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Smooch that Big Bad Wolf

Chateau de Roquefort
Gueule de Loup, de Villeneuve 2018
Bouches du Rhône IGP
80% Grenache, 10% Cinsault, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Biodynamic, organic, vegan, indigenous yeasts, natural , unfiltered, unfined, co-fermented
Provence, France
Winemaker: Raimond de Villeneuve

Shiny glistening garnet. Immediately it’s creamy, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cola, rich dried figs and reduction too, lovely dark funk. Getting ready for that first sip and it’s a cherry coated in white and black pepper, dried mission figs, dark plums, strawberry and raspberry frappe, and to cap it off, coriander and smoke.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Smooth berries and dark berries. Like blueberries in a muffin pan that has stuck to the edge and erupted and you want to scrape off that charred goodness.

When I saw “Gueule de Loup”, all I could think of is the Italian phrase “in bocca al lupo” which translates to “in the mouth of the wolf” but is to wish you good luck (albeit the wolf dies). In French it is all about the wolf’s mouth too, but is also a snapdragon flower, which roams wild with the vines. Well, Raimond’s land is pretty lucky in this microclimate that lets the grapes be picked a little later. He’s also full of quotes on his site that sum the most of him and his cuvées’ parts. Please take a look at the photo essays with each one. You’ll feel like you can touch and smell the land and the play and earnestness of his beliefs. As with, “These are not “serious” wines. They are addressed to all those who like “seriously” to drink wine and not to those who taste with the tip of their lips, smell and exclaim for hours!” This is real, natural, a whole other level, and just enjoy. Please never forget time with wine is time well spent when you can just relax, smile with your friends, and talk (not only about wine).

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @chateau_de_roquefort @vosselections @cheezits #wine #redwine #cheezit #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Grenache #Cinsault #CabernetSauvignon #biodynamic #organic #Provence #France

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Aperitivo Time!

Punta Crena
Pettirosso Colline Savonesi 2018
Colline Savonesi IGT
50% Rossese, 50% Crovino
Sparkling Liguria Wine
Savona, Liguria, Italy
Organic (not certified, but it should be), indigenous grapes, saignée
Winemakers: Tommaso Ruffino & Family

Sunset streaked orange with tiny bubbles. As the saying goes, red skies at night, sailors delight”. Pop that cork, and there’s smoky scents, heady floral, orange and orange blossoms, peaches, lychees, mandarins, strawberries, creaminess and tarragon. Sipping and there’s strawberries, raspberries, a splash of blood orange, mango, papaya, a drop of cherry, and flowers keep blooming. Has an aperitivo hour cocktail feel…you know with the tiniest drop of dry of bitters. Bring on the prosciutto, sunshine, people watching and a warm breeze!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it a massive fruit smash up cocktail! Transports me to the tropics

Punta Crena’s vineyards have been in the family for over 500 years and not much has changed over the years. Here’s the perfect quote that sums it up on Kermit Lynch’s site: “Ask Paolo if the family follows organic methods in the vineyards and he’ll laugh. We’re not “organic,” he says as if you had asked about some crazy new technology. We just do everything the same way our ancestors have for hundreds of years. They even build their stone terraces by hand, using the method established here three thousand years ago.” They also work with indigenous grapes, like Crovino which if it wasn’t for this family’s dedication, it might not exist anymore because it’s a low yielding brat. One more thing you might notice about this rosé bubbly, it’s a bit more on the dark side due to the saignée method or bleeding. The extra juice left post skin contact (the bleeding) is what you’re looking at and loving right now. This is a bottle you want to kiss and keep a back up in the fridge.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny #puntacrena @kermitlynchwine @cheezits #TommasoRuffino #wine #sparklingwine #frizzante #cheezit #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Saignée #rosé #rose #organic #Rossese #Crovino #Savona #Liguria #Italy #kermitlynch

