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Keep It Chill

Swick Wines
Chillable
2022 American Red Wine
Mourvedre, Malbec, Verdelho, and Pinot Noir
Organic & practicing organic
Yakima, WA & Newburg, Oregon
Winemaker: Joe Swick

Do you remember that jiggling color of cranberry sauce that slid out of the can during the holidays…that color. Scents started emerging immediately of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, cherry& a little cherry blossoms too, apple/blueberry jelly bellies, dark plums dance through with some earth thrown in with orange zest, a touch of vanilla (or Oreo cream), violets, and the slightest bit of wisteria. First taste and there’s cherries/plums with depth, followed rapidly in the next sip of a mad delicious blend of raspstrawcranblackblueerry along with a tangy twist of all and a Skittle or two thrown in.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: sharpens all the flavors

Ok, as many of you know I love Swick Wines, and I’m betting a whole lot of y’all do too. When you see that distinctive font, you know you’re getting a winner. “Chillable” knocks it out of this blazing hot park with ease…oh, and take the optional advice on the  back label and don’t forget to fridge it. Love that they work with “historically farmed regional varieties” and also experiment with others to mix it all up. It’s like Joe is weaving the song of summer with his carefully selected grapes with this bottle…you know like that track you keep going back to and fuels your memories and keeps you moving and grooving through these bright months. What’s your go to tune? My latest is one by my favorite spinner Fatboy Slim and to my surprise it’s his 500th single. Check it and the video out, keep the Swick flowing, and keep it “chill”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #oregon #washington #worldbyglass #normancook #fatboyslim #swickwines #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Lighter On Their Feet

Djuce
Core Wines (their house wines)
Crispy White
Trebbiano
Organic & vegan
Abruzzo, Italy

Starlight with a blip of yellow green crayon. Breathing in and as it opens it starts off with Texas toast, then emerges honeydew & other melon balls, pears both crisp & full, fresh cool rained on paving stones that turn into creek rocks, and a smidge of wild chives/onions that I used to pick by the lake as a kid…that fresh sweet but savory green moment. All of the scents are in the sip with crisp green & crab apples, a lemon/lime crisp squish, and garden fresh peeled cucumbers. It’s easy-peasy fresh, crisp and lively.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: scrumptiously delicious

Djuce started popping up in my feeds maybe a week or so ago, so when I saw one in person of course had to try one. They work with organic/natural/biodynamic/like minded European winemakers and pair them with a cool assortment of artists whose work makes it a little hard to toss in recycling because you might want to make a little art shelf to display your collection (this can’s little creature is by Johan Alenius and check out the animation here https://www.instagram.com/p/C748e4ti7hE/?hl=en ). Speaking on recycling & the good it does for the environment…since they are using cans, it also trims back on their carbon footprint. They’re also very portable and can be cracked anywhere like hanging by the pool, hiking in the woods (just remember if you bring it with you, take it back out with you when you leave),  dancing at a concert under the stars, or like me chilling on a hot summer night at home. Anyway, I bet you’ll find your favorite sipping spot. Oh and I know a some of you are still iffy on wine in a can. I’ve had my share of stinkers too, but these are definitely a hit.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #wineinacan #cannedwine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #italy #Sweden #worldbyglass #JohanAlenius #zevrovineselections #docwinebar #docwineshop #djuce

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Tasty, Colorful & Timeless Expressions

Cantina di Mogoro
Le Giare (The Jars) 2022
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC
100% Vermentino
Mogoro (Mòguru), Alta Marmilla, OR, Sardegna, Italy

Light spun straw yellow. Breathing in apricots, peaches, honeydew, something like a cool/fresh stream running over rocks, smidge of baguette, and as it opens a citrus blend emerges of kumquat, lemon, and more. Taking a few sips and the citrus blend starts, soon  followed by apricots & white peaches, tart pears, even a touch of crabapple, a good lemon/lime squeeze and a shave of zest, s sprinkle of thyme & oregano, along with a bit of fresh cut grass. Absolutely delicious!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: brings out more of an herbiness

Cantina di Mogoro (dates back to 1956) and is still making fabulous wines that truly represent the beauty of Sardinia. Just another reason for me to ask myself (as I did even last week)…why haven’t I traveled there to experience all of this wonderful wine & food in person? I have to stop putting things off! Anyway, I’ve written before about Sardinia’s beautiful woven arts and it turns out Mogoro has their own art & craft festival (or artisan might be a better word albeit at times overused), “Fiera dell Artigianato Artistico della Sardegna“ (textiles, clay, metalwork like knives, etc. & more) where you can just look or it you’re so inclined can bring some home. The local women also have their own group passing down the history of their looms, “Su Trobasciu”, and I love this description of how they are set apart from other weavers…“In Mogoro the joyful floral explosions, capable of escaping the rigid schematisms more typical of other areas of Sardinia.” Way back in time they used to even have more than 600 of these looms which turns out was “more than one per family.” No wonder it is so important to carry on this beautiful & passionate tradition, and see how their members artistically & creatively grow in modern times. Now, when should I start packing a bag? 🧳❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #sardinia #sardegna #Italy #wineislove #winetime #vermentino #worldbyglass #omniwines #cantinadimogoro #docwinebar #docwineshop

