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Take A Hike

Fabulas
Fortitudo 2023
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOP
100% Montepulciano
Organic, biodynamic, sustainable, hand harvested, sheep in the vines
Pretoro, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
Nico Ciavalini & partners

Strawberry rose sunrise. Sniffing and there’s strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, cherries, cool mineral river rock, pomegranate juice, red currants, and a touch of balsamic reduction…truly just a touch. Sipping away and all of the scents with a dribble of blackberry, a little blood orange on the back, yellow plums, and it’s juicy, fresh, lively, and so easy to drink so be careful or the whole bottle will be gone in a flash.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just don’t…step away from the bag

Fabulas’ vines grow within Majella National Park (a UNESCO Global Geopark) and their bottles represent 7 female warriors of the region, mythical tales, history, and traditions. Fortitudo weaves the stories of bandits (briganti) that used to roam the mountainside, caves, etc. and taunt the authorities/soldiers by carving messages into Tavola dei Briganti (limestone slabs) like this quote, “Read my memoirs my dear readers. In 1820 Victor Emanuel, King of Italy, was born. Before 1860, this was the kingdom of flowers, now it’s the kingdom of poverty.” You can still see these marks of resistance and others from shepherds inscribing their names to live on through time. All you need to do is just take a hike, enjoy a moment of peace in nature, and follow in the footsteps of days long past.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #catsofinstagram #cats #wineislove  #winetime #worldbyglass #abruzzo #Italy #tedwardwines #Fabulas #fabulasbio #docwinebar #docwineshop

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You Don’t Have To Break The Bank

Vallevò
Costa Dei Trabocchi 2023
Terre Di Chieti IGT
Rosato
100% Montepulciano
Rocca San Giovanni, Abruzzo, Italy
Coop technical director: Gianni Pasquale

Sunset rose-pink orange stained-glass (in the 80s would be coral). Sniffing watermelon, strawberries, crushed cherries, grapefruit-light, orange zest, fresh tarragon and some other herbal whiff that I can’t put a name on but maybe marjoram. All of the scents are in the taste with a good squeeze of lime tingle on my lips & tongue, and just fresh & freewheeling.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Nope…don’t ruin a good thing

Vallevò’s line is a part of the co-op winery Cantina Frentana that proves you can have a very, very good wine that doesn’t have to break the bank. There was an importer/distributor (before taking them on) who had doubts when hearing the price point from a group of Italian winemakers checking out CA wineries. They met again at Vintaly and this time there were bottles to taste and those doubts fluttered away. Other than the wine the label also piqued my curiosity as to what is this seaside structure? Turns out it’s called a trabocco that’s an old fishing platform with long wooden rods which held fishing nets that can be raised and lowered by winches. Now you’ll often find they’ve been adapted from their original use into restaurants where you can dine on delights from the sea & local fare and feel the breeze & waves rock you into a peaceful summer afternoon. Oh and from what I read, make sure you make a reservation way in advance or you’ll miss out on the 🦪🦑🦐.

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

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Be “Still” My Heart

Conselve Vigneti e Cantine
Glera
Veneto IGT
Sustainable development
Conselve (PD), Veneto, Italy
President: Roberto Lorin

Spun straw with a bit of active bubbles at first that fade away. Sniff and there’s fresh rained on pavers, white peaches, crisp pears, bouncing lemons & limes, a blade of grass, touch of kumquat, and it’s just fresh and clean. Taking a sip and all of the scents along with green apple, bit of tangelo, fresh cucumber, crisp lemon/lime, and the bubbles are tiny & slight now too, and a sprinkle of seltzer/salt vibe at the crisp dry end.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: deliciously opens up a whole other array of flavors like white melon, honey & sugarcane

Back in the 1950, the coop Conselve Vigneti e Cantine (like many other producers were & some still are) was more about quantity of the grapes & wine they produced, but then a certain methanol scandal shook Italy in the mid 80s and everyone started rethinking…well…everything. In the 90s the Cantine’s winegrowers/makers turned to the “quality” side and have made changes toward sustainability of their already rich & fertile lands with combining their generations of traditions along with modern thinking & planning. Now this all leads me to this bottle of Glera. After going back through all of my notes, I do believe this is my first still one. All the rest have been bubbly prosecco or pét-nats. So guess what, Conselve you have me hooked. I’m in love! ❤️

