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How To Love Your Job

Domaine François Chidane
Brut Tradition 2019
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Chenin Blanc
Organic, biodynamic, regenerative agriculture
Montlouis-sur-Loire, Loire, France
Owners and winemakers: François and Manuela Chidaine

Had to wrestle for over 7 minutes to hear that pop! Then poured a glass of warm golden with light bubbles that fade and disappear. Sniffing and there’s apples, pears, guava, and it reminds me of a touch of calvados. Ginger also gently flies out over time with brioche. Sip and there’s pears, a zipping zingy crisp apple, lime, again there’s that ginger (not Mary Ann 🏝), on the back and when you exhale there’s a maltiness like the yeast you sprinkle on popcorn in a pub, and slate, salt, a tad of parsley which all ends in a touch of creamy deliciousness.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings all the lovely bits out so grab a 2nd bag

I think we can sufficiently say, François loves his job. “I am doing a marvelous profession that I have chosen. No one forced it on me. It’s my life! I didn’t want to do anything else…” How many of us wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and can say the same! Imagine getting to wake up to this view and work in harmony with nature all day. Also explains this quote, “I consider the vine as a human being. We must not imprison her and always be respectful towards her.” He’s even branched out to Murcia, Spain with 2 wines (Bullas DO), which greatly intrigues me, but makes sense…his wife Manuela’s family is from there. Now I’m going to have to make this a new mission to track down these bottles, because if they are anywhere as good as this Brut, they are bound to be fab!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #CheninBlanc #Brut #Loire #France #Murcia #Spain #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #domainefrancoischidaine @polanerselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Guilty Pleasures

Terra di Briganti
Falanghina 2020
Benevento IGP
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts
Casalduni, Campania, Italy
Winemakers: Toni and Romeo De Cicco

Shining golden yellow that deepens as time goes by. Breathe in and that creamy mango feel floats in, pears & mellow mild peaches, tiny arbor blossoms, green apples, and I think the tiniest whiff of caramel but waaaayyyy back and so tiny toward the end that blends into salty slate. Well, well, well isn’t this elegant and damn lovely sipping with still a little natural flair, pears, a tad bit peach, mild mango, a smidge of papaya, citrus squish, and a lick of granite that finishes and then the cycle goes round again. It’s like a fresh smooch of summer. Now I’m going to have another glass and just stop dissecting and enjoy.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yuck it ruins it. Stay away

Let’s see, this my 5th Terra di Briganti and the last was a “joy ride” (oh that chilled red Sciascinoso became my delicious go to), but this one is a guilty pleasure on a sultry afternoon. So what are your guilty pleasures? Come on, I know you have at least one…we all do. Mine are really good squishy stinky cheese, a towering raw bar plateau that must include langostines & periwinkles (and this bottle would pair nicely), chocolate dipped Oreos with a little sea salt on top, and lately…I’m going to admit something…watching old reruns of Hart to Hart and reveling in those oh so wonderful 1980s fashions, the cars, the hair, and flirty innuendos. Now don’t laugh, we all need our little escapes. Just grab a bottle of this wine and join me. If you do, I’ll make sure to save you some winkles.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #harttohart #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Falanghina #guiltypleasure #steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @terradibriganti @cheezit

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Message In A Bubble

Domaine des Tilleuls
Les Fines Perles
Brut VMQ
Méthode Traditionnelle
100% Chardonnay
Sustainable agriculture (HVE)
La Regrippière, Loire, France
Family owned and run by: Daniel & Evelyne Houssin (parents), Jérôme and Noémie (children, who look pretty grown up to me)

Light golden with a little green hint and very fine active bubbles drawing ever morphing Rorschach blots on the surface (Is it a signal? Are the bubbles trying to tell me something? 🤔). Scents float up of crisp pears, green apples, tiny white flowers, and toasty brioche bits. That first sip is so super lively and crisp with crunchy pears, golden delicious apples, lemon/lime spritz starts to vibrate on my tongue, a little mineral conglomerate, and honey droplets weave in and out with a bit of creaminess. It’s like a festive dance between the tart and the sweet/spark and smooth that lures you to pour another glass.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: do I really have to? It’s meh

