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Cool Cat

Weingut Edgar Brutler
Sefu White 2022
Co-ferment field blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, Furmint, and Tămâioasă Românească
Organic
Crișana, Transylvania, Romania
Edgar Brutler & family

Warm antique gold. Just popped the cap and there’s a blend of tangerine/grapefruit/kumquat/young orange with all the zest, a touch of good funk, lemons/limes emerge, crab & green apples over time, a couple blades of grass, and dried coriander. Sipping and all of the citrus with a bit more tart & ripe green apples, crunchy  pear, watermelon rind & green tomato, over time a little honeysuckle, again the coriander with a touch of smoke/peat, and a light lick of something deliciously earthy. So alive, fun and frisky.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: YES

These cool cats gave me a crash course on the history of Transylvania, Romania & the Brutler family that is too long to condense in this post but I highly recommend checking out their importer, Danch & Granger Selections’ info . Sefu is a project they started in 2022 with inspiration from a family friend Laci Hetei, and his great love for & over abundance of grapes. He actually reminds Edgar of his grandfather, who had a quote I love, “a family with two or three kids needs 1000 liters of wine per year”. I can see his point. Anyway, back to Sefu (translates to “boss” or “chief”) & its catty label (by Agostina Suazo). If you live with a kitty you know who rules the roost so the name fits & this wine is also a rocking top meowser that belts out its territory. As Edgar says, “This is the taste of our region. Rustic, acidic and pure.”, and might I add delicious, so go out and adopt this liter/litter. 😻

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Romania #Transylvania #danchandgrangerselections #EdgarBrutler #vinewinenyc

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Do The Math…Or Not

Bodegas Más Que Vinos
5/4 Clarete 2022
Malvar 20%, Airen 20%, Garnacha 20%, Cencibel (Tempranillo) 40%
Working sustainably, certified organic, indigenous grapes, vegan friendly, co-fermented in amphora
Cabañas de Yepes, Toledo, Spain
Margarita Madrigal, Alexandra Schmedes and Gonzalo Rodriguez

Ruby deep purple (now I have “Smoke On The Water” stuck in my head). Breathing in cherries & plums dried & fresh, oddly a bit of tomato plants with bit of bramble, dash of herbal tea (old school smell from back in the Celestial Seasonings college days), red currants & reminder of a Christmas citrus vibe, cranberries, and a puff of smoke that fades. Sipping and there’s cherry, blackberries, tart plum, an herbal blend of thyme, rosemary, etc.; red & black currants, lime/orange citrus zest, lick of limestone, and a pinch of anise. It’s fresh, juicy and oh so good.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: this is a good thing

Not long ago I posted about Más Que Vino’s “Los Conejos Malditos” or as I called them “Bad Bunnies” who have a penchant for grapes and ransacking a harvest. This addictive bottle’s name 5/4 luckily doesn’t come from destructive critters but from the ingredients for this whole cluster co-ferment: 2 parts Cencibel (Tempranillo), 1 part Garnacha, 1 part Airen, 1 part Malvar. 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5 and then the 4 comes from the varieties. You may be eye rolling at me for the explanation but just looking at the front label it flew right over my head until I turned the bottle around. Yes, I can be that oblivious at times. 🤣 BTW this wine is very delightfully addictive so pick up two and don’t even bother thinking about the math.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Spain #clarete #badbunnies #valkyrieselections #BodegasMasQueVinos #vinewinenyc

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Who Couldn’t Use A Good Smooch

Bacio
Lemon Spritz
Italian lemon & bubbly white wine cocktail
7% ABV
Eco-friendly
Produced & packaged at Cantine Sgarzi Luigi (Fidenza, Parma, Italy)
Born in New York
Founders: Diego Faccioli & Tadas Nikulin

First, follow the directions on the can and “just chill it” then crack, pour, and it reveals a lovely yellow hue with some tiny bubbles & a tad of greenish starlight twinkle. Scents drift up of lemon & grated citrus zest (also reminds me a bit of Limoncello too), a squeeze of lime, and a dash of nose tickling seltzer. Sipping and there’s again lemons & one of my faves a touch of Lemonhead candy, lime squish, a mellow sweetness but not too sweet, mineral rock lick that balances all with a pinch of salt, and that zippy spritz feeling. It’s fresh, crisp, vibrant, and rocking it out of the park.

