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What Do You Do In Your Spare Time?

Poggio di Cicignano – Vanempo
Aura 2017
Bianco Toscana IGT
Trebbiano Toscano 45%, San Colombano 35%, Malvasia Bianca 20%
Biodynamic, organic, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, 5 days skin contact
Montemurlo, Italy
Michele Sacchetti & Laura Fabbri

Deep prehistoric amber sans the mosquito. Give it a bit of time to breathe, and out pour scents of a blend of apples & pears and a bit of their cider, citrus zest, a hint of candied orange peels, dried apricots, tangelos, and a bit of that smell when you roll down a grassy hill. Wheeee! Take a swig and ooh there’s oranges, lemon squeeze, all sorts of citrus zest, tart apple cider, dried apricots, what I first thought was a memory of circus peanuts but actually as it warmed, morphed into one of my favorites of childhood…the taste of Original Pop Rocks without the popping (oh I loved that feeling!), and at last a touch of oregano. Fun, lively and btw is really good with bacon.

I had been wondering where the name “Vanempo” came from (btw it’s a well designed logo), and turns out it comes from a combo of two words, “Avanza and Tempo” which pretty much means “spare time”. Well, Michele & Laura originally started this wine adventure in their “extra time” as a passion project. As Michele says, “I’ve always believed in beautiful things, and beautiful things arise from a child’s dreams.” They launched those youthful dreams, and turned them into a full fledged bio certified winery reality, filled with “hands off” celebrated wines. Now, that’s so much more then a side gig. Been working my way through their line up, and all the ones I’ve tried so far have been pure natural magic. ✨

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #orangewine #worldbyglass #organic #Toscana #Italy @steephillwines @antosicurezza @vanempo @docwineshop @docwinebar

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🎶She Put Love Above Everything🎶

Azienda Agricola Luretta
Castello di Momeliano
Boccadirosa 2019
Malvasia Aromatica di Candia
Colli Piacentini DOC
Organic
Gazzola, Piacenza, Italy
Owner: Lucio Salamini

Orange light amber. At the start smelling a bunch of spring flowers that as it opens goes honeysuckle & roses, vibrant oranges & their blossoms, a blend of dried citrus peels, fresh lime zest, ginger, and oddly a poof of Lemonhead candy right after you open the box. Sipping and it’s just sweet enough with lemons, Valencia and Mandarin oranges, tangerine, ok…don’t laugh but a few Fruity Pebbles, a shake of salt, and a lovely drop of honey. It’s a beautiful start or end to an evening.

Malvasia Aromatica di Candia may have its origins in Greece, but the Salamini family’s is something truly special that is like nothing I have ever tried before. As they say on their site, “Malvasia is often produced in sweet or sparkling versions. But according to Luretta, this traditional method could not exalt all the potentialities of such a rich and intense grape. For this reason, since 1992, we have been producing Boccadirosa, a unique still white wine, which has not been modified for thirty years. Why? No need for change.” Boccadirosa aka Rosemouth, please never change, I beg of you! You are a classic elegant beauty…and as the lyrics go:

“They called her Bocca di rosa
she put love, she put love
they called her Bocca di Rosa
she put love above everything.”

❤️🌹👄❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #orangewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Malvasia  #Boccadirosa #Italy #usawineimports @cantinaluretta @docwineshop @docwinebar

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Good Deeds Of Warmth

Forlorn Hope
Baron Von Verm 2019
Vermentino
Rorick Heritage Vineyard
Calaveras County, CA, USA
Organic, hand-harvested, native yeasts
Winemaker: Matthew Rorick

Lovely bright gold. Pour and let it sit a bit and then there’s scents of lemon/peach meringue pie, mild bit of pineapple & mango, summer rained on granite, honeycomb, and smoke. I already know I’m going to really enjoy this…and yep, I sure do! Sipping a tango of lemon/key lime & zest with mango, young peach/apricot, and as it continues to warm pie spice, a bite of parsley, salt, smoke, and that taste of fresh honeycomb (I remember as a kid) from my Poppa’s hives and now I realize where that smoke light taste comes from when I tasted the comb. It’s from when he had to smoke the bees out to get to the honey.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh NO NO NO!

