Posted on

Keep It Chill

Swick Wines
Chillable
2022 American Red Wine
Mourvedre, Malbec, Verdelho, and Pinot Noir
Organic & practicing organic
Yakima, WA & Newburg, Oregon
Winemaker: Joe Swick

Do you remember that jiggling color of cranberry sauce that slid out of the can during the holidays…that color. Scents started emerging immediately of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, cherry& a little cherry blossoms too, apple/blueberry jelly bellies, dark plums dance through with some earth thrown in with orange zest, a touch of vanilla (or Oreo cream), violets, and the slightest bit of wisteria. First taste and there’s cherries/plums with depth, followed rapidly in the next sip of a mad delicious blend of raspstrawcranblackblueerry along with a tangy twist of all and a Skittle or two thrown in.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: sharpens all the flavors

Ok, as many of you know I love Swick Wines, and I’m betting a whole lot of y’all do too. When you see that distinctive font, you know you’re getting a winner. “Chillable” knocks it out of this blazing hot park with ease…oh, and take the optional advice on the  back label and don’t forget to fridge it. Love that they work with “historically farmed regional varieties” and also experiment with others to mix it all up. It’s like Joe is weaving the song of summer with his carefully selected grapes with this bottle…you know like that track you keep going back to and fuels your memories and keeps you moving and grooving through these bright months. What’s your go to tune? My latest is one by my favorite spinner Fatboy Slim and to my surprise it’s his 500th single. Check it and the video out, keep the Swick flowing, and keep it “chill”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #oregon #washington #worldbyglass #normancook #fatboyslim #swickwines #docwinebar #docwineshop

Posted on

Lighter On Their Feet

Djuce
Core Wines (their house wines)
Crispy White
Trebbiano
Organic & vegan
Abruzzo, Italy

Starlight with a blip of yellow green crayon. Breathing in and as it opens it starts off with Texas toast, then emerges honeydew & other melon balls, pears both crisp & full, fresh cool rained on paving stones that turn into creek rocks, and a smidge of wild chives/onions that I used to pick by the lake as a kid…that fresh sweet but savory green moment. All of the scents are in the sip with crisp green & crab apples, a lemon/lime crisp squish, and garden fresh peeled cucumbers. It’s easy-peasy fresh, crisp and lively.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: scrumptiously delicious

Djuce started popping up in my feeds maybe a week or so ago, so when I saw one in person of course had to try one. They work with organic/natural/biodynamic/like minded European winemakers and pair them with a cool assortment of artists whose work makes it a little hard to toss in recycling because you might want to make a little art shelf to display your collection (this can’s little creature is by Johan Alenius and check out the animation here https://www.instagram.com/p/C748e4ti7hE/?hl=en ). Speaking on recycling & the good it does for the environment…since they are using cans, it also trims back on their carbon footprint. They’re also very portable and can be cracked anywhere like hanging by the pool, hiking in the woods (just remember if you bring it with you, take it back out with you when you leave),  dancing at a concert under the stars, or like me chilling on a hot summer night at home. Anyway, I bet you’ll find your favorite sipping spot. Oh and I know a some of you are still iffy on wine in a can. I’ve had my share of stinkers too, but these are definitely a hit.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #wineinacan #cannedwine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #italy #Sweden #worldbyglass #JohanAlenius #zevrovineselections #docwinebar #docwineshop #djuce

Posted on

A Viking With A Cause

Vichingo
Lust For Light 2021
60% Valdiguié, 30% Gamay, 10% Gewurztraminer
Organic & biodynamic
North Coast, California
Collaboration of G.E.O. & Hobo Winery

Shining ruby with light garnet rim. Scents float up of cherry (fresh & dried), plum, raspberry, a white/pink pepper blend, and as time goes by roses. First sip after it has warmed up on this damn hot night is tangy with tart cherries mixed with a lemon squeeze, young raspberries & blackberries, green strawberries, yellow plums, pinch of that pepper blend lingering in the back, light boysenberry pops out over time, and realizing there’s a taste of whittled/stripped green fresh apple tree twig. This is one happy fresh chilled viking.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: kind of goes sour so step away from the box

