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Let Nature Be The Artist

Johannes Zillinger
Revolution
Ancestral Pet Nat NV
Gruner Veltliner (mostly), Riesling (15-20%)
Organic/Biodynamic (Demeter)
Niederösterreich, Austria
Winemaker: Johannes Zillinger

Shiny golden with tiny active white bubbles. Floating upward are scents of apples, light young firm peaches, a little something hazelnutty that turns into baguettes and a pinch of baking spice. Sipping tart apple, whiff of smoke that comes and goes, lemony spark kind of like Kas Lemon soda, yeasty goodness like the bread we’ve all been making for the past 2.5 or whatever years, good shake of salt & small bit of white pepper.It’s just vibrant, crisp, and keeps your mouth alert.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bleh

Johannes Zillinger’s dad raised him right…the organic way (since 1983) and “viewing the vineyard as a habitat”, so when his time came to shine, Johannes took it another step further with bio certification. From the moment you pop onto their site, his ideals and passion about it are emblazoned right there on the home page and throughout the site, so I’m just going to let his words tell the tale. “Being ORGANIC is not a trend, it’s a lifestyle and we have been living it for over 35 years. Avoiding all sorts of chemistry is our philosophy. Regarding the environment, natural water, nutrition and particularly in terms of wine. A healthy soil is the key to remarkable and exciting wines. Especially if no boundaries are being set for the development of wines in our beautiful cellars.” And he also let’s nature be the artist which I love that sentiment, “The most beautiful pictures are painted by nature; with minimalistic wine making in the cellar we frame those artworks.” BTW does anyone know who creates his gorgeous labels? Each one is has a circular view of a natural moment with a white line work butterfly floating in on a black label except this “Revolution” Pet Nat. Hey, you know me, I’m always curious in artists in all forms. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #petnat #sparklingwine #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #biodynamic #artist #Niederösterreich #Austria @blisswineimports @vinewinenyc @johannes.zillinger @cheezit

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Because I’m Happy!

Bodega Txakoli Rezabal
Txakoli 2021
Getariako Txakolina D.O.
White wine
100% Hondarrabi Zuri
Sustainable, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Zarautz, Basque Country, Spain
Family owned winery: The Rezabals

Yellow starlight with green interplanetary play. Wow this is lush at very first pour with scents wafting out of peaches, pears, lilies, and as time goes by all starts to level out and then tangerine creeps out and waves a tiny hello with a little lime zest. Now everything blends and grooves with some rained on slate and salt…so fresh and lovely. Those peaches and pears are still there dancing on my tongue with a tingle of crisp lime/lemon/citrus zip with a rim of salt. Full of life and even a little flirty sassy fun, a whole lot of joy that can lead to being the life of the party. I think I know who is going to be my date. ❤️

Pairs with Cheez-It’s:brings more tarty to the party

The Rezabals are rooted in their passing of the wine/vine from generation to generation and holding on to traditions while utilizing today’s technology. It’s a beautiful harmony of the people, land, their micro-climate, and of course in the end the excellent grapes that convey their whole story. As they say, “Txakoli Rezabal is a living product, with its own personality”, which is “HAPPY!” Now that is a spot on description. No wonder this catchy tune that always brings me a smile and makes my heart bubble over with joy…no matter my mood was stuck in my head for days. So pour another glass and 🎶“Clap along if you feel…Can’t nothing, bring me down.” 🎶

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #basquecountry #Spain #Txakoli #hondarrabizuri #happy #PharrellWilliams @ripewineimports @docwineshop @docwinebar @rezabaltxakoli @cheezit

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Sense Of Discovery

Tenuta Belvedere
Una Scoperta (A Discovery) 2019
100% Pinot Grigio
Provincia di Pavia IGT
Natural wine, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Montacalvo Versiggia, Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardia, Italy
Winemakers: Federica and Gianluca Cabrini

Golden amber or even coppery glint like Julia Child’s precious whisking bowls and grows even more the longer open. Sniff and there’s full pears, a little sherry (butterscotch/nuttiness but not heavy), orchard blossoms, a smidge wisteria, and when very first opened only the slightest bit of grapefruit/tangerine that fades…no IPA here…just light lovely love. Sipping pears, yellow plums, a bright and happy citrus blend (including a mild grapefruit squish) that’s dancing around with some Orangina, a little bit of honeysuckle nectar that circles and a touch of almond on the back (I can’t help but think again of a nod to sherry). A wondrous discovery that keeps beautifully blooming and evolving, and hey now later here’s some mango. Keep the flavors rolling!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NOPE step away from the bag

