Posted on

Let It Show You It’s Life

GAI’A
Monograph 2021
100% Assyrtiko
Koutsi, Nemea, Greece
Co-owners: Yiannis Paraskevopoulos (winemaker & Ph.D in oenology) & Leon Karatsalos

Yellow starlight with green gentle shimmer. Breathing in pears, a little green melon ball w peach, apples that bloom into honeysuckle, a citrus blend of tangerine, lemon & more, a little fresh picked cucumber peel, and granite. Wow one sip takes me on a delightful rollercoaster ride! Lovely lemon/lime & lemongrass, pear, papaya, a smidge of pineapple, apple, ripe home grown (well watered) cucumber, parsley in the back, and nicely dry at the end of this tale. This is a lovely glass of wine that everyone will say pairs well with seafood, etc. but I love it alone. Sit alone. Let it open. Let it show you it’s life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: lovely

Gai’a or aka Mother Earth births beautiful wines with one foot in tradition and the other following new experiments in technology and growth. This is all symbolized in their logo of an ammonite/nature’s Golden Ratio which combines the beauty of nature and science. Makes sense having a wine scientist running the show (Yiannis Paraskevopoulos). 🔬🍇🍷After all this education and delicious wine, venture through Nemea to view some of the history left behind. There’s the Temple of Zeus, the nearby archeology museum, learn about their ancient games, and enjoy a relaxing moment in the present.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #Assyrtiko #Nemea #Greece @winebow @gaiawines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Who Doesn’t Love Presents?

Domaine Claude Vosgien
Ratafia
Freshly pressed Gamay must and Marc
18% ABV
Certified organic
Bulligny, Cotes de Toul, Lorraine, France
Owners/winemakers: Alexandre and Stéphane Vosgien

Chilled golden amber magic. As the cork pulls there’s caramel/toffee scent floating up that expands into white raisins, honeysuckle, brown sugar cookies that are fresh out the oven along with pecans and walnuts. Mmmmmm cozy! Sipping a nutty blend with caramels, honey, touch of orange peel, white raisins and dried pineapple. Glass of holiday goodness that brings all sorts of presents which keep popping up as you let it hang out. Who doesn’t love presents!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I just couldn’t bring myself to do it and ruin this beautiful moment. It would make me cry 😿

Also tried Ratafia with cava, kind of like you’d make a Kir Royale. Quite delicious and as time goes by, it became more weighted and honestly I got a bit on the tipsy side and it definitely brought a blush to my cheeks. Be careful on how many you drink. This concoction although powerful has a refined grace. Alexandre and Stéphane Vosgien (brothers) are truly onto a good thing, and this also reaches out to their long established land. They’re the 10th generation but the 1st to bring it to the sustainable/certified organic level. I say bravo, excellent work, and keep ‘em coming!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #frenchwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Lorraine #Ratafia #France #Gamay   @domaineclaudevosgien @steephillwine @antosicurezza @cheezit

Posted on

🎶Got My Stretchy Pants On🎶

Terres Blondes
Gamay 2020
Val de Loire IGP
Grapes from organically-farmed vineyards that live up to Domaine de la Charmoise’s (Jean-Sébastien Marionnet) standards, hand harvested
Loire Valley, France

Shining ruby velvet. Buttery start to these scents of cherries, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry mixed up with a little bunch of spring flowers, and after a bit an earthiness that eventually lures in a little pine sap & citrus zest. Take a sip and here’s that blend of raspcherbluestrawberry, plums, a touch of fresh figs, blackberries, and a woodsy earthy walk through the brush with a little pine needle & tiny holiday friendly citrus tang on the back.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm deeper and warmer

This wine is delicious and so fits with the upcoming holidays. Definitely perfect with the turkey day dinner and especially with the following morning’s turkey & sage stuffing sandwiches. Also pairs well with stretchy pants, so take a cue from Carrie Underwood and pull up to the table prepared and pile it on. 🍷

“So bring on the turkey, potatoes, casserole dishes
‘Cause I ain’t messing around with them buttoned up britches
You got them skinny jeans on, girl, I feel sorry for you
‘Cause I just tried everything, and I’m going back for round two
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy pants)
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy, stretchy)
Spandex and Lycra, you better work it for me
‘Cause I’m about to expand this band of elasticity
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy pants)
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy, stretchy)”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #frenchwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Loire #France #Gamay  #carrieunderwood #stretchypants #thanksgiving #TerresBlondes @martineswines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

The Gentle Giant

La Araucaria
Rosado 2021
100% Listán Negro
DO Valle de La Orotava
Organic, hand harvested, cordón trenzado
La Orotava, Valle de la Orotava, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Winemaker: Dolores Cabrera Fernandez