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

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Rebel Angels

Velenosi
Prope 2021
100% Montepulciano
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Hand harvested
Vineyards located in the district of Controguerra
Winery: Ascoli Piceno, Marche, Italy
Wine Team: Ercole & Angela Velenosi, Filippo Carli & Luca Fioravanti (winemakers), and more

Deep inky ruby purple. Sniff and there are scents of dark cherries & plums, some tart cherries too, roses, violets & a little iris, smidge of coriander & cardamom (maybe some toasted too), touch of tobacco, and dried figs & cherries. Tasting cherries & plums tart & smooth, a  dried mix of cherrplulmfiggycot, blackberries, red & black currants, a pinch of black pepper with a teeny bit of cardamom, a little singed blood orange zest in the back, and not so dark but not so sweet chocolate.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: tangy crunchy good

Velenosi creates wines from Marche & Abruzzo and their lands are so near but divided by just a small border between them. Hence the name for their Prope wines which translates from Latin into “close to”. As they say on their site, “Wine is an art capable of making people dream”. These Abruzzo dreams are depicted on their labels & they “chose the inspiration of Osvaldo Licini, a local painter. He is just like Montepulciano: they both represent the true nature of the territory. Licini, a melancholy rebel, depicts gigantic angels riding horses fluttering between the ground and the sky which upon meeting their own reflection or their kindred spirit free themselves in space and time, holding each other’s hands as if dancing. It was love at first sight with Licini and also with his rebel angels which we have chosen for Prope. These angels partly represent us and partly belong to us.” Cheers to these rebellious angels and everyone that keeps this artistic wine dream alive.🍷🪽♥️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove  #winetime #worldbyglass #Italy #montepulciano #baronfrancois #Velenosi #docwinebar #docwineshop

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A Kiss To & From Italy

Bacio
Lemon Spritz
Italian lemon & bubbly white wine cocktail
7% ABV
Eco-friendly
Produced & packaged at Cantine Sgarzi Luigi (Fidenza, Parma, Italy)
Born in New York
Founders: Diego Faccioli & Tadas Nikulin

First, follow the directions on the can and “just chill it” then crack, pour, and it reveals a lovely yellow hue with some tiny bubbles & a tad of greenish starlight twinkle. Scents drift up of lemon & grated citrus zest (also reminds me a bit of Limoncello too), a squeeze of lime, and a dash of nose tickling seltzer. Sipping and there’s again lemons & one of my faves a touch of Lemonhead candy, lime squish, a mellow sweetness but not too sweet, mineral rock lick that balances all with a pinch of salt, and that zippy spritz feeling. It’s fresh, crisp, vibrant, and rocking it out of the park.

Pairs with Cheez-Its:  Surprisingly really damn good.

Faccioli & Nikulin bring their Veneto inspired vibe in such a fab portable way that also keeps with their goal of quality. As Diego says, “Bacio combines Italy’s winemaking legacy with modern sophistication. Our sparkling wines are a fusion of tradition and innovation, presented in eco-friendly elegance. It’s not just wine; it’s a reimagined experience of Italian luxury.” BTW do you need a tour guide to Italy? Let Bacio show you the way through their journey. They’ll lead you through wines, cities & the people that live there & a peek into their traditions, where to grab a bite & imbibe, special recipes, festivals, sights not to miss, and you’ll also learn that Diego not only has a mischievous smile…he also has a “sonorous snore” 💤🤣. Anyway, grab a can and feel that flirtatious 💋 from Italy because the country & this spritz are both so easy to love.

Side note: My little shadow or maybe not so little anymore (José Andrés) decided he needed to be included in the pic. He’s such a ham.

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #cannedcocktails #instawine #catsofinstagram #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Italy #newyork #apertivotime #worldbyglass #SpritzLovers #bacchanalwines #Bacio #Baciolife #docwinebar #docwineshop

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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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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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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