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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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Foxy Stole My Heart

Wild Nature Wines
Valpolicella DOC 2018
Corvina, Corvinone & Rondinella
Certified vegan, organic & biodynamic
Verona, Italy
Winemaker: Emilio Fidora

Shining ruby glass. Inhale and there are cherries & cherry cola, tiny roses & gentle bundle of spring flowers, raspberries, as time goes by a blackberry touch, and boysenberry. Tasting and this beaut is light, lovely and dry. There’s cherries (fresh & dried), blackberry (seeds & all bite), boysenberry, blueberries, tart fresh young plum and the pits, a tiny lemon squeeze in the back, a greenery exhale that’s a bit forest but not juniper, and a little reduction of it all. Even on a steamy summer night, I can really dig this…perfect for a backyard under the stars with a gentle breeze. Ok it’s still as lovely in my apartment near the BQE while the DOT rips up the asphalt under it for the umpteenth time. I’d prefer the sound of frogs to this cacophony of whirring & grinding machines along with the beep beep beep. I swear it seems like they do this so often. Wonder why city? 🤔 Future archeologists will unearth the truth.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I like it. Deeper, darker, smooth

This is my 3rd “Wild Nature Wines”, but my first from their Valpolicella – Verona estate, and I’m so excited to have this little fox fall into my life. He’s just one of their beneficial neighbors that roam, hop, fly over, or buzz through their land, and grace their bottles. Must be wonderful to watch & listen to the wildlife, the breeze through the leaves and enjoy a moment of peace in such a beautiful part of the world (and not hear that infernal beep beep beep). Makes me grateful that the the Fidoras who took the care to insure their longevity by being the first estate to go organic in Veneto and Emilio to continue to further that path with going biodynamic & vegan certified. Thank you for making space for this little frisky 🦊 to be part of your wine family. He’s wiggled a way into my ❤️.

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Deer Santa

Wild Nature Wines
Veneto Bianco IGT
Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay 
Certified vegan, 4 months skin contact, organic for more than 40 years, and biodynamic
Veneto, Italy
Winemaker: Emilio Fidora

Rose amber streaked sunrise glow. Sniffing orange & pear blossoms, honeysuckle (from my childhood home, and I can just see those bee butts wiggling in them in delight), nectarines, strawberries that bring with them a bit of creaminess, raspberries, cherries, and a touch of mineral slate pops out. Oh baby it’s all here on my tongue with a kick of depth! Again those strawberries & raspberries, tiny slivers of peach & nectarine, cranberry zip, a small squish of pineapple, and mineral lick of a rock with a balancing bite of bitter herb (in the back) that’s not fragrant and will have me dabbing my finger through my Penzeys collection searching until I sort it out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious

I jumped for joy when I saw this bottle. My first one of theirs was Prosecco Rosé Brut DOC 2019. It was scrumptious and I love their label art and am still searching for the artist’s name. Wild Nature Wines are essentially that. They have two estates in Veneto (Venice and Verona) where they live in harmony with the all sorts of four-legged and winged neighbors such as owls, foxes, rabbits, pheasants, and this stately European fallow deer (Dama dama) that stole my heart. Each wine gets their own unique familiar drawn entwined with the environment and growing as one. This family truly cares about every aspect of their environment, so how can they not be making such impressive wines. BTW I know it may be a little early to be writing Santa, but I truly hope he will put a case of these deers in my stocking.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #orangewine #organic #naturalwine #worldbyglass #wineinfluencer #deer #Italy #Veneto #Venice #Verona #pinotgrigio #chardonnay #WildNatureWines @SkinContactWines @wildnaturewines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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So Easy To Love

Mad Med
Le Rouge 2021
Dry Red Wine
VDF
Grenache Noir 50%, Carignan 10%, Vermentino 40%
Organic (working on certification), native yeast, unfiltered
Provence, France
Grapes selected, vinified, aged & canned by Harry et Max

Please chill before popping this can. I know it’s sometimes hard to wait, but trust me it’ll be sooo good. Pomegranate cranberry stained glass. At first there’s a butter glazed whiff that fades. Scents then emerge of strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, dark cherry, and yummy brioche. Sipping and here’s a cocktail of all those berries & cherry with a granite zing. It’s a fun bunch of juicy and dry all at the same time. Throw it in the cooler and crack it out on a mountain trail while checking out the turning leaves.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: refreshing and deeper

Ok Mad Med, once again you have really surprised me on how good a wine in a can, can be. This red & white grape blend (vin gris?) rocks my world. You make it so easy to love you, and so easy to take you anywhere…well, anywhere that is legal. Still awaiting word on if you’re related to my favorite “party pig” #bobsinglar  Also take note this can is kind of like the Tardis, and you may consume more wine than you realize, so beware of 🍷 goggles.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #vinnature #wineinacan #cannedwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #vermentino #grenache #carignan #organic #Provence #France #lamongestine #harryetmax #madmed @madmedcans @SkinContactWines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Nature In A Can