5 generations of wine dating back to 1905, that kept evolving and expanding over the years. As one would expect, for a family sticking with the business for so long, they truly care about their land and product, with the latest generation looking toward the world. Jérôme emphasizes in an article from “Loire On Tour”, on the importance of seeing the relationship with an exporter should be treated more like a “partnership and not one of supplier and client” and traveling far and wide to where his wines are being sold. The good ol’ face to face definitely builds trust in any relationship, it means you care enough about others to make the effort, and you believe that much in your wine to want to share your gift to the rest of the world. 🥂

#sparklingwine #wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #brut #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Chardonnay #Loire #France #boivinselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @domdestilleuls @cheezit

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Mother Nature’s Embrace

Domaine Michaud
Sauvignon 2020
AOC Touraine
Converting to organic
Noyers-sur-Cher, Loire Valley, France
Winemakers: Thierry and Dorothée Michaud

Cool pale yellow with green shimmers. Right off, light grapefruit salutes your nose along with lemon, kumquat, persimmons, lemon/lime jelly belly, and spring blossoms…pretty, pretty. Sipping smooth operator grapefruit that goes rogue with a tangerine touch, pineapple, lemon/lime, pears (a bunch of varieties soft, sweet and hard), a smidge of cantaloupe, and a blade or two of grass.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: So smooth but at the end a kick. This is good

Three generation of this family have loved their land, and Thierry is embracing it with passion in converting to certified organic. The better the land, the better the grapes & vines, and the better the wine. As their motto says, “The search for quality through the expression of our terroir “. I know, I know…I do harp on organic way too much, but I think it all comes from growing up in the country. Well, it used to be country but now it’s suburbia. Breaks my heart when I go home to visit and see the few gnarled apple trees left and acres sold off that are now filled with apartment buildings. In my youth my part of the world was so beautiful and wild and safe. Our neighbors were rabbits, chipmunks, deer, and the occasional frisky fox. I’d climb up into my favorite tree, my imagination roaming free, and let Mother Nature embrace me.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Sauvignon #SauvignonBlanc #Touraine #Loire #France #LoireValley #domainemichaud @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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A Little Bottle of Summer

Folias de Baco
Uivo “aqua nat”
Piquette
Aromatised wine-based drink
Field blend
5.5% ABV
375 ml
Organic, unfined & unfiltered
Alijó, Duoro, Portugal
Winemaker: Tiago Sampaio

Pop that cap and either pour or drink straight from the bottle. Dark rose with electric magenta and s little natural detritus at the bottom of the bottle. Taking my nose on a walk through a rose garden along with strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, and a faint whiff of smoke. Ooh there’s an effervescent tongue tingle leading to a cocktail of cranberry, young strawberry, blackberry with a squish of lemon, and a chew of wild sour grass from back in my youthful country living days.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yummy!

Folias de Baco’s wines have never let me down, and I’m known to “howl” my praise. This easily portable, fresh, crisp & fun bottle with one fine label, is your new summertime buddy (definitely not your mama’s 1980s wine cooler, that honestly I couldn’t stomach). Head out and embrace a sunny day with a couple “aqua nats” and bluetooth speakers in your bag because this little bottle pairs well with Blondie’s “In the Sun”. Don’t forget to bring along your 🕶

#wine #vin #vino #Piquette #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Duoro #Portugal #Blondie #summervibes @saviosoaresselections @vinewinenyc @folias_de_baco @cheezit

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The Language Of Flowers

Sonshine Vins
Blanksia 2019
100% Colombard
Biodynamic, indigenous yeast
Jujurieux, France
Winemaker: Lisanne van Son

