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A Viking With A Cause

Vichingo
Lust For Light 2021
60% Valdiguié, 30% Gamay, 10% Gewurztraminer
Organic & biodynamic
North Coast, California
Collaboration of G.E.O. & Hobo Winery

Shining ruby with light garnet rim. Scents float up of cherry (fresh & dried), plum, raspberry, a white/pink pepper blend, and as time goes by roses. First sip after it has warmed up on this damn hot night is tangy with tart cherries mixed with a lemon squeeze, young raspberries & blackberries, green strawberries, yellow plums, pinch of that pepper blend lingering in the back, light boysenberry pops out over time, and realizing there’s a taste of whittled/stripped green fresh apple tree twig. This is one happy fresh chilled viking.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: kind of goes sour so step away from the box

Well, this was quite a surprise. Vichingo (Italian for viking) is a collaboration project with G.E.O (the creative, branding & design team of Garrett Morin & Elisabeth Dilk) and wineries/winemakers from Italy, Spain, California and possibly more that I haven’t found. This “lusty” bottle hails from CA & Hobo Wine Co. who are very invested in caring for the planet and all that inhabit it. Not only do they make decisions to work organic, biodynamic, or sustainable; they also consider the effect their packaging and transport into the big picture and their “winery is powered by local renewable sustainable geothermal energy via Sonoma County’s EVERGREEN CLEAN POWER program”. They’re also a member of “1% for the Planet and donate 1% of their gross revenue from all of their brands to non-profit environmental organizations. Since joining, they have donated over $171,459; $150,043 in cash and $21,271 in wine.” The more I hear of wineries, winemakers, distributors/importers, and sellers caring and taking in consideration to their impact & what they can do to help the world gives me hope and lightens my heart for the future.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #organic #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #winetime #wineislove #hobowine #hobowinecompany #vinewine #vinewinenyc

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Hello Michigan!

Neu Cellars
Crispy
Chardonnay 50%, Baco Noir 33%, Léon Millot 17%
Old Mission Peninsula AVA (Baco, LM), Leelanau Peninsula AVA (Chardonnay)
Sustainable & practicing organic
Honor, Michigan
John Keller & father

Looks like an inviting watermelon cranberry cocktail. Giving it a sniff and a river rock waves hi at first to fall back behind cherries, strawberries, raspberries, red currant, and a  light Lemon/lime zest. After a quick swig there’s a zippy slightly effervescent start or a crisp tingle tangle of tart cherry, raspberry,  pink & green strawberries, pomegranate, red currant again with a smidge of just picked blackberry, and a lime spritz that kind of makes me think of kiwi. It’s bright, clean, and a fun co-ferment party in a glass.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: I wasn’t expecting this but it makes all deeper

Well, this is my first Michigan wine and I’m so behind the times and not keeping up with the cool kids. Even this morning, I read an article  from theSkimm, “Forget Cape Cod — Northern Michigan Is the Beach Destination to Visit This Summer”. Turns out John’s family had a holiday place in N. Michigan and eventually they bought and built a little place which gave him a foothold to the area. When he decided to ditch biochemistry studies for wine & head to the west coast in an internship at Ravenswood which once again landed him in a lab environment, sampling, and doing the doing the science end of the “big wine business”. He must have realized he wanted more…something more natural…more authentic & fresh…less structured science and more in tune with nature which is an art. Finding his calling & his father’s retirement project, Neu was born. Grapes are sourced from a like mind and John has also planted an organic vineyard which “is located at the tip of Leelanau Peninsula AVA”. Now he’s making delicious, fresh wines that are as he says, “There are no additions or subtractions. If there were an ingredient label, it would read: grapes.” Cheers to Neu, Michigan, and keeping it real & “Crispy”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #organic #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #winetime #wineislove #michigan #neucellars #vinewine #vinewinenyc

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Naturally Digging Deeper

Domaine Arsac
Rosé La Chaumette 2023
Coteaux de l’Ardèche IGP
75% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 5% Viognier
Biodynamic/organic farmed, horses working in the vineyard, compost from their own cows, native yeasts
Saint Jean Le Centenier, Ardèche, Rhône Valley, France
Winemaking family: Sebastien & Dimitri Arsac

Dainty pale rosé with pink and lightest orange gold warm splashes. Scents start off delicate & gentle of strawberries, touch of cream, lemon squeeze, peaches, biscotti, mandarins & kumquats. It’s an inviting sip of strawberries, peaches & that creaminess with raspberries, cranberry, a citrus sparkle, instead of biscotti it’s more like baguette, and toward the end a salt/mineral almond moment that balances everything.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: absolutely delicious and a perfect pair!