Pairs with Cheez-Its:  Surprisingly really damn good

Yes, I’ve written about this fun & flirty spritz before, but revisiting now because I sure could use a bit of its spark. As my friend Diego says, “Bacio combines Italy’s winemaking legacy with modern sophistication. Our sparkling wines are a fusion of tradition and innovation, presented in eco-friendly elegance. It’s not just wine; it’s a reimagined experience of Italian luxury.” Just think, all of that magic is consistently packed into these little cans. Close your eyes, sip, and it whisks you away to visions of Veneto, and smacks you with a big smooch (bet all of y’all need one just like I do right now) that will melt away all of the day’s stress. 🇮🇹🍋💋😘

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #cannedcocktails #instawine #catsofinstagram #pairswithcheezits #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Italy #newyork #apertivotime #worldbyglass #SpritzLovers #bacchanalwines #Bacio #Baciolife #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Growing Community

Unico Zelo
Sea Foam 2022
Vermentino
Pét-Nat
Riverland Region
Traditional owners: Ngawait Country
Holistic sustainability, vegan friendly
Adelaide Hills, Australia
Brendan & Laura Carter

Spandau Ballet gold & fine bubbles. Giving it a sniff and it starts with a baguette, that opens the curtains to apples & pears, and leads to a blend of lime, lemon, mandarin oranges, pomelo, etc citrus, and finally over ripe backyard garden grown cucumbers. Sip and there’s that springy citrus blend with a little sizzle, green/crab apples, young hard green pears, sliver of a pineapple bite, fresh cut grass & Kirbys, and a good shake of salt. This is one happy bottle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: goes great with the crunch & brings out more salt

I will admit it has been a bit since I’ve picked up an Australian wine, but I did a double take when I saw this Vermentino pét-nat…ok, “Sea Foam” you’re coming home with me. Turns out the Carters aren’t just focusing on Italian grapes, but which grape will thrive the best on their lands (or better to say the land tells you what they want). “We’re agnostic to variety – we want to find the best for our sites and climates. French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, German – whatever – we’re Australia, and we’re all about Australian Wine.” They also want to spread their love of wine with the world and encourage others that haven’t been bitten by the vino bug to give it a try. Check out their & Henry Doyle’s YouTube channel @bottle_shock (old name was “Wine For The People”). It’s a fun, non pretentious learning experience, and is also the name of their new wine bar that is to soft open Easter weekend. Now they’re not only growing their wine community online but also up close and personal. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Australia #epicureanwines #UnicoZelo #vinewinenyc

 

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“Listen & Feel”

Anima Mundi
Gres 2023
100% Xarel-lo
Biodynamic, organic
Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs, Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
Agustí Torello Roca

Light gold starlight. Breathing in scents that are all delicate bits of pears, lemon pie, mango, pineapple, and Golden delicious apples. Sip and there’s all of the scents with lime sizzle, a dry salty mineral rock lick, sliver of green tomato, and on the back a dry bitter bite combo kind of like parsley, oregano & citrus zest.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Delicious & lively

I knew something looked familiar about this bottle and then it hit me, Agustí’s also the winemaker for his family’s winery AT Roca (I love their sparklers). He started Anima Mundi back in 2015 as a side project, and his view is in order to make “vibrant wines” you have to “listen & feel…to connect with nature in order to understand the life cycles that link us to it” and to nurture the soils as a living being with keeping check of its biodiversity. It’s also all about respect for his environment & minimal intervention during the winemaking aspect. To me that’s a beautiful way of living & working, and he truly lets the grapes sing and express their little place in the world. I think Mr. Roca & this Gres may have made me fall even more in love with Spain. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Spain #josepastorselections #atrocawines  #animamundi_celler #animamundi  #vinewinenyc

