active white bubbles tracing cryptic designs on the surface. So many scents all at once! It’s s blend of creaminess & citrus, bananas (Stuart why are you looking at me like that?), papaya, lemon/lime breeze in with apples and orchard blossoms. Taking a sip and BOOM…again it’s everything! No wonder I keep hearing people love this pet. There’s a creamy feel, citrus soda (not sweet), mango, apple cider, sharp apple/pear with a twinge of bitter bite of skin, fresh, crisp & still fragrant goodness, a touch of white pepper, and a smidge of a stripped young apple tree branch (it just popped out of a childhood memory). This just vibrates of life and fun! Could I please have a fountain of this?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh this is the sweet spot! Buy a box

So this is my 6th Terra di Briganti, does this make me a superfan? Benepop now takes the top spot on my list, unseating my oh so loved, Sciascinoso. I have ordered glasses of that wine so many times I’ve lost count. Well, this is definitely going to be the soundtrack of my summer. There’s so much going on with this beauty, I can’t pick just one song to sum it up. It deserves a whole DJ set from the ageless Norman Cook. This one’s an hour and a half so grab a few bottles and get ready to groove…Right Here, Right Now!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #benepop #worldbyglass #fatboyslim #righthererightnow #minions #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Falanghina #Fiano #steephillwine @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @terradibriganti @cheezit

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Historic Passion

Castello di Rubbia
100% Terrano 2013
Carso-Kras DOC
Biodynamic, indigenous yeasts, unfiltered
San Michele del Carso, Gorizia, Friuli, Italy
Owner & winemaker: Nataša Černic

Ruby with a magenta rim. Scents start off with prunes & plums, a tad of an oreo center, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and bit of licorice, and other herbal alpine delights. Ooh I love this..tasting fresh cherries and a cocktail of raspbluestrawberry, red plums, a smidge of hay, a tangy flair and at times rare meaty feel but it’s not heavy. Also on the back there’s a mineral salt goodness that you would find mixed with a rare bloody steak so yeah, order one! And not to be left off, white and black pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: eh goes all super tart so I vote no

Passion is a word you may think I throw around a lot. I don’t use it as some romance filled lovey-dovey thing, but a very deep and important emotional term. Nataša Černic and her family have exactly that and you can see it in their wines, pursuit to rebuild what war has damaged, and respect & never forget the history of their land, architecture, people, and native grapes. As said on their site, “San Michele del Carso is our place in the Universe” so what better reason for that passion. You can take a tour of the vineyards, local monuments, remnants of battle, the old castle/grounds, and view the marks that history has left, learn from the past, and see where the future will take them. I bet it’s going to be naturally and artistically beautiful.

wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #redwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #CarsoKras #sanmicheledelcarso #Gorizia #Friuli #biodynamic #organic #Terrano @castellodirubbia @soilairselection @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Nature In A Can

Mad Med
L’Orange 2021
VDF
100% Vermentino
Organic (working on certification), native yeast, unfiltered, 3 weeks skin contact
Provence, France
Grapes selected, vinified, aged & canned by Harry et Max

Hazy rosy orangey gold, kind of like a pink grapefruit. Hovering over the glass and scents start with a poof of smoke that turns into a cocktail of valencia oranges & blossoms, honeysuckle also starts to emerge, mellow pears, salt, and here comes some light tangelo & pluots. Here goes the taste and HELLO! My tongue is loving these flavors. There’s orange & zest with a hint of smoke, pink grapefruit, pears, a touch of honeysuckle with some bitters…say parsleyesque, and of course salt. Portable summertime lively delish that stands up even when it warms while hanging in the yard.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bleh

Over the past two years, I have stopped my apprehension of “wine in a can”. I will also say this one really took me by surprise because I had been tasting other vermentinos recently and guess which one won out? Yeah, I “can” hardly believe it. Don’t kill me for the “dad joke” 🤣. With heat like we’ve been having, just take my word for it and grab a couple. It’ll make your sweltering day so, so much better! Oh and as Mad Med says, “Chassez le naturel, il revient en canette”.

Note: I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be related to my favorite “party pig” #bobsinglar

wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #vinnature #wineinacan #cannedwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #vermentino #organic #Provence #France #lamongestine #harryetmax #madmed @madmedcans @SkinContactWines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Now Where Did That Slipper Go?

