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Enjoy The Ride

Celler Escoda-Sanahuja
Els Bassotets 2021
Garnacha Blanca 70%, Parellada 20%, Garnacha Gris 10%
Organic, biodynamic, native yeasts
Conca de Barberá, Catalunya, Spain
Joan Ramón Escoda & Mari Carme (husband & wife)

Hazy orange/warm deep gold. Nose tickling citrus blend of lemon, tangerine, kumquat, orange (all with zest) & more, lively wild tanginess with a straw of hay, puff of smoke, a toasty bit of homemade bread, and tart young green apples. Take a sip and there’s a cideresque bit at first, all that tangle of wild goodness hay & toast is there with all that sparky citrus jumble but more depth, a bit of rhubarb, tart pear & green apples, white pepper on the back, and I think a little fresh green bell pepper. Let this baby breathe and enjoy the ride as it grows and looking forward to where it takes me because that pepper is growing.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly really good

Oh the description of Joan on his site is too good not to just quote, “He’s not just a winemaker, he’s a grassroots innovator, a radical winemaker, a sentimental husband, a stressed-out father, and an absolute anarchist … absolute rock and roll. If you’ve ever tasted their wines, you’ve got the proof … it’s never banal.” He definitely has a lot going on from keeping the winery very, very natural & sulfite free; then there’s also Tossal Gros (their seasonal, organic restaurant in the winery); oh and did I mention that he & his friend, Laureano Serres, founded PVN (Spain’s 1st natural wine association) & they have a yearly wine fair H2O Vegetal. I’m already winded just thinking of every exciting & inspiring move they’re making…just so naturally cool.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #whitewine #orangewine #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #worldbyglass #organic #Spain #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #ElsBassotets #escodasanahuja @restaurant_tossal_gros @indiewineries @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Following The Rainbow

Altschwager Kenneally
Tapi
Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Wairau Valley Vineyard
Certified organic, sustainable
Marlborough, NZ
Gus & Swan Altschwager and Mark & Emma Kenneally

Really pale straw starlight with green hints. There’s scents of grapefruit, passionfruit, gooseberry, a little mango & pineapple frozen cocktail, smidge of fresh cut grass & green bell pepper that grows into something with a little more warm pepper. All of the scents including the pepper part are there in the taste but more luscious and vibrant yet a dryness in the back. There’s also in a little yellow watermelon and a zip of lemon/citrus spark…this is easy and so friendly…how about pass me some prosciutto.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh this is delicious and brings out pears and more pineapple…tropical afternoon delight

Altschwager Kenneally is made up of 2 countries (Australia & New Zealand), 3 wine regions, 4 friends, and a desire to create the best small batch sustainable wines. This two family wine team of Gus & Swan and Mark & Emma really care about the land/environment, their imprint, what gets left behind & what may be produced from it…”because in order for us all to live well, we must respect the land” and this very honorable passion is also what originally brought them together…well that and also good wine that can tell you the tale of its roots. The bottle I lucked into is from their New Zealand line, “Tapi”, named after the stately Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku and translates from Māori to “footprint of the rainbow”. If this is what the start of the rainbow tastes like, then bring on the rest because I’m ready to keep climbing and following where it leads.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #organic #naturalwine #worldbyglass #winelover #winetime #whitewine #newzealand #altschwagerkenneallywines @cheezit @altschwager_kenneally_wines @viaswine @docwineshop @docwinebar

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It’s All About Nothing

NADA
CR 2021
Macabeu 80%, Grenache Noir 20%
Biodynamic, organic
Calce, Côtes Catalanes, France
Winemakers: Raphael Baissas de Chastenet & Oscar Mancillas

Chilled maroon sunset with blue bits. Breathing in plums, cherries, blackberries & deep raspberries, a bit of funk followed by a touch of basil and next an orange & lemon zest, and a whiff of smoke. Sipping and all of the sniffer bits are right there with more smoke or even peat, Red Delicious apples, pear crunch, a mix of red & green strawberries (caps and all), and a shake of white pepper. Just dang delicious!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: juicy bouncy fun

