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Float Like a Butterfly

Domaine le Roc des Anges
L’effet Papillon
Cueillette 2019
IGP Côtes Catalanes
Roussillon, France
Biodynamic, sustainable, organic
90% Grenache Blanc, 10% Macabeu
Winemaker Couple: Marjorie and Stéphane Gallet

Light refreshing straw yellow. Post opening tangerine and lemon pop out followed by pear, some salt and ginger. The pears and still here in the first sip along with tangerine, cantaloupe, and light ginger. It’s just silky smooth and fits like an elegant glove that goes all the way up your arm and has those tiny buttons that are just asking to be taken out to the ball.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it all sooooo sweet

Marjorie and Stéphane started from different places yet both in the countryside and a love for outdoors. When they both ended up at agronomy school in Montpellier, a mutual love for horses brought them together. What better way to fall in love, but on horseback. Seriously romantic! Wine love also was thrown into the mix and it grew and after years of learning through teachers, process, curiosity, and from each other, they are now thriving at Domaine le Roc des Anges. It’s rugged northern Roussillon farming, but since they are biodynamic, it brings the best out of the grape. Isn’t it often the case that the more difficult path often produces the best in the end. It also doesn’t hurt that they gently hand harvest when it’s nice and cool. Probably about as gentle as gliding on butterfly wings.

@vinewinenyc #lerocdesanges #domainelerocdesanges #petitpoiscorp #sussexwinemerchants @cheezits #cheezit #wine #whitewine @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #sustainable #biodynamic #organic #naturalwine #GrenacheBlanc #Macabeu #Roussillon #France #igpcotescatalanes #thebutterflyeffect

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Follow the Moon

Hilberg Pasquero
29.5 Per Alessandra
Barbera d’Alba 2016
100% Barbera
Vino Rosso
Priocca, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
Biodynamic, organic, sustainable farming, and native yeasts
Winemaker couple: Miklo and Annette (Hilberg) Pasquero

Dark violet velvet drapery. Breathing in cherry, plum, cinnamon and a warm hug. Post hug you’re gifted a bouquet of wild flowers and something rustic like tobacco or dried apple leaves on the ground. Elegant and touch rugged on my tongue at the same time. There’s silky cherry, rustic plum, blackberries, and leather. The word I absolutely hate to use for wine…it’s sexy…I’d say let’s all take a roll in the hay but none of that funky stuff in this one.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: of all it’s more leather (thwack and SMack) and still smooth

29.5 get’s it’s namesake from the lunar phase cycle which is 29.5 days from New Moon to New Moon. So much of our own existence is governed by these cosmic push an pulls. Throughout history farmers used cycles to decide when to plant, when to grow, when to pick, when to harvest and even when to bottle. Some people think nah, this has to do with pagan traditions, but the more I read about biodynamic farming, it seems pretty sound to me. The days in the cycle have groupings of root, flower, leaf and fruit. Fruit days are supposed to be when time for winemaking is at its best and that period just happens to fall into the fire signs. Since I’m a Sagittarius, does that mean that I may have a winemaking adventure in my future? Or does that just mean I should open a special bottle on my birthday….which is coming up pretty soon…hint, hint, hint.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @HilbergPasquero @vignaioli_selection @cheezits #cheezit #wine #naturalwine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Priocca #Cuneo #Piedmont #organic #sustainable #biodynamic #Barbera #HilbergPasquero

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Your Home, Roots, and Origins

Kumusha
Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Wine of Origin Western Cape
Breedekloof Valley, South Africa
Sustainable, biodynamic, minimal intervention and natural fermentation
Winemaker/blender, greatly lauded sommelier, and “wine whisperer”: Tinashe Nyamudoka

Bright beautiful ruby. Wafts of cherry, plum, strawberries, and  pine needles. Drinking bright cherries, juicy strawberries and raspberries, rosemary, singed orange peel, and coffee laced chocolate. This is one darn easy drinking luscious wine.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: just makes the wine deeper

Tinashe Nyamudoka has one heck of a list of sommelier awards, certifications, panel memberships, wine judging positions; and then to read him modestly not calling himself a winemaker but a blender (master blender though), just wow. He may be part of the collaborative work of his brand, but either way, these wines would not exist if it were not for his experience, expertise and the true heart he puts into each one. Tinashe is originally from Zimbabwe and this is where the name Kumusha is derived. In Zimbabwean Shona it means “your home”, “your roots” or “your origins”. Well he is definitely staying true to the land and grapes roots with his creations. Tinashe, in case you happen to read this, I think I’m on my way to becoming a total fan girl of your work.