Spun gold. Breathing in and it starts out soft or should I say creamy with mellow peach, pear & apple, a tiny tangerine whiff, pluots, and salt. Sip and it elegantly glides in with nectarine, pear & apple, also those pluots again & green plums, a lime/citrus stabilizing spark, and lick of slate. It’s just fresh, delicious, and full of life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: vibrant joy

Blanksia’s name is taken from Australia’s Banksia flower(s). I had always wondered what these exotic looking beauties were. Turns out they symbolize rebirth and new beginnings which could represent each part of Lisanne’s wine globe hopping tale. Originally from the Netherlands (somm life started there), then on to the stops in the UK & Belgium, next up is France where she set her sights on making her own wine in a troglodyte cave with grapes from reputable organic/biodynamic grapes which she was part of the hand harvesting. She doesn’t stop there either, bc there’s also Australia and another project with other natural wine friends in the Adelaide Hills. I can’t wait to see where or what she has coming up next!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Colombard #France #tessbryantwine @tessbryant.wine  @vinewinenyc @sonshinevins @cheezit

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A Novel Surprise!

Marine Dubard (Famille Dubard)
Sauvignon Blanc
Coeur du Mont 2020
VDF
Sustainable, HEV
Saint-Méard-de-Gurçon, Dordogne, Sud-Ouest, France
Winemaker: Marine Dubard

Twinkling starlight and I made a wish & got it! My nose is wiggling in anticipation! Sniffing a splash of light grapefruit, lively lemon/lime, pineapple, pear/apple smash, and apple blossoms carried on a spring breeze. Sipping lime & zest, pears, apples, that grapefruit again with a dainty touch of musk, a smidge of fresh sliced ginger but not a kick in the pants…just enjoyable, pineapple, and a lick of a rock or should I say limestone.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: didn’t get a chance to try since I was out and about

Oh this is one glass caught in the wild that rocked my weekend. I have such a soft spot for anything Dordogne/Bergerac, sustainable, and to top it off a female winemaker; and did I mention it’s at my local Sugarburg. Seriously what a surprise, when I strolled in last Sunday and found out they had switched to a new blanc(this goes so well with their shrimp tacos) and it is so darn delicious! There’s more than one reason I have affection for Dordogne, but a special one is the writer Martin Walker (I love his books, fictional & non). His “Bruno Chief of Police” series transports me with every page to a region that you can smell, feel, taste and fully immerse yourself in and begin to feel a part of this world. If you love a good mystery, better food, and fabulous wine…please check these out. I didn’t discover them till his “Black Diamond” which isn’t the start of the tales but you can still plunge in headfirst*. Who would have known that the books I’ve been carrying to read while solo would meet their perfect pairing just steps from home. ❤️

*Side note in case you’re still following along this far: “Black Diamond” was a life preserver of a book for me when I was sorting out a diagnosis to why my faulty body was such a hot mess that I now know is Chiari Malformation & Ehlers-Danlos. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have Mr. Walker’s novels while I was dealing with my own physical mysteries. In a way they are part of my life that inspired @worldbyglass. Travel any way you can! 🇫🇷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #SauvignonBlanc #France #Dordogne #bergerac #martinwalker #brunochiefofpolice #marinedubard @skurnikwines @vignoblesdubard @sugarburgbk

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Happy As A Lark

Domaine de la Chanteleuserie
Cuvée Alouettes 2020
Cabernet Franc
Bourgueil AOC
HVE certified
Benais, Bourgueil, Loire, France
Winemaker: Thierry & Christine Boucard

Chill it…more than just a little bit. Lovely dark ruby with maroon and bluish rim glass. Hover a bit and out floats fragrances of strawberries, raspberries, plums, currants, and buttercream smooth that fades in and out as it warms and turns into a creamy berry scent like a bit of a mixed berry smoothie, and there’s also a touch of green bell peppers, and lively white pepper. First sip and it’s a tart zip and then cherries, red and green strawberries and their caps, raspberries, blackberries, young yellow plums, and a peppery edge. It’s refreshing and begging for a hot day to head down to the river with friends and a cooler full. Who wants to push me on the tire swing? 

