Posted on

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

Posted on

When Life Brings You Grapes

Commune of Buttons
Gloria 2019
100% Pinot Noir
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeast
Basket Range, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Winemakers, owners & farmers: Sophie & Jasper Buttons (sister & brother)

Shining ruby with purple splashes. Ooh what’s that waving at my nose…strawberries, cherries, some forest floor with a dash of cardamon, and then back to blossoms. Tasting strawberries ( both ripe and green), cherries…and oddly a little of a cherry starburst (over time), lemon (fruit & zest), a splash of mandarin orange, red currants, and a pinch of white pepper. Just remember give it a little breathing room…don’t crowd it…a little extra space and time is a good thing.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yummy

Jasper and Sophie came back not to get into winemaking but to revitalize their parents’ farm. Well..sometimes life just throws you a new route. You know how the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, and in their case it brought them grapes and influence & knowledge from natural winemaker Anton van Klopper, so then hey, make organic/biodynamic wine! Not only did they make wine but Jasper was voted in as the 2016 Best New Act at the Young Gun of Wine Awards. Guess they were really fast learners and got into the rhythm of the vines to the cellar. Also in 2016, they branched out past the farm to become a partner in the restaurant/wine bar and communal conversation place, “The Summertown Aristologist” which added on their “Cellar Door” in 2020, where you can do a wine tasting and if you like, take some home. Sounds like they are keeping quite busy in a beautiful way of life. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #PinotNoir #SouthAustralia #Australia #adelaidehills #communeofbuttons #thesummertownaristologist @tessbryant.wine @vinewinenyc @commune_of_buttons @cheezit

Posted on

Full Of Personality

Bodegas Altolandon
Enblanco 2020
Manchuela D.O.
Amber Wine
Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Gris
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeasts, unfined, unfiltered
Landete, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Wife & Husband winemaking team: Rosalia Molina & Manolo Garrote

Golden orange or amber without any little critters trapped in it. Scents flow out of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, orange zest, peaches, a bouquet of spring flowers, apricots, mango, and heady goodness. So this is one of those wines where you’re hit from all sides, but in a good way. Tasting honeysuckle nectar, wisteria, peaches, those reddish yellow plums from my grandmama’s trees, oranges and orange zest, peaches, apricots, papaya, mangoes, smidge of fennel, whiff of pine needles, salt, blade of grass, white pepper, and a tart citrus pop hangs out to make this even out with a good round way. This would be so good with unagi kabayaki.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it sharper but I like it better as a full open burst of flavors

Remember the old tale of “The Three Bears” where Goldilocks tastes the porridge and one was too hot, another too cold, and then finally hits the one that is “just right”. Was just listening to Rosalia speak on a video for Simply Spanish Wine, and I think she and her husband found that “just right” place to set up their organic shop at 1,100 meters above sea level (highest part). They have the advantage of cooler climes which is a good thing with climate change being very real, lots of wonderful sun exposure, and also later harvests. They even have a REAL ice wine (Dulce Enero) which I am dying to try. This magical setting also has varied soils, so all of this combined together is the perfect grape recipe for as they say, “wines with their own personality”.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #organic #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Spain #GarnachaBlanca #Garnacha #castillalamancha @skincontactwines @docwineshop @docwinebar @altolandonbodega @cheezit

 

Posted on

Our Friends In The Fields

Celler Credo
Miranius 2020
100% Xarel·lo
Penedès D.O.
Organic, biodynamic, dry farmed, hand harvested, indigenous yeast
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Penedès (Barcelona), Catalonia, Spain
Xarel·list & winemaker: Ton Mata (Josep Mata Capellades’ grandson)

Golden starlight glass. Sniff and here come tart pears, apple blossoms, lemon zest. light tangerine fades in and out, and then there’s a roll in the green meadows that leads to grass stains on my jeans, and finally toasty brioche goodness mmmmmmmm. Tiny sip and it’s already lovely and slightly frisky. There’s pears blended with mellow golden delicious apples, lemon/lime spritz w a touch of cucumber juice, and that brioche toasty is is linger a bit in the back but will surely fade, along with a lick of salt and slate. It’s crisp, fresh, and makes up your mouth but not with a jolt…more of a nuzzle.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the citrus pop

Damn I love Celler Credo’s wines (Recaredo’s still white wine label)! First encounter was at La Vinya Del Senyor with Credo’s ꓕⱯNƎꓒꓕⱯꓤ or ‘Ratpenat’ (or in other words: bat) was a lovely introduction. If you buy a case, it can transform into a bat shelter…how cool is that because they’re beneficial to not only the vineyards but the world. “The bat is the only flying mammal on Earth and can kill between 600 and 1,200 insects per hour.” From the labels alone, you can see Ton Mata & Cellar Credo love the creatures that roam the vineyards, fields & skies above; and respect, nurture, and coexist with them. As with the bats, this little ‘Miranius’ sleek and shifty fox can also help them with some pest control while munching on an evening bite. 🦊

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #Xarello #fox #bat #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Penedès #Penedes #catalunya #catalonia #Spain #organic @vinyadelsenyor @vinewinenyc @cellercredo @cheezit