Mad Med
L’Orange 2021
VDF
100% Vermentino
Organic (working on certification), native yeast, unfiltered, 3 weeks skin contact
Provence, France
Grapes selected, vinified, aged & canned by Harry et Max

Hazy rosy orangey gold, kind of like a pink grapefruit. Hovering over the glass and scents start with a poof of smoke that turns into a cocktail of valencia oranges & blossoms, honeysuckle also starts to emerge, mellow pears, salt, and here comes some light tangelo & pluots. Here goes the taste and HELLO! My tongue is loving these flavors. There’s orange & zest with a hint of smoke, pink grapefruit, pears, a touch of honeysuckle with some bitters…say parsleyesque, and of course salt. Portable summertime lively delish that stands up even when it warms while hanging in the yard.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bleh

Over the past two years, I have stopped my apprehension of “wine in a can”. I will also say this one really took me by surprise because I had been tasting other vermentinos recently and guess which one won out? Yeah, I “can” hardly believe it. Don’t kill me for the “dad joke” 🤣. With heat like we’ve been having, just take my word for it and grab a couple. It’ll make your sweltering day so, so much better! Oh and as Mad Med says, “Chassez le naturel, il revient en canette”.

Note: I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be related to my favorite “party pig” #bobsinglar

wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #vinnature #wineinacan #cannedwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #vermentino #organic #Provence #France #lamongestine #harryetmax #madmed @madmedcans @SkinContactWines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Full Of Personality

Bodegas Altolandon
Enblanco 2020
Manchuela D.O.
Amber Wine
Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Gris
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeasts, unfined, unfiltered
Landete, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Wife & Husband winemaking team: Rosalia Molina & Manolo Garrote

Golden orange or amber without any little critters trapped in it. Scents flow out of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, orange zest, peaches, a bouquet of spring flowers, apricots, mango, and heady goodness. So this is one of those wines where you’re hit from all sides, but in a good way. Tasting honeysuckle nectar, wisteria, peaches, those reddish yellow plums from my grandmama’s trees, oranges and orange zest, peaches, apricots, papaya, mangoes, smidge of fennel, whiff of pine needles, salt, blade of grass, white pepper, and a tart citrus pop hangs out to make this even out with a good round way. This would be so good with unagi kabayaki.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it sharper but I like it better as a full open burst of flavors

Remember the old tale of “The Three Bears” where Goldilocks tastes the porridge and one was too hot, another too cold, and then finally hits the one that is “just right”. Was just listening to Rosalia speak on a video for Simply Spanish Wine, and I think she and her husband found that “just right” place to set up their organic shop at 1,100 meters above sea level (highest part). They have the advantage of cooler climes which is a good thing with climate change being very real, lots of wonderful sun exposure, and also later harvests. They even have a REAL ice wine (Dulce Enero) which I am dying to try. This magical setting also has varied soils, so all of this combined together is the perfect grape recipe for as they say, “wines with their own personality”.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #organic #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Spain #GarnachaBlanca #Garnacha #castillalamancha @skincontactwines @docwineshop @docwinebar @altolandonbodega @cheezit

 

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Spring on a Wing

Wild Nature Wines
Prosecco Rosé Brut DOC 2019
Millesimato
90% Glera, 10% Pinot Noir
Certified vegan, organic for more than 40 years, and biodynamic
Veneto, Italy
Winemaker: Emilio Fidora

Salmon rose pour with delicate white bubbles. So alive and romantic! Breathing in a salty fizz, laid back strawberries and cherries, light cherry blossoms, red delicious apple peels, and a dreamy breath of Spring. This is a beautiful mouthful of cherries, strawberries, cranberry, and salt. The tingly bubbles also have a spritz of lime, and an apple roundness, a smidge of cinnamon on the back, and as time goes on all of a sudden a cherry jelly belly drops in. It’s a total party!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Makes it even more crisp if that is possible

Wild Nature Wines are essentially that. They have two estates in Veneto (Venice and Verona) where they live in harmony with the all sorts of four-legged and winged neighbors such as owls, foxes, rabbits, and even this regal and funky pheasant on this label. Each wine gets their own unique familiar drawn entwined with the environment and growing as one. I don’t know who the artist (anyone know?) is but they are truly talented. Talent also runs in this family, and innovation. Emilio’s grandfather (Guido), made history bringing on the organic over 40 years ago (Veneto’s oldest organic estate); and then Emilio decided to embark forward in the steps toward biodynamic and now they are certified bio and vegan and living up to their name.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @wildnaturewines @SkinContactWines @cheezits #pairswithcheezits #Millesimato #wine #vino #cheezit #Prosecco #Rosé #rose #sparklingwine #bubbly #organic #naturalwine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #winestagram #instawine #Italy #Veneto #Venice #Verona #Glera #PinotNoir #WildNatureWines