@vinewinenyc @KumushaWines @baobabwines @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #CabernetSauvignon #BreedekloofValley #SouthAfrica #WesternCape #sustainable #biodynamic #sommelier #TinasheNyamudoka

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Absolutely All Natural

Crealto
Vino Rosso “Agricolae” 2018
Alfiano Natta, Italy
100% Barbera
Organic (certified) and biodynamic (but not certified, because getting certified costs a pretty penny)
Winemaker: Luigi Armanino

Shining dark velvet ruby. Oh here come the lovely cherry scents, plums, light earth, and berries of all sorts from strawberries to blue berries and cherry Jolly Rancher. Nice powerful feel rolling around in my mouth. There’s cherries, plums (dancing in my head), faint raspberries, and a touch of orange. Natural darkness and rosemary that turns into sweet loving velvety embrace. This will keep all the extended family, friends, and in-laws happy and away from political discussions during the holiday season. Whether online or in person, they will be too busy talking about how much they love this wine.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nice pair. A little more earthy and more bitter herbs

Crealto’s owners, Eleonora Costa and Luigi Armanino, made a decision in 2013, that I’m starting to see in many natural winemakers. They bucked the AOC panel and went with declassifying their wines, so they can stay true to their vinification path. They also have rooms to stay over and from what I’m seeing a beautiful restaurant with a very reasonably priced tasting menu. Everything is grown by them or either locally sourced and organic. The wholemeal flours and oils are even made on their farm. Just scrumptious all around!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @ele_crealto  @cheezits @bowlerwine #cheezit #wine #naturalwine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #AlfianoNatta #Italy #organic #sustainable #biodynamic #Barbera #crealto

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Old Vines Make Fine Wine

Terres Dorées
Beaujolais L’Ancien Vieilles Vignes 2018
100% Gamay
Charnay, France
Organic, sustainable, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Winemaker: Jean-Paul Brun

Swirling a deep glistening Gamay garnet glass. Fragrant strawberries, raspberries, and fresh cherries fill my nose and this is a breath of happiness. Once I take a sip, I find all sorts of berry juice from strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and more. There’s also some rugged cherry, and lots of citrus popping. Earth, cedar, and some sage that all say drink this baby NOW!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: juicy fruity

This lovely wine with the very telling name “L’Ancien” comes from some of the oldest vines at Terres Dorées which are anywhere from 40 to 60 years. Nice having a youngster birthed from such aged lineage. Instead of going carbonic with his wines, Jean-Paul Brun has stuck with the traditional Burgundian vinification method where the grapes are lovingly hand harvested, destemmed, and only indigenous yeasts that sprout forth are allowed. Jean-Paul sees this as the way to allow the to Gamay shine and also not to be forgotten the sustainable land where it all started from. Sometimes and more often than not, the natural ways of the past are where we should return.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny #TerresDorées #terresdorees @bowlerwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #naturalwine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #biodynamic #jeanpaulbrun #gamay #Charnay #France #Beaujolais

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Forever Learning and Always the Artist

Artisan Wines – DI Franz Schneider
Zweigelt Neusiedlersee
DAC Reserve 2015
100% Zweigelt
Halbturn, Burgenland, Austria
Sustainable farming
Winemaker & owner: Franz Schneider

Velvet dark deep ruby. Breathing in oak, plum, deep cherry, berries, and candy cola. First sip and cherry combined with dark goth plum. It’s sweet but not overly. There’s also some woodiness and coffee, with of all things juniper berries thrown in to the mix.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: juicy and less wood

Franz Schneider, his wife Ulrike Schmied, and their adorable twins make up this picture perfect wine family. At an early age, the twins are even getting their taste of the business and learning the grapes through homegrown fresh grape juice. Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve is made from their oldest Zweigelt, planted back in 1972, and Franz selects only the best of the harvest. From what I’m reading it sounds like he is constantly learning and adapting with each vintage and thus the name “Artisan” suits well. Whatever knowledge he keeps gleaning, it’s working in this beautifully refined bottle. Also a side note, there’s recipes on the site that you might like to pair with their wines. Just click on the pics to get the full instructions for a wonderful meal. The pumpkin risotto looks perfect for this time of the year.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @artisanwines @steephillwine @cheezits #steephillwine #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Zweigelt #Halbturn #Austria

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Where’s My Burger?

Château d’Oupia
Les Hérétiques 2018
Pays d’Hérault IGP
Languedoc, France
Carignan 90%, Syrah 10%
Sustainable farming
Owner: Marie-Pierre Iché
Winemaker: Laurent Battle

Beautiful shining ruby just like those famous slippers. Inhaling buttery that goes away to develop into flowers, cherries, raspberries, plums, and earthy dried pine straws. Sipping dark cherry and dried cherries, raspberries, blueberries and a smidge of pepper. This is screaming for a really good fatty burger, or maybe that’s me screaming for that burger. Where on earth is it? Oh, and don’t forget that side of salt and pepper fries to go with that…Sugarburg any chance you’re delivering at this hour?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes the wine more bold and structured.