Shining 80s magenta watermelon-orange tint sunset. Scents of plums, strawberries, cherries, figs with some fresh tilled warmth of earth but not overpowering just mellow, and gentle roses & some greenery that play well with everything. Fun sip of tart plum & cherry, green strawberries, smashed blackberries & raspberries, a bit of citrus spark, and a lot of personality that also is grounded on the back in a good way with some bit of earth dark goodness. Just so fresh and very light on its feet. Like a memory of summer that in a way hasn’t ended.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmm yeah this really works

There’s a bit of “Girl Power” going on in the vines. During harvest, Dolores has a crew of women to work the vines because she thinks they have a more skilled/light hand for picking the grapes. And what a beautiful land where they work…not just that you get a chance to stare at Mount Teide, but also the artistry of their “braided cord” old vines. There’s another majestic natural sight that you’ll also notice on the label, the Araucaria tree that lives by their winery. It’s like a gentle giant that keeps watch over them, just as Dolores does with her passion for keeping the land organic and spreading the word to others to join her natural way of life.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #naturalwine #rosado #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Tenerife #CanaryIslands #Spain #organic #DoloresCabreraFernandez @josepastorselections @vinewinenyc @bodegalaaraucaria @dolorescabrerafernandez @cheezit

Posted on

Character Reference

Bodegas Hornillos Ballesteros
Mibal 2021
100% Tempranillo
Ribera del Duero D.O.
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested
Roa de Duero, Burgos, Spain
WInemakers: Miguel Hornillos y Javier Ballesteros

Dark purple with a ruby rim. Floating up to my nose is a butter cherry vanilla cream start then just good ol’ fresh cherry followed by plums, blueberry & blackberries with a tiny touch of boysenberry, dried cranberry, raisins, and some wild herbs all tangled up. Now all those wafts are dancing on my tongue like a shaken cocktail of cherries, pomegranate, blueberries, raspberry zip, dried berries of all sorts, some brambly bits and as it opens a pinch of espresso. A glass of evening intrigue. Hey, want me to pour you one? What’s the harm? 💋

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm cozy and juicy

Guess this is kind of a buddy story that ended up a family tale. Miguel and Javier already BFFs came from wine families and became fully related when Javier got hitched to Miguel’s sister. Not sure which came first the wedding or the “garage”, but these two ended up with one cool wine experiment or more apt…it’s a continual experience. Each harvest gives them a new palette to create from, or as they say, “Just as a master chef will never prepare the same dish, our winemakers never act in the same way with each wine and each year. In this way we forge unique wines with their own character.” In my book they get a fabulous character reference from me. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #riberadelduero #Spain #Tempranillo #garagewine #hornillosballesteros @tedward_ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Hands On

Finca Mas Perdut
Mà de Mas Perdut 2021
Penedés DO
Organic, stainless steel, 5 days skin contact, indigenous yeasts
50% Xarel.lo Vermell, 25% Garnatxa Blanca, 25% Macabeu
Santa Oliva, Baix Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
WInemakers: Josep Ma Rosell Gracia & Rebeca Ollé

Amber warmth. Let it breathe…a while. After giving it some space, scents of lilacs, wisteria, orange blossoms float up along with orange & zest, tangelo, earth, and a bit of memory of Yellowstone’s paint pots mixed with fresh cut grass. Sipping a mishmash of all sorts of citrus, a wedge of lime, puff of funky smoke & sprig of hay that fades, tart green apple, salt, and as it grows a back of perfume dancing on the back. Just vibrant and lively.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: ick sour

This bottle immediately got my attention with an IG post…the medical illustration of that hand! Once I fancied going down that artistic route, sigh. Turning away from dreams of past and back to the wine and this family. They’re 5th generation growers, and in 2010, Josep went down the winemaking route, later to be joined by Rebeca after these two oenologists fell in love. Grapes aren’t alone on the farm though, there’s also almonds, olives, veggies and they live off their land. Nothing like the satisfaction of growing your own food. I remember working my tail off in our crops and even as a young kid feeling some pride that I watched everything grow from seed to our table. Can only imagine the elation this couple feels after each harvest, fermentation, bottling and finally when the time is just right tasting a glass that sums up their knowledge, passion, and hand in the whole process. Must be absolutely amazing.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #naturalwine #whitewine #skincontact #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Penedès #Penedes #catalunya #catalonia #Spain #organic #fincamasperdut @bonvivantimports @vinewinenyc @fincamasperdut @cheezit

Posted on

When Is An Orange Really An Orange?