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Enchanted Forgotten Orchard

New York Cider Company
FIREFLY #2
NY State foraged wild and heirloom apples: Rhode Island Greening, Newtown Pippin, Golden Delicious, Liberty, Cortland
Finger Lakes, Ithaca, NY
Wild fermentation, sustainable farming methods , traditional cider-making techniques, and bottle conditioned
7.7% ABV
Cider Makers: Joseph Steuer and Steve Daughhetee

Hazy yellow/light gold with teeny tiny pretty bubbles. Aromas of apples from sweet to tart, apple blossoms, fresh stripped young, tiny apple branches; and a little natural funk but not overly powerful since it kind of hides in the back. Transports me to childhood when I’d climb the trees, whittle the tiny branches, and pretend I was riding a dragon from one of Anne McCaffrey’s books. Delicious dry, tangy wake up call. Yeah, I’m tasting this on a Saturday morning to make sure I get the full experience. Crisp fresh apples, lemony tart, a drop of that funk and hay, and as it opens a sweet middle (but not overly). This is so wonderfully natural. I’ve had a lot ciders homemade and store bought, and have often found the homemade ones stand out. I have no idea why except for love, care, and nature. FIREFLY #2 is a winner for me. If I didn’t know better, I would think it was made by a friend, the good ol’ fashioned way.

Pairs with Cheez-it’s: Cheese, salt and apples…what a perfect pairing. Delicious! Please don’t tell me you haven’t tried a piece of sharp cheddar cheese on a slice of hot apple pie?

New York Cider Company started from Steuer and Daughhetee meeting while apple picking. With a mutual love of making cider it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and partnership. Moving from a home-brew to a whole full on cidery in 2017, was quite an accomplishment. They had rough patches from health issues to an oops moment of their cider being the wrong abv which also meant labels needed to be remade; but there were also blessings such as Steuer being featured on Humans of New York. Now that’s a huge! They also have been fortunate with their 125 year old apple trees and the forgotten foraged abandoned ones, and both are as super natural as you can come. This is again a place where less is more. Just let nature take its course. Speaking of nature, this past year they say was a great one for fireflies at their farm. As a child, one of my favorite things when the evening was warm and we could sit by the pond, listen to the frogs, and watch the fireflies appear in the orchard doing their magical dance. Oh, how I miss the simple things like such an evening.

@vinewinenyc @nyciderco @cheezits #cider #apples #applecider #wine #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #sustainable #FingerLakes #Ithaca #NY #natural #firefly #fireflies

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Rugged Horse Carved Vineyards

Galgo Wines Selection
Ínsula Barataria
90% Garnacha, 10% Jaen
Gobelet (bush trained), organic (not certified), no pesticides and herbicides, horse carved vineyards, hand-harvested, indigenous yeasts, no intervention in the cellar, unfined and unfiltered
Sierra de Gredos, Castilla-León, Spain
Winemaking Team: Daniel Ramos (wine grower) and Ezequiel Sanchez-Mateos (negociant)

Bright shiny cherry glass. Beautiful light spring flowers floating, along with cherries, fresh picked strawberries and their leaves, raspberries, and earth. Such a smooooth taste, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries…digging in the dirt and being rewarded with your harvest. There’s also rosemary, salt, and a lush, vibrant, light and a beautiful end as all the flavors keep coming and going. This is no cheap isle, you’ve been rewarded your own luxurious paradise.

Pairs with Cheez-it’s: turns deep and Gothy dark

I truly think Sanchez-Mateos has the best job in the world. Owning Galgo Wines gives him the chance to meet with interesting people from small producers, other distributors, local (and not so local) enthusiasts, writers, etc (who doesn’t love conversation with kindred spirits) and utilize his financial background education into the mix..he also gets to travel far and near and pair up in the cellar with people like Daniel Ramos. Daniel, has a passion for Garnacha (and so do I!) in particular from Sierra de Gredos district near Avila where he has 15 hectares (saved and resurrected) to farm in several parcels (“parcela wines”) which are harvested and processed separately. There’s also 8 Jaen hectares, and it’s a nice fresh blend with the Garnacha. Am really looking forward their 100% Jaen Blanca, to see how the grape shines on it’s own. Side note, Daniel shares a cellar with Fabio Bartolomei of Vinos Ambiz, and if you’ve read any of my previous posts, you will know how crazy I am of his La Gatta Mormigliana 2016. So exciting to discover these two are minimal intervention cellar roomies, and wonder the secrets they share.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @ReservaYCata @steephillwine @antosicurezza #galgowines #danielramos @cheezits #wine #redwine #cheezit #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #galgowines #danielramoswines @ReservaYCata @reservaycata.madrid #Garnacha #Jaen #SierradeGredos #CastillaLeón #Spain #petergabriel #donquixote

