Posted on

Bubbles Worth Diving For

St. Donat (Szent Donát)
5BAR 2020
Brut Nature
Sparkling White Wine
Olaszrizling, Furmint
Organic, unfined, unfiltered
Csopak, Hungary
Winemaker: Tamás Kovács

Pale yellow gold with tiny bubbles tracing fictional maps on the surface. From the moment the cap is popped there’s scents of white donut peaches, yellow plum, fresh citrus spritz, a smidge of a real croissant not made in this continent, shake of salt, a little grass (the fresh cut kind). Sip and it’s crisp. There’s citrus pop of lemon/lime mix, and touch of the white donut peach that turns into apples and pears. It’s fresh and exuberant tongue tingling goodness with a touch of yeast. It’s just darn exciting, and I want this for my next birthday, but I think we’ll need a few more since it’s 375ml.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: wow it’s perfect!

So what’s the deal the antique diving helmet on the label? Yeah, I know absolutely nothing about diving, since I am terrified of being eaten by a shark. An ex-aunt (I’m so glad she is an EX) put the whole shark idea in my mind at a very young age, and I’ve spent years trying to get past it. Anyway, back to the bubbly. So happy that the winery/Tamás has a site & blog that answer it all (well, with auto google translate). It’s named 5BAR since it’s fermented to that pressure, “which is just like swimming in the sea 50 meters deep” (my brain immediately thinks 🦈). “I see this as a good balance point, less pressure, less sweeping, lots of fruit left and no foaming so much.” Also explains the small size too, “Half a bottle is often enough for two people.” Well, I’m not so sure about that because, in my world if there’s two of us, “we’re going to need a bigger boat bottle”.

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #sparklingwine #bubbly #champagne #naturalwine #organic #Csopak #Hungary #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits @szentdonatborkuria @vinewinenyc @cheezit

Posted on

Just One More

Lapati Wines
Kidev Erti
Tavkveri 2019
Natural sparkling wine rosé
60% Tavkveri & 40% of Chinuri (both from Shida Kartli region)
Natural, organic, & environment friendly, 1 month fermentation in qvervi
Sagarejo, Kakheti, Georgia
Winemakers: Vincent Jullien and Guillaume Gouerou

Pale salmon with active white bubbles dancing in patterns on the surface. Breathing in tiny strawberries and cherries (and an underlying hint of cherry Twizzlers), a little plum, yeasty bread, and all of this is super light. First sip and it’s a tart cherry seltzer, a lemon tingle blended with a little underripe apple, and just a smidge of strawberries (green and ripe). Very, very vibrating on the lips and easy drinking that you don’t have to overthink (so don’t do what I’ve been doing.) Just follow the instructions in its name “Kidev Erti” because it says for you to have “one more”.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yeah it works. Really doesn’t change much.

I could start with the good ol’ joke, 2 Frenchmen walk into a bar…or in this case into Georgia, but its a bit more than that. Vincent was on the scene first already investigating sparkling, and Guillaume showed up for an art residency. They found mutual conversation and ground (now literally in Sagarejo) and embarked on creating Lapati Wines. They blend Georgian and French/European natural ways of winemaking and even though they’re not certified biodynamic they follow the practices because they respect nature, the environment, and very importantly the final outcome in their wine.

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Kakheti #Georgia #winestagram #instawine #Tavkveri #Chinuri #biodynamic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #Lapati @lapatiwines @vinewinenyc @cheezit

Posted on

Glub Glub Glub, Glou Glou Glou

Person Wine Co.
Carboniste
Mackerel 2020
Pét Nat Extra Brut
Pinot Grigio
Minimal influence
Napa, California
Winemakers: Dan and Jacqueline Person

Pale gold pour with green undertones and super active bubbles. Pop, pop, pop and out of the bubbles come whiffs of apples, brioche, a squeeze of lemon and a basket of ripe pears. Tickling my tongue are lemons and limes smashed with red apples, pears and nectarines. Oh yum there’s also a edge of full on my granny’s butter poundcake yet it’s still crisp, and a little green bitter tinge on the back with some lime zest. Oh you light and happy fishy, you are such an easy drinker and will have me going glou glou all night!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: ugh NO!