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Connecting History, Future & ❤️

Quinta da Raza
Raza Curtimenta
Branco 2023
100% Avesso
Vinho Regional Minho
Natural, foot tread, native yeasts, vegan friendly
Veade, Portugal
Diogo Teixeira Coelho & family (5th gen)

Warm gold with an orange blush. Breathing in and there are oranges/tangerines/kumquats (fruit & zest), whiff of honeysuckle, fresh cut grass, light evergreen, and fresh rained on granite/gravel. Tasting those oranges & tangerines again with at first a little zing & zest that brings a welcome touch of bitter, along with a tiny bit of honeysuckle nectar. It’s dry & fresh, and not a wine to overthink but just enjoy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NOPE

“Have you ever pondered how different life would be if you were born elsewhere? What about your character? Temperament?” I just love this quote from Quinta da Raza’s site because it’s so true. You really can taste their land, place, and history; and they also have their eyes on the future. They’re the ‘first producer operating exclusively in the Vinho Verde Region to be certified with ViniPortugal’s National Sustainability Benchmark for the Wine Sector”. They focus on renewable energy (photovoltaic panels, etc), water efficiency, reducing their carbon footprint, adapting & growing as climate change continues; and considering, respecting & working with others which includes their local community & those that work for and with them. I think that last part is what really makes me smile because they care about the well being & happiness of others. Just think this one bottle of wine connects you with not only the Teixeira Coelho family & their heritage but also with the region & people surrounding them. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #orangewine #naturalwine #portugal #regalwineimports #quintadaraza #vinewinenyc

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Blast From My Past

les FRÈRES Bastards
GSM Rosé 2023
50% Grenache, 30%Syrah, 20% Merlot
VDF
Vineyards: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Thierry Boudinaud & Guy Anderson

Warm sunset blush…pinky with a watercolor splash of orange. Sniff and uh oh. There’s burnt rubber with a touch of diesel, and masked behind that wall is a faint bit of cherry, strawberries, raspberry, and incinerated baguette. Dare I take a sip? Well, I guess I have to & there’s all of the scents along with a citrus squirt that does no favors.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Not wasting them on this glass

I usually stay away from bothering with writing about wines that well…that I just don’t like, but I have a history with Fat Bastard. Goes all the way back to my days of gallery openings. If you were ever a starving artist/student, you know there’s a lot of free wine to be found on opening night festivities. Let’s just say, the one I had all those years ago was plain awful. Thought maybe it’s just the one bottle, so gave it a couple more tries and still ack! I wasn’t the only one tossing it out and that gallery had leftover cases & it took MANY openings to get rid of them. If the kids pass on it, you know. Anyway, since it had been many years & this was a completely different blend with a slight name change, gave it one more good old college try but ended up once again disappointed. Sadly this cute hippo label can’t change the blasted contents of this bottle.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #France #Rosé #Rose

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Wines For Fines

Samuel Párraga
Coche Discoteca NV
Sparkling Rosé 
Moscatel, Pedro Ximinez, Rome
Organic
Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

Deep rose/orange sunset with a few bubbles. There’s scents of strawberries, raspberry, toasty hay, lemon/lime jelly bellies, light cherry pop, and a little sea breeze. Sipping away and am greeted by those strawberries & raspberries, juicy light cherry, bit of sweet apple, that toast/hay moment again, in the background there’s other bouncing berries from blue to boysen, smidge red currants, lime sizzle, and a tiny lick of salt. This is one FUN party pop.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: walk away from the bag

Samuel discovered his enthusiasm for wine from his dad who brought him up doing it right in the natural & artisanal way. He’s continued in that same vein with no chemicals in the field & winery, and believes that the vines “are stronger and a HARMONY can be achieved between the plants and the rest of the beings that inhabit and/or are related to the crop. I also believe that the grapes from these plants are fruits with greater VITALITY, which gives us the opportunity to make a good PURE wine.” He also loves to share his vino, and after a night of music (María Arnal & Marcel Bagés) he & friends kept the party going in the parking lot by the car with some of his vino and a “rather large speaker in the trunk”. Needless to say cops pulled up to the bumper & a ticket (it inspired the label) was written for “Coche Discoteca” aka “Disco Car”. I want to read the full rule of law against discoing. 🤣 At least they came up with a small batch (31 bottles) to pay it off, and hoping that they keep them coming. 🪩