Cantine Madaudo
Sicilia Illustrata series
Ardore di Sicilia 2020
Etna Bianco DOC
Carricante 70%, Catarratto 30%
Randazzo (CT), Sicily, Italy
Madaudo family winery (4 generations strong)

Warm golden hay. Sniffing aromatic waves of lemon, pear, kumquot zest, valencia orange, and a bit of green sprouty spring flowers. Tasting delicious crisp apples & pears, yellow plums, and a tart citrus cocktail with just the right amount of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NOOOOO

This is my 2nd in the Sicilia Illustrata series and another piece of art to add to my collection. This time it’s a glimpse of Mt. Etna its native grapes, continued activity, and terroir which then led me to the folklore. Hephaestus/Vulcan has his forge there, when Typhoeus/Typhon gets cranky you’ll hear him grouching and throwing fire, there’s also the Cyclops & more; but the tale that I stumbled upon and made me greatly raise my eyebrows is about England’s Queen Elizabeth I. Rumor has it that while the Devil was pulling her to the depths of hell through Etna, she lost a slipper. This is no Cinderella tale though…well…except for the cinders. I don’t think any of the “Virgin Queen’s” suitors are going to be her volcanic Prince Charming. 🌋🥂

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #sicily #sicilia #Mountetna #Etna #folklore #Carricante #Catarratto  #verdeimports #Sambucese @cantinemadaudo1945 @docwineshop @docwinebarny @claudio @cheezit

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Making It Happen

Casa D’Ambra
Ischia Bianco DOC 2021
Biancolella 50%, Forastera 50%
Indigenous grapes
Forio, Ischia, Campania, Italy
Family winery
Winemaker and owner: Andrea D’Ambra

Pale straw. Breathing in a pretty bouquet of spring flowers, pear & white peach, a tiny spritz of Chanel N°5 that blends back into the fruit, an herbal blend of mint/basil, and mineral bits reminding me of our refreshingly always cool old spring house where the salamanders played. First sip and damn this is good! There’s pears, apples, young yellow watermelon, white peaches, salt a blend of basil/oregano, and at the end a little almond bite with a lick of rock.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: sharpens everything

The Isle of Ischia looks like paradise. Oh, the water surrounding is such a gorgeous mix of shining blue and greens, then there’s the ports, the thermal baths, the mountain area, sunsets, all the natural beauty, and of course the food. Their well known dish “Coniglio all’Ischitana” (yes, this is bunny) was lauded on “Searching For Italy” when Tucci ventured to Ischia (S1 E1) and Trattoria Il Focolare. If you look closely Casa D’Ambra’s wine, “Forastera” is used in the recipe, which makes sense because from what I’m finding they’re related. As usual with Tucci, his meals look like a fun affair, which leads me back to a very appropriate quote from Andrea D’Ambra, “When you are happy drink to celebrate. When you are sad, you drink to forget, when you have nothing to be sad or happy, you drink to make something happen.” Thank you for creating your “Bianco” which definitely made it “happen” for me. 💋

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #trattoriailfocolare #Biancolella #Forastera #Ischia #Campania #Italy #stanleytucci #searchingforitaly @stanleytucci @omniwines @vini_dambra_ischia @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Artistic Expression By Bottle & Street

Lectores Vini
Pomagrana Blanco 2021
100% Xarello
Organic, hand harvested, native yeasts
Penedès, Cataluña, Spain
Winemakers/Owners: Fredi Torres & Marc Lecha

Light gold with just the faintest bit of green. Breathing in fruit filled scents of goodness, biscotti/toasted brioche, lemon, pear, cucumber, a teeny touch of musky melon, and a bit of celery/celery salt that really works and that scent brings back old memories of my college freshman year that was filled with chicken bouillon ramen. I’m talking about those rip that silver packet noodles. Now that brings even more flashbacks from that year and some questionable decisions. Shhh don’t tell my dad. Back to the sip and there’s lemon spark & zap, fresh pineapple, tart apples along with sharp & mellow pear, sorrel from my old garden, smidge of grapefruit, lime, “shake shake shake” of salt, and a little bit of savoriness and celery seed. Delicious and more smooth as time goes by.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Bright and tart. It’s good but I like it better without

You know someone is really in love with wine when they give up a darn well paying job DJing. According to ‘Spanish Wine Lover’, Mr. Torres went from “€1,000 an hour to €1,000 a month leaving behind the glamour of nightlife” to “stink of sulfur and compost”. That is passion and some people might think it’s nuts, but I think he did a good thing giving his hardworking wine talent to the world. Speaking of talent, they picked a good design team (Goho Studios) to work with on their packaging. I love when I find a new bottle, and it leads me to another creative find. Goho, also made a flick on one of my favorites, the street art of Barcelona. Check it out, it’ll give you an insight on it’s history, the zines, shops for cans, the culture, the govt. that at times wipes it out and “penalizes genuine artistic expression”, and most of all the human side of it.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Xarello #Cataluña #Spain #Barcelona #streetart @SelectionsDeLaVina @gohoestudio @lectoresvini @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Do You Believe In Magic?