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This Truly is the Nectar of the Gods

Weingut Schlossmühlenhof
Grauer Burgunder Trocken
Boden Funk 2019
100% Grauer Burgunder
Kettenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany
Organic, unfiltered, and ambient yeast
Winemakers: The Michel family of Walter, Gabriele, Nicolas, and Janine (Nicolas’ girlfriend)

Hazy straw or kinda like pear juice. Immediate scents popping the second you open the bottle of salt, tangerine, tiny very tiny orange blossoms, lemon, hay, some good funk, and granite. Ambrosia is rolling all over my tongue. There’s pear, apples, pineapples, Valencia oranges, salt, and a minerally/limestone finish. It’s a fresh glass of summer! You truly have no idea how delicious this is, I don’t want this bottle to stop. It’s so full of love, happiness, and utter joy.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: just delightful together. Brings out a sizzle

The family farm dates back to 1864, but back then it was a rye and wheat mill (Schlossmühle) up until 1920, when a vineyard was started. The Michel family also made it’s imprint on the land and built their home there in 1881, and still live there to this day. We’re now on the 6th generation, who is completely into ‘ecologically healthy’ farming and dedicated to the Rheinhessen style. Each family member has their own special role(s). Walter is in semi-retirement yet still works in the vineyards and chronicles the family history, his wife Gabriele deals with the back and front of house holiday rental and warmly greets customers, their son Nicolas is now ruling the cellar and is hands on in the vineyard creating his distinct and delicious wines, and his girlfriend Janine who not only helps in the vineyard but has the happy social skills to represent their wines at fairs and tastings. There are also two more important members of the family, who are Nicolas’ loyal 4 legged buddies Emilio and Cuno, who in my opinion are two gorgeous dogs that I would love to play fetch with (don’t let my cat Olive hear that, she’s the queen of fetch). Check out their wines and also their site because it will warm your heart, and give you a little view of their piece of heaven.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @schlossmuehlenhof @saviosoaresselections @cheezits #wine #cheezit #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #organic #GrauerBurgunder #Kettenheim #Rheinhessen #Germany

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Organic Ghosting

Vinergia
Villages Range
Lo Tros 2016
DOQ Priorat
55% Carinyena, 45% Garnatxa
El Molar, Tarragona, Spain
Organic, bush and trellised vines
Winemaker: Roger Grifoll; Partner from Vinergia: Robert Hunter

Gorgeous deep dense ruby glass. Breathing in dark cherries, plums, smoke and balsamic vinegar reduction. First sip is smokey cherries, plums, strawberries, raspberries and raisins. After a bit comes caramel, rosemary, tobacco, antique book leather but not dusty. It’s a well kept library that is enhanced by a feeling of darkness. This beauty transforms from a bright tang to a smooth operator.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: toasty strawberries and blueberries (where did they come from?)

Vinergia partners with winemakers across Spain to create wines that showcase grapes/wines of their region. Lo Tros is their project with Roger Grifoll of Cellers Grifoll Declares. Their vineyards are in El Molar which is a unique town since it straddles DOQ Priorat and DO Montsant and they date back in their family since 1736. Instead of having large flowing vineyards, theirs are in plots or pieces throughout the town, hence the name Lo Tros. Also due to this straddling they have two different wineries, one in each DO. The most fascinating thing (other than the wine) for me is how they combat the dreaded “Cluster Moth” (Lobesia botrana) through “sexual confusion”. Out of respect for the land and vines they do it naturally by setting out biodegradable diffusers that make the male moths think they are heading for a pheromone booty call with a female moth. Instead of killing them, they just get stuck perplexed where did the ladies go and end up not reproducing. I guess this is the ultimate ghosting.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @Vinergia @grifolldeclara @viaswine @cheezits #wine #cheezit #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #organic #Spain #Tarragona #Carinyena #Garnatxa #elmolar