Well, this was quite a surprise. Vichingo (Italian for viking) is a collaboration project with G.E.O (the creative, branding & design team of Garrett Morin & Elisabeth Dilk) and wineries/winemakers from Italy, Spain, California and possibly more that I haven’t found. This “lusty” bottle hails from CA & Hobo Wine Co. who are very invested in caring for the planet and all that inhabit it. Not only do they make decisions to work organic, biodynamic, or sustainable; they also consider the effect their packaging and transport into the big picture and their “winery is powered by local renewable sustainable geothermal energy via Sonoma County’s EVERGREEN CLEAN POWER program”. They’re also a member of “1% for the Planet and donate 1% of their gross revenue from all of their brands to non-profit environmental organizations. Since joining, they have donated over $171,459; $150,043 in cash and $21,271 in wine.” The more I hear of wineries, winemakers, distributors/importers, and sellers caring and taking in consideration to their impact & what they can do to help the world gives me hope and lightens my heart for the future.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #organic #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #winetime #wineislove #hobowine #hobowinecompany #vinewine #vinewinenyc

Posted on

Hello Michigan!

Neu Cellars
Crispy
Chardonnay 50%, Baco Noir 33%, Léon Millot 17%
Old Mission Peninsula AVA (Baco, LM), Leelanau Peninsula AVA (Chardonnay)
Sustainable & practicing organic
Honor, Michigan
John Keller & father

Looks like an inviting watermelon cranberry cocktail. Giving it a sniff and a river rock waves hi at first to fall back behind cherries, strawberries, raspberries, red currant, and a  light Lemon/lime zest. After a quick swig there’s a zippy slightly effervescent start or a crisp tingle tangle of tart cherry, raspberry,  pink & green strawberries, pomegranate, red currant again with a smidge of just picked blackberry, and a lime spritz that kind of makes me think of kiwi. It’s bright, clean, and a fun co-ferment party in a glass.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: I wasn’t expecting this but it makes all deeper

Well, this is my first Michigan wine and I’m so behind the times and not keeping up with the cool kids. Even this morning, I read an article  from theSkimm, “Forget Cape Cod — Northern Michigan Is the Beach Destination to Visit This Summer”. Turns out John’s family had a holiday place in N. Michigan and eventually they bought and built a little place which gave him a foothold to the area. When he decided to ditch biochemistry studies for wine & head to the west coast in an internship at Ravenswood which once again landed him in a lab environment, sampling, and doing the doing the science end of the “big wine business”. He must have realized he wanted more…something more natural…more authentic & fresh…less structured science and more in tune with nature which is an art. Finding his calling & his father’s retirement project, Neu was born. Grapes are sourced from a like mind and John has also planted an organic vineyard which “is located at the tip of Leelanau Peninsula AVA”. Now he’s making delicious, fresh wines that are as he says, “There are no additions or subtractions. If there were an ingredient label, it would read: grapes.” Cheers to Neu, Michigan, and keeping it real & “Crispy”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #organic #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #winetime #wineislove #michigan #neucellars #vinewine #vinewinenyc

Posted on

Drink Me…Share Me

AHA Wines
Bebame Red 2016
Cabernet Franc 98.5%, Gamay 1.5%
Sustainable
El Dorado County
Fair Play, Sierra Foothills, CA
Don Heistuman, Steve Edmunds, and Ron Mansfield

Shining ruby glass. Breathing in tomato leaf, white pepper, cherries, red currants, blackberries, and dried cranberries. Sipping crancherblackberries, red currants again, dark & medium plums (skins, pits & all), boysen & blueberries, and a smidge of white & bell pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: juicilicious

Seen this wine around for a while now and finally stepped up to the plate. As Alice’s curiosity gets the best of her with the “Bebame” or “drink me” potion, this bottle is so enticing too..luckily you won’t shrink like she did. Instead this easy drinker (chilled or not) will take your tastebuds on a trip to the “old world” via loving west coast “new world” hands and vines. So glad Don Heistuman found a way to scratch that European itch with a CA flair. BTW this bottle is one you’ll find on the under $20 shelf, so you’ll want to pick up a few because this is a wine to share with friends along with good conversation. ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #sustainable #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #wineislove #california  #bebame #ahawines #vinewine #vinewinenyc

Posted on

Marriage Of Art & Wine

Tenute Orestiadi
Molino a Vento
Carricante 2022
Terre Siciliane IGP
Organic, biodynamic, native yeasts
Gibellina, Sicily, Italy

