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Endless Summer

Kiki & Juan
Blanco 2021
90% Macabeo, 10% Sauvignon Blanc
Organic, dry farmed
Utiel Requena, Valencia, Spain
Wine team: John “Juan Casa” House & Kerin “Kiki” Auth Bembry

Palest yellow green translucent starlight. There’s scents of green apples, firm pears my granny used to grow to make relish, a little young honeydew (not don’t), mild lime, light figgy soda, and a salty breeze. Beware this is a waaaaay wasy drinker. Everything is light & lovely. Tasting again bits of apples, pears, & Adriatic figs, ripe kirby, a bit of that lime spark zest, shake of salt, and well it’s just a glass of carefree endless summer.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smooth sailing take me away

This liter of chuggable joy is from the team behind La Luz Selections and their association with Coviñas who were named the world’s best wine co-op in 2022, and for good reason. Not only do they take great care with their grapes & lands, they also respect their growers or as they call them “Employees”. As they say on their site, “Our objective is to sustain and grow the local economy based on the cultivation of the 10,000 hectares of vineyards belonging to the 3,000 families that make up Coviñas and represent 40% of the wine produced under the Utiel-Requena appellation of origin.” Looking out for their neighbors is pretty darn cool!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #christophercross #worldbyglass #valencia #Spain #organic #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @laluzselections @vinewinenyc

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Natural Hospitality

Octagono
‘Vino Naranja’ 2019
Macabeo & Moscat
Natural wines very well acquainted with hand and foot, 1st contemporary Mexican winery to make natural wine in clay vessels (depicted on the label) since 2016
This bottle is 673/840
Vergel de la Sierra, San Felipe, GTO, Mexico
Founder: Marcelo Castro Vera
Winemaker: Celia Morales and the winery is run by mostly women

Orangey gold with some non-filtered goodness. Hovering over the glass and at first it’s heady with magnolias, juicy pears, honeydew, pineapple, a whole big ol’ armful bunch of flowers, and a little granite & salt. Sip and it’s an explosion of everything and mostly not what first emerged in the sniffing. It hits so fast that I have to sit here a moment before being taken on a wild ride of young yellow plums, crab apples, lemon, lime & a citrus blended cocktail with smoke, and salt. There’s also a peppery kick that goes in and out and at times turns into green bell pepper. It’s  fresh, tart and funky in a good way. Kind of addictive and each sip makes you want more and it keeps morphing. This would be really good with a rim of salt & hot pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blerg ack

I had no idea that bringing home this bottle would lead to a place to escape and start your own adventure, and wine wasn’t the beginning. Marcelo Castro Vera had a background in hotels/hospitality and then he turned his knowledge and experience on its head. This man is a total multitasker…he opened the hotel El Nidal, made of shipping containers that bring you back in touch with beautiful wild nature and maybe even yourself, but in comfort (there’s even hot water powered by solar & a minibar). Then he embarked the Octagono winery, a distillery, a brewery and more. Wow, what a life! I think he has it all covered, and wonder when he gets time to sleep?

#wine #vin #vino #Piquette #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Mexico #naturalwine @josepastorselections @vinewinenyc @octagonovinomx @elnidalmx @cheezit

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Wine Saves the World

Bodegas Neleman
Nucli 2020
Macabeo 70%, Sauvignon Blanc 30%
Organic, vegan, dry farmed, and a nifty stopper
Casas del Rey, Valencia, Spain
Founder: Derrick Neleman
Winemaker: Diego Fernández Pons

Warm inviting gold glassful. Breathing in a swirl of honeysuckle and peach swirl, pear, hint of smoke and a little salty, and a smidge of tangerine in the back. Sipping and here come those peaches again but this time joined with lychee, lime, and a tiny grapefruit squirt. It’s all followed with white pepper and some fresh cut grass. So crisp and fresh and makes me feel like I’m back in Spain sipping outside at a table of La Vinya del Señor while people watching and snacking on one of their lovely meatballs. Can’t wait to travel again…

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: luscious!

Derrick Neleman…this guy has my dream life! Looks like this Dutchman fell for Spain pretty hard (I know how that feels) and purchased a winery that used to be a co-op in the tiny Casas del Rey (they say there are only 30 residents now and all I can say is wow to that!). He also says his wines are, “Good Wines To Save The World” and he’s right. They’re organic and vegan but there’s more than that too. He and his crew are doing everything to limit their carbon footprint and believe firmly in using real cork. There’s a special design and it’s really cool. No corkscrews necessary! Just follow the instructions printed on it and twist and pop. Also I’m seeing online that he has a beer or beers named Vrolijkheid (Cheerfulness). Is this true and where can I find a bottle? Who wouldn’t want a good glass of cheer!