What do you get when you put two guys in a natural wine bar and a few shared bottles of wine…NADA. Yes, it is about nothing…no sulfites, no pesticide, and nothing that might harm the environment and also us. It’s just a celebration of what Calce can produce, and how two winemakers from different parts of the world make their magic work. Ralph’s originally from Perpignan had a start in wine as a kid working with his grandfather but bounced a bit in city life (he has a thing for graffiti) & IT until the vines came calling again. Oscar’s roots come from Ensenada, Mexico & a classically trained background in wine so when these two became friends, it’s easy to see why they creatively clicked. And when you taste their wines, you can feel their exuberance, passion, sense of place, and honestly a lust for life. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Rosé #chilledredwine #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #worldbyglass #organic #vandalwine #nada #France #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @vandal.wine.nada @super_glou @vinewinenyc

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Be Like Jean

Domaine Rimbert
Vin Orange
Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Rolle
Organic, indigenous yeasts, vegan friendly
Berlou, Saint Chinian, France
Owner & winemaker: Jean-Marie Rimbert

Bright orange amber pour. Right out the gate and straight to your nose, this is definitely Vin Orange. There’s an orchard blossom blend (very much so on the orange blossoms), oranges, tangelo, zesty citrus cocktail, a whiff of smoke, along with apples and a green herby sniff like basil. Sipping a blend of that citrus cocktail (combined with lime zest) , again apple (a little cider too) & a little pear thrown in with a mix of dried fruits (apricots, white raisins, a shave pineapple), moments of mild white pepper, dried basil, fresh green bell pepper, and an exhale of blossoms. Don’t over think this easy drinker….just enjoy the vibe.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: deliciously smooth

Jean-Marie Rimbert (along with his wines) is the breath of fresh air the world so needs right now. I love the down to earth statements he makes, by calling himself a “paysan” or in other words, a peasant…a humble farmer who finds joy in the simple natural things in life and his surroundings. As he importantly said,  “I want to cultivate in a way that doesn’t damage the environment. I’m in it for the long term.” He’s also working on spreading his organic wisdom to his neighbors/local growers from who he at times buys their grapes, to create “easy-going wines”. Hey, since they’re already sustainable, why not go all in like Jean. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #orangewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #France @cheezit @domaine_rimbert @jennyfrancois @docwineshop @docwinebar

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A Romantic Character

Cantina Valle Isarco (Kellerei Eisacktal)
Grüner Veltliner 2021
Alto Adlige Valle Isarco DOC
Chiusa, Italy
Co-op with 135 members
Enologist: Hannes Munter; Agronomist: Alexander Damiani

Yellow golden green starlight. Breathing in delightful peaches, pears, green apples, a breeze of grapefruit, bell peppers, honeydew, winter melon, and a few blades of fresh cut grass. It’s a bit of a steamy night here so it’s a welcome refreshing sip of peach, pear, apple, again that grapefruit drop & melon along with cool cucumbers. This glass is just begging for a dozen  oysters.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the crisp

Oh this wine co-op resides in such a perfect setting. Valle Isarco’s steep verdant vineyards is just so naturally breathtaking and beneficial. As they say, “In these winegrowing areas, the northernmost in Italy, where glaciers meet the gentle rolling hills of the Mediterranean, vines have been grown for centuries producing wines of great character. Thanks to variety in soils, cultivation areas and sunlight exposures, as well as to the particular microclimate, each vineyard develops a personality and special character of its own.” There’s another “character” I have to point out…the town of Chiusa (Klausen). Its tiny streets are wedged between colorfully painted medieval looking buildings that are varying to the point of a pastel rainbow and make me feel like I’ve dropped into a period piece flick. It’s a vision of sheer romance; and I can only imagine how much that is heightened with their Christmas Market where you’ll walk by candlelight & strands of holiday lights, sip mulled wine, and maybe even run into a night watchman.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #wineoclock #instawine #worldbyglass #winetime #chiusa #Italy #valleisarco #kellereieisacktal #altoadigewines #GrünerVeltliner #GrunerVeltliner #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @cantina_valleisarco @liber.selections @docwineshop @docwinebar