Domaine de Thalie
Plutonic 2020
Saône-et-Loire IGP
Gamay 50%, Syrah 50%
Organic, biodynamic, sustainable, hand harvested
Bray, Saône-et-Loire, France
Winemaker: Peter Gierszewski

Ruby stained glass with purple glints and rim. Breathing in cherries, plums, a woodsy forest filled earthiness, and a slight bit of cherry blossoms/lilacs waft  out later and flow back and forth. The more it breathes the better it gets. Very happily tasting juicy cherry, cherry jolly ranchers, & also tart cherry zing, strawberries, blackberries, plums (tart & mellow blend), and a tiny grind of black pepper with a pinch of coriander (or wait is it ajwain? Nope it’s coriander). Refreshing and a good summer red that still has a backbone and can stand up to whatever you throw at it, so give me a burger or a fried chicken sandwich or queso fundido. This may sound crazy but how about give me all three! Restrain yourself from guzzling the whole bottle because trust me you’re going to want to do it.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yep it goes with everything including this bag

This is the Domaine that Peter built, and boy did he pick the right place (terroirs). Of course, he didn’t go into this without a wine education and the garage wine route. This man knows his stuff and knows how to listen to nature, follow its lead, snd have patience. It’s like he has a hand in a bit of moonlight magic too. Hard to explain until you experience his wine…then you’ll know exactly what I mean, and your senses will be enchanted. ✨

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #syrah #gamay #Plutonic #saoneetloire #France #kylieminogue #magic #domainedethalie @communalbrands @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Squirrel!!!

Sage Rat Wine
White Blend 2021
Riesling 70%, Pinot Grigio 30%
Sustainable, native yeasts, unfined & unfiltered
Yakima, Washington
Winemaker: Dusty Jenkins

Pale yellow with green tint. Scents of green apples, crisp pears, a lemon splash, and all floating in on a sea breeze. Delicious yet easy wake up call to my tongue of lemon/lime mix, fresh and crisp green apples & pears again, mellow white peaches, and a welcome lick of granite and salt. This is one you can drink all day and keep on loving it like the first glass.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nice…it rounds everything out

Dusty Jenkins had an established winemaking or “cellar rat” background before he wound his path back to Washington to establish his own venture, “Sage Rat Wine”. It’s one friendly and somewhat fancy little bunch of critters/bottles. I actually thought this is a fictional creature he dreamed up, and then I saw what looked like a prairie dog hanging out with a glass on their IG page…then I Googled. Oh that was not what I was expecting! They are real! Not only that they are adorable and their real name is “Belding’s ground squirrel”. I love little creatures like these furry burrowing friends, and then to my horror…there are guides you can pay to go on a hunt for them (do not look on YouTube)! Yeah, some see them as pests (ok evidently a lot of people), but well…it’s probably like the battle going on between my dad and a resident squirrel which I have refused to be a part. Maybe, they would get better press if they had the Blue Sky Studios & Disney+ treatment/makeover like “Scrat”. Well, Dusty has totally elevated them in name with his bottle of summer afternoon delight, and I can’t wait to try more of his wines that are all a taste of Yakima.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Yakima #Washington #sagerat #sageratwines #iceage #whitewine @sageratwine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

 

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Because I’m Happy!

Bodega Txakoli Rezabal
Txakoli 2021
Getariako Txakolina D.O.
White wine
100% Hondarrabi Zuri
Sustainable, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Zarautz, Basque Country, Spain
Family owned winery: The Rezabals

Yellow starlight with green interplanetary play. Wow this is lush at very first pour with scents wafting out of peaches, pears, lilies, and as time goes by all starts to level out and then tangerine creeps out and waves a tiny hello with a little lime zest. Now everything blends and grooves with some rained on slate and salt…so fresh and lovely. Those peaches and pears are still there dancing on my tongue with a tingle of crisp lime/lemon/citrus zip with a rim of salt. Full of life and even a little flirty sassy fun, a whole lot of joy that can lead to being the life of the party. I think I know who is going to be my date. ❤️

Pairs with Cheez-It’s:brings more tarty to the party

The Rezabals are rooted in their passing of the wine/vine from generation to generation and holding on to traditions while utilizing today’s technology. It’s a beautiful harmony of the people, land, their micro-climate, and of course in the end the excellent grapes that convey their whole story. As they say, “Txakoli Rezabal is a living product, with its own personality”, which is “HAPPY!” Now that is a spot on description. No wonder this catchy tune that always brings me a smile and makes my heart bubble over with joy…no matter my mood was stuck in my head for days. So pour another glass and 🎶“Clap along if you feel…Can’t nothing, bring me down.” 🎶

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #basquecountry #Spain #Txakoli #hondarrabizuri #happy #PharrellWilliams @ripewineimports @docwineshop @docwinebar @rezabaltxakoli @cheezit