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Wines For Fines

Samuel Párraga
Coche Discoteca NV
Sparkling Rosé 
Moscatel, Pedro Ximinez, Rome
Organic
Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

Deep rose/orange sunset with a few bubbles. There’s scents of strawberries, raspberry, toasty hay, lemon/lime jelly bellies, light cherry pop, and a little sea breeze. Sipping away and am greeted by those strawberries & raspberries, juicy light cherry, bit of sweet apple, that toast/hay moment again, in the background there’s other bouncing berries from blue to boysen, smidge red currants, lime sizzle, and a tiny lick of salt. This is one FUN party pop.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: walk away from the bag

Samuel discovered his enthusiasm for wine from his dad who brought him up doing it right in the natural & artisanal way. He’s continued in that same vein with no chemicals in the field & winery, and believes that the vines “are stronger and a HARMONY can be achieved between the plants and the rest of the beings that inhabit and/or are related to the crop. I also believe that the grapes from these plants are fruits with greater VITALITY, which gives us the opportunity to make a good PURE wine.” He also loves to share his vino, and after a night of music (María Arnal & Marcel Bagés) he & friends kept the party going in the parking lot by the car with some of his vino and a “rather large speaker in the trunk”. Needless to say cops pulled up to the bumper & a ticket (it inspired the label) was written for “Coche Discoteca” aka “Disco Car”. I want to read the full rule of law against discoing. 🤣 At least they came up with a small batch (31 bottles) to pay it off, and hoping that they keep them coming. 🪩

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #sparklingwine #Spain #worldbyglass #goatboyselections #cochediscoteca #samuelparraga #vinewinenyc

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A Small Delicacy

Domaine des Aubuisières
Vouvray AOC
Brut
100% Chenin Blanc
HVE3 certification, organic
Loire, France
Charles and Menehould Lesaffre

Warm gold with active little bubbles tracing images on the surface. Inhaling an elegant mix of pears (fresh & baked), Fuji & Red Delicious apples, nectarines, white peaches, a gentle reminder of my mom’s lemon squares that were properly cooked & not eggy like other overcooked ones I’ve had, and light honeysuckle blooms. First sip wakes up my mouth with a zing. All of the scents are there in the taste with a tiny drop of citrus tingle. Just crisp, fresh and very addictive.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

I’m a bit of a magpie when it comes to labels, or at least I love to pay attention to details like this little long beaked bird flying in from the side. I became familiar with this feathered friend, the Bécasse aka Eurasian woodcock, from one of my favorite authors, Martin Walker & his series “Bruno Chief of Police” set in Dordogne, France. Bruno not only solves mysteries/crimes, but he is also an amazing chef. He dearly loves to hunt (along with his Basset Hound) Bécasse and share them with his friends. In “The Dark Vineyard”, during one of his dinner parties, he explains that when the birds are flushed out of the brush & take flight their stomach completely evacuates so this fat tube is a delicacy. Cooked it softens, turns creamy and is supposed to be delicious spread on a baguette. Bruno also grills the birds split down the middle with the head & beak still attached, and some find the “charred head” to be their fave to eat whole…just don’t munch on the beak. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #sparklingwine #brut #France #worldbyglass #brunochiefofpolice #weygandtselections #peterweygandt #domainedesaubuisieres #vinewinenyc

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Racing Into A Glass Of Happy

Henri Champliau 
Petrone
Blanc de Blancs
Brut
Chardonnay (mainly), Colombard, Ugni Blanc
Mercurey, Burgundy, France
Founder & winemaker: Alexandre Graffard

Shining light yellow with bouncing bubbles. Lovely scents start popping out of pears, apples, a  green melonish vibe that turns into rising dough & then becomes or rather alongside a toasty brioche, and lemon/lime/Valencia orange spritz/zest. Such a crisp & elegant sip with lemon/lime, all sorts of pears & apples, and a smidge of sorrel. It’s just lively, bright and HAPPY. 🍾

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Delicious and rounds out everything…really surprising.

Alexandre Graffard caught the wine bug pretty early in life, or as he said, he was “initiated as a private sommelier as soon as I was 7 years old”. Following in his grandfather’s spirit, he also established his own vineyards and named the family winery after him (Henri Champliau) who sounds like quite an interesting man. He had a great love for Burgundy, fabulous food & wine, his vines, and horses. His first Thoroughbred filly, “Wild Miss” was quite the racer winning the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp-Paris, and was mother to the colt Petrone. This horse turned out to be a chip off the old racing block, and was sold to the actor Eddie Constantine. What better way to honor & remember this noble creature that was “one of the best horses of his generation in 1968 in France and the USA” than naming this fine Brut after him. 🏇

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #brut #sparklingwine #bubbly  #Burgundy #France #winebow #HenriChampliau #docwinebar #docwineshop

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A Conversation Sparkler

STEL+MAR
Sparkling Rosé
Barbera, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Syrah
Grapes sourced from sustainable vineyards, always made with 100% California grapes, and eco-friendly packaging
Lodi, California
Founders: Chris Noll & Justin Dumitrescu
Winemaker: Philip Zorn

Light pinky rose tinged gold bubbly. There’s scents of a tiny orchard blossom blend, small mix of fresh picked strawberries & raspberries, and a gentle touch of a cool mineral river rock. Sipping and it’s crisp, bright & light on its feet with again those fresh strawberries & raspberries, a little cherry blush, drop of citrus sparkle with a twinge of Sprite. This is one happy, friendly glass that is sure to spark a conversation.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: I just can’t

STEL+MAR’s wines are easy drinkers with a good heart. They’re meant to bring people together through what’s inside the bottle & outside like the label art by Stephanie Cheng. Check out her work, it’s pretty impressive and there’s a great IG video of her printing process. For those of you who have never worked with screens, there’s a lot to it depending on how many colors are in the piece. Takes me back to my grad school days so much I can almost smell the ink. Now back to the “good heart” part, each bottle of wine sold gives back part of its proceeds to the National Park Trust and in April donations are doubled. When I was a kid, summer vacations entailed the family packing up the station wagon and driving all over visiting as many parks as possible (man, those hot paint pots stink but are so beautiful). My parents wanted to instill in me awe, respect and a love to want to preserve them, and right now is a darn good time to show how much we need our protected lands and everything that grows, resides, or erupts in them. 🏞️🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #sparklingwine #worldbyglass #nationalparktrust #california #stelandmar #vinewinenyc

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Lingering Over The Last Glass

Domaine de La Taille aux Loups (Jacky et J.P. Blot)
Brut Tradition
100% Chenin Blanc
Certified organic, indigenous yeasts, no sugar, hand harvested
Montlouis-sur-Loire, France
Jean-Phillipe Blot

Golden shine with fine bubbles. Sniff and up floats a little croissant or toasty pastry, a zesty bit of lime, lemon cream pie, as it grows there’s also an apple blossom or 2, apple/pear baked, and a scratch of tangelo zest. Sipping…it’s tickling & tingling on my tongue with all of the scents, a crisp & bright clean mineral/stainless elegance, lemon & lime keep dancing but more than just zest with a smidge of kumquat, and on the very back a bit of poached pear or actually maybe quince…yeah, it’s quince. It’s a glass of pure celebration.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just don’t

Many years ago Jean-Phillipe joined his father in winemaking at the age of 16, and now he is at the helm after his father’s passing in 2023. I never had an opportunity to meet him but through this bottle I think I have a glimpse into his dream. Found out that earlier in his life he was a paratrooper, and thanks to his brother was turned on to wine which led to being a wine broker and then his curiosity and passion led him to become a winemaker. In the late 80s, he picked up 8 ha in Montlouis-sur-Loire (Domaine de La Taille aux Loups) and focused not on Vouvray but Chenin Blanc. There were ups and downs but his resilience and determination paid off. He became an acclaimed winemaker, one of the finest in Loire, and a champion of Chenin Blanc. As brilliant of a wine figure he was, there are so many words people use to describe him in tribute..he’s generous, friendly, welcoming, so very kind, wanting to share his knowledge & joy of tastings, and he was so loved by so many. I’m down to my last glass, savouring it and raising it as a salute to Jacky & also J.P. as he carries on the traditions. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #brut #sparklingwine #bubbly  #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #loirevalley #cheninblanc  #skurnikwines #domainedelatailleauxloups #docwinebar #docwineshop