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Fruit With Wild Attitude

Fruktstereo
F.W.A Straight Outta Dalby 2019
Fruit Pét-Nat (Fruit-Nat)
Apples from an old abandoned orchard in Dalby: Ingrid-Marie, Ribston and wild heirloom varieties
Unfiltered, unfined, no additives
Malmö, Sweden
Karl Sjöström & Mikael Nypelius

Hazy IPA orange with a whole lot of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Sniffing a married mix of sweet & tart apples rolling down that hill while carrying a bouquet of wildflowers, and embraces a warm pie spice along with cider tingle tangle. All of the scents are right there in the taste & exhaling a little clove, apple tree twigs whittled down to the green, touch of lemon, mild white & black pepper & a little green in the back (but just warm enough and not the type that gives me hiccups), and a salty swig.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: wildly fragrant

“F.W.A Straight Outta Dalby” is my second fruit pét-nat (cider) coming out of Sweden and both have been very surprising, fun, and lend themselves to be musically inclined. Mikael & Karl, are a very busy & creative team, who both have backgrounds in wine (they’re sommeliers), the restaurant industry, and a passion for keeping it natural, working with apples both old and young, & rescuing abandoned orchards when the opportunity arises. Oh and they have a very witty naming convention…not only is there “F.W.A”, there’s also “Draft Funk/Daft Frukt”, “First We Take a Manhattan, then we Take a Berliner Weiss”, “Plumenian Rhapsody”, “Britney’s Pears” and the “set list” goes on. Question is, do these DJs take special requests? Maybe…🍏🍎🍐🫐?

#PétNat #petnat #fruitpetnat #cider #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass  #Sweden @cheezit @fruktstereo @jennyfrancois @docwineshop @docwinebar

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A Festive All-Nighter

Bodegas Navarrsotillo
Gaupasa 2022
Navarra DO
Garnacha
Rosado
Organic, biodynamic
Beire, Navarra, Spain
Andrés & Ramón Serrano Arriezu (brothers)

Salmon with s touch of magenta gradation. Sniffing and there’s strawberries, raspberries, a moment of roses, cranberry/pom cocktail, and a watermelon Jolly Rancher. Sipping and tasting strawberry, raspberry, teeny bit of cranberry, boysenberry, splash of watermelon, a lemon squeeze spark and an orange zest crisp. This is a total summer easy drinker, so be prepared for the consequences.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO

After pouring a glass, turn the bottle around and get the skinny on its name. “Gaupasa is a Basque word for staying out until daybreak, to maximize time with friends and family especially during a village’s yearly fiesta, wise alternating of excellent food and local wine is key. On the best nights you lose track of time, notice the bakeries have opened, and that it’s time for breakfast.” So anyone ready for a festive all-nighter under the stars with me? We can keep it going till the cows come home! ✨

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Rosé #Rose #rosado #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #worldbyglass #organic #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Gaupasa #Basque #Spain @navarrsotillo @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Making My Day!

La Battagliola
Gran Pignoletto DOC Millesimato
2021
Spumante Brut
100% Pignoletto
Sustainably produced
Piumazzo, Emilia Romagna, Italy
Owner & wine family: Alberto Salvadori and his children (Beatrice & Tommaso)

Deep gold (kind of the color of an IPA/lager not hazy blend that my friend Bob orders at The Gutter) with active bubbles tracing continents on the top. Breathing in and it starts off with a vanilla puff on the first pop that turns into memories of Mom’s pineapple meringue pie, firm pears, golden delicious apples that as it lingers takes on a little caramelization, teeny tiny lemon tingle, and old time Texas toast that goes brioche. Going in for the sip and again there’s pears, my favorite apples with that crunch, sliver of pineapple & a little of it grilled, a tiny drop of honeysuckle in the back with a bit of lemon sizzle that happily grows to a perfect balance, and a touch of that toast reappears here and there.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: good but better without