Some of you may know I’m a big fan of @forlornhopewines and also Matthew Rorick (he’s such a rockstar!). He’s been proving it even more with his good works with @insulate_ukraine. As they say on their IG page they are, “Designing emergency home-built solutions to replace windows blown out by the war in Ukraine. @harry_hopalot & @thebighoof on the ground in #kharkiv .” You can donate to https://www.insulate-ukraine.org/ and help keep families warm. Also if you want another delicious way to help, @vinewinenyc is donating $5 for every bottle sold of Forlorn Hope’s: “Baron Von Verm 2019”, “Queen of the Sierra Rosé”, and “Onavolk Merlot 2015” through the month of February. I always love seeing people do good in the world because it gives me hope and touches my heart.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #вино #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #organic #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #ForlornHope #Vermentino #CA #standwithukraine #Україна #🇺🇦 #славаукраїні #kyiv #stopwar #зупинитивійну #supportukraine #ятебелюблю @cheezit @mdrorick

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Pairs With Pina

Bodegas Altos de Montanchez
Vegas Altas Orange 2021
Cayetana 50%, Pardina 50%
Organic & biodynamic
Extremadura, Spain
Winemakers: Juan Sojo and Ángel Luis González

Deep warm orange amber. Breathing in and there’s so much at once! Starts with orange creamsicle, orange blossoms that goes earthy with a light touch of smoke, a bit of caramel, dried apricots, and mandarin oranges & zest. All of the scents are there in the taste with a bit of grass, a spice moment of ginger along with tarragon, and as it warms up apple/pear cider.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smooth operator

Sounds like these two winemakers were thrown together in oenology school and their blend of specialties in farming (Ángel) and science (Juan) creates a perfect mix in their creation of their wines. Their grapes are sourced but they are really selective and particular about when they are harvested under the moon in September…or in other words just at the right bio time. Not to forget they are the only organic winemakers in Extremadura, and they have an extra ingredient of “patience”. Also I’d like to add about this particular bottle, I don’t normally pair a wine with dance/theater but this goes so well with Pina Bausch. The structure, the romance, the passion and the strength…so damn good. Please check it out alongside a viewing of Wim Wenders 2011, “Pina”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #orangewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Extremadura #Spain #WimWenders #pinabausch #AltosdeMontanchez @selectionsdelavina @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Where Wild Horses Still Roam

Aphros Wine
Phaunus Pet Nat 2021
Vinho Espumante Rosé
50% Vinhão, 50% Alvarelhão
Biodynamic
Minho, Portugal
Owner/general manager: Vasco Croft
Winemakers: Tiago Sampaio, Miguel Viseu
Biodynamic viticulture consultant: Dominique Massenot
Viticulture manager: Alberto Araújo

Pinky/salmon with fine white dancing bubbles with a little bit of unfiltered goodness like a little piece of broken hard candy about one a glass. Scents of strawberries, tart cherries, a hint of teeny white flowers breeze through and seltzer. Sipping ripe & also young strawberries, a few raspberries & blackberries, tart & mellow cherries, cranberry pomegranate cocktail, touch of a lemon twist, and a zingy zaggy crisp spark. Such a happy bubbly and perfect for Valentine’s Day. It’s coming up soon you know…tick tick tick. ⏰ As you know, flowers fade and die but this bottle is bursting with life and will make a beautiful memory.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blerg NO

I knew these three natural winemakers names sounded familiar, but it’s the first time I’ve read of Vasco Croft’s past. His bio is a little mystical/magical with a youthful interest in astrology, then later a 3-D artistic leaning of various forms, a life journey of philosophies & spiritual, and evidently a pivotal moment of having a bottle of wine with a Buddhist monk. All of those experiences led Vasco’s life to the Aphros project, the team and their biodynamic way. Oh and when I say team, I’m not just including the people listed above, but also all the creatures joining them in the lands. Just the thought that there are still indigenous wild horses (yet endangered) roaming nearby & benefitting the area is truly exciting, along with sheep weaving their way through the vines and bees dancing from flower to flower. Their part of the world sounds like a peaceful piece of harmony. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #petnat #rosé #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #Minho #Portugal #Extremadura #Spain @aphros_wine @skurnikwines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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I Want To Believe