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a more mixed bag of fruit

Oh this wine and the Domaine are just happy as a lark! You can’t escape it…from their name to this cuvée, and it even greets you with our feathered friend’s melodious song when you pop onto their website. So why is this little birdie so chipper and chirpy? I’m betting it’s due to the Breton (Cabernet Franc) in it’s pure beautiful form, and also the fact that the Boucards respect and care about their land and everything in it. That’s something to tweet about!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #lark #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Loire #France #CabernetFranc #Bourgueil #chanteleuserie #domainedelachanteleuserie @kermitlynchwine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Magical Cranberry Memories

Domaine Philippe Tessier
Chemin Noir 2020
VDF
100% Pineau d’Aunis
Organic (Ecocert certified), native yeasts
Cheverny, France
Winemakers: Simon (son) Tessier and Philippe (father, who handed over the reigns in 2020)

This color reminds me of those oh so coveted antiques “cranberry glass”. Breathing in cherries, wild plums and a touch of their blossoms, some earth/forest floor that flees, then there’s a little mace and black pepper. Tasting those cherries and plums again joined by cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, squish of lime, orange zest and very welcomed pinch of black pepper. There’s also a little earthy funky with snap of picked by the roadside blackberries and their seeds. You know when you’re rambling through the brambles and getting stuck all over but it’s so worth to just eat in the sun and the juice streaming down your chin. Yet all of it is light and dancing and magical like something brought to you by a wood sprite.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: meh, I like it better without…some of the magic is dampened.

So pleased to meet you Pineau d’Aunis (sometimes called “Chenin Noir” even though DNA now shows y’all are not related). Your personality has jogged so many childhood memories from staring at the “cranberry glass” in my mother’s glassware cabinet (that I was not allowed to even breathe on) to the idyllic days of wild berry picking. Glad that Philippe Tessier decided to experiment and add you to a little plot back in 2011, and his son Simon is tending to you now. As the Tessier family believe, “We defend peasant, artisanal, honest and sincere viticulture. A wine must be the expression of the place where it comes from, the reflection of the climatic conditions of the year and a little of the winegrower”. If you want to find an honest snapshot of the vintages through the years check out their notes on their site: https://philippetessier.fr/notre-savoir-faire#lmv

#wine #winelover #redwine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #pineaudaunis #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #Cheverny #Loire #France #domainephilippetessier #philippetessier @zevrovineselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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A Golden Island Cocktail

Vinícola Taro
Blanco 2019
Malvasía
DO Lanzarote
Organic, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Winemaker: Pablo Matallana
Label artist: Carlos Matallana

Pure spun gold. First sniff and something a little wild jumps out to say “hello!”, then follows singed brioche, smoky goodness along with a citrus blend w an IPA grapefruit floating in and out and after time warm honey follows…also some freshly rained on concrete and a salty breeze (yeah it really does, I’m not quoting a cheesy greeting card). Drinking a cocktail of orange, tangerine, and lemon with an IPA twist, melon, pears and apples, serious smoke as time goes by with a kiss of salt, and a granite/mineral (volcanic soil fed) lick. This is crisp yet complex and damn wonderful!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: digging it!

As much as I love this bottle, just looking at it and all I can think is of La Palma’s volcano which is causing evacuations, destruction and terrible air quality. I know Vinícola Taro is from Lanzarote which is fortunately one of the eldest islands (technically dormant) and placed far enough away that so far they are currently safe, but according to El Pais is eventually (far, far in the future) “destined to sink under the effects of erosion”. If you are interested in the birth of the Canary Islands, their growth, and what is currently happening, check out their very informative article/infographics.

#wine #naturalwine #winelife #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Malvasía #Lanzarote #CanaryIslands #Spain #cheezit @worldbyglass @el_pais #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #PabloMatallana @matallana_man @taro.vinicola @matallana.pablo @josepastorselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit