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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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There’s Even A 🦇 Motel!

LangeTwins
Sand Point
Pinot Noir 2023
Certified sustainable
Acampo, Lodi, CA
The Lange family

Cherry red stained glass. Sniffing and there’s cherries with at start a whiff of portobello, a puff of smoke emerges with a dash of baker’s chocolate, plums, raspberries, cranberries, dried mission figs, and tangelo zest. Sipping and again there’s cherries joined this time with tobacco, the humus, a baker’s chocolate, dark plums, a touch of earth, a cranberry lively spark, figs are both dried & fresh this time, tingle of warm spice & orange zest, and something bitter like a bite of fresh dandelion but lovely.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: YES PLEASE

The Lange family originally hailed from Germany, but in 1870 dropped down roots in Lodi, CA. They dry farmed melons & grain but in early 1900s invested in a vineyard and the fun began. The twins (Randy & Brad) were fully invested in not only growing the best grapes they could but also branched to winemaking, building an impressive winery, expanding, and going sustainable. Their children (5th gen) are also now involved, and I’m betting so will their kids in the long run.

They have 3 labels of wine and this Pinot Noir is from their Sand Point line. Named after land on a bank of the Mokelumne River and “was their 1st” in their habitat restoration projects. Before being infringed on many, many years ago by people farming the lands, it was from what they describe a beautiful, peaceful “native habitat supporting local flora and fauna along the river’s edge”. Now, for the past 30 years the family has been giving back to nature by “nuturing oak seedlings, planting native bushes, erecting boxes for nesting wood ducks and oaks and perches for hawks (even a bat motel!) – evolved into a multi-generational vision to reestablish a native corridor, connecting miles of our lands in support of symbiosis between agriculture and nature.” This makes me love this family and wine even more. 🍷

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

 

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No Cheez-Its For You

Club 44
Rosé 2025
Grenache & Syrah blend
Méditerranée IGP
Provence, France

Shining light pink salmon. Let it breathe a little or maybe more than a little post cork popping because there’s a lingering old burning fan belt about to snap smell. There’s grapefruit & tangerines, hibiscus, honeysuckle, and white peaches. Sip and there’s raspberries, strawberries, white cherries, white peaches, lemon/lime/tangelo splash, and a sprinkle of salty sea breeze. Ok, I can’t do this…if I want to be honest a lot of people will kick back this bottle and not have a second thought. Unfortunately, I can’t just turn off my brain. Something about that fan belt hanging around and then there’s a flavor that reminds me too much of Hello Kitty candy and an overwhelming pinkness that old school Barbie would embrace. So it’s a no for me, and don’t even bother cracking out the Cheez-Its. This wine is going to get very well acquainted with the kitchen sink.

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

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Small Roots Branching Out

Casa Vinicola Botter
Tor del Colle
Pecorino 2025
Terre D`Abruzzo IGT
Organic
Headquarters: Fossalta di Piave, Veneto, Italy
Luca, Annalisa and Alessandro Botter (3rd gen)

Pale straw starlight. Breathing in pears, light tangerine, white peaches, apricots, and a pinch of a blend of fresh mint/basil/fennel. Everything I’m smelling is here with honeycomb, apples, grapefruit, green watermelon rind, a bit of walnut on the back, and those herbs are tingling a bit liveliness.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: most definitely

Casa Vinicola Botter started out with small roots in 1928 by Carlo & Maria Botter. They started as a small store selling wine in casks & demijohns (I love those bulbous beautiful bottles) and now they have grown into a Veneto based venture that’s keeping with the regions traditions & embracing the future while also branching out to further territories with their Toe del Colle line. Even with all this growth they are still family run, and they care about the imprint they leave on their lands, all that reside & grow in it, and also our planet. As it says on their importer’s site, “Their environmentally-friendly outlook can be seen in their efforts to minimize pollution, waste, and reliance on non-renewable energy across the production chain. This mission also inspired Casa Vinicola Botter to achieve their certified-organic status, which they have held since 2009”. I say bravo on their looking forward to pave a better life for the next generations, and also on this lovely Pecorino that helped me weather another hot NY night!

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

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An Adventure Story

Lulumi
Rosé 2025
Pays d’Oc IGP
Natural wine
Languedoc, France
Carrie and Philippe Marchal

Blushing salmon sunrise. Sniffing and there’s strawberries, raspberries, touch of blueberries & gooseberry, cherries, mango, gentle papaya, pink grapefruit & tangelo but all easy going, and fresh spring mineral. All of the scents are there with a slight good buttery feel. It’s fresh, lovely, and oh so good. There’s just cut open watermelon & Jolly Ranchers, that citrus spark is still there but at first is an actor in the background that wanders it way toward center stage but then blends back into the crowd, smidge of sugar cane, and a lick of mineral river rock.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nope

Carrie & Philippe’s story started in the NY wine business. He was at Boulud’s “Daniel” and she was a wine rep. It’s warming my heart wondering how they realized that romantic spark had been lit. Anyway, they’re married and have two kids (girls), Lucienne and Emilie (nicknames are Lulu & Mimi) hence where they came up for the name of their wines. Now let’s backtrack to 2015, that’s when they left NY to go on their great adventure in France. They began their new life in a small town where they could just absorb and revel in the countryside, and their wines are all about that feeling. The beauty and freshness of the land, its people, the passing seasons, and all the new experiences coming their way. As they say on their site, “This story is about our adventure, and the comfort spending precious time with friends and family while sharing a meal and a bottle of wine. This is a love story, and the best love stories never end.” ❤️

