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Pairs With Tryptophan

Tenuta Tascante
Ghiaia Nera 2019
Etna DOC
Nerello Mascalese
SOStain certified sustainable, vegan
Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Owners: The Tasca Family; Alberto Tasca 7th generation
Winemaker: Stefano Masciarelli

Color shining stained glass window ruby. At first there’s scents of buttery creamy cherry that leads to crème de cassis as it opens, plums, a little lavender breeze, with a blend of blueberry, blackberry & strawberry love, a bit of cola soda, and a smidge of peat on day one that later waves bye as it heads out the door. Lovely cocktail of flavors of cherry, cranberry, strawberry, blackberry, a hint of citrus peel, light lavender, a sprinkle of black & white pepper, lick of rock, a whiff of smoke, and there’s just so much going on that I didn’t expect in a good way.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it all smoooooth

The Tasca family found a perfect marriage of Nerello Mascalese and their Mt. Etna soil which keeps the vines healthy even if there’s a very rainy year. Their other major ingredient is also their dedication to the hard work of tending the vineyards and harvesting on the volcanic slopes (and boy are they beautiful). Their Ghiaia Nera (black gravel) is an honest lovely invite to experience and learn about them and their part of Etna. In my book, it’s also a light fresh friend that will help rouse you from the tryptophan induced holiday haze we’re entering into until the end of the year. Happy holidays y’all! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #MtEtna #Etna #Sicily #Italy #NerelloMascalese #Tryptophan #happyholidays @dallaterrawinerydirect @tascadalmerita @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Bergerac By Bottle

Chateau Le Payral
Bergerac Rouge 2020
Appellation Bergerac Contrôlée
50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Organic, biodynamic (Demeter), green fertilizer, indigenous yeasts, and a lot of love
Razac-de-Saussignac, Bergerac, Dordogne, France
Winemakers: Isabelle & Thierry Daulhiac (7th generation)

Elegant maroon/ruby. Very first scent after the pour is butter that starts to fade and at moments gently lingers. Next up to bat are cherries (deep fresh ones and also dried), plums, an earthy warmth, and as time goes by a squeeze of raspberry & blackberry juice. Sipping and boy is this fresh. There’s cherries (again fresh and dried) & plums, a cocktail of blackberries (seeds & all)/raspberries/strawberries/blueberries, and that earthy oomph again with a little black olive pit. It’s a very easy drinker that’s perfect for a fall evening staring up to the stars, sitting near the grill and listening to the sizzle of the fat as it hits the coals from a giant steak and plump sausages. Delicious, romantic, and comforting all wrapped up into one.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: lovely. Brings out all sorts of berries

Ok, here’s my 2nd Chateau Le Payral and their rouge is equally delightful as their blanc, and it’s probably due to how they care and work with their terroir. In 2000 Isabelle & Thierry had a survey of their land, so they could see how best to proceed in the future. What should be planted and where, how should the vines be cared for and more; and that was when they decided it’s time to go truly organic. Wonderfully forward thinking for not just the well being of their holdings but also what will fall into the hands of the next generation and the future of everyone’s environment. Now, I just need to track down one more of their wines ‘La Bise’. If anyone out there knows where I can find it, please let me know! Once again thank you @all_things_food_nyc, Martin Walker, and Chateau Le Payral for helping me on my travel to Bergerac by bottle. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #redwine #France #Dordogne #bergerac #martinwalker #brunochiefofpolice @martinwalker346 @saviosoaresselections @chateaulepayral

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Glorious Confusion

Swick Wines
The Flood
American White Wine 2021
fbib.
33% Gewürztraminer, 33% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Gris, 8% Auxerrois, 4% Riesling
Lacewing, Finnigan Hill, Zenith, & High Pass Vineyards | Columbia Gorge, Chehalem Mountains, Eola-Amity Hills, & Lower Long Tom AVAs
Washington/Oregon blend
Organic, unfined & unfiltered, skin contact, indigenous yeasts, skin contact
Bottled & produced Newborn, OR
Winemaker/Proprietor: Joe Swick