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #sparklingwine #Spain #worldbyglass #goatboyselections #cochediscoteca #samuelparraga #vinewinenyc

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Pairs With Piggy

Joostenberg Wines
Myburgh Bros.
Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024
W.O. Paarl
100% Chenin Blanc
Organic, dry farmed
Paarl, South Africa
Tyrrel and Philip Myburgh (5th gen)

Light starlight twinkle twinkle yellow with a green gleam. Breathing in ripe & round apples & pears, peaches of all sorts, lemon/lime/tangelo squeeze, maybe a hint of peat/earth…hmmm, and a mineral/slate scent that turns into a bit of chalk. All of the scents are there in the taste but the fruits grow (especially loving the peaches), tiny lick of mango that makes me want bbq eel, and also that chalk/mineral vibe. Actually this lovely glass has me craving Southern bbq piggy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: just don’t

Joostenberg has been in the Myburgh family since 1879, and has always been into mixed farming along with winemaking but for some reason in 1947, they decided to pull back from the making but kept up with the growing and selling their grapes to a local co-op. Thankfully in 1999, Tyrrel & Philip (brothers) decided to dive back in and they didn’t just stop there. As in their family tradition they still kept farming and continued to branch out with their deli providing free range & organic products from their farm or locally sourced. They also have a specialized butchery (started in 1997), beautiful seasonal flowers for any occasion, fresh vegetables & herbs, a bistro, their courtyard restaurant Kraal, a kids & family welcome Picnic Style Eatery, and at last their beautiful event venue that can handle 10 to 300 people. Wow, you would think it would be more than enough to keep a family busy, but turns out they also created a wine project (MAN Family Wines) with José Conde of Stark-Condé Wines which is named after their wives’ initials: Marie, Anette and Nicky. With all of these plates spinning at once, I’m impressed & exhausted on their behalf. Raising my glass to this busy bee family. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #southafrica #skurnikwines #JoostenbergWines #MyburghBros #docwinebar #docwineshop

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A Small Delicacy

Domaine des Aubuisières
Vouvray AOC
Brut
100% Chenin Blanc
HVE3 certification, organic
Loire, France
Charles and Menehould Lesaffre

Warm gold with active little bubbles tracing images on the surface. Inhaling an elegant mix of pears (fresh & baked), Fuji & Red Delicious apples, nectarines, white peaches, a gentle reminder of my mom’s lemon squares that were properly cooked & not eggy like other overcooked ones I’ve had, and light honeysuckle blooms. First sip wakes up my mouth with a zing. All of the scents are there in the taste with a tiny drop of citrus tingle. Just crisp, fresh and very addictive.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

I’m a bit of a magpie when it comes to labels, or at least I love to pay attention to details like this little long beaked bird flying in from the side. I became familiar with this feathered friend, the Bécasse aka Eurasian woodcock, from one of my favorite authors, Martin Walker & his series “Bruno Chief of Police” set in Dordogne, France. Bruno not only solves mysteries/crimes, but he is also an amazing chef. He dearly loves to hunt (along with his Basset Hound) Bécasse and share them with his friends. In “The Dark Vineyard”, during one of his dinner parties, he explains that when the birds are flushed out of the brush & take flight their stomach completely evacuates so this fat tube is a delicacy. Cooked it softens, turns creamy and is supposed to be delicious spread on a baguette. Bruno also grills the birds split down the middle with the head & beak still attached, and some find the “charred head” to be their fave to eat whole…just don’t munch on the beak. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #sparklingwine #brut #France #worldbyglass #brunochiefofpolice #weygandtselections #peterweygandt #domainedesaubuisieres #vinewinenyc