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“Reverse Migration”

Santa Tresa
Rina Russa 2022
Frappato Terre Siciliane IGP
100% Frappato di Vittoria
Organic & biodiverse
Sicily, Italy
Stefano and Marina Girelli (brother & sister)

Bright shining light cherry. There’s scents of cherries & blossoms, lilacs, raspberries, strawberries (and their caps & greenery), a little cola, and light orange zest. Tasting cherries of all sorts & tart ones too, raspberries, young strawberries, drop of blackberry, citrus bend & zest, tart dark & bright plums & pits, and it’s all just full of a lively spirit.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: brings out a smooth depth

Stefano & Marina, originally from Trentino, along with generations of their family in the wine business, fell for Sicily (in particular Vittoria) and as they called it they did a “kind of ‘reverse migration’ of coming from the North to the South, rather than the opposite way round”. Now not only do they have Santa Tresa but also Azienda Agricola Cortese. Brother & sis saw Sicily as a welcoming community built through history of differing cultures/countries that colonized, mixed, meshed and each contributed to the language, dialects, dishes, and the arts of all forms…and also in its wines. They celebrate the local grapes, reignite forgotten ones, work with traditions & still experiment to breathe new life into others, and let the land tell its unique tales through their bottles. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #redwine #frappato #Sicily #italy #worldbyglass #viaswine #docwinebar #docwineshop #santatresa

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What’s In A Name Or A Number

Contini 1898
Flor 2019
100% Vernaccia
Vernaccia di Oristano DOC
Cabras, Oristano, Sardegna, Italy
Contini Famiy

Golden burnt orange amber. Sniffing and it has a headiness that reminds me of sherry, apricots dried & fresh, peaches, dried brown figs & little date thrown in with hazelnuts & almonds, orange blossoms, and a salty breeze. All of the scents are on the sip with honeyhoneycomb, preserved lemon, lime zest, almond biscotti, ginger, a little baked goodness like the caramelized/burnt edges of chewies my mom used to make, and a lick of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: just say no

I was so excited to try this glass! The Continis are so proud of their origins and have a darn good reason to be. They spell it out on their site, “A name and a number define our company and mark the origins of our story. We are proud to be the first and oldest winery in Sardinia, an honor that we owe entirely to our founder, Salvatore Contini, and his wife Anna Maria Dessi.” There’s so much more of their history in this bottle than just the vintage. Sipping this makes me feel a part of their timeless world which is on my bucket list to visit (hopefully soon).

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #sardegna #sardinia #italy #worldbyglass #docwinebar #docwineshop #Contini #Contini1898

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Family…Past, Present & Future

Casa Vinicola Triacca
Perlavilla
Alpi Retiche IGT
Nebbiolo
Sustainable
Villa di Tirano, Sondrio, Lombardy, Italy
Triacca family

Ruby stained glass. Breathing in cherries (fresh & dried), tart plums, red currants, wild flowers & Queen Anne’s Lace, mix of anise, juniper, and a smidge of eucalyptus/cedar. Sipping and it’s light & young with tastes of cherries, red & yellow plums with skins, fruit, pits, and all. There’s also red currants, green & pink strawberries, juniper/pine, horehound, even a little dandelion greens, and black pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: smooooth

Triacca has deep roots that date back to Domenico Triacca purchasing his first vineyards in Valtellina in 1897. Their history in wine could have taken a different path when he was killed in an accident in 1910, but his wife (Orsola) and son (Eugenio) stayed fast and true to Dominica’s plans and vision. Over the years they expanded their holdings, vineyards, estates (La Gatta, La Madonnina, & Santavenere), and headquarters in Campascio-Zalende, Switzerland. Yes, with all this expansion they are a company, but one that is still all about their family, their history, their wonderful wine, and where the future will take them.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #Lombardy #Italy #wineislove #winetime #Nebbiolo #worldbyglass #wineemporium #CasaVinicolaTriacca #Triacca #triaccavini #docwinebar #docwineshop

 

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Naturally Digging Deeper

Domaine Arsac
Rosé La Chaumette 2023
Coteaux de l’Ardèche IGP
75% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 5% Viognier
Biodynamic/organic farmed, horses working in the vineyard, compost from their own cows, native yeasts
Saint Jean Le Centenier, Ardèche, Rhône Valley, France
Winemaking family: Sebastien & Dimitri Arsac

Dainty pale rosé with pink and lightest orange gold warm splashes. Scents start off delicate & gentle of strawberries, touch of cream, lemon squeeze, peaches, biscotti, mandarins & kumquats. It’s an inviting sip of strawberries, peaches & that creaminess with raspberries, cranberry, a citrus sparkle, instead of biscotti it’s more like baguette, and toward the end a salt/mineral almond moment that balances everything.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: absolutely delicious and a perfect pair!