Dan and Jacqueline want to welcome all y’all to their “Sparkling Revolution”. Carboniste isn’t trying to masquerade as a champagne copy but instead embrace its California roots, weather, terroir & beautiful fruit. They’re also keeping the wines young, modern, clean, fresh, and fun…kinda like the aquatic friends on their bottles. Side note: I’ve been googling to find out who is their label artist (No luck! Well, whoever you are nice work!) and hilariously every other image is Han Solo in Carbonite. OMG there is a life-sized statue made from the original “Empire Strikes Back” molds and it’s signed by Harrison Ford! Yes, I am swooning now, and it can be mine for only $49.999.99 on eBay, but then think of all the bottles of bubbly I could get for that $$$. I guess I’m a grown-up now if wine is now more important than Star Wars. 🥂

#wine #PétNat #petnat #PinotGrigio #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #starwars #hansolo #napa #California #sparklingwine #Californiawine @carbonistewine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!

Populis Wine
Made in partnership with and farmed by Les Lunes Wine
Pétillant Naturel
Sparkling Wine 2020
Sonoma County
Zinfandel 75%, Pinot Noir 20%, French Colombard 5%
Organic, old vines, no intervention
Orinda, CA
Winemakers: Shaunt Oungoulian and Diego Roig

Shinny plummy cranberry. Take a whiff and there’s a little bit of natural funk/depth and hay that merges into cherries, plums, raspberries, a tiny crush of Sweettarts, and blood orange zest. Sip and poof and magic explosion…bibbidi bobbidi boo…berries and smoke all at once and a bit of a roll in the hay. (Oops, I think I lost my glass slipper!) Throw in some cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, jolly ranchers, and a little citrus spritz with a dash of raspberry vinegar. It’s a glass of fun!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: absolutely delish and fresh

Shaunt and Diego’s Populis (they also have another wine line “Les Lunes”) is their more affordable gift to the world. Grapes are sourced from amazing old & organic vineyards and as they say other site, “And once we hunt down these special vineyards we do all we can to not screw it up — and by that we mean no additions, no intervention, no tomfoolery– just straight up“. Well, they must be doing it right because they are all sold out in their online shop and also Les Lunes  too (shhh…Les Lunes also has a wine club)! So if you want to track one down asap, head out to your local brick & mortar and hope they’re not all snatched up.

#wine #holidaywine #holidays #petnat #Pétnat #sparklingwine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Zinfandel #PinotNoir #Sonoma #CA #california @zevrovineselections #Populiswine @lesluneswine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Anyone Game For a Mosh Pit?

P.A.N.K.
Báró 2020
Rosé Pét-Nat
100% Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch)
Organic, hand harvested, spontaneous fermentation, unfiltered, unfined, and undisgorged
Köveskál, Balatonfelvidék, Hungary
Winemaker: Attila Pálffy

Pink orange with a tiny magenta rim and lots of tiny bubbles with a white foam pour. Creaminess is the first waft right after popping the crown cap and still there post pour. Next up are all sorts of blossoms, raspberries, and light strawberries.  Now for the taste and ZING! It’s a mosh pit of raspberries, crancherry cocktail, blackberries, and a tiny smidge of strawberry preserves. A shake of salted lemon zest jumps in with that creaminess that’s still hanging out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Nah, the mosh pit becomes a slow waltz with a partner that keeps stepping on your toes. BLEH

7th gen winemaking family (Pálffy Pince), Attila Pálffy has his side project which shows his heritage’s knowledge and his rebellious side. P.A.N.K. is his creative outlet and experimental flare. From what I’m reading, he manages to tick off the Hungarian “wine police” with his haze and bio side which fits his love of punk and is very evident in his craft aesthetic. Once again, I am on the search for who the label artist is. It’s a bit of street art, fine art, and on this one and others a touch of the animals in Attila’s world. Báró is his friend’s greyhound dressed in a tough rock vibe. Can’t you just see him grabbing the mic and belting out something that would irritate your parents. Keep on howling Báró and Attila!