Bright very festive orange. Breathing in oranges, mandarins, Circus Peanuts, orange blossoms & other orchard blooms on a hot evening, a creamy Orangesicle touch or vanilla, magnolia headiness, and over time persimmons and kumquat join in. Sipping and it’s just like the scents and ALL the different oranges, fun orange and pineapple gummy bears, ripe pears, and a tart zest pop. This carricante is purely delicious and very chuggable.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: walk away from the bag and don’t ruin this wine

Back in 1968, the Belìce earthquake shook and crumbled Gibellina; but from the devastation an idea of necessity was born that became an inspiration for the future. A new city was planned a little away from the old ruins, and these designs/buildings have now grown over the years into a contemporary art destination both open air and indoors. Early on it was championed by Ludovico Corrao (politician, lawyer & art lover) who convinced artists to come & create, and also helped launch the Orestiadi Foundation which led to the Estate, and Tenute Orestiadi (Molino a Vento is their line of monovarietal wines with organic grapes). All of their work is a beautiful marriage of art, wine, exhibitions, and a festival including artists in all forms from visual, music, poetry, theater, etc. There’s also a very cool collaboration with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts to be found in the cellar where the barrels are now wooden canvases, “immersed in the suspended time of the slow evolution of wine, contemporary art finds a new temple” in the “Barriques Museum”. Orestiadi are building and preserving this “essence of contemporary stories”.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Italy #Sicily #worldbyglass #art #omniwines #molinoavento #tenuteorestiadi #docwinebar #docwineshop @omniwines @tenuteorestiadi @docwinebar @docwineshop

Posted on

Bringing The Party

Domaine Villa Noria
Basic Instinct
Pet’Nat’ Blanc 2022
100% Pinot Noir
VDF
Organic, biodiverse, HVE 3, unfiltered, low carbon footprint
Montagnac, France
Vine grower: Cédric Arnaud; Winemaker: Fabien Gross

Light yellow slightly hazy starlight with green shimmers with tiny bubbles. Breathing in pears, apples (and pie), a little forest floor funk that turns into a light allspice with a puff of smoke, mango, mellow pineapple, vanilla/bakery goodness, touch of lemonade and tangelo. First sip and Whoo! There’s a lemon/lime zip, light orange, salt & lick of granite, and crisp pears & apples (again a little pie). Just so crisp, dry and pert.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: hmm makes it s bit more rich and then it’s like citrus fireworks

“Villa Noria is the dream-come-true of wine enthusiasts who have known how to unite their skills to create an estate from scratch.” Cédric & Fabien both came from vine & wine backgrounds, and when they formed Villa Noria they each brought their passion and individual creative strengths with a goal of going organic, sustainable, and overall naturally healthy. They also are the people you want to invite to a party especially if they are bringing Nori’Art Pet’Nat’ Blanc de noirs that’s IN A KEG! Which is said to be the first of its kind. It also can make a great conversation piece not just for what’s deliciously flowing from it but also the artwork wrapping the outside of the container by MOTTE (Mathieu Bonnet). He’s a fabulous graffiti/visual artist and illustrator and his work is colorful, vibrant and perfectly pairs with a zippy bubbly. Check out their video here and get ready to start your own sparkly fête. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #petnat #graffitiart #motte #mottemicmac #France #Montagnac #worldbyglass  #BoivinSelection #domaine_villa_noria #docwinebar #docwineshop @domaine_villa_noria @docwinebar @docwineshop

Posted on

A Welcome Kiss Of Spring

Argillae
Orvieto
DOC Superiore 2021
Grechetto, Procanico, Malvasia, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
Orvieto (just NW), Italy
The Bonollo Family
Latest generation: Giulia di Cosimo

Shining straw yellow with a green shimmer. During the pour scents start emerging and growing of mango, pineapple, guava, jasmine & freesia, grapefruit, splash of tangerine, limes, a salty breeze, and fresh rained on slate. Now onto the taste. There’s a lemon/lime spark, pineapple, mango, crabapples, drop of grapefruit sizzle, salt and that lick of slate again. It’s dry, fresh, zingy, and feels like a welcome kiss of Spring.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: blerg

“Our terroir is our soul and our main source of inspiration. It discloses all our potential and draws all our limits.”

