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Pairs With Tryptophan

Tenuta Tascante
Ghiaia Nera 2019
Etna DOC
Nerello Mascalese
SOStain certified sustainable, vegan
Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Owners: The Tasca Family; Alberto Tasca 7th generation
Winemaker: Stefano Masciarelli

Color shining stained glass window ruby. At first there’s scents of buttery creamy cherry that leads to crème de cassis as it opens, plums, a little lavender breeze, with a blend of blueberry, blackberry & strawberry love, a bit of cola soda, and a smidge of peat on day one that later waves bye as it heads out the door. Lovely cocktail of flavors of cherry, cranberry, strawberry, blackberry, a hint of citrus peel, light lavender, a sprinkle of black & white pepper, lick of rock, a whiff of smoke, and there’s just so much going on that I didn’t expect in a good way.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it all smoooooth

The Tasca family found a perfect marriage of Nerello Mascalese and their Mt. Etna soil which keeps the vines healthy even if there’s a very rainy year. Their other major ingredient is also their dedication to the hard work of tending the vineyards and harvesting on the volcanic slopes (and boy are they beautiful). Their Ghiaia Nera (black gravel) is an honest lovely invite to experience and learn about them and their part of Etna. In my book, it’s also a light fresh friend that will help rouse you from the tryptophan induced holiday haze we’re entering into until the end of the year. Happy holidays y’all! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #MtEtna #Etna #Sicily #Italy #NerelloMascalese #Tryptophan #happyholidays @dallaterrawinerydirect @tascadalmerita @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Helping Out Dad

Poderi Vaiot
Lupestre
100% Barbera
Barbera D’Alba DOC
Aged in apricot wood casks
Montà, Cuneo (Roero Hills), Piedmont, Italy
Owners: Daniele and Walter Casetta

Deep ruby with blue pops. At first that gentle butter/caramel whiff that waves bye, then cherries, plums, raisins, sultry dried figs, blackberry, and a nice grind of black pepper. Sip and there’s cherry with some oomph & plums, blackberry brambly, dried cherries & blueberries, raisins, a little date (dinner & movie anyone), black pepper, and a teeny smidge of cardamom the more it opens.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: richer, deeper and dried fruit

Daniele and Walter are the 3rd generation of this winemaking family. Their dad Franco taught them early on how to work with the grapes and care for the land. Daniele recounts in one of their winery videos, memories of when they were kids they would “help” out their dad in the cellar. Even if it is true as Daniele says that they may have been adding to their father’s work, it was definitely not a waste of time. Everything he imparted throughout the years has paid off and these brothers are keeping his memory and dream moving forward.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #barbera #barberadalba #Roero #Piedmont #Italy #poderivaiot @soilairselection @poderi.vaiot @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Zingy Zippy Bubbles

Azienda Agricola Divella
Blanc de Blanc NV
Dosaggio Zero
100% Chardonnay
Méthode champenoise, organic, female run, hand harvested
Gussago, Franciacorta, Lombardy, Italy
Winemaker: Alessandra Divella

Warm golden with very active tiny bubbles. Sniff and it’s a creamy start with maybe some vanilla sprinkles, gentle brioche, apples, lemony pop, and honeycomb that reminds me of when we would get it fresh from my great grandfather’s hives. Wow now this is a zing! Citrus flying all over the first sip joined by crunchy apples with a somewhat nutty butterscotch hint, a little brioche, wild sour grass from back home tart…c’mon pucker up, and white pepper. Seriously this will wake up your mouth because it’s just darn alive, fresh and dry. As time slides by it develops into something more complex, and I can see beer drinkers that love good sours and ciders being totally all in.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious. Smoothes things out

In so many photos of Alessandra, you see a set of one of her most important tools…her hands. In the vineyard, in the pressing in the cellar and throughout the whole process. Those hands nurture and bring out the best in her 2 hectares of vines that are leased, but it’s pretty apparent that she treats them with the care of a good parent. As I keep reading, regionally, she was “one of the first estates to farm organically and the first to be female-led”. That takes a lot of guts, brains and hard work, especially when you were not born into a wine family. I’m so glad she fell for the natural wine route, and has made it her deep passion because her bubbles are a beautiful present to the world.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #naturalwine #blancdeblanc #bubbly #sparklingwine #champagne #organic #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Chardonnay #Lombardy #Italy @super_glou @vinewinenyc @alessandra_divella @cheezit