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A Sparkling Future

Langmann
Pet Nat 2017
Gelber Muskateller
“Sustainable Austria” seal by the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association
Steiermark, Austria
The Langmann Family: Stefan & Anna (husband & wife), Günther & Stefan junior (sons), and Daniela (Stefan Jr’s wife)

Orange gold with an impressive head like an IPA. As I walked back from the kitchen after pouring scents of pineapple, pine needles, mango, a little IPAish vibe, tangerine, mandarins,  whiff of magnolia, hyacinth /jasmine, and almonds. Sipping and that head is still lingering. All of the scents are in the taste with a bit more orange/mandarin, papaya, teenist smidge of coconut, sprig of hay that waves bye, puff of peat/smoke that fades, pinch of nutmeg & a slight little warm spice burn on the very back, and once again that IPA vibe. It’s crisp, dry and so much fun!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: it’s ok

The Langmann family have been working the vines since 1746, and are still devoted with 3 current generations living and working on their land. I love it when I hear about people that truly respect the earth and take on the mantle of what their footprint will leave behind. As mentioned before they received recognition for sustainability for over a decade which means, “the rows of vines are planted with a variety of grasses and flowers, the vineyards are free of herbicides and insecticides, the winery relies on 100% green electricity and offers fair working conditions for all employees.” That is how you strive toward a better & sparkling future for all. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #sparklingwine #petnat #PétNat  #winelover #winetasting #winetime #wineislove #organic #sustainable #austria  #MonikaCahaSelections #weingutlangmann #Langmann #vinewine #vinewinenyc

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“Work It! I need a glass of…”

Nuria Renom
Can Barceló
Les Cantarelles
Adda 2022
100% Parellada
Vino Espumoso
Organic with biodynamic treatments
Sant Martí del Sarroca, Alt Penedès, Spain
Nuria Renom and Arola Tous-Galí

Cloudy almost sea monkey yellow with VERY active bubbles. Open it over a sink. Don’t be me… Sniff and recommend y’all give it a little time out since it’s pretty natural (think forest floor/Yellowstone paint pots with a bit of hay). It does back off and is joined with a squeeze of lemon oven roasted pears & apples, pie spice, I think a little pastry, salt, and yellow plums. Rolling around on my tongue and it’s so refreshing & lively, all of the lovely lemon & bit of a tart, crisp yellow & green pears, same goes for apples, very young yellow plums but skinless, smidge of nectarine and Lemonhead candy. All in all it’s very bright with a delightful bit of excitement.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: like cheddar on apple pie

Think about doing a shift as a sommelier at a hip bustling bar in Barcelona (Bar Brutal) then after hopping the train back home to vines that need tending & wine that needs making and then put the cycle on repeat. That was Nuria’s life while working with her natural thinking friends’ grapes. Now she & Arola (her partner) have their own farm, Can Barceló, where they have grown their project Les Cantarelles. I believe that all those long hours, traveling back & forth (that must have been so exhausting), and passion have truly paid off…just try this joyful bubbling sparkler and it will exuberantly let you know they worked it, yes they definitely made it, and the glass sizzles with Missy Elliott’s lyrics, “this the kinda beat that go ra-ta-ta-ra-ta-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta-ta-ta”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #sparklingwine #petnat #PétNat  #winelover #winetasting #winetime #wineislove #organic #Spain #josepastorselections #LesCantarelles #NuriaRenom #vinewine #vinewinenyc

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Back To The Origin

Mas del Serral de Pepe Raventós
Ancestral
Viñya del Mas 2018
100% Xarel·lo
Natural sparkling wine
No. Bottles 1863
No disgorging, no dosage, brut nature, organic/biodynamic, vineyard work all by hand or horse
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain

