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This Kitten Has Really Scratched My Summer Itch!

António Lopes Ribeiro
Nina
Vinho Tinto
About 20 different varieties, red & white grapes that are co-planted in 60 year old vineyard
Certified organic, foot tread, indigenous yeast, dried chestnut blossoms, no added sulfites
Tondela, Dão, Portugal

Chill it a little (I started at 58F) or a lot and either way you’ll be sooo happy. Cranberry stained glass pour. Sniffing and there’s nose wiggling cherries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries & more, a tiny citrus squeeze, hint of anise but I bet it fades, and a breeze of pump house mineral cool. All of the sniffs are there joined by white pepper & a smooth citrus zest that mellows out into a gentle blend that is just so delicious. Chilled this baby even further in the normal fridge last night, and it’s even more of a fresh & fun party.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: pretty good but not needed

You probably recognize António’s name from his & his partner Sara Dionisio’s winery Casa De Mouraz. They were the 1st to go certified organic in Dão, and are now farming entirely biodynamic. Nina is from the label under just his moniker, but you can find they share equal presence & love on their IG page. If you browse around enough you can find a cute pic of this meowser peeking through the vines. She’s not the only winery member gracing his bottles. There’s also a goat named “Chibu”, a sweet little pup named “Bolinha”, a feisty looking chicky, “Pita” branco bubbly or as I’ve seen it called their “Pita-nat”, and not to be outdone her rosa cocky partner in wine “Pito”. Personally, I now want to collect the whole menagerie because this kitten has really scratched my summer itch and perked up my curiosity on the inhabitants of Ribeiro & Dionisio’s “Planet Mouraz”. 🍷

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Family Devotion And A Vibrant Future

Quinta da Aveleda
Solos de Granito 2024
100% Alvarinho
Vinho Verde
Organic, sustainable
Penafiel, Portugal
Family run winery

Color yellow brick road shimmering light. Breathing in white peach, honeysuckle, light tangerine & pink grapefruit swirl, fresh rained on cool granite, golden & green apples, Bosc pear, winter melon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. All of what I’ve been smelling is there with more crisp citrus like lime, lemon, and also smooth tangelo, there’s a kick of white pepper in the background that will wave hello a bit more if you let it emerge, followed by a smidge of pine & eucalyptus, and a lick of granite with a touch of salt hanging in the back.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I think I might need two bags so ❤️

Manoel Pedro Guedes inherited his family’s estate Quinta da Aveleda in 1870, and this was the beginning of its wonderful transformation into a winery & vineyards (styled after the French way of keeping the grape varieties separate) and building a 300 barrel cellar. When the 1st run only produced 30, he was adamant they would successfully persevere and he stated, “The future of this house will be wine”. Sure enough, in the late 1880s the gold & silver medals started coming in and so did international acclaim. Over the years & generations, Aveleda has grown in many ways. As Martim Guedes & António Guedes say on their site, “We want to carry on our great-great-grandfather’s dream and build on the foundations he led for this estate’s future in wine”, and they have along with adding more estates across Portugal in Duoro & Algarve; and also wine tourism in the Vinho Verde region. If you get a chance to book a tour of their grounds you’ll get to see their Fountain of Nossa Senhora da Vandoma that “symbolizes family devotion and Aveleda’s historical connection to the city of Porto” and you might find a vibrant (and at times noisy) surprise in the gardens crossing your path. Yes, you guessed it they have free roaming peacocks. 🦚

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A Glass To Snuggle Up To

Quinta do Passadouro
Vinho Tinto 2019
55% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Francesa, 10% Touriga Nacional, 10% Field Blend from old vines
Duoro DOC
Pinhão, Portugal

Inky maroon with purple pops. Sniff and a little oak dances through & mingles with dark cherries, black olives, wildflowers, blackberries, black currants, plums, and a pinch of warm spice & anise. Tasting and there’s dark cherries joining the blackberries, blueberries, black currants & plums & a red currant or two with a not quite ripe tart raspberry, licorice, horehound, and the teeny tiniest of vibrating tomato leaf appears & then tells you you didn’t see them…or shhh they were never there it’s all an illusion. Everything smooths out into an elegant, graceful sip. You know…this wine pairs well with a lot, but honestly I prefer just snuggling up with a glass while watching the snow fall.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: this is one of those moments of YES!