@vinewinenyc @pankandbor @vinopank @palinkerie @cheezits #pairswithcheezits #wine #vinho #vino #vin #Rosé #rose #rosato #Pétnat #petnat #worldbyglass #cheezit #vinewinenyc #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Kékfrankos #Blaufränkisch #wineinfluencer #Hungary #naturalwine #punksnotdead

Posted on

Drifting Through Space On a Song

MOOA
“Ground Control To Major Tom”
Pinot Noir 2020
Pét-Nat Rosé
Whole cluster, unfiltered, no added sulfites, and very natural
Templeton, CA
Cellared & bottled by Pomar Junction Wines
“Drifter” domaine project started in California from Wine Mc2 (Jean Luc Lametrie)

This is 80s Merry-Go-Round electric orange pink pour. Oh the memories of that store! 🤣  Scents start emerging of cherry-strawberry cotton candy, roses, mandarin zest, a smidge of lemon-lime and some creaminess. Sip and whoo! A ripe juicy cherry strawberry watermelon cocktail, blood orange zest, and weirdly Muscadine grape (which is bizarre since it’s not). We had a small vineyard of these when I was growing up. The grapes were delicious. The wine my father attempted was not. Keep on going and there’s seltzer crispness and smoke. Let it BREATHE for a little and you will be rewarded. There’s so many scents and flavors that pop out of everywhere and some of them mellow out later. This is one fun Pét that is ready to soar!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: adds the flavor of grapesicle…BLEAH! Dreadful!

I am going to admit, I fell for the label. It’s absolutely beautiful and as fun as the wine. Whoever the artist is for MOOA wine’s bottles is seriously talented. And yeah, I’m a huge David Bowie fan, so having this song in my head on repeat is a real treat.

@vinewinenyc @ @cheezits #pairswithcheezits #wine #vinho #vino #vin #Rosé #rose #rosato #worldbyglass #cheezit #vinewinenyc #葡萄酒 #ワイン #MOOA #mooawine #PinotNoir #PétNat #PetNat #wineinfluencer #California #DavidBowie #naturalwine

Posted on

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

Posted on

A Good ol’ Wild Flock

João aka Duckman
Maria Duck – Pet Nat
Bairrada, Portugal
100% Fernão Pires (a.k.a. Maria Gomes)
Sustainable, unfiltered, unfined, natural, hand-harvested, and wild
Winemaker: Maria Pato

Hazy golden with lots of white lively bubbles. Breathing in a mix of apple and pear cider, hay, tangy tangerine, apricot, and orangesicle. Zip, pop, bang and my tongue is dancing with zingy citrus, tart lemon candy wedges, kumquats, crabapples, and gooseberries. Wow, now that’s a wake up call to a party.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mellows the tart out

Oh Duckman, how you never fail to surprise and make me happy. Maria and the rest of the flock (father Luis, sister Filipa, and past relatives that date back to the 18th century) all have had their feet paddling around in wine, as I’ve written about in past posts. This project, is all Maria. There’s as little intervention as possible for these indigenous Fernão Pires grapes, that come from their Amoreira da Gândara vineyard. All stainless and no oak, help this little quacker soar, sing and zing fresh! This is a pet nat that is not only delicious, fun, and a joy to drink, but it also makes you think. It transports you to her part of the world in Portugal and invites you to stay.

@vinewinenyc @joao_pato_aka_duckman @SaviosSelections #wine #winestagram #instawine  #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #portugal #bairrada #FernãoPires #MariaGomes #sustainable #natural #wild #duckman #petnat #pétnat