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No Duck or Baga Left Behind

João aka Duckman
Duckray
Pet Nat
Bairrada, Portugal
100% Baga
Sustainable, unfiltered, unfined, natural, spontaneous fermentation, and hand-harvested
Winemaker: Maria Pato

Pale rose gold/pinky color with dainty bubbles and a little sediment. Sniffing apples, back home in the orchard apple blossoms that are swirling around me and getting stuck in my hair in the spring breeze, faint pale roses, a super teensy bit of cinnamon, and seltzer. Now this is a whole new word post smell. The scents where more restrained and this is a flavor explosion (the label art says it all) of lemon, Lemon Drops (candy), pink grapefruit, and crisp green apples. It’s clean, bright, and vibrant! At last there’s just the slightest kiss of cinnamon.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Just brings out more fruit

I’ve lost count of how many of these feisty ducks I’ve bagged, and each one is so unique yet so perfect, and a bouquet of happiness. These Baga grapes are from their Quinta do Ribeirinho vineyard. As I’ve written before, this winemaking flock dates back to the 18th century, and includes Maria, her father Luis, sister Filipa, and in Duckray, Maria’s grandmother got in on it. I’m reading she painted 6 of these bottles, and if you get one you receive a special prize. They are missing the white duck label, and instead of the spaced out paint flecks of red, yellow, and green; they are more more densely sprayed in blue, green and yellow splats around the shape of that invisible quacker. Well, I may not have been fortunate to find Maria’s grandmother’s artwork, but this bottle is a fresh wonderful prize all in itself. Once again, I am so grateful for this family of winemakers. Some of your wines bring happy tears to my eyes, others make my heart soar, and this one just makes me want to dance.

@vinewinenyc @joao_pato_aka_duckman @saviosoaresselections #wine #winestagram #instawine  #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #portugal #bairrada #baga #QuintadoRibeirinho #sustainable #natural #wild #duckman #petnat #pétnat #duckman #duckray

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Yes, My Wine is Healthy

Carlania Celler
Soo!!! Free 2019
Pét Nat
Conca de Barberà D.O.
90% Parellada and 10% Trepat
Barberà de la Conca, Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
Biodynamic, organic, dry farmed, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Winemaking family: Jordi Miró and Sònia Gomà-Camp

Golden gorgeous glass with lively bubbles. Scents start creeping out slowly, so give it time. Here come pears, apples, raspberries, wild flowers and antique roses. It’s like a fresh spring day in a meadow. Tasting those apples, pears, and raspberries again but mixed in with hay that fades during the first glass and turns into pastry dotted with marjoram. It’s fresh, crisp, bright, and wakes you up on a lazy afternoon. Right now I’m craving chorizo, oysters on the half, and garlic shrimp. Oh this is fabulous!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: doesn’t change the Pét Nat but makes me want a whole box of Cheez-It

Soo!!! Free makes me so happy because as the label hints at, it is sulfur free! After Jordi’s dad retired, he and Sònia came back and took over the farm. After working the land for years, building on biodynamic agriculture, selling some grapes to the local co-op, dabbling in home-made wine, they finally created their small winery in 2009. Keeping it natural they use horsetail, nettle puree, sherry, and more for their organic remedies for the health of the vines, and also follow the moon for guidance the old school way. As they say on their site, “They are living wines and each bottle is unique and different from the others. They are healthy wines!“ I like that…my wine is healthy. Will be telling that to my GP doc. Oh, and I have to add, if you want to get up and close with the donkey, sheep, and other parts of the farm, you can book a day at the winery. Drink, eat, hear some tales and relax with your new farm friends.