#wine #winelover #vino #vin #beer #organicwine #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #wineinfluencer #winestagram #Valencia #Spain #Macabeo #SauvignonBlanc @bodegasneleman @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezits

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Peace, Harmony, and Panxu

Celler Tuets
Conscious Wine
Tot Rosé 2019
Parellada, Macabeo, Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Muscat of Alexandria, Tempranillo, and Syrah
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested
Tarragona, Penedès, Catalunya, Spain
Winemaker: Albert Domingo Navarro

Reddish orange dark rosé. At first, scents of forest floor natural funk that turns into woodland flowers and mossy earth, tangy cherry, oranges, plums, and a small grind of mace. Linger a while and a smidge of caramel comes out in the end. Sipping raspberries, blackberries, cherries and cherry jolly ranchers. Hmmm…Jolly ranchers. Why are they so good and memorable? Also blueberries, strawberries, that head into a dried cherry bite. Just the right amount of fruit sweet with the right balance of funk/hay…delicious.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Ugh NO

My first glance at Albert and I thought of guys I knew in Athens, GA back when I was in college. Shouldn’t judge by looks, and assume someone is super crunchy natural, but yeah, from what I’m reading he is and also at peace or in synch with nature and understands how it comes through in his wines. His creations are “Conscious Wines”, and they’re happy, joyous, and honest. Each grape of Tot Rosé lives in their own little individual home or “little piece of land” until that special singular day when they are all hand harvested so they can commingle in stainless. On their own each grape could tell the tale of their sweet plot, but together they bring you a tapestry-like novel that tells you the journey “from the vine to the bottle”. Side note: I am totally fascinated by Albert’s buddy, Panxu who is an enormous pig that looks like a gentle giant. There’s a great video of them taking a Sunday stroll on IG https://www.instagram.com/p/CAUnT2NpbJr/ Seriously adorable!

#wine #Rosé #rose #rosado #ConsciousWine #naturalwine #winelife #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #wineinfluencer #winestagram #fruitofthevines #Spain #organic @docwineshop @docwinebar @celler.tuets @worldbyglass

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WINE MEMORIES 10.2.17

Celler Pardas
Rupestris Blanco 2015
Penedès Spain
Macabeo, Malvasía, Xarel·lo and Xarel·lo Vermell
Winemakers Ramon Parera and Jordi Arnan

A glass of spun straw. I’m breathing in flowers, citrus and it tingles my nose. Taking a sip and there’s limes, citrus and something sweet peachy keen and a lick of granite. It’s fresh and friendly. A perfect wine to sit out back and enjoy a summer evening.

@pardasceller @cellerpardas @vilaviniteca @vinyadelsenyor #barcelona #wine #penedes #spain #Macabeo #xarello #malvasia #xarellovermell @worldbyglass #needmorewine #workingfromhome

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Take Me Back to the Plaça

Baudili 2019
Viticultor Ramon Jané
Bottled by Celler Mas Candí (which is a partnership between Ramon and his best friend oenologist Toni Carno)
Les Gunyoles D’Avinyonet
Catalunya Spain
Xarel.lo 50%, Macabeo 50%

Biodynamic

Color is a glistening pale golden. Breathe in a bit of a sea breeze of salt, some tangerine, grapefruit and something herbal like rosemary. Now I’m craving jamón. Time for the glou-glou and there’s apples, pears, some tart lemon, clean slate and a lot of love. What I wouldn’t give for some grilled sardines, a dozen oysters, and some squishy cheese. Take me to the plaça, let me feel the sun on my face, get a little pink (maybe from the sun or maybe from the wine), and break out the cribbage board. Let’s take the afternoon off!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Brings out lemon and a tart zing

@vinewinenyc @MasCandí @trumpetwine @cellermascandi #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #vinewinenyc #xarello #macabeo #spain #Catalunya #biodynamic #glouglou @worldbyglass @cellermascandi

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Now This Is What I Call A 6 Pack

Now This Is What I Call A 6 Pack
Flama Roja
Cava Brut Nature
Macabeo and Parellada

Hold it up to the light and it’s light straw with tiny little bubbles. This is my “go to easy drinker” any time of year. It pairs well with everything, but especially brightening up your evening after a rough day. It’s light and crisp, golden delicious apple with a tang of lemon. Takes my brain back to happier memories of sitting outside in Barcelona, eavesdropping on conversations, and watching parrots sail overhead.

#wine #worldbyglass #pandemic #covid19 #spain #cava #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits @vinewinenyc #cheezit @worldbyglass #workingfromhome #penedes #barcelona #Macabeo #Parellada #Tarragona @castelldorcava_vi #joanrabada

 

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Oh Cava, How I Love Thee

 

Bertha Cava Brut Nature Reserva
Grapes: Macabeo, Xarel·lo & Parellada

Color: light golden rays of sunshine

Nose: light and sparkly. Hints of apple and pear but not something whacking you in the head. It and the light floral are just lovely, springy. Some slate/mineral/salt delicate

Taste: Apple tartness, toasty, honeysuckle, clean, fresh, mineral, and beautiful tingly bubbles

I’m a huge cava fan. Every glass takes me back to Barcelona/Spain. I know a lot of people think of it as a touristy place, but heck I live in Brooklyn/NYC. In each big city, there are neighborhoods of lovely people. Just take the time to meet them, share stories with them, you never know you might make a friend. I love all the wonderful people I have met over the years in BCN, all the creative and homey restaurants and bars, and all of the amazing wines I’ve been introduced to…Barcelona, I miss you, I love you, and I hope one day to be back again.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Makes the apple even more crisp and tightens the mineral/I just licked a rock flavor. Yes, I have licked granite just to find out if it smelled like it tastes, and that was as a kid. Yep, I loved tasting everything as a 5 year old when most would scrunch up their face and say, “No mom, no I’m not eating that!”

#wine #worldbyglass #pandemic #covid19 #spain #cava #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits @cavabertha @vinewinenyc @cheezits @worldbyglass #workingfromhome #penedes #barcelona #Macabeo #Xarel·lo #Parellada