Yes, I’ve had my fair share of Passadouro wines over the years, but when I saw this bottle, I knew it was time to revisit this old friend (actually brought 2 home). While the Genetta genetta on the label may look somewhat like a cute kitty you want to rescue, it’s better to leave them in the wild. I think the best description I found was on discoverwildlife.com: “Genets resemble the love child of a cat crossed with a smidgen of mongoose and a touch of marten, with a soupçon of lemur thrown in for good measure.” These nocturnal creatures are also great for natural pest control since they’re generally carnivores and love snapping up rodents, birds, bugs, and other small critters; but they’re also know to enjoy figs, olives & the like. It would be such a wonderful dream to travel to Portugal, sit out in the dark in a vineyard, and get to see one unclose & personal on its agile nightly hunt.

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Tell Me Your Story

Pormenor
Ginga
Vinho Tinto 2023
Touriga Franca, Tinta Barocca
Hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, unfined, minimal intervention, natural, vegan friendly
Barcos, Tabuaço, Duoro, Portugal
Pedro Coelho

Cherry stained glass. Sniffing cherry, plums, blackberries, a little bit of fall leaves, an herbal sachet of tarragon, mint & others, red licorice, and a smidge of white pepper. Sipping and there’s a mix of plums & cherries now are bright & tart, gooseberries, young blackberries/raspberries (kind of still greenish pink), green tomato in a good way, touch of lime zest, and a pinch of sour grass. It’s just light, lively and oh so happy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: so smooth

Coelho didn’t inherit a winery, but he did have connections to some of the essentials. His dad was a cork producer, his grandfather’s a cooper (barrel maker), and he ended up working in wine finance/marketing until the moment came when he decided it was time to give it a go at making wine. He works with old vines, but doesn’t’ adhere to the past usual ways of vinification…his are fresh & can be drunk young yet may also age. They also don’t hit you over the head with high alcohol content which in my book is a very good thing. There’s a quote on his site, “Wine, by the grape” that kept rolling around in my thoughts. He wants Pormenor (translates to details which is something Pedro is very thoughtful about in his vines, environment, etc) wines to tell the stories of his Douro…through his vineyards & grapes, and as long as he keeps making these bottles, I’ll keep listening to their whispers & songs of a place & history that holds a special spot in my heart. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #portugal #jdselections #pormenor #pormenorvinhos  #vinewinenyc

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A Glass Of Sun, Sea & Time

Portugal Boutique Winery
Gorro Loureiro 2023
Vinho Verde DOC
Aveiro, Portugal
Winemakers: Ricardo Sarrazola & Diogo Carvalho

Shining golden glass. Fresh floral scents of irises, violets & orange blossoms followed by an orange, tangerine, lemon/lime, citrus swirl, a mineral & salt breeze, apples, and round pears. Everything in the sniff is there in the sip with a little more of a citrus sizzle that now includes a squeeze of grapefruit, and a touch of green pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: easy as pie

Can you tell I love Portuguese wines? Over the years, if I have an opportunity to get my hands on one, it is definitely coming home with me. Portugal Boutique Winery is so up my alley. They started out with an aim to celebrate Portugal’s grapes, vines, lands, & history; featuring the Douro Valley, Bairrada & Vinho Verde (this bottle) regions. Gorro Loureiro carries their philosophy: “To express Loureiro in an authentic and genuine way in its natural habitat – Vale do Lima” where their two vineyards are located 5 km from the Atlantic ocean. The label is also a nod to the old Portuguese farmers & viticulturists/vignerons & the beanie/cap they’re known to don. The lines on their aged faces reflect their environment of sun, sea & earth; and are wizened by their work & time…capturing a moment of their heritage & history and passing on their traditions just like PBW wants to hold onto and share with us. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #portugal #gkselections #portugalboutiquewinery #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Connecting History, Future & ❤️