Hazy warm orange delight. Whoa this is fragrant! There’s so many different flowers from all over, sweet pears & apples, orange whiffs with blossoms, mango, pineapple, a little smoke & salt, and right there on the back there’s coconut. Every single scent is right there in the taste and a bit more of a citrus tang. It’s got a tropical cocktail feel with white pepper & salt. A glorious bit of confusion, and as it opens, it’s the orange wine gift that keeps on giving.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NOPE

Ok, who out there doesn’t love a good Swick. Every time you see that telltale label/font you know you’re going to have something delicious and even surprising at times like with this orange “Flood”. They say the name comes from the “Missoula Floods that shaped the Columbia Gorge and Willamette Valley 10 million years ago”, but in my mind it’s more of the flood or onrush of flavors and nose tickling scents that emerge from each pour. Oh and as it says on the back of the bottle “fbib.”, and sure enough, boy does it ever “bring it”. 🧡

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #orangewine #organic #washington #oregon  @swickjoe @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Finally Found!

Chateau Le Payral
Bergerac Blanc 2021
Appellation Bergerac Contrôlée
50% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon, 20% Muscadelle
Organic, biodynamic (Demeter), green fertilizer, indigenous yeasts, and a lot of love
Razac-de-Saussignac, Bergerac, Dordogne, France
Owners and winemakers: Isabelle & Thierry Daulhiac

Pale golden starlight with green shimmers. Sniffing lemon/lime squeeze & zest, young green apples, a small whiff of that green lightly musky honeydew, and an oregano/tarragon shake as it warms up. First sip and it’s crisp and fresh. Tasting crunchy green apple bite including the skin, zingy lemon/lime, a garden herbal bouquet twinge, and a lick of limestone. It’s dry, clean and light on its feet, and makes me think of a bright spring day.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmm good. Kind of kicks everything up a notch

Finally found Bergerac wines in NYC (thank you @all_things_food_nyc)! As some of you know, I am a huge fan of Martin Walker, and have been on the hunt for wines from his neck of the woods (and I’m still excitedly seeking more). His “Bruno Chief of Police” series is what got me hooked. If you haven’t read them yet, I highly recommend you do and get drawn into a world of food, wine, police work, great character development, an appreciation for the small moments in life, and genuine friendship. Each book lures me even further into his fictional St. Denis, but with Chateau Le Payral, I’m able to taste what truly exists. Running out of space so will be investigating them more with their Bergerac Rouge 2020. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #SauvignonBlanc #France #Dordogne #bergerac #martinwalker #brunochiefofpolice @martinwalker346 @saviosoaresselections @chateaulepayral

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Breaking The Cycle

Gabernik 23
Pét-Nat 2020
Sparkling Wine
100% Rumeni Muškat
Sustainable, organic, vegan, hand harvested
Štajerska, Slovenia
Small family owned winery passed down from father to son
Owner: Janko Bogatic
Winemaker: Nicholas Gee

Hazy warm gold with super active white bubbles dancing on the rim. Breathe in and there’s a puff of a “big fat yeast roll” (If you’re a child of the 90s you’ll remember), limes, lemons along with a little lemon hard candy, ginger liveliness, and naturally effervescent water with a little mineral sniff. Sipping and oh all the scents are here in flavor! It’s crisp lemon lime spritzy, more of that ginger, a smidge of a bit of greenery, slivers of mango & banana, and a seltzer dry feel. Yeah, this is good, and it takes me on a refreshing vacation.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: crisp cocktail and fine but prefer without

I love how Gabernik 23 keeps bringing bottles of happiness! They’ve brought me out of my overthinking funk that last week presented me with a ridiculous writer’s block. Just like how this pét-nat coaxed me out of my hamster wheel cycle of banging my head against my desk, Janko and Nicolas finessed a dry & vivacious bubbly from Yellow Muscat. As a kid picking our muscat, I would have never have thought they could be turned into something this fresh, poppy, and crisp. Bravo! 🥂

Oh and side note…Janko, love your “Zero Fs Were Given” t-shirt…seems we are of the same mind.

#wine #PetNat #PétNat #sparklingwine #bubbly #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #RumeniMuškat #rumenimuskat #winestagram #instawine #zerofucksgiven @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Slovenia #gabernik23 @vsiwine @gabernik23 @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

 

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Because I’m Happy!