“Wine is an incredible social bond, and in order to introduce it to a wider audience, it is important to have an uninhibited, sharing approach. A glass of wine is a story of the lives of men, of territories, but also a story between friends.” The Arsacs’ shared story on their site took me by surprise. Their history begins with Gaston (the grandfather) and his return to France after being a POW in WWII. Honestly, I can’t even imagine what he saw, went through, and then the feeling of returning to his homeland, getting married and channeling his energy & passion into the farm & vines. The latest generation of Sebastien & Dimitri have followed in their grandfather’s footsteps by adhering to his old school teachings which has led them to becoming organic & practicing biodynamic. I know, I know…everyone says “organic”, but this family really cares about keeping tradition, digging deeper & expanding their natural knowledge for the good of all even in our hectic contemporary times. 🐄🐎❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Rosé #Rose #France #worldbyglass #Rhone #docwinebar #docwineshop #DomaineArsac #SkinContactWines

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Who Doesn’t Need…

La Petite Robe Rouge
Côtes du Rhône AOC 2020
Grenache 75%, Syrah 25%
Organic
Villedieu, Haut-Vaucluse, Provence des Papes, France
Jacques Cattin & Anaïs Sirop (husband & wife)

Ruby garnet red beauty. Breathing in dainty violets, plums, fresh cherries & dried too, a jam mix of berries like strawberries, blackberries, etc. green pepper, and a bit of earth & fig leaves from my granny’s trees. Sipping and this is smooth, a cherry plum combo, bit of granite, touches of pepper green & otherwise, bit of raisin, dried cherry, plum but none of it is too heavy, and that jam is back in the groove along with a sprinkle of salt on the back.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: juicy fun and more pepper

Everyone needs a little red dress in their life. One that can make you feel sexy, sleek, sassy, and definitely flirtatious. One that gives you that Provence flair, pairs well with so many occasions, and carries a touch of rustic history & romance just like this wine and the people that created this smooth operator. It takes my mind to a simpler time of not so long ago, slow dancing/swaying under the stars & tiny lights strung in the trees to the sounds of Françoise Hardy singing “Mon Amie La Rose” with my heart full of the anticipation of love. ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #redwine #provence #France #worldbyglass #francoisehardy #docwinebar #docwineshop #LaPetiteRobeRouge #boivinselection @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Finding Paradise By The Stars

Hager Matthias
Riesling Terrassen 2022
100% Riesling
Certified biodynamic (Demeter)
Mollands, Kamptal, Austria
Owner & winemaker: Matthias Hager

Shining medium gold, Breathing in pears, something like an Oreo center, refreshing cool spring house scents from my childhood home, white peaches, smidge of grapefruit but not overly strong, tangerine, Valencia orange blend & blossoms, and apricot. Sipping and this lovely glass that brightens my spirits. There’s pears, apples, apricots, a citrus spark & lemon lime sizzle, honeysuckle, and way in the very back the teeniest ginger winks flirtatiously.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Brings on a citrus rolling wave

Matthias has his head in the stars, oh and also the moon, sun, planets, etc. In other words, he is devoted to biodynamics and follows Maria Thun’s calendar (related to the cosmic rhythm) that guides the farmer/winegrower when to plant, tend, and harvest. This is so much better than me reading my daily horoscope. Anyway, he and his family are very in tune and devoted to their lands & vines…as they say, “For us, biodynamic viticulture means much more than ‘just’ making wine. It’s much more about understanding the context of life”. Wine is also as Mattias’ brother Hermann says is his “challenge” to pair with food that he has accepted with their “gourmet paradise” Weinbeisserei. The restaurant (culinary experience) has beautiful views of the vineyards, wonderfully crafted meals with ingredients sourced from locals or from his garden & his Turopolje pigs (they are really cute), and of course the properly selected wines. I guess they truly have found their paradise. ✨✨

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #biodynamic #austria #riesling #worldbyglass #Weinbeisserei #volkerwineco #hagermatthias #docwinebar #docwineshop @hager_matthias @volkerwineco @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Wine Of Joy & Freedom

Azienda Agricola Bugno Martino
Rosso Matilde 2022
Provincia di Mantova Lambrusco IGP
Lambrusco Salamino & Ancellotta
Sparkling Wine
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested
San Benedetto Po, Mantua, Lombardy, Italy
Raffaella and Giuseppe Merlin

