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Creative Perfect Pairing

Podere Sottoilnoce
Valtiberia 2020
Vino Bianco Frizzante
70% Trebbiano Modenese, 30% Trebbiano Di Spagna
Biodynamic, organic, indigenous yeast, minimal intervention
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Owner & winemaker: Max Brondolo

Warm golden sunshine with tiny bubbles. Breathing in a gentle creamy vanilla start that morphs, next up are pears, green apples, a smidge of berry, and musky touch that fades on day 1 and leads to light melon, and a smidge of anise. On the tip of my tongue it’s dry, with crisp pear & apple, lemon/lime squeeze, a bit of berry, that spice/anise is still there but joyously light & fresh, and a bit of almond on the back

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh this is gooood

As I said in my previous post, Max Brondolo is a Renaissance man. Earlier in life, he had an successful and cool career in advertising/communications/digital media. I wonder how it felt to start his new life in wine which seems to be an old love. Must be exciting, freeing and satisfying to start a 2nd act by working & growing in many ways with nature…to channel and pour a new creativity into these bottled moments in time that you share with family, friends, and the world. Have to also write about the artist whose paintings grace his labels. Something about these birds just pulled me in and I went down the google rabbit hole. Denis Riva is brilliant. It has been a while that I’ve found a “new to me” artist that pulled up such emotions that I can’t even put into words what I’m feeling. Please take a look at his website. I don’t know what brought these two creatives (Max & Denis) together but they are a perfect pairing.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #naturalwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #Trebbiano #emiliaromagna #Italy #italianwine #terrellwines @derivadr @vinewinenyc @poderesottoilnoce @cheezit

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Meet Me Under The Walnut Tree

Podere Sottoilnoce
Franzes 2019
90% Lambrusco Grasparossa, 10% Lambrusco Sorbara
Biodynamic, organic, indigenous yeast, minimal intervention
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Owner & winemaker: Max Brondolo

Maroon/ruby with bluish purple rims. I gave this wine 2 tries, once at 58F and next chilled. First go round and breathing in dark cherries, blackberries, earth that grows into tiny yet fragrant blossoms, and a pinch of bell pepper. Sipping cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and a bit of blueberry, a mix of bell pepper, balsamic, white pepper, olive pit that weaves back and forth in the fruit and hides at points and flirts with earth. Just light and elegant. Now chilled and starts out with very floral of blossoms, magnolia, and all scents the same as before but even more alluring. Again same with the taste…just a bit more sleek and a welcome fine tart spark. I like it better chilled…so chill it good!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out lavender and more juicy

Max Brondolo is quite the Renaissance man which I will get to in my 2nd post about another wine of his, “Valtiberia”. For now I’m just falling for his beautiful land (6 ha) that are filled with old (some abandoned) and new vines, buzzing bees, various plants & animals (including deer & pheasants) that share the neighborhood, and a stately walnut tree that gives the place its namesake. I can just imagine lying beneath and staring up through the branches, smelling a mix of the soil & greenery,  feeling a cool breeze on my face, and hearing an old very familiar Keane song stuck in my head.

“Underneath the walnut tree
Where you said you’d wait for me
And I waited a long, long time…”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #naturalwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #Lambrusco #emiliaromagna #Italy #keanemusic #italianwine #terrellwines @vinewinenyc @poderesottoilnoce @cheezit

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Love Is In The Air

Weingut Maximin Grünhaus
Schloss Riesling 2021
VDP. Gutswein
Practicing organic but not certified/sustainable
Mertesdorf, Ruwer Valley, Germany
Winemaker: Maximin von Schubert

Shining gentle golden glass. Sniffing light melon, crisp pear, light cucumber, a touch of tangerine/grapefruit, and a tiny pinch of pie spice. Mmm sipping and it’s fresh and dry. There’s crisp pear blended with green tart apple and ooh a little tingle, honeydew, and a touch of kirby peel. Now this is a riesling I can really get into.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious and clean fruit

I just love finding out the history of lands and this estate is filled with a king, a kaiser (not a roll), an abbey, and the part I love most…the dowry (maybe if I had one of those I’d finally be hitched). When Conrad von Schubert asked for Ida Von Stumm’s hand in marriage, he not only ended up with her but also the whole estate. Passed through the generations, it’s now with Maximin von Schubert, and he and his wife & kids are doing a beautiful job caring for the land, vines & castle. Oh and back to weddings, you can also book your own at stately Schloss Maximin Grünhaus and celebrate with one of their special sparklers. I think that would be a perfectly romantic day (hint, hint)! 💍

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #JohnPaulYoung #loveisintheair #organic #Germany #Riesling #maximingrünhaus #ruwer #mosel @loosenbrosusa weingut_maximingruenhaus @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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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

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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

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🎶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

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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

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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

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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

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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