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Deer Santa

Wild Nature Wines
Veneto Bianco IGT
Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay 
Certified vegan, 4 months skin contact, organic for more than 40 years, and biodynamic
Veneto, Italy
Winemaker: Emilio Fidora

Rose amber streaked sunrise glow. Sniffing orange & pear blossoms, honeysuckle (from my childhood home, and I can just see those bee butts wiggling in them in delight), nectarines, strawberries that bring with them a bit of creaminess, raspberries, cherries, and a touch of mineral slate pops out. Oh baby it’s all here on my tongue with a kick of depth! Again those strawberries & raspberries, tiny slivers of peach & nectarine, cranberry zip, a small squish of pineapple, and mineral lick of a rock with a balancing bite of bitter herb (in the back) that’s not fragrant and will have me dabbing my finger through my Penzeys collection searching until I sort it out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious

I jumped for joy when I saw this bottle. My first one of theirs was Prosecco Rosé Brut DOC 2019. It was scrumptious and I love their label art and am still searching for the artist’s name. Wild Nature Wines are essentially that. They have two estates in Veneto (Venice and Verona) where they live in harmony with the all sorts of four-legged and winged neighbors such as owls, foxes, rabbits, pheasants, and this stately European fallow deer (Dama dama) that stole my heart. Each wine gets their own unique familiar drawn entwined with the environment and growing as one. This family truly cares about every aspect of their environment, so how can they not be making such impressive wines. BTW I know it may be a little early to be writing Santa, but I truly hope he will put a case of these deers in my stocking.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #orangewine #organic #naturalwine #worldbyglass #wineinfluencer #deer #Italy #Veneto #Venice #Verona #pinotgrigio #chardonnay #WildNatureWines @SkinContactWines @wildnaturewines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Flying Free

Fabrizio Vella
(Cantine Rallo)
Catarratto 2021
Non Filtrato
Terre Siciliane IGP
Organic grapes grown in Marsala, no additives, indigenous yeasts, unfiltered
Sicily, Italy
Winemaker: Fabrizio Vella

Warm golden happiness in a glass. Breathing in golden delicious apple, hyacinth, orange squish and zest, a pinch of an herby blend (thyme, basil & more), lemons, and as it opens a smidge of warm spice. Ooh this tastes really good…there’s a crunch of green apple, lemon/lime twang, a sliver of honey dew, and hmmm…wait…it’s mango (but just a little), then Valencia orange & tangerine mix, and a mix of those herbs again, and a mineral shake of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Just lovely

Oh what is it about Catarratto or this wine in particular? It’s enchanting and alive. How shall I put this so I don’t sound like a nut..when I continue to taste this bottle it’s like a vibrant burst of butterflies flying free to realms unknown. I hope that makes sense. There’s some sort of natural magic in Fabrizio Vella’s wine that probably has a lot to do about his dedication to working with indigenous grapes and the fact that they’re brought up the right way: organic, biodynamic farming & NO ADDITIVES. 🦋

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Catarratto #butterfly #Sicily #Italy #organic  #fabriziovella @omniwines @ralloaziendaagricola @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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From Vineyard To Your Glass

Vinica
Morgia Lafesta 2016
Terre degli Osci Rosso IGT
Tintilia 50%, Aglianico 50%
Ripalimosani, Molise, Italy
Organic, indigenous yeasts, dry farmed, green manure, hand picked, not filtered, & NO chemicals
Owner: Rodolfo Gianserra, Agronomist & winemaker: Pierluigi Cocchini, Company’s administrator: Giuseppe Tudino

Dark plum with a ruby rim. Breathing in plums, prunes, dried and fresh cherries, tiny pops of blueberry, a poof of that iron smell of a very rare bloody steak, and a faint scent of lilac. First sip and this is damn elegant and rustic in a good way and now “Leather and Lace” is stuck my head (at least it’s a well loved song). There’s cherries, that iron taste that makes you want to embrace the wild side, blackberries, dried cranberries, and an earthy depth that doesn’t take it all over but just enhances all the flavors. It’s a beautiful dance of the two grapes.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: ooh tasty love
Side note: Really really good with @milkbarstore Chocolate Birthday Truffle Crumb Cakes