Deep ruby with dark pink bubbles. Scents floating up of cherries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, red currants, a little balsamic reduction, red delicious apples, and violets. Going in for the taste and all of those scents are there with a little puff of smoke, and tiny twist of lemon on the back. Lovely, lively and elegant.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: ick

As many of you know, I just love finding out how people end up making wine. The Merlins tale started with Giuseppe whisking Raffaella off on a romantic weekend only to arrive at a cellar to taste wine, and told they don’t have an appointment. Yikes, so much for romance! Actually, the busy winemaker took pity on them and invited both in if they would help him in the vineyard by sampling the grapes. I’d say that’s a pretty great deal. Then the magic happens, they “went to the cellar and felt the wines”. Just imagine being in the dark with very little candle light and becoming immersed in the whole experience. The seed of an idea or inclination had been planted. When life offered them an opportunity in Giuseppe’s dad retiring from working the family farm, the adventure of planting their own vines had begun. Now, they are all about Lambrusco…their own way or as they say, “Lambrusco is freedom, to be yourself, to free yourself from preconceptions and homologations, to toast with friends, to have a carefree evening. Lambrusco is the wine of joy.” Along with that joy, they’ve also brought along 2 flowering fields of happiness where you’ll find hives of my favorite little buzzers. 🐝❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #bees #Italy #lombardy  #worldbyglass #bugnomartino #SkinContactWines  #docwinebar #docwineshop @cantinabugnomartino @SkinContactWines @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Marriage Of Art & Wine

Tenute Orestiadi
Molino a Vento
Carricante 2022
Terre Siciliane IGP
Organic, biodynamic, native yeasts
Gibellina, Sicily, Italy

Bright very festive orange. Breathing in oranges, mandarins, Circus Peanuts, orange blossoms & other orchard blooms on a hot evening, a creamy Orangesicle touch or vanilla, magnolia headiness, and over time persimmons and kumquat join in. Sipping and it’s just like the scents and ALL the different oranges, fun orange and pineapple gummy bears, ripe pears, and a tart zest pop. This carricante is purely delicious and very chuggable.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: walk away from the bag and don’t ruin this wine

Back in 1968, the Belìce earthquake shook and crumbled Gibellina; but from the devastation an idea of necessity was born that became an inspiration for the future. A new city was planned a little away from the old ruins, and these designs/buildings have now grown over the years into a contemporary art destination both open air and indoors. Early on it was championed by Ludovico Corrao (politician, lawyer & art lover) who convinced artists to come & create, and also helped launch the Orestiadi Foundation which led to the Estate, and Tenute Orestiadi (Molino a Vento is their line of monovarietal wines with organic grapes). All of their work is a beautiful marriage of art, wine, exhibitions, and a festival including artists in all forms from visual, music, poetry, theater, etc. There’s also a very cool collaboration with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts to be found in the cellar where the barrels are now wooden canvases, “immersed in the suspended time of the slow evolution of wine, contemporary art finds a new temple” in the “Barriques Museum”. Orestiadi are building and preserving this “essence of contemporary stories”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Italy #Sicily #worldbyglass #art #omniwines #molinoavento #tenuteorestiadi #docwinebar #docwineshop @omniwines @tenuteorestiadi @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Location, Location, Location & ❤️

Mae Son
Orange 2021
Müller Thurgau
Organic, biodynamic, hand-harvested
Povo, Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Owner & winemaker: Matteo Furlani
Project is a collaboration with Matteo Furlani’s other label Cantina Furlani, Claudio Coronato, and Jenny & Francois Selections

Warm shining orange-gold amber. Give it a little space, let it breathe, and scents start growing of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, oranges, limes & light grapefruit, fresh picked apples and their blossoms, river rock mineral and a shake of salt. Sipping and there’s oranges, limes & their zest, mild grapefruit, apples, and the mineral & salt combo again. So delicious and chuggable.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Nope, nope, nope

Whenever I see a wine that’s picked by Jenny & Francois Selections, it’s an instant buy for me. They always find fabulous winemakers to work or collaborate with on projects…like Matteo. He originally grew up in a wine family so it’s in his DNA, and he followed that up with studies in oenology & agriculture. When time came for him to take on the family’s vineyards in the Dolomites, he established Cantina Furlani that in total has 14 ha, but 6 of them were used for grapes to sell, but Mae Son changed that course starting in 2022 with their wines that sing “location, location, location”. They’re also wines with heart as depicted in the very well thought out label by John Shirk (J & F sales rep) that echos the same locale sentiment with a road sign similar to what can be found in their mountains, and is also “a tribute to the importance of family and family work, as well as the careful craftsmanship of their wines. The name is a playful nod to the beginning of each family member’s name: M for Matteo, A for his wife, Annalisa, and their daughter, Alessia, and E for their son Edoardo. The pronunciation further sheds light on the intimate story behind the label: in English, it’s pronounced ‘my son,’ while in French, it can be read as ‘maison,’ meaning ‘my home.’” See full of ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Italy #worldbyglass #jennyandfrancois #MaeSon #docwinebar #docwineshop @cantinafurlani @jennyfrancois @claudio.coronato @picturehandz @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Living Stress Free