“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. 🐄🐎❤️

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

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A Musical History

Vallis Mareni
Ombra
Prosecco
Glera
Treviso D.O.C.
Premaor di Miane, Veneto, Italy
Giovanni Gregoletto & family (they date back to 1600s in wine & vine)

Pale yellow/green starlight with tiny active bubbles. Floating up to my nose are scents of gentle pear, lemon/lime, green apples, a light smidge of allspice, and a sliver of white melon. Sipping and there’s again pears & green apples now joined with crabapples, lemon & lime and their zest, and a touch of oregano. It’s bright, fresh, alive, and one classy glass.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: savory deliciousness

So this bottle comes with a soundtrack. Well, it’s more than just that…Giovanni & Giuseppe Gregoletto (brothers)  produced an album “The Music Of Fine Wine” composed by musicians Paki Zennaro & Guido Vianello. It’s a musical history of wine through time, techniques & the steps of winemaking, and the songs are not just based around Italy but they also move across Europe. There’s also a song for Noé or Noah, who they attribute as the “first vine grower in history, a fascinating figure who knew the secrets of the vine and the birth of wine as well as the effects of its excessive consumption.” I had totally forgotten about Noah’s drunken episode, and now I can’t unsee it. Ah well, maybe another glass will help wash that away. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #prosecco  #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #docwinebar #docwineshop #omniwines #VallisMareni

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Who Doesn’t Need…

La Petite Robe Rouge
Côtes du Rhône AOC 2020
Grenache 75%, Syrah 25%
Organic
Villedieu, Haut-Vaucluse, Provence des Papes, France
Jacques Cattin & Anaïs Sirop (husband & wife)

Ruby garnet red beauty. Breathing in dainty violets, plums, fresh cherries & dried too, a jam mix of berries like strawberries, blackberries, etc. green pepper, and a bit of earth & fig leaves from my granny’s trees. Sipping and this is smooth, a cherry plum combo, bit of granite, touches of pepper green & otherwise, bit of raisin, dried cherry, plum but none of it is too heavy, and that jam is back in the groove along with a sprinkle of salt on the back.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: juicy fun and more pepper

Everyone needs a little red dress in their life. One that can make you feel sexy, sleek, sassy, and definitely flirtatious. One that gives you that Provence flair, pairs well with so many occasions, and carries a touch of rustic history & romance just like this wine and the people that created this smooth operator. It takes my mind to a simpler time of not so long ago, slow dancing/swaying under the stars & tiny lights strung in the trees to the sounds of Françoise Hardy singing “Mon Amie La Rose” with my heart full of the anticipation of love. ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #redwine #provence #France #worldbyglass #francoisehardy #docwinebar #docwineshop #LaPetiteRobeRouge #boivinselection @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Going To Italy Via Brooklyn

St. Agrestis
Spritz
St. Agrestis Inferno Bitter, house-made Torino style vermouth & Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin
12% ABV
Brooklyn (Greenpoint), NY
Louis & Matt Catizone, Steven DeAngelo

Dark amber pour with peachy pink active bubbles. Scents float up of tomato plants & leaves, fir, alpine herbs, hyssop, juniper, singed orange/tangerine & other citrus rind, and as opens orange blossoms. Sipping and it’s all of the above with a good bitter bite, anise, the edible center of a peach pit, almonds and all of it mellows out the longer I linger. Takes me back to an old memory of gliding out onto the pond on a summer night watching the stars twinkle like this drink sparkles.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: surprisingly good, mellow & kinda like a touch of RC Cola

Well, I have to give St. Agrestis’ a 10 for being both delicious & fun! It transports me to Italy for Aperitivo time, or if you want to find an authentic one in Brooklyn, head to DOC Wine Bar for cocktails and a snack. Anyway, the tale of how these bottle came into creation, stems from that same longing for the real Italian deal. Louis & Matt grew up in an Italian family (in NJ) that kept traditions of their heritage, and one of these really makes me smile. Their folks sent them to school with not the dull PBJs many of the other kids were stuck with in their brown paper bags, but they got a true treat of “soppressatta on Nonnina’s freshly baked pane with a small bitter Italian soda”. Oh, what I wouldn’t have given in grade school to have that after recess. Cheers to Louis, Matt & Steven for keeping it lively, modern, chic and real in Brooklyn.🥂

#cocktails #spritztime #aperitivotime #cocktailsofinstagram #smallbusiness #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #aperitivo #friyay #weekend #weekendvibes #worldbyglass #greenpoint #brooklyn #docwinebar #docwineshop #stagrestis @cheezit @docwinebarny @docwineshop