Bodega Txakoli Rezabal
Txakoli 2021
Getariako Txakolina D.O.
White wine
100% Hondarrabi Zuri
Sustainable, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Zarautz, Basque Country, Spain
Family owned winery: The Rezabals

Yellow starlight with green interplanetary play. Wow this is lush at very first pour with scents wafting out of peaches, pears, lilies, and as time goes by all starts to level out and then tangerine creeps out and waves a tiny hello with a little lime zest. Now everything blends and grooves with some rained on slate and salt…so fresh and lovely. Those peaches and pears are still there dancing on my tongue with a tingle of crisp lime/lemon/citrus zip with a rim of salt. Full of life and even a little flirty sassy fun, a whole lot of joy that can lead to being the life of the party. I think I know who is going to be my date. ❤️

Pairs with Cheez-It’s:brings more tarty to the party

The Rezabals are rooted in their passing of the wine/vine from generation to generation and holding on to traditions while utilizing today’s technology. It’s a beautiful harmony of the people, land, their micro-climate, and of course in the end the excellent grapes that convey their whole story. As they say, “Txakoli Rezabal is a living product, with its own personality”, which is “HAPPY!” Now that is a spot on description. No wonder this catchy tune that always brings me a smile and makes my heart bubble over with joy…no matter my mood was stuck in my head for days. So pour another glass and 🎶“Clap along if you feel…Can’t nothing, bring me down.” 🎶

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #basquecountry #Spain #Txakoli #hondarrabizuri #happy #PharrellWilliams @ripewineimports @docwineshop @docwinebar @rezabaltxakoli @cheezit

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Message In A Bubble

Domaine des Tilleuls
Les Fines Perles
Brut VMQ
Méthode Traditionnelle
100% Chardonnay
Sustainable agriculture (HVE)
La Regrippière, Loire, France
Family owned and run by: Daniel & Evelyne Houssin (parents), Jérôme and Noémie (children, who look pretty grown up to me)

Light golden with a little green hint and very fine active bubbles drawing ever morphing Rorschach blots on the surface (Is it a signal? Are the bubbles trying to tell me something? 🤔). Scents float up of crisp pears, green apples, tiny white flowers, and toasty brioche bits. That first sip is so super lively and crisp with crunchy pears, golden delicious apples, lemon/lime spritz starts to vibrate on my tongue, a little mineral conglomerate, and honey droplets weave in and out with a bit of creaminess. It’s like a festive dance between the tart and the sweet/spark and smooth that lures you to pour another glass.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: do I really have to? It’s meh

5 generations of wine dating back to 1905, that kept evolving and expanding over the years. As one would expect, for a family sticking with the business for so long, they truly care about their land and product, with the latest generation looking toward the world. Jérôme emphasizes in an article from “Loire On Tour”, on the importance of seeing the relationship with an exporter should be treated more like a “partnership and not one of supplier and client” and traveling far and wide to where his wines are being sold. The good ol’ face to face definitely builds trust in any relationship, it means you care enough about others to make the effort, and you believe that much in your wine to want to share your gift to the rest of the world. 🥂

#sparklingwine #wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #brut #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Chardonnay #Loire #France #boivinselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @domdestilleuls @cheezit

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The Grape Collector

Domaine du Mont Verrier
Gamay
Beaujolais Pierres Dorées 2020
HVE sustainable & working on organic, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Saint Julien, Beaujolais, France
Owner & winemaker: Gérard Legrand

Deep ruby and purple pops. Breathing in mellow fresh & dried cherry with a bit of vanilla, dark plums, prunes, dried Turkish Smyrna figs, raspberries, a bit of earth, and the lightest hint of cinnamon. Wow, all that and we still haven’t gotten to the taste, so here we go! Sipping a light & lovely summer red with a backbone that’s filled with tart and smooth cherries, prunes, young plums, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, a pinch of black pepper, and a little bit of friendly forest pixie magic dream. 🧚‍♀️

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it darker and a little more weight