Dirty & Rowdy Family Wines
“Familiar” 2019
100% California Mourvèdre
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
Owners & winemakers: Hardy Wallace & Matt Richardson

Dark ruby and good unfiltered detritus. Sniffing and there’s cherries, raspberries, dried figs, sandalwood, a bit of funky spice you smell being burned in freshman college dorms (you know what I’m talking about), and a smidge of pine. Sipping and it’s a juicy fun jumble of cherries (all sorts & some more tart than others), plums, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, pinch of light orange zest, and a poof of smoke. This is an easy super friendly wine that calls for small pours to let it breathe through the evening, and don’t forget to bring some tapas.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a bit of clove

Well, it appears I missed the bus on this winery. The team has gone their separate ways, and here I am looking at this half bottle and realizing I might not find another one! Argh, I’m going to start crying. Am hoping I can track another one down and it’s not as elusive as the Sasquatch on the label. Maybe I’ll get lucky like the former cop in PA who spotted Bigfoot tracks in Dec. 2022. BTW do you know about the The Whitehall (NY) Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest? It draws 2,500+ people each year, and the one coming up is Saturday, September 30, 2023. Get your lungs ready to holler and join in on the fun, beer, food, & evidence that just might make you a believer.

👣

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #NapaValley #California #bigfoot #sasquatch #sasquatchcallingfestival #bigfootfestival #dirtyandrowdywine #dirtyandrowdyfamilywinery @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Precisely Mature

Domaine Couly-Dutheil
Blanc de Franc 2020
100% Cabernet Franc
Sustainable farming
Chinon, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Winemaker: Arnaud Couly Dutheil (4th gen)

Shining gold with a tiny warm blush. Scents of strawberries, cream or an Oreo center, and later green strawberry garden grassiness with the little smidge of lemon hint. Drinking in lovely strawberries (red and the whole range to green), raspberries, lemon/lime squeeze, and a touch of that Oreo cream…but is definitely dry. Elegant, smooth and like a magical kiss from a woodland nymph.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: pretty good. I was expecting to channel my inner Bill the Cat pfffft

Franc Blanc…huh? What a beautiful surprise! I know you may think beautiful an overused term, but truly it best describes what I see when I taste this wine. It’s a painting of delicate colors of rounded shapes woven within intricate lace and moments flecks of gold & magenta. Domaine Couly-Dutheil, a long time star of Chinon and Loire, celebrates their Cabernet Franc (it takes up 98% of their 90 ha of vines). They are so focused on just the right maturity for harvest which gives them only a few Goldilocks days (4-5). This is part of what makes them stand apart from so many other Cab Francs. “For many decades, a catchphrase has highlighted the vegetal notes or the green pepper taste of Cabernet Franc… we consider these notes to be a reflection of a lack of maturity. This is why we are convinced of the importance of a good maturity of the grapes which gives the wines notes of ripe fruit, silky and supple tannins while keeping a great freshness.” See…beautiful.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #CabernetFranc #Loire #Chinon #France @coulydutheil_vin @cynthia_hurley_french_wines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Light My Fire!

Social Hour Cocktails
Harvest Whiskey Sour
13 yr. Whisky (George Dickel Tennessee)
20% ABV
250 ml and serves 3, so remember that and share
Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail makers and shakers: Julie Reiner & Tom Macy

Amber apple cider. Sniffing apples & cider, cinnamon, maple with a little vanilla butter cream frosting, cardamon, and a whisky spark.  Sipping and all of the scents are in the taste along with a lemon zesty twist. Calls for striking a match, setting the fireplace ablaze and cozying up because it tastes even better off someone else’s lips.💋 Baby you can light my fire!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: don’t even open the bag

This can is Social Hour Cocktails’ 1st limited release, so I recommend grabbing a 4-pack as soon as you find them, or you might miss out. They also suggest make it hot or on the rocks, and if you want to dress it up just add some apple slices, orange peel, rosemary sprig, or toasted marshmallows. O.K. I say ick to the marshmallows and opt for a side of crispy bacon…it’s so much more sexy!