Posted on

Fine Wine & Good Deeds

Forlorn Hope
Zincenzo! 2020
Carbonic Zinfandel
100% Zinfandel
Rorick Heritage Vineyard
Murphys, Calaveras County, CA
Organic, hand-harvested, carbonic maceration, unfiltered & unfined
Winemaker: Matthew Rorick

Sunset ruby orange streaked sky. Breathing a little earthy musk and schistiness at first that blossoms into cherries, strawberries, and raspberries. I am so glad I chilled this (chilling is said to be optional). Sipping delicious juicy blend of cranberry, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, salt & smoke with a little olive pit, and a bit of earthy forest darkness or as said before it’s the schist. This is one bottle that will get me in trouble because it is so frisky, friendly, and has a depth that I don’t know if I can leave it alone.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Delightful and even more addictive

This bottle was a total surprise for me. I love Forlorn Hope wines! The surprise part was I didn’t know I was receiving it. This was one of the bottles in Vine Wine’s “6 Bottles for Ukraine” box. You’ll get 3-4 bottles of red and the rest could be white, rose, or bubbles for $100 ((LINK IN BIO)). “All of the revenue from these six packs will be donated directly to World Central Kitchen, chef Jose Andres humanitarian organization. Currently he is working in Lviv cooking meals for displaced people and refugees, as well as partnering with restaurants in Ukraine to pay them to make meals locally. This is a cause close to our heart, feeding people and supporting local business. If you would like to donate directly you can head over to https://wck.org/ to learn more.” I don’t know how long they will be doing the boxes, but if you can get one, you’ll be doing a good deed while enjoying some fine wine! 🇺🇦

#ukraine #standwithukraine #Україна #🇺🇦 #kyiv #stopwar #зупинитивійну #supportukraine #ятебелюблю #wine #вино #love #Zinfandel @wckitchen @vinewinenyc @forlornhopewines

Posted on

Alchemy, Anarchy & Hope

Agricola Cirelli
Wines of Anarchy
Vino Bianco Frizzante
100% Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, unfiltered
Abruzzo, Italy
Winemakers: Francesco and Michela Cirelli

Golden with a touch of haze. Well, that’s a welcome nose tingle of pear, pineapples, lemon zest, green apples (touch of cider), allspice, and a mix of a little fresh cut grass (but not that much) & herbal flowers. Sipping those crisp pears and green apples again, with lemon fizzy, young apricots, a pinch of that pineapple, a fresh grassy springiness like a little of my homegrown sorrel, a touch of spice (think pear pie), and roasted almond slivers that just lightly hangs in the back a bit. This stuff rocks!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: darn, darn good

If you have a moment, please go to Agricola Cirelli’s site. Francesco’s eloquent writings that weave images of his beautiful home, vineyard, farm, family, and childhood memories are… how should I put it…he paints with his words. They’re genuine, natural, and beautiful just like the wines. Yeah, yeah there’s a big ol’ tat on the bottle, but just read his words, “When I make wine, I imagine I am an alchemist preparing a magic potion. An antidote to misery, a balm for healing old wounds, a drink that makes us forgive but not forget.” An existential declaration, a message of unconditional love.” This is an elixir we need right now. This is a bottle of revolutionary love, but not just that…this grounds us and gives us hope.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #organic #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #Abruzzo #Trebbiano #zevrovineselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @cirelliwines @cheezit

Posted on

Creature Of The Night

Aoton Winery
“Lola” Retsina Rosé 2018
Mandilaria 74%, Cabernet Sauvignon 26%
Hand picked during night harvest, organic, indigenous yeast, also 0,4g/L of Aleppo Pine Resin added
Traditional Appellation “Retsina”
Peania, Attica, Greece.
Winemaker: Sotiris Gkinis

Cranberry/pomegranate/watermelon cocktail color with orange hints. First breath and there is is full on…pine and then mint smashed with basil, rosemary, flowering herbs and clover, green and pink strawberries, dried cherries, and still it’s fresh. First sip and I’m going hmmm? This is unique. Do I like it…yeah, I think I do. It takes a few sips and it keeps surprising. Definitely driven by the traditional pine resin, and that mint/basil pesto, then pops of pomegranate, a little young cherry/plum, and rose hips. The more I drink, the more I think…and Lola is one fascinating, complicated, intriguing lady of mystery.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: eh noncommittal

I had been checking out “Lola” who kept winking at me from the shelves, but she hadn’t swayed me to bringing her home until I saw her being romanced by another! Tip of the hat to @sips.and.babs who influenced me to take a chance. Yes this bottle is all dressed up to be on a runway (check the label) or a night at the club, but it’s also draped in robes of retsina history with an elegant creative modern flair. A creature of the night, “Lola’s” grapes are hand harvested in the cool evening darkness which just add to her unique fresh beauty. I might just have to run away with her! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #Rosé #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Mandilaria #CabernetSauvignon #Retsina #Greece #organic @vinewinenyc @aoton_winery @cheezit

Posted on

What Are The Jobs That Women Can’t Do?