Domaine Tatsis
Limnio 2020
Limnio 100%
P.G.I. Macedonia
Organic, biodynamic, native yeasts
Goumenissa, Macedonia, Greece
Winemaking brothers: Periklis & Stergios Tatsis

Ruby stained glass. There’s scents of cherries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, a little vanilla frosting, hyssop, juniper, and a pepper blend. Everything I’m sniffing is there in the taste along with an orange & mixed bag of citrus twang, young pink strawberries with their green caps, white pepper, and an exhale of peat that wanders off. It’s light on its feet with a smooth elegance.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: even bigger berries

This quote greets you on Tatsis’ website, “Companionship with the vine is a lifelong relationship, it is family. Together we grow, vines and people, in good times and bad.” Periklis & Stergios grew up in a wine family (they’re 3rd generation) and that doesn’t only include their human relatives but also their vines, land, and everything else related to their wines. In fact, they love them so much that once their father handed over the reigns, they set about going organic/biodynamic and getting certified. Two things that jumped out to me about Tatsis are this is the best Greek wine I’ve ever had, and their sentiment: “Since 2002 we have been striving to achieve stress-free vines with healthy fruit. In essence, we are fellow travelers in our vineyards with open eyes and ears and help them where there is a real need.” Wow, they really do love their vines if they want to keep them “stress-free”. Oh, if they could only do that for all of us. What I wouldn’t give for a day with no stress. 🤣 If that’s the reason this wine is so wonderful, maybe I should pack up, head to Goumenissa and set up a tent in their vineyard. Cheers! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #redwine #worldbyglass #organic #winetime #Greece #organic #biodynamic #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #tatsiswinery #DomaineTatsis #docwineshop #docwinebar @dnswines @tatsis_winery @docwineshop

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“Music as an Emotional Tasting Note”

Weingut Weninger
Rózsa Petsovits 2022
Syrah, Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, Blaufränkisch
Grapes are from Austria & Hungary (Syrah)
Biodynamic, hand harvested (take a look at the t-shirts)
Vineyards across the border Hungary/Austria
Horitschon, Austria
Franz & Petra Weninger

Deep shining rose with salmon glints. Breathing in watermelon, strawberry, raspberry, whiff of hay that fades but reappears here and there, plums, cherries, apples, red currants, and a bit of orange zest (there’s a lot in this little glass). Sip and all of the scents are there in the taste, with a squeeze of lime & a shave more of deep citrus zest, and a sweetness that reminds me of the rock candy made from cane sugar my parents bought me as a child on special occasions. It’s bright, light, fresh and joyful.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Zingy

At first I thought I’d be writing about Franz’s grandmother Rózsa Petsovits since this bottle of deep rosé is named after her, but then I found out about “Sound of Terroir” their music project. Franz gathered musician friends with a proposal or challenge to “visualize the different taste of Blaufränkisch grown on 3 different grounds” (Sopron [Steiner], Mattelburgenland [Dürrau], & Südburgenland [Saybritz])  and express what they tasted & how it made them feel. Oh and they also had to come up with instruments made from the vineyard or cellar materials. With trial and error they sorted out using bottles, barrels (designed a barrel-zither), and even a hose-trumpet. Not sure how much wine was consumed, but from that tasting they began to sort songs that paired with each bottle and then adapt them to work with these new musical instruments. Next up they had to find a performance space since the cellar didn’t work for pretty obvious reasons, so they ended up at the Liszt House which is pretty appropriate and cool. All of this played out pretty fast over a few days too, so pretty amazing wrangling a whole orchestra with homemade instruments and filming the performances. They pulled it off, and you can check out the videos on their site. Franz and friends had achieved as quoted, “Music as an Emotional Tasting Note”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #biodynamic #austria #Hungary #winemusic #Liszt #dnswines #WeingutWeninger #Weninger #vinewine #vinewinenyc @vinewinenyc @franz_weninger @dnswines