I love how Tenuta Belvedere keep creating bottled adventures that lead me down all sorts of paths. I wonder with Una Scoperta, if it’s about what I find in my glass or what moments of introspect it brings me. Maybe it’s just a combo of both, and as in their previous bottled delights, it’s full of their love and passion for  local varieties, keeping it natural, and family. You can’t help but smile from your first sip or encounter with any of their wines because they just vibrate with life, and this one brings you a sense of discovery. 

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #pinotgrigio #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #simpleminds #Italy #Lombardia #oltrepopavese #steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @belvederewine @cheezit

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Brewed Benefits

Matchbook Distilling & Good Liquorworks (seasonal collaboration)
Sparkling Anomaly
Riesling juice, coffee fruit concentrate, botanicals (Wintergreen, Mace, Star Anise & Wild Birch Bark)
5% ABV
Organic; Coffee Fruit: nothing artificial, no fake colors, no carbon footprint
Long Island, NY

Orange gold like a skin contact and fine light bubbles drawing patterns on the glass. At first I don’t know if it’s my nose or brain (it turns out it’s both) telling me something citrus tart smell that turns into a deep wild mix. There’s a woodsy scent that if you hover a whole goes almost baker’s chocolate and then back to wooden matchstick smoke, nutmeg, and a smidge of singed mint. Lively and fresh sip that’s lightly effervescent with kumquats, splash of bergamot, wintergreen, wild sour grass (from back home chewed in the field), anise, and birch. This is a treat for beer, cider and wine lovers so if you have a S.O. like mine, you can share.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly good and makes it even more fresh and friendly

When I first saw something about this bottle I swear I saw coffee wine and boy was I wrong. On 2nd look I realized it’s all about the coffee fruit. You know, I hate to admit but I never thought about what happens to the fruit which is stupid on my part, but honestly I don’t drink coffee anymore…now it’s all about tea. Anyway, turns out this fruit is sometimes made into fertilizer but more often went to waste or doing some not so great things to waterways. Well, with some drying and processing this pulp can end up in all sorts of things (chocolates, sodas, supplements, cookies) and evidently it has great health benefits (from heart, brain, weight, etc)! A big cheers to Good Liquorworks bringing it here for their “Good Vodka” (which they say, “makes a damn fine martini“) & this collaboration. So maybe this bottle of “Anomaly”, may give you a gift of a little more than just a happy buzz.

#wine #beer #cider #brew #vodka #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #sparklingwine #coffee #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #brooklyn #longisland #NY #naturalwine @vinewinenyc @matchbookdistilling @good.vodka @cheezit

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Back To Bío Bío

Estación Yumbel
Pipeño 2020
100% País
Really old vines (150 years), dry farmed, hand harvested, unfined, unfiltered, (uncertified) organic & biodynamic
Secano Interior de Yumbel (Bío Bío Valley), Chile
Husband & wife wine team: Mauricio González Carreño & Daniela Tapia Berardi

Bright cherry beauty. Breathing in cherries, raisins, tart plum, violet chewing gun, a hint of an Oreo vanilla filling, tobacco, and tomato leaves. Mmmmmm what a first sip of cherries, plum, smoke, good earth, and a bit of home grown dirty cherry tomato that’s been stewing in the sun. You have no idea how much I love that bit of tomato. I’m so addicted I even have candles scented of their stems, leaves and the whole kit and caboodle. BTW could someone please grill me a steak?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it more rich and full

My 2nd  Estación Yumbel wine and well obviously different from their Tinaja 2020 (Moscatel de Alejandria) “Do I Hear Hoofbeats?” (love his horses), and it’s another beautiful expression of what you can find in Bío Bío and from the experience and vine passion of Mauricio & Daniela. I love that they use the hands off & traditional ways, especially in the case of their use pipas made of Raulí wood (beechwood) during the fermentation and aging. Shame that the government wasn’t as fond of these trees linked to their wine heritage and only thought of the paper industry, and the money they could make by planting white pine, etc. Well, at least Estación Yumbel and other like minded winemakers & families are carrying on. Cheers to this beautiful Pipeño and the history it will continue to make! ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #pinotgrigio #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Pipeño #País #Chile #biobio #Yumbel @selectionsdelavina @docwineshop @docwinebar @maurogc_ @daniela.tb @cheezit