Azienda Agraria Moretti Omero
Grechetto 2020
Umbria IGT
Organic, vegan, hand-harvested
Giano dell’Umbria PG, Umbria, Italy
It’s a total Moretti family winemaking and olive growing affair: Omero (The Founder), Daniela (The Strength), Giusy (The Mind), Lucia (The Face), Quinta (Grandmother)

Medium golden glass. Scents of pears, lemon zest, tiny slices of white peaches, and a little sea breeze salt. Hello! Dancing on my tongue are zesty zingy zaggy lemons and and a smidge of good citrus funky, fresh homegrown Kirby cucumbers (who doesn’t love a Kirby), crisp pears, Italian parsley and a smidge of Marcona almonds.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm delicious!

Omero’s grandfather (Domenico) launched their family business with a single olive grove post WWI. Now it’s not just trees of my favorite salty snack, but also fully organic vineyards (since 1992). Daniela will tell you it was her idea since she would have to leave her daughters with their dad in the field since her other life was being a nurse. Lucia (the olive expert) & Giusy now grown have joined the company, and Giusy is at the helm. Lucky for us she set aside a career in architecture to return to the place she loved, and brought her intellect, talent (she speaks 4 languages), understanding of branding and the story that goes with it, and passion for the environment. She looks beyond their borders by working with local govt to “introduce a pilot scheme that bans farmers from using pesticides and chemicals in the fields adjoining organic fields. & More widely the ban has been extended across the area to include no chemicals close to schools, hospitals and houses.” Not to leave out one more strong member of the family, Grandmother Quinta, who set the example that women can farm, work the field, and do anything they want, or as they say on their site, “What are the jobs that women can’t do?”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #organic #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #Umbria #Grechetto @apwineimports @docwineshop @docwinebar @moretti.vino.olio @cheezit

 

Posted on

A Magical Harvest

Cantina Marilina
Sikelé 2019
Terre Siciliane IGP
100% Grecanico (darn fabulous ancient grape)
Sicily, Italy
Organic, indigenous yeasts, no fining or filtration
Winemakers: Angelo Marilina and Federica Paternò

Deep golden beauty of a glass. My first Sikelé was a 2017, and 2019 is just as fab! As before the first scents are orange, melon, sweet honeysuckle, and one of my faves sea breeze salt, and in the latest, there’s also a little touch of tangerine and a smidge of spice. As I sip at home, it takes me back to that beautiful day in the sun where one glass is never enough. Delicious flavors of orange, lemon, melon, pear, apple, smoky salt, white pepper, a scattering of almonds, but the best part is the orange blossoms that keep wafting in and out, and in this 2019, there’s also that touch of tangerine again (a little IPAish) that mellows and a few following kumquats. It’s a lovely colorful natural shape shifting dream.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Still brings out more heavenly flowers

I can hardly believe it’s been over a year and a half when I was longing for a “A Day Under the Trees”. Still longing for that chance to visit Cantina Marilina and experience their “Picnic in the Vineyard” tasting. How glorious would that be? For now I’ll have to just have to watch over and over again their 2021 harvest and all the bits of that are a part of it from the land, the vineyard, the people and even the insects that thrive and do their own part in the whole picture. “Let’s try to bring dreams to life . Every year, at the end of the harvest , this is the mood we keep for the following months! 2021 gave us a magical harvest: life, in all its forms, is the basis of our work. Nature is the essence of everything!”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #organic #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #sicily #grecanicodorato #Grecanico #zevrovineselections @zevrovineselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @cantinamarilina @cheezit

Posted on

Katz In A Glass

Wigle
Eau de Pickle
40% ALC/VOL
Organic regional grains milled onsite
Made from scratch in Pittsburgh, PA
Family Distillery

Perfectly clear glass (tiny pour because this packs a punch). Whoa this is like being in my granny’s kitchen during pickling/canning time! There’s full on aromas of rye, dill weed/flowering/seed, pop of fennel, garlic, mustard seeds, coriander and lest we not forget caraway. Seriously craving a hot pastrami. First sip an tasting all the scents and a pumpernickel everything bagel moment. There’s also celery, an almost ouzo light feeling, but don’t bring the coffee beans because this is Katz in a glass. Oooh you know what would be great is a Cel-Ray chaser, and it would also be so good as a martini with a celery salt rim. Can you tell I’m falling hard for this bottle?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious!

Wigle’s mission statement says it all, “Wigle is hell bent on creating a vital, educated community around the highest quality, most inventive, bursting-with-terroir fermented and distilled products in the world. We’re strong believers of investing in our communities to support the agricultural, social and economic systems of which we are a part. We devote significant resources into innovation and make each one of our dozens of regionally inspired spirits from scratch with organic ingredients. We never purchase spirits from bulk suppliers.” They truly believe in community and particularly in this day and age that’s downright commendable. You can also take a tour of the distillery and leave with a history lesson of Pittsburgh’s Whiskey Rebellion, or take one of their cocktail classes to spruce up your skills. However you connect with them, I hope you take a chance on this dilly delight…just be careful or you may find yourself becoming a bit pickled. 🥒 🍸

#spirits #eaudepickle #wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #whiskey #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #pickles #Pittsburgh #PA  @vinewinenyc @wiglewhiskey @cheezit