Matchbook Distilling Co.
Honeymoon
“Orange Wine”
Sparkling wine from Mango Oranges (via Flavors by Bhumi), with Honey, Milk Oolong & Mallorca Melon Tea
6% ABV
Greenport, NY
Owner/Distiller: Leslie Merinoff

Hazy warm golden with some spritz bubbles. Sniff and oh yes this is natural. There’s oranges with zest and later blossoms, some smoky blend of other citrus too, honeycomb, hibiscus as time goes by, and a little good funkaliciousness. Sipping a delicious orange seltzer snap with a natural vibe. It’s crisp and tingly with a bit of creamy or orange creamsicle feel, still some of that smoke/honeycomb mellowness, and just really super fresh. Make sure it’s really chilled and drink asap.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh ick no

When is an “orange wine” really an orange wine? Ok, so this isn’t what we normally think of as that good ol’ skin contact vino. Leslie of Matchbook wanted to use the”O” word on a riesling bottle, but was thwarted by govt. guidelines. Let me just quote from her, “the federal government regulators believe strongly that a drinker seeing “Riesling Orange Wine” would communicate the presence of actual oranges in said bottle of wine. And therefore, the descriptor ‘orange wine’ in the United States has been prohibited…” So when life tells you have to use oranges, don’t just make orangeade…be like Leslie and make a truly fun 🍊sparkler (pssst you can also make some snazzy cocktails with it too).

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #cocktails #naturalwine #orangewine #oranges #sparklingwine  #skincontact #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #greenport #NY #Longisland #matchbookdistilling @vinewinenyc @matchbookdistilling @cheezit

Posted on

All Abuzz

Anne Pichon Wines
“Sauvage” 2020
Ventoux AOP
Syrah 80%, Grenache 20%
Organic, indigenous yeast, night harvest, concrete tanks
Ventoux, Rhône, France
Handcrafted production and bottling from Anne Pichon Estate at Mormoiron, Vacluse
Winemakers and nature lovers: Anne Pichon & Véronique (sister-in-law)

Deep purple with magenta/ruby rim. Sniffing at first buttery vanilla, dark prune & plum along with homemade blackberry jam, dates, all sorts dried figs, dark cherry as it breathes, and black pepper. As it all blends together that buttery turns into a vanilla butter cream with (don’t laugh) at some points those fun cupcake sprinkles. Here goes the first sip and oh this…this is good and better than I even expected (and was told). There’s dates, dried figs (brown and black that remind me of my Granny’s trees and cakes), deep plums & prunes, cherry, dried & fresh blueberries, blackberries & the seeds, a touch of raspberry flair, and a dash of that pepper again. BTW after a glass, go look in the mirror and check out the color of your tongue.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: tart! I like it better without

Anne & Marc (her husband, who sadly passed away) Pichon found a perfect place to make wine in an already organic yet left behind domaine that came with quite a romantic name in my bee and bug loving book, “Mur-Mur-Ium” (the buzzing song of bees). Aptly named since they even have a beekeeper that’s placed his hives in the vines, which is a sheer delight for me. As I’ve babbled about before, my great-grandfather was a beekeeper and these beneficial creatures fascinate me. I’ve been watching a video “The T Edward Morning Show with Véronique of Anne Pichon” and her description of her brother Marc as a nature lover full of passion and a free spirit was so beautiful; and how they as a family decided to continue with the winery even after his death is so touching. After listening to Véronique’s words, their “Sauvage” wines seem to me to be like a love letter to nature, it’s complexity, strength and beauty. Yeah, I’m tearing up, and am realizing how much this bottle is than just a lovely wine, but a part of this family.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #syrah #grenache #organic #france #rhone #annepichon @tedward_ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

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

Posted on

Bergerac By Bottle

Chateau Le Payral
Bergerac Rouge 2020
Appellation Bergerac Contrôlée
50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Organic, biodynamic (Demeter), green fertilizer, indigenous yeasts, and a lot of love
Razac-de-Saussignac, Bergerac, Dordogne, France
Winemakers: Isabelle & Thierry Daulhiac (7th generation)

Elegant maroon/ruby. Very first scent after the pour is butter that starts to fade and at moments gently lingers. Next up to bat are cherries (deep fresh ones and also dried), plums, an earthy warmth, and as time goes by a squeeze of raspberry & blackberry juice. Sipping and boy is this fresh. There’s cherries (again fresh and dried) & plums, a cocktail of blackberries (seeds & all)/raspberries/strawberries/blueberries, and that earthy oomph again with a little black olive pit. It’s a very easy drinker that’s perfect for a fall evening staring up to the stars, sitting near the grill and listening to the sizzle of the fat as it hits the coals from a giant steak and plump sausages. Delicious, romantic, and comforting all wrapped up into one.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: lovely. Brings out all sorts of berries

Ok, here’s my 2nd Chateau Le Payral and their rouge is equally delightful as their blanc, and it’s probably due to how they care and work with their terroir. In 2000 Isabelle & Thierry had a survey of their land, so they could see how best to proceed in the future. What should be planted and where, how should the vines be cared for and more; and that was when they decided it’s time to go truly organic. Wonderfully forward thinking for not just the well being of their holdings but also what will fall into the hands of the next generation and the future of everyone’s environment. Now, I just need to track down one more of their wines ‘La Bise’. If anyone out there knows where I can find it, please let me know! Once again thank you @all_things_food_nyc, Martin Walker, and Chateau Le Payral for helping me on my travel to Bergerac by bottle. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #redwine #France #Dordogne #bergerac #martinwalker #brunochiefofpolice @martinwalker346 @saviosoaresselections @chateaulepayral