Marie-Pierre Iché and her mother are now in charge of the Château (along with winemaker Laurent Battle), but Marie-Pierre’s father, André Iché, paved the way for them. As others in Languedoc were just selling their harvest for basically nothing to a co-op, he decided to invest in more sites that he knew would in the end produce in his favor. Being the only independent winemaker around, he took full  advantage of the wonderful terroir and produce quality yet affordable wines. The tales I’m reading, this was an amazing man who had a deep romance with his land, not just for the soil but also the historical beauty that surrounded him. Raising a glass to him and his family, who continue his dream!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @chateauoupia @louisdressnerselections @sugarburgbk @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits  #sustainable #naturalwine #LesHérétiques #France #Languedoc #Syrah #Carignan

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Pretty In Pink

Wölffer Estate Vineyard
‘Pink’ Gin
Distilled from their famous Rosé wine with estate grown hand picked juniper berries and 5 other botanicals
Sagaponack, Hamptons, NY
Sustainable farming
Winemaker/Distiller: Roman Roth

Very light pink glow. Pine and juniper berries hit your nose first and then it smells like grappa. First try is on the rocks. It’s a delicate sip, but has a kick that comes back. There’s a feel of a peppermint, but not the taste. Again it’s piney and juniper berries with a slight licorice feel at the end. And of all things, do I taste grape? Now, here goes it neat. There’s sage, pine, some floral bits and that grappa-like thing going on that is tingling my lips.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: turns me into a flame blowing dragon. Try at your own risk.

Not only does it look like a bottle of romance, you’ll know it is once it hits your lips. IWANT design gets the credit for this label melding what went into making this delightful gin. Check out their graceful projects. Quite a nice partnership with other Wölffer wines and cider. Also giving a little nod to my absolute favorite pink…you had to know this was inevitable: The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty in Pink

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @wolfferwine @iwantdesign @cheezits #cheezit #wine #gin #spirits #grappa #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #sustainable #Sagaponack #Hamptons #NY #NewYork #PsychedelicFurs #PrettyinPink

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A Good Heart

Fondazione Villa Russiz
Les Enfants 2017
Venezia Giulia IGT
Bianco
Capriva del Friuli (GO) Italy
Pinot Grigio 50%, 25% Pinot Bianco, 20% Ribolla Gialla and 5% Sauvignon Blanc
Sustainable farming

A glistening pale gold glass. There’s nose tingling melon, pear, clean salty air, a touch of musky, and citrus/a little grapefruit. Lovely tastes of peaches, pear, sweet apples, honey, and it’s creamy with a mineral/slatey end.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: less creamy and a bit of citrus tart

This is a wine with a good heart that gives back. In 1868, the French Count Theodor de la Tour married Austrian Countess Elvine Ritter de Zàhony and her father gifted them his estate in Russiz (in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region). Theodor saw the potential for a vineyard and set off to work bringing in French cuttings which were also rumored to be in bouquets of flowers he would bring Elvine. She had other aspirations, and founded a school for girls who were often left behind since elementary school was only for boys. She also championed care for homeless and orphaned young girls too. WWI came about and Villa Russiz was turned into a military hospital, and sadly Elvine passed away. Another Countess who happened to be a nurse in the hospital picked up where she left off. Countess Adele Cerruti not only continued but expanded her work with taking on reconstructing the Villa post war. Currently Fondazione Villa Russiz houses “the Casa Elvine” Group Home that takes in minors and fills all their needs from having a computer lab, a clinic, a kitchen on each floor, and gives them the feeling of a true secure home environment. All of this is funded by sales of their wines. Not going to lie, I’m tearing up a little learning about this wonderful place.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @villarussiz @wilsondaniels @cheezits #cheezit #wine #whitewine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #sustainable #villarussiz #PinotGrigio #PinotBianco #RibollaGialla #SauvignonBlanc #caprivadelfriuli #italy

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We Could All Use a Heroine (or a Sidekick) Right Now

Iconic Wines
Sidekick 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon
Lodi, California
Sustainable farming
Winemaker: Birk O’Halloran

Deep ruby shine. Inhaling cherry and dried cherries, plum and prune, flowers, and of all things pine sap like the same smell from the small forest near my grandparents home. There’s a deep richness and some smoke. Wow, first sip and it packs a delicious punch! There’s deep sweet cherries, dark plums, raspberries and blackberries. It has some rustic earthiness, then juicy, and here comes the velvet, and at last a small touch of licorice. Fabulous!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: dried fruit explosion

Iconic Wines was started by Birk O’Halloran and Karl Antle (college buddies), and according to their website, Birk made his career by “drinking his way up the supply chain.” Honestly from what I’m also seeing, he did this with a lot of hard work and picked up influence both from California and European styles. They have two lines, Heros and Sidekicks. Sidekicks are the best bang for your buck. Made from locally sourced grapes from different vineyards that they rely and trust. I can vouch for this reasonably priced wine. If I didn’t know the original sticker, I would have thought it was a lot more $$. On top of such a fab wine, just check out their labels by artist Cliff Chiang. He’s known for working with Lucasfilm, DC Comics, GQ Magazine, ACLU, etc, and very importantly his and Brian K. Vaughan’s comic book series “Paper Girls” which has been green-lit on 7/23/20, by Amazon for a television adaption (exciting!). In short, the wine and the labels are totally kick ass.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @iconicwine @cliffchiang @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Lodi #California #CabernetSauvignon #hero #heroine #sidekick #papergirls #cliffchiang