I just love learning how people end up living the life of the vine, but I will admit sometimes I am a bit jealous. How wonderful it would be to inherit like Alberto and end up with their mother’s country house and realize your life is going to change. He went from logistics to farming! Once again another wine family living the dream. Just makes me smile and yes, yearn for that lifestyle. Oh and they’ve given me a little wine education from this bottle since this my first Pignoletto. Turns out after some genetic testing this grape is also known as Grechetto Gentile (or di Todi) which I have met in the past. So pleased to meet you Pignoletto through such an addictive delicious sparkler. You’ve made my day much brighter and lighter! 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #wineoclock #instawine #worldbyglass #winetime #EmiliaRomagna #Italy #spumante #Pignoletto #sparklingwine #bubbly #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @la_battagliola @soilairselection @docwineshop @docwinebar

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Pining For The Mountains

Vinos Malaparte
Montón de Piñas 2021
100% Tempranillo
Natural farming, no pesticides or herbicides, indigenous yeasts & spontaneous fermentation & skin contact, unlined/infiltered
Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain
Winemaking family: Mariano de Frutos, Elisa de Frutos, Ruben Salamanca

Plummy ruby with a wash of blue. Breathing in strawberries, raspberries, a little gentle creaminess, cherries, plums, a twist of black & white pepper, and a good fern touch. Tasting and this is as delicious as I anticipated…red & green strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, plums, a smidge of skittles, lemon bright squeeze, and a peppery dash that reminds me of the wild pepperweed. Perfect chilled drinking to kick back or kick up your heels.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: juicier mmmm

When I first saw the name, Montón de Piñas, I wondered what on earth is this about a mountain of pineapples? Is it named after a trek Ruben & Elisa might have had to Pineapple Mountain (Por Lo Shan) in Hong Kong? Does SpongeBob live here while on vacation? Nope, if I had just looked on their site first, I would’ve seen it is one of the 2 small areas (other is El Canalizo) that make up their vineyards that are “near the Virgen de El Henar Sanctuary, and surrounded by pine trees”, so it’s more of a mountain of pine cones. I always have to make things so difficult for myself 🤪. Anyway, this is another one of their smashing good bottles, and as I’ve said before I’m a Malaparte fangirl. They’ve never steered me wrong!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #rosado #Rosé #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Tempranillo #Spain @malapartewine @antosicurezza @steephillwine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Wine = Magical Destiny

Franchere Wine Company
Split Infinitves
Pét-Nat
N/V (2022)
Grüner Veltliner 74%, Chardonnay 26%
Sourced from sustainably farmed & organic trusted vineyards, definitely unfiltered and very natural
Woodburn, Oregon
Owner & winemaker: Mike Hinds

Hazy orange slightly pinky that reminds me of the smoke we’ve been seeing here drifting from Canada. Just opened and sniffing a bit of dragged through the forest floor funk that will head out and a touch of smoke (not from the aforementioned fires), citrusy zest mix, a bit of fresh rain that clears the air and cools things off, apricots, peaches, mellow pears, and a hint of cinnamon. First sip and there’s a delightful natural sizzle, next up are pears along with an exhale of that bit of peat/smoke that fades, lemon & lime kissed, crisp apples, bright peach, apricots, kumquats, and a touch seltzer salty. All of this together blends into a magical mixture of a tangy homemade orchard blend pie that reminds me of my mom’s pastry concoctions.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: eh nah

As I’m learning more about Mike Hinds, I get where he’s coming from with his inspirational moment. Just the right wine encounter can awaken all sorts of emotions. For Mike it was a Vouvray as he says on his site, “’What is this? Why is this so magical with my food? How did this wine come to be like this?’ It launched an obsession.” This led to his path in wine education from working in shops, taking classes, working as a “cellar rat”, and eventually to his own company. Honestly I don’t know if I would have the courage to follow his path, but he  has proved it’s his destiny. Even when I picked this bottle up (it had just been unpacked with no shelf talker) I was told how excited they were about his new pét-nat. Ok, you know I have to mention the label. First off the artwork is gorgeous and I would love to know who is the artist. Secondly, something about this cat really grabbed my heart. Not yet but at some point I may need to add to our 🐈‍⬛ family, so casting that out into the universe.

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #PétNat #petnat #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #cat #catsofinstagram #oregon #worldbyglass #organic #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @francherewine @vinewinenyc