@vinewinenyc @carlaniaceller @cheezits #wine #PétNat #petnat #sparklingwine #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits  #cheezit #organic #naturalwine #biodynamic #Parellada #Trepat #ConcadeBarbera #Tarragona #Catalunya #Spain

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An Enticing Siren’s Call

Forlorn Hope
Queen of the Sierra
Estate Red Wine 2018
Zinfandel, Barbera, Tempranillo, Trousseau noir, and Mondeuse
Rorick Heritage Vineyard
Calaveras County, CA, USA
Organic, hand-harvested, spontaneous fermentation, native yeasts, unfiltered and unfined
Winemaker: Matthew Rorick

Shimmering raspberry color like a piece of a stained glass window. Fragrances emerge immediately and continue to grow of raspberries, cherries, gooseberries, lemon zest, some Mediterranean spice, blueberries, and a bit of earth. Here comes a delicious sip of raspberries and cherries (again, and juicy splash of summertime watermelon, It’s light and fun! Next is citrus zest with a tiny burn in the back of my mouth, a waaaay easy drinker that also has that bit of earth but not heavy, and at end there’s some surprising radicchio. This bottle is like a siren’s call luring me to summer, tank tops, shorts, and a day traipsing on the beach and listening to the waves.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Just don’t do it. Don’t ruin your beautiful day!

As I mentioned on my last Queen post, Forlorn Hope pulls for the outsiders and long shots. They also believe in great causes and now sport a list on their site, if you want to join them in their support of human rights. As they say, “Neither our industry nor our country will be great until ALL people are treated fairly with compassion, empathy, love and equity. Keep fighting.” Choose love, choose hope, and while you may not be able to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes; you may be able to learn and show you care.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @forlornhopewines @tedward.newyork @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #instawine #Calaveras #california #Zinfandel #Barbera #Tempranillo #Trousseaunoir #Mondeuse #matthewrorick

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The Little Grape That Could

Vinica
Lame del Sorbo 2015
Tintilia del Molise DOC
100% Tintilia
Ripalimosani, Molise, Italy
Organic, indigenous yeasts, guyot trained, dry farmed, green manure, hand picked, not filtered, and NO chemicals
Owner: Rodolfo Gianserra, Agronomist and winemaker: Pierluigi Cocchini, Company’s administrator: Giuseppe Tudino

Deep purple with blue tints. Tart cherries start tickling my nose, then blood orange, kumquat, a few pieces of hay, smokiness, and beautiful berries…raspberries and blueberries. First sip is a sizzle and tingle. Wow! Dark cherry, dried figs, plums, smoke and thyme. As it rolls around there’s Italian Green Cerignola pits, slight hay that I bet will leave and it does and day two was fully gone. When I exhale post sip there’s juniper berries. It’s like forest floor funk meets Riccola, but in a really good delicious way.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: more dried fruit and dark juicy as well

Vinica or VI.NI.CA. was established in 2007 by the above three guys, and the name came from Rodolfo’s 3 kids names: Vittorio, Nicholas and Carola. I love all I’m reading about how they took abandoned land and created this beautiful pure farm/vineyard of 220 hectares (30 hectares for the vineyards, the rest are farm and woodland). They say the only ingredient they have added is healthy grapes. Well, I’m sure they aren’t thinking of the other ingredients of hard work and love. They planted the Tintilia in 2008, and I’m so glad they did. This little indigenous grape (the little grape that could) is only in Molise and received it’s DOC in 2010. It has a history of lower yields than others and potential issues with disease, so there was a worry it might get lost, but Molise (and the agronomist Giuseppe Mogavero) didn’t give up on it and here we are with 11 hectares in Vinica. Kind of gives me goosebumps that I’m tasting a part of Italy I’ve never been, and wants me to hug Rodolfo and Pierluigi for not placing this beautiful wine in oak. Thank you for letting me get to know a small ancient yet new to me grape in its pure form.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @agricolavinica.it @steephillwine @antosicurezza @cheezits #wine #redwine #cheezit #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Ripalimosani #Molise #organic #Tintilia