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #whiskey #whisky #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #cannedcocktails @georgedickel @socialhourcocktails @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Sooie!

Famille Arbeau
Rince Cochon 2021
100% Negrette
VDF
Organic, less is more
Labastide-Saint-Pierre, Sud-Ouest, France
Anne and Géraud Arbeau (sister & brother)

Ruby/cherry haze. Chill it a little, let it breathe and you’ll start catching scents of cherry, blueberry, green peppers/tomato leaves, strawberries with the caps too, young raspberries, and digging in the dirt. Sip and it’s very bright tart cherries, bell peppers, blackberries, green bitey strawberries, springy green flowers, and it’s popping full of life and light…and needless to say it’s piggy perfect! Sooie! Yes, I do actually know how to call a hog…even though I’m a city gal now. You probably don’t want to hear it though, it’s pretty ear shattering.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s:  good but rather have a fried pork rind

As with many wineries, this family has farming roots (theirs from 1878), but as they say, “already, back then, it was the vine that led the dance.” Géraud had known for a long time he wanted to be continue in these wine steps, and aligned his studies for it. Anne ventured a different path at first, receiving a PhD in Fluid Mechanics before returning to the family business based in their lovely town Labastide-Saint-Pierre, which I ❤️ their description of “where cassoulet and rugby form part of our DNA”. Sounds like my type of place! Soul warming food, a fun scrum, and damn good wines. Cheers to that vine that keeps on leading, or to quote Bryan Ferry, “Don’t Stop the Dance”. 

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #redwine #BryanFerry #pork #bbq #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Negrette #France @annearbeau @zevrovineselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Tradition, Culture & Spirit

Pheasant’s Tears
Rosé 2021
Danakharuli, Goruli-Mtsvane
Organic, biodynamic, filled with old tradition
Sighnahghi, Kartli, Georgia
Founders: John Wurdeman & Gela Patalishvili

Amber with a rose blush. Ok, full disclosure I screwed up. I put it in the red wine fridge so now waiting for it to adjust. Sigh, we all make mistakes. Anyway, chill it a little more and you’ll smell lady apples & red delicious, orange peel, a smidge of fresh cut grass, spring orchard blossoms, a little snappy cookie spice, and brown sugar that goes to a brandy whiff that floats in and out very gently. Tasting apple cider, exhale and there’s a little straw, a chew of my old outfield sour grass, a little green peppercorn along with a little lemon/orange twist, and as it breathes a moment of calvados. Mmmm so good, sparky and delicious.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: fun and matches kind of like it would with a baked apple

Years ago, a guy warned me off Pheasant’s Tears, and can’t figure out why on earth they did! Loving their wine and reading about how John (an American artist) & Gela (Georgian winegrower) connected & created their very natural winery…and it didn’t stop there. Pheasant’s Tears added a restaurant to pair with their wines, and then a 2nd, “Crazy Pomegranate” reservation only in their vines. John also doesn’t seem to be able to stay still. Along with being a painter, winemaker, & folk music collector, he also opened natural wine venues in Tbsilisi. While digging around for more info, I found a great interview with him by Aaron Ayscough “A Georgia Divided” and how Georgians are dealing with the Ukraine War which led me to @dedaenabar and their showing of the Ukrainian modern/folk/ballet film “Vodurudu” by Anatolii Sachivko (Please, at least check out their videos. It’s so good.). So glad I ignored a certain someone’s advice long ago or I would have never discovered all of this discourse/art/culture/spirit due to this wine. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #naturalwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #Georgia #terrellwines @pheasants_tears @vinewinenyc @cheezit