Terroir was so important in Giuseppe Bonollo’s decision to buy land in Umbria. Their soil is comprised of clay, sand, limestone, rocks and something else very special…fossils. These creatures that rambled or swam back in the Pliocene period now bring the magic to Argillae’s wine. The estate’s name even is a nod to their earth, since Argillae = clay in Latin. The Bonollo family and their team also look out for their whole surroundings with their “project” of sustainability that spreads from farming, the cellar’s 1st floor is underground so they don’t waste energy on temperature control and when they have to turn up the heat it’s powered by green energy, and then there’s the bottles made of 80% recycled glass & are lighter to transport so less CO2. They are making choices that not only benefit their environ and wines, but also the world. I can raise a glass to that!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Umbria  #Italy #worldbyglass #viaswine #Argillae #docwinebar #docwineshop @viaswine @argillae @docwinebar @docwineshop

Posted on

Location, Location, Location & ❤️

Mae Son
Orange 2021
Müller Thurgau
Organic, biodynamic, hand-harvested
Povo, Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Owner & winemaker: Matteo Furlani
Project is a collaboration with Matteo Furlani’s other label Cantina Furlani, Claudio Coronato, and Jenny & Francois Selections

Warm shining orange-gold amber. Give it a little space, let it breathe, and scents start growing of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, oranges, limes & light grapefruit, fresh picked apples and their blossoms, river rock mineral and a shake of salt. Sipping and there’s oranges, limes & their zest, mild grapefruit, apples, and the mineral & salt combo again. So delicious and chuggable.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Nope, nope, nope

Whenever I see a wine that’s picked by Jenny & Francois Selections, it’s an instant buy for me. They always find fabulous winemakers to work or collaborate with on projects…like Matteo. He originally grew up in a wine family so it’s in his DNA, and he followed that up with studies in oenology & agriculture. When time came for him to take on the family’s vineyards in the Dolomites, he established Cantina Furlani that in total has 14 ha, but 6 of them were used for grapes to sell, but Mae Son changed that course starting in 2022 with their wines that sing “location, location, location”. They’re also wines with heart as depicted in the very well thought out label by John Shirk (J & F sales rep) that echos the same locale sentiment with a road sign similar to what can be found in their mountains, and is also “a tribute to the importance of family and family work, as well as the careful craftsmanship of their wines. The name is a playful nod to the beginning of each family member’s name: M for Matteo, A for his wife, Annalisa, and their daughter, Alessia, and E for their son Edoardo. The pronunciation further sheds light on the intimate story behind the label: in English, it’s pronounced ‘my son,’ while in French, it can be read as ‘maison,’ meaning ‘my home.’” See full of ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #Italy #worldbyglass #jennyandfrancois #MaeSon #docwinebar #docwineshop @cantinafurlani @jennyfrancois @claudio.coronato @picturehandz @docwinebar @docwineshop

Posted on

This Is Not That Story

Valdisole Wine
Helios 2019
Nebbiolo
Organic, biodynamic
Corneliano d’Alba (CN), Piedmont, Italy
Giuseppe Amato & Kyriaki Kalimeri

Shining garnet pour. Sniff and it starts off a bit wild but it’s just been opened so over a short amount of time it tames, tart cherries, young raspberries, blackberries, tomato leaf, tiny roses & violets, over time there’s plums of all sorts, red apple, and a rugged bit of peat/earthiness. Tasting and it starts out light & delicious that grows into a richer moment, cherries (tart & sweet), red currants, plums, a touch of peat or smoke, raspstrawblueberries mix, a drop of blackberry, tiny reminder of sugar cane that turns into violets, smidge of green tomato, and touch of grounded earthiness.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: sweeter

You know the usual tales of growing up in a wine family and inheriting land…this is not that story. Giuseppe & Kyriaki’s strength in finding their way in wine is curiosity. She had a background in computers & electrical engineering but that curious spark led her to getting an education as a sommelier & a diploma. He had a great appreciation for cuisine so ended up taking cooking classes and realized the attraction of pairing food & wine so he also ventured into sommelier courses, but that a wasn’t enough. The whole wine experience grabbed his attention and they both jumped full in to buying a vineyard…oh, and it was an online site where you can buy stuff secondhand. The vineyard was a half ha of “abandoned & shabby Nebbiolo”. (Makes me think of people who buy a house for $1 in an old town and when they get there they see the full extent of the repairs needed 🙀.) They’ve expanded, added varying grapes, are keeping it all natural, and I have to say this Nebbiolo is definitely not shabby now. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #Nebbiolo #italy #terrellwines #valdisolewine #vinewine #vinewinenyc @vinewinenyc @valdisole.wine