Quinta da Raza
Raza Curtimenta
Branco 2023
100% Avesso
Vinho Regional Minho
Natural, foot tread, native yeasts, vegan friendly
Veade, Portugal
Diogo Teixeira Coelho & family (5th gen)

Warm gold with an orange blush. Breathing in and there are oranges/tangerines/kumquats (fruit & zest), whiff of honeysuckle, fresh cut grass, light evergreen, and fresh rained on granite/gravel. Tasting those oranges & tangerines again with at first a little zing & zest that brings a welcome touch of bitter, along with a tiny bit of honeysuckle nectar. It’s dry & fresh, and not a wine to overthink but just enjoy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NOPE

“Have you ever pondered how different life would be if you were born elsewhere? What about your character? Temperament?” I just love this quote from Quinta da Raza’s site because it’s so true. You really can taste their land, place, and history; and they also have their eyes on the future. They’re the ‘first producer operating exclusively in the Vinho Verde Region to be certified with ViniPortugal’s National Sustainability Benchmark for the Wine Sector”. They focus on renewable energy (photovoltaic panels, etc), water efficiency, reducing their carbon footprint, adapting & growing as climate change continues; and considering, respecting & working with others which includes their local community & those that work for and with them. I think that last part is what really makes me smile because they care about the well being & happiness of others. Just think this one bottle of wine connects you with not only the Teixeira Coelho family & their heritage but also with the region & people surrounding them. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #orangewine #naturalwine #portugal #regalwineimports #quintadaraza #vinewinenyc

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“Bring Me a Shrubbery!”

Quinta do Passadouro
Vinho Branco 2019
40% Rabigato, 35% Códega do Larinho, 25% Viosinho
Duoro DOC
Pinhão, Portugal

Yellow/light golden (deepens over time) with a green shimmer. Inhale and there’s gentle scents of pears & apple, gooseberries, lychee, spring flowers, touch of apple blossoms, and a tiny bit of nose tickling citrus zest. Sip and there’s a blend of crisp pears & apples, white peaches, gooseberries, lychee, honeydew, touch of honeysuckle, a little tangerine spritz & zest, and a cool mineral lick & a pinch if salt. It’s fresh & light yet luscious at the same time.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Nah

Doesn’t everyone need a bit of blue shrubbery (especially “Knights Who Say ‘Ni!’” in their life or at least Anagallis Monelli aka Shrubby Pimpernel. These deciduous perennials don’t need a lot of water and can flourish even in a hot dry summer. My bet is that they reside in or around Passadouro’s vineyards, since their other labels (Vinho Tinto) have displayed critters from their locale. Also the flowers’ name “Anagallis” is also derived from Greek “ἀνα” & ἀγάλλειν which translate into “to delight again” because these pretty blossoms close in the evening only to reopen to for the sun so we can enjoy them over & over just like this Branco.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #portugal #douro #FrederickWildman #QuintadoPassadouro #vinewinenyc

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Creature Of The Night

Quinta do Passadouro
Vinho Tinto 2019
55% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Francesa, 10% Touriga Nacional, 10% Field Blend from old vines
Duoro DOC
Pinhão, Portugal

Inky maroon with purple pops. Sniff and a little oak dances through & mingles with wildflowers, blackberries, black currants, plums, and a pinch of warm spice & anise. Tasting and there’s dark cherries joining the blackberries, black currants & plums & a red currant or two with a not quite ripe tart raspberry, licorice, and the teeny tiniest of tomato leaf appears & then tells you you didn’t see them…or shhh they were never there it’s all an illusion. Everything smooths out into an elegant, graceful sip. You know…this wine pairs well with a lot, but honestly I want it all to my self solo.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: this is one of those moments of YES!