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Flying On A Flirty Red Breeze

Sentiviño Wines (side project involving Cume do Avia and Galgo Wines [Ezequiel Sanchez-Mateos])
La Brisa Tinto (Castes Tintas) 2019
Mencia 40%, Garnacha Tintorera 40%, and the remaining 20% is made of Brancellao, Sousón and Caíño
Biodynamic, organic, hand harvested, unfined, unfiltered & vegan friendly
Galicia, Ribeiro, Spain
Winemakers: Diego y Álvaro Diéguez

Deep ruby with maroon highlights. Before I forget to mention, give this one a little chill, but not too much…kind of like the Goldilocks spot. Pull that cork and like a genie emerging from the bottle scent of a little bit of Walker’s Shortbread that goes all peppery (and that includes black pepper and fresh bell pepper), cherries, raspberries, and some forest vegetation and earth. Oooooh this is good! Sipping cherries, raspberries, blackberry from the roadside eaten in the sun with juices dripping down my chin. There’s also pomegranate, tart plums, pepper, and some earthy smoke. It’s just freaking fun and I want some good BBQ with it. Pull me some pork!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: just enhances it all

Ezequiel Sanchez-Mateos is at it again with another beautiful project and this time teaming up with Diego y Álvaro Diéguez (1 of the 2 pairs of brothers of Cume do Avia). As I’ve said before, I truly think Sanchez-Mateos has the best job in the world, getting to travel, work with cool people, and live wine life to the fullest. This time these vines live in fragmented vineyards/individual plots with varying treasures to be found (Sabrego, schist, shale, quartz, etc). When you think about it, it’s like these artists are being given an amazing palette to blend and blur and drip and in the end create their liquid form of art and it’s beauty all flies in on this flirty red breeze. 🍷💋

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Spain #Ribeiro #Galicia #redwine #cumedoavia #galgowines #SentiviñoWines @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Winner Of A Weiner

Fossil & Fawn
Piquette 2021
Base is from their “Do Nothing” 2021; Pinot Noir & Chardonnay pomace (stems and all), water to rehydrate, then a little Riesling & Gewürztraminer pomace and beet sugar…from going from “Doing Nothing” that’s quite a recipe.
Williamette Valley
Sparkling “Wine-Adjacent” Beverage
Organic, dry-farmed, indigenous yeast
Forest Grove, Oregon
Owners & winemakers: Jim Fischer & Jenny Mosbacher

Hate to start this way but I cracked the cap and it flew out of the bottle and lost probably a 1/4 of it. I swear I stored it properly. Anyway, here we go…fizzy magenta with a white rim of bubbles. Immediately scents pop of hay, funk, a cocktail of raspberries, strawberries, cherries, cranberry; and as it grows a deeper funk that lingers still but continues to fade but never leaves entirely. Brett is that you or one of your buddies? If so…yo get out of here! Sipping and and the flavor is so much better and filled with raspberries, cranberries, a lemon/lime pop, and of all things a little Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red with a spritz of seltzer. There’s still a smidge of hay that fades into a little greenery, so very fresh and backyard drinking ready.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nice and kicks all the funk out

I’ve had my fare share of fab Fossil & Fawn wines, but that’s not the reason I picked this one up. Just look at that hot dog! I’m probably one of the only people (out of my NY friends) that still craves them. For those of you that don’t know, during the lockdown many bars were only able to stay open and serve drinks if they sold something to eat. Let’s just say I lost count on how many I ate! BTW you can even get a giclée print of this mouthwatering art work signed by the artist Brian Crabaugh, but you need to act fast because it’s an edition of 🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #Piquette #sparklingwine #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #portland #oregon   #naturalwine #hotdog @vinewinenyc @fossilandfawn @cheezit

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Moment Of Elegance

Domaine des Gerbeaux
Mâcon-Villages 2020
100% Chardonnay
Hand harvested in small baskets, no herbicides or pesticides, just natural (biodynamic without the paperwork)
Solutré-Pouilly, Burgundy, France
Owners and winemakers: Béatrice and Jean-Michel Drouin (and son Xavier)