This domaine has a lengthy history dating back to the 17th century that includes 2 centuries of Aubry family residence, a hospice, and nuns. Nowadays, it’s driven (and resurrected) by Gérard Legrand and his passion for the property’s past, and the part that fascinates me the most is his grape/vine compilation. His ampelographic collection and preservation ranges 200 grapes (some are quite rare)! That takes a lot of commitment, collaboration with French Institute of the Vine and Wine, hard work, research, and a little bit of obsession in a good way. As climate change continues we may all be looking to him, his knowledge, and foresight to keep us from running out of delicious French wine. Thank you so much, Mr. Legrand! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #gamay #Beaujolais #France @steephillwine @antosicurezza @domaine_du_mont_verrier @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Grape Obsessions

Otto’s Constant Dream
Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Sustainable farming
Marlborough, New Zealand
Produced by: Hunter’s Estate
Winemakers: Peter and James MacDonald

Light pale yellow with a little green flicker. Scents of pineapple, grapefruit, tangelo, apples, a smidge of pine needle, and slate. Sipping and ok, I was not expecting to love this as much as I do. It is really fabulous! So fresh and bright and sweet and tart all at once. It’s a good smash of a cocktail of pineapples, apples, pears, a spritz of citrus blend and again a pine needle just hanging on the side of the glass, and a touch of that slate again. This is the perfect surprise of joy I needed!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I was thinking really do I have to? But guess what it doesn’t ruin any of that joy and is a perfect snack

This is one motivating wine since it sparked a business. From what I’m reading this is “the wine that launched Communal Brands. Inspired by Melissa Saunders’ obsessive nature about wine, her friend and future business partner, Chris Antista, created a wine in her honor: OCD. She applied said obsessive nature to find the right juice for this eponymous brand, ultimately finding a warm connection in her husband’s native New Zealand.” Their decisions on who to work with is very cool too…they need to be responsible, sustainable, no chemicals, but the one that really says it all is they only work with vineyards where they’d feel good about their kids playing. Good enough for me!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #NewZealand #Marlborough #SauvignonBlanc #ottosconstantdream @communalbrands @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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A Novel Surprise!

Marine Dubard (Famille Dubard)
Sauvignon Blanc
Coeur du Mont 2020
VDF
Sustainable, HEV
Saint-Méard-de-Gurçon, Dordogne, Sud-Ouest, France
Winemaker: Marine Dubard

Twinkling starlight and I made a wish & got it! My nose is wiggling in anticipation! Sniffing a splash of light grapefruit, lively lemon/lime, pineapple, pear/apple smash, and apple blossoms carried on a spring breeze. Sipping lime & zest, pears, apples, that grapefruit again with a dainty touch of musk, a smidge of fresh sliced ginger but not a kick in the pants…just enjoyable, pineapple, and a lick of a rock or should I say limestone.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: didn’t get a chance to try since I was out and about

Oh this is one glass caught in the wild that rocked my weekend. I have such a soft spot for anything Dordogne/Bergerac, sustainable, and to top it off a female winemaker; and did I mention it’s at my local Sugarburg. Seriously what a surprise, when I strolled in last Sunday and found out they had switched to a new blanc(this goes so well with their shrimp tacos) and it is so darn delicious! There’s more than one reason I have affection for Dordogne, but a special one is the writer Martin Walker (I love his books, fictional & non). His “Bruno Chief of Police” series transports me with every page to a region that you can smell, feel, taste and fully immerse yourself in and begin to feel a part of this world. If you love a good mystery, better food, and fabulous wine…please check these out. I didn’t discover them till his “Black Diamond” which isn’t the start of the tales but you can still plunge in headfirst*. Who would have known that the books I’ve been carrying to read while solo would meet their perfect pairing just steps from home. ❤️

*Side note in case you’re still following along this far: “Black Diamond” was a life preserver of a book for me when I was sorting out a diagnosis to why my faulty body was such a hot mess that I now know is Chiari Malformation & Ehlers-Danlos. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have Mr. Walker’s novels while I was dealing with my own physical mysteries. In a way they are part of my life that inspired @worldbyglass. Travel any way you can! 🇫🇷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #SauvignonBlanc #France #Dordogne #bergerac #martinwalker #brunochiefofpolice #marinedubard @skurnikwines @vignoblesdubard @sugarburgbk