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

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Hard Work + Passion = A Happy Successful Life

Pascal Janvier
Coteaux Du Loire Blanc 2023
Chenin Blanc
Farming: Lutte Raisonnée, hand harvested, native yeast
Loire, France
Pascal &  Dominique Janvier 

Light gold/straw twinkling starlight. Breathing in green apples & pears, mango, guava, pinch of cloves, a little jasmine & wisteria, and a lemony citrus blend. Everything I’m smelling is in the taste with a zippy citrus spark, apples are more round, a little grass in the back side that shyly comes out & waves hi & blends into the background again. The guava smidge of musk is joined by I think musk melon that rears it’s head once in a while. It’s bright with also a backbone and a strong sense of where it was born.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: definitely

I love reading how people find their wine path. Pascal’s parents did own land with vineyards but making wine wasn’t their thing. He also ended up in school to be a butcher but then something happened and I would love to know what because he changed his mind at 30 to head off and study the whole wine growing/making package. It took a ton of hard work & dedication to get to where they are now with 66 parcels (over 9 ha).  Now he and his wife Dominique are growing & making some of the best dry Chenin Blanc in the world. They are just another wonderful example that if you follow your passion with all your heart, you can create a happy successful life. ❤️

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Sun-kissed Glass of Joy

Maison Idiart
Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Sancerre AOP
Sancerre, France
Winemaker & founder: Nicolas Idiart

Light straw yellow with a touch of gold. There’s nose tickling grapefruit, Valencia orange, lemon, & a citrus blend with zest & all, orange blossoms, light spring flowers, and fresh cut grass with just cut & stripped apple branches. All of the scents are in the sip with a bigger spark of everything, parsley, smidge of fresh picked oregano, tangelo, good lick of lime, gooseberries, and a shake of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

This is now my 3rd bottle by Maison Idiart. 1st was the Pinot Noir 2022, which was quite a delight and a wonderful introduction to Nicolas’ achievements, his “modern day wine company” that works with select natural growers whose grapes sing from where they are born, and passion for reducing carbon footprints with their “keg wines”. Albeit this is not a wine on tap, but it’s a bottled burst of Spring sliding into Summer that is a sun-kissed splash of joy that I need right now. While sipping a glass, I can almost hear a dawn chorus of migrating birds twittering & warbling away! 🪺

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

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Magical Happy Accident

Agrícola Calcárea
El Descontrol 2024
Clarete Rosé
Moscatel Romano (mostly) & Tintilla de Rota
Organic, natural, sustainable
Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Andalucia, Spain
Juan Jurado Gomez

Magenta tinged warm sunset rose. Breathing in oranges & blossoms, lemon/lime, tangerine, whiff of smoke, gooseberry, pomegranate,  young raspberry & strawberry, and a teeny touch of hyacinth. In the taste there’s again oranges, lemon/lime, pomegranate, young strawberries, pinch of peach, a little watermelon/mango jolly rancher, and on the back clover leaves. There’s an elegant smooth feel but a tiny citrus tingle, and I want to say delicate, but there is a strong backbone that is full of confidence.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NOPE

El Descontrol was born from Juan working long harvest days and thus a lack of sleep. There wasn’t quite enough Moscatel Romano in the press, so he threw what he had available (Tintilla de Rota) to increase the pressure. Turns out he ended up with too much juice and just tossed it into a tank with no lid and well kind of forgot about it for 2 months. When he got back from Italy it was covered in thick flor so he took a chance of tasting it and this happy accident became something magical. Now we can all eagerly await this co-ferment each year. Cheers! 🍷

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Collaboration, Inclusion & Breaking Down Cultural Barriers

Caruso E Minini
Arancino
Bianco Macerato
Catarratto
Terre Siciliane IGP
Organic & sustainable
Marsala, Trapani, Sicily, Italy
Wine team: Stefano Caruso & Mario Minini (co-founders), and Giovanna & Rosanna (Stefano’s daughters)

Light orange golden and as it opens it deepens. Sniffing Valencia orange & blossoms, honeysuckle, mandarins, light tangerine, persimmon, wild flowers and sea breeze. Sipping and all of the scents are right there along with fresh picked basil, marjoram, thyme, parsley and a little shake of salt. It’s so crisp, fresh and delightful.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Big yes

This is my 2nd Caruso E Minini wine, and I just love their labels, but I didn’t know the history until now. Turns out the illustrations are created by people from Turin’s Laboratorio Zanzara. The program is a non-profit that is “dedicated to the integration and creativity of people with intellectual and behavioral disabilities, under the direction of Gianluca Cannizzo”. They work from pics & objects from Marsala & then combine their ideas with a touch of Matisse’s style. While creating, they can share ideas, chat, and grow. As it says on Laboratorio Zanzara’s site, “I make, therefore I am” is the starting point to find fulfillment, both as individuals and as a group. It’s a path of giving back and active participation in society”. The collaboration of the winery & lab “exemplifies how art and business can come together, proposing a new language capable of breaking down cultural barriers; a fusion of taste and beauty, destined to leave an indelible mark on the mind and heart”. Cheers to this project and their others that are a creation of love.