My first encounter with Passadouro was when I was browsing wine in Montreal and a little Oryctolagus cuniculus hopped in my way. Yes, I was pulled in by the label but not just because of the little Portuguese bunny, but also the artistic details from the drawing & the distinctive zipper-like cut in the design. The next one to flutter in my path was a native game bird, the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) on their Tinto 2012. Now this 2019 red may just be my favorite yet with the sleek, stealth, and agile creature of the night…the Genetta genetta. I wonder if they are part of the natural pest control for their vineyards since they are carnivores. Back to the vineyards/grapes, another reason why I have fallen for these vinhos is their consistent yet somewhat varied blends. They always start with the 3 same grapes: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesa, & Touriga Nacional but may not be the same percent depending on the harvest and sometimes (like this one) it’s rounded out with a field blend of old vines. Hands down this bottle is not only a work of art, but it’s also simply delicious. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #portugal #douro #FrederickWildman #QuintadoPassadouro #vinewinenyc

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“Wine, By The Grape”

Pormenor
Reserva Branco 2021
Douro DOC
Rabigato, Malvasia Fina
Hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, unfined, minimal intervention, natural
Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
Pedro Coelho

Light gold that deepens over time. Breathing in pears, apples, lemon/lime & a touch of tangerine, cool salt/mineral breeze, as it opens a deeper part of depth grows. Sipping and there’s apple, pear, a toasty possible bit of smoke, lemon, lime, sorrel, a beeswax & honeysuckle exhale, and the tiniest bit of mellow oak.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: sooo good

Coelho didn’t inherit a winery, but he did have connections to some of the essentials. His dad was a cork producer, his grandfather’s a cooper (barrel maker), and he ended up working in wine finance/marketing until the moment came when he decided it was time to give it a go at making wine. He works with old vines, but doesn’t’ adhere to the past usual ways of vinification…his are fresh & can be drunk young yet can also age. They also don’t hit you over the head with high alcohol content which in my book is a very good thing. There’s a quote on his site, “Wine, by the grape” that kept rolling around in my thoughts. He wants Pormenor wines to tell the stories of his Douro…through his vineyards & grapes, and as long as he keeps making these bottles, I’ll keep listening to their whispers & songs of a place & history that holds a special spot in my heart.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #naturalwine #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #portugal #jdselections #grandcruselections #pormenorvinhos #pormenor #vinewinenyc

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Following The Dream

Textura
Pretexto Tinto 2020
Dão DOC
Jaen, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro
Sustainable, organic
São Paio, Gouveia, Portugal
Marcelo Araujo & family
Winemaker: Luis Seabra

Ruby purple that’s so deep I can’t see my fingers on the other side of the glass. Sniff and there’s cherries, tart & a few dark plums &  touch of prunes, raspberries, tomato leaves, fresh pulled beets, and as it opens a floral moment of tiny roses. Sipping & again cherries, tart & dark plums, green tomatoes warm from the backyard, dried herbs (oregano, rosemary, pinch of sage), young strawberries, blackberries, boysenberries, and a lemon/lime zest moment. Smooth, fresh and easy to love.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: ack ack ack awful

So what do you do if you realize you love wine more than your old job in Brazil? If you’re like Marcelo Araujo you follow your passion, but you also follow a well thought out plan. He & his family found the right plots in Portugal, the right people (Mariana Salvador & Luis Seabra) to help guide the way, and utilize what is already there like the 100+ year old textile factory that they renovated into their winery, wine bar, and a space for “wine tourism” which celebrates the native grapes that make as they say their “wines of character”, local recipes, culture, and of course nature since they are nestled right near Serra da Estrela Natural Park where you can find Eurasian eagle-owls (wow are they huge!), Common genet (so freaking cute), wolves, boars, and so much more. Who wouldn’t want to follow a passion and end up in such an enchanting place that you can call home? They are definitely living the dream, or rather in their case the best wine life possible. 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #organic #wineislove #winetime #naturalwine #worldbyglass #jdselections #textura #texturawines #vinewinenyc