Hazy yellow gold with a little sheen of green (kind of IPAish) with fine bubbles & deepens over time from the bottom up. Sniffing and it’s creamy at first like an Oreo center and later turns into a tiny drizzle of honey on top of sourdough, lovely pears (reminds me a bit of Poire Williams), white peaches, apple pie, and a light citrus blend (like Valencia oranges smooth & Mandarin). Tasting all of the scents are there…especially the pears with a twist of lemon & lime tingle/sizzle on my lips and tongue, there’s even a little Key lime pie, pinch of salt & mineral lick, and smidge of hay that fades fast. Very bright and full of life.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: just don’t

When you see Pepe’s last name you know he comes from a long line of winegrowers and the prestigious winery Raventós I Blanc (documented since 1497 & one of the oldest wine producers in the world). His grandfather Josep Maria championed the creation of DO Cava and passed the torch to Pepe’s father Manuel who was joined by Pepe who like his grandfather had a dream and withdrew from the DO Cava in favor of a being recognized for their Conca del Riu Anoia that would rise to a higher standard. To be included there would be a higher min. paid to growers, vineyards must be at least 10 yrs old, native & organic, smaller yields, and a longer time on the lees (18 month min). Pepe’s project Mas del Serral is a plot within the Raventós vineyard (Clos del Serral) where they return to the ancestral farming traditions. It brings together humans, vines, and animals living & working together in harmony to tell the story of their and their land’s origin. As he is quoted, “What I love is to taste a wine and that it takes us to the place where it was made”. ❤️🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #cava #sparklingwine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #biodynamic #Spain #raventos #masdeserral #vinewine #vinewinenyc

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When Life Brings You Smoke Make…

Matthiasson Family Vineyards
Tendu
Rosé Bubbles
Sparkling wine
Sustainable
Dunnigan Hills
Napa, CA
Winemakers & Farmers: Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson

Crack the can and it’s a rosy/orange amber pour (or you could just drink straight from the can). Sniff and everything is light & breezy with cherries, raspberries, strawberries, boysenberries, a lemon/lime spritz, and a touch of funk that fades. Kicking back and sipping and again there’s cherry, raspberries, strawberries, boysenberries, orange/lemon/lime zing & zest with a little tangelo, seltzer sparky salt, and just so bright and light.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

This perky and easily transportable sparkler came about from the Matthiasson’s ability to persist through the 2020 West Coast wildfires which caused devastation and trouble for so many and gave them a fear of smoke taint. Instead of making any reds that year, those grapes went into their rosés. A smart move and here’s to hoping in the future all those fires and smoke fade away.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #wineinacan #sparklingwine #Rosé #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Napa #california #Tendu #matthiassonwine #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Jump On The Train

Ruhlmann
Signature Jean Charles NV
Brut Sparkling
Crémant d’Alsace AOP
Pinot Blanc 60%, Auxerrois 30%, Pinot Gris 10%
Dambach-la-Ville, Alsace, France
Ruhlmann-Schutz family

Gold with tiny active bubbles. Floating up to my nose are pears, winter/dark apples, apricot, a smidge of Spanish peanuts, a light citrus blend, and teensy funk that fades. All of the scents are in the taste with a depth I’m trying to figure out along with salt, again a touch of good fading funk, and everything is dry, crisp & delightful.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Everything becomes more alive so perfect!

The Ruhlmann-Schutz family has over 300 years of history in Dambach-la-Ville that started with one Hungarian knight planting a few vines. Over the years, their family grew and so has their expanse from a few hectares in Alsace to now around 40; and then in 2015  added a new winery (30 ha) in Corbières, Château Valmont. This family is filled with enthusiasm for their wines and Dambach-la-Ville, They even have a “petit train” that will start in the town where they’ll teach you about it and their history, the vineyards, why each grape is special, and then to a tasting in their cellar. What a lovely way to spend a day. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting  #wineislove #winetime #winetrain #brut #sparklingwine #Alsace #France #worldbyglass #cognacone #ruhlmannschutz #docwinebar #docwineshop @cognacone @ruhlmannschutz @docwineshop @docwinebar