Glistening golden glass. Breathing in mellow pears, nectarine, mild honeysuckle & other blossoms, green & golden delicious apples, and a citrus squish (blend of lime, lemon, tangelo). This is an elegant swish on my tongue of full pears, golden delicious apples, honeysuckle nectar, and honeydew starter with a melon mix & a lick of limestone & salt. Just svelte and sexy like a bespoke suit.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmm takes you to the seaside

So this is what happens when two souls from winemaking families tie the knot, blend their knowledge & passion, and in 1979, take on the Domaine (started in 1896, by Jean-Michel’s grandfather). They are dedicated, if not obsessed with the health of the vineyards & lands (check out their IG page to see the beauty!) and especially the quality of their much loved wines. If you need proof take a gander at Berry Bros. & Rudd’s site, where they declare the Drouins produce “some of the best and most distinctive wines in the Mâconnais region”. On top of that they are very partial to their St Véran wine to the point that, “Berry Bros & Rudd take the entire crop of this cuvee every year.” Guess I won’t be able to get my hands on one of those for quite some time. Ah well, I’m happy with my bottle of elegance.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #chardonnay #Burgundy #Maconnais #France @jp.bourgeois @domaine_des_gerbeaux @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Guilty Pleasures

Terra di Briganti
Falanghina 2020
Benevento IGP
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts
Casalduni, Campania, Italy
Winemakers: Toni and Romeo De Cicco

Shining golden yellow that deepens as time goes by. Breathe in and that creamy mango feel floats in, pears & mellow mild peaches, tiny arbor blossoms, green apples, and I think the tiniest whiff of caramel but waaaayyyy back and so tiny toward the end that blends into salty slate. Well, well, well isn’t this elegant and damn lovely sipping with still a little natural flair, pears, a tad bit peach, mild mango, a smidge of papaya, citrus squish, and a lick of granite that finishes and then the cycle goes round again. It’s like a fresh smooch of summer. Now I’m going to have another glass and just stop dissecting and enjoy.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yuck it ruins it. Stay away

Let’s see, this my 5th Terra di Briganti and the last was a “joy ride” (oh that chilled red Sciascinoso became my delicious go to), but this one is a guilty pleasure on a sultry afternoon. So what are your guilty pleasures? Come on, I know you have at least one…we all do. Mine are really good squishy stinky cheese, a towering raw bar plateau that must include langostines & periwinkles (and this bottle would pair nicely), chocolate dipped Oreos with a little sea salt on top, and lately…I’m going to admit something…watching old reruns of Hart to Hart and reveling in those oh so wonderful 1980s fashions, the cars, the hair, and flirty innuendos. Now don’t laugh, we all need our little escapes. Just grab a bottle of this wine and join me. If you do, I’ll make sure to save you some winkles.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #harttohart #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Falanghina #guiltypleasure #steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @terradibriganti @cheezit

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Artfully Familiar

Nature’s Revenge
Pét-Nat
Millésime 2020
100% Chardonnay
Super natural, hands off, no manipulation
Carcassonne, France
Crafted by Pierre Caizergues & Antonin Bonnet

Pale yellow with green undertones and vibrant bubbles. Scents of pears, apples, fresh blossoms & I can just hear the bees buzzing & seeing their cute little bee butts wiggling in joy, and a light vanilla/Nilla wafer/almond croissant moment. Sipping and it’s limey lemony crisp, some pear and apple cider with a sliver of pineapple and honeysuckle as it opens. There’s also a sprig of grass, a light smidge of ginger that stays way in the back at first that gets lost, and a little almond and sparkling water mineral feel.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh yeah…it goes all creamy and but keeps it’s crisp tingle

I was like…wait, wait, wait…I know this artwork. It’s kind of like being at an art gallery opening, you look across the crowd, and can’t quite place the face that is heading your way until you’re both mid conversation. Sure enough, I’ve seen some of Oscar Lett’s work in person (on a building in my neck of the woods) and had no idea. What a beautiful hand in these murals and on this bottle. Check out how he blends nature & urban on his site. It’s truly breathtaking, and makes sense that it pairs so well with “Nature’s Revenge”.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #petnat #PétNat #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Carcassonne #France #Languedoc  #naturalwine @toutonselection @vinewinenyc @pierre_tailleur_de_vins @oscarlett.artist @cheezit