For those of you that may have not seen my post from 3/15/21, let me introduce or reintroduce you to Vinica or VI.NI.CA. …established in 2007 by the above 3 guys, & the name came from Rodolfo’s 3 kids: Vittorio, Nicholas & Carola. I love all I’m reading about how they took abandoned land & created this beautiful pure farm/vineyard of 220 hectares (30 hectares for the vineyards, the rest are farm & woodland). They say the only ingredient they have added is healthy grapes. Well, I’m sure they aren’t thinking of the other ingredients of hard work & love. Also there’s more to love than just their grapes, olives, and all the vegetables on their farm. This family cares also about how the wine gets to you and what trace is left behind on this world. Instead of traditional corks, they have found 2 innovative ways to preserve their wines. For their white, rosé & oranges they use Stelvin screw caps, and their reds are protected with ArdeaSeal (evidently has links in it’s project stage to MIT). These final steps in the bottling process ensure their motto ”from the vineyard to your glass”. 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #stevienicks #donhenley #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #Tintilia #Aglianico #agricolavinica #Molise #Italy @agricolavinica.it @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Intriguing Melody

Cascina I Carpini
Rosato Frizzante Pet Nat NV
Barbera
Organic, holistic, vegan
Pozzol Groppo, Piedmont, Italy
Founder/winemaker: Paolo Carlo Ghislandi

Late sunset warm red and orange electric with tiny bubbles. It’s like breathing in a glass of fun. There’s a squeeze of blood orange, salt rim, a touch of natural funk that merges to a mineral vibe with depth, and raspberries and strawberries grooving together with white pepper, and as it warms and grows  tiny rose blooms. Those strawberries and raspberries are still dancing but this time on my tongue joined with a little young gooseberry pucker & smidge of lemon spritz spark, and that white pepper pinch again. My lips are tingling from this crisp/vibrant party.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bleh goes too tangy. Leave it solo.

It’s all about watching, listening, and waiting for Paolo Carlo Ghislandi. Before he even chose where he would establish his winery and vineyards he considered the perfect spot, the right grapes, how to get it to work together naturally, and let it guide the path to wine. His site details his vision & process (and boy is it well designed and beautifully written). Just read this little passage because anything I write will not do it justice to his creative eloquence. “In wine I always look for the fruitiness typical of the single grape varietal and the expression of the territory where is harvested. I imagine the must is the assembly of all the strings inside the grand piano case. Experimenting over the years, I noticed there is big difference in the sound output when the “must” is performed using selected yeast rather than indigenous yeasts. The indigenous yeasts, being heterogeneous and different from each other, are able to play from lower to higher tones with all semitones, providing a melody not immediately recognizable, but more complex and intriguing. And that’s why I choose to use only indigenous yeasts and spontaneous fermentations.” ✨

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #petnat #winestagram #instawine #Barbera #winemaking #pairswithcheezits #italy @icarpini @SkinContactWines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Easy As A Beer

INT3GRAL3
Rosé Frizzante (Pet Nat)
Raboso, Marzemina, Corbinella, and Turchetta
Organic, indigenous grapes, hand picked
Indigenous grapes are from an area between Asolo and Valdobbiadene, Italy

Pinky orange rhubarb pale with dainty white bubbles. Breathing in bouncing strawberries, raspberries, and a cherry-vanilla creaminess (frosting). I can already tell this is going to be a splash of fun. Sipping cherrstrawraspberapplernilla cocktail with a little creme de cassis, salty seltzer, some fresh and oh so crisp tiny bit of rhubarb. This is a bottle to pop for your party.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Sharpens everything

When I saw this bottle I knew I was going to be in for a bit of fun, and from what I’m reading about the young team creating this beautiful bubbles so are they. Their story all started with a wonderment for natural wine and a love for craft beers. Their own words sum it all up, “We are young but we know what we want. We produce a good quality wine in a sustainable way. We respect our land, we respect life and the future generations. We will leave a better world after ourselves. We don’t stick to rules and we don’t perceive limits while producing our wines. We are convinced that wine should always be drinkable and pleasing for anyone, easy as a beer.” Now doesn’t that make you want to give them a try? Makes me want to head back to the store for another bottle. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #PétNat #petnat #Rosé #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Asolo #Valdobbiadene #Italy #organic #naturalwine @integrale.wine @brand_italia @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