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How To Love Your Job

Domaine François Chidane
Brut Tradition 2019
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Chenin Blanc
Organic, biodynamic, regenerative agriculture
Montlouis-sur-Loire, Loire, France
Owners and winemakers: François and Manuela Chidaine

Had to wrestle for over 7 minutes to hear that pop! Then poured a glass of warm golden with light bubbles that fade and disappear. Sniffing and there’s apples, pears, guava, and it reminds me of a touch of calvados. Ginger also gently flies out over time with brioche. Sip and there’s pears, a zipping zingy crisp apple, lime, again there’s that ginger (not Mary Ann 🏝), on the back and when you exhale there’s a maltiness like the yeast you sprinkle on popcorn in a pub, and slate, salt, a tad of parsley which all ends in a touch of creamy deliciousness.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings all the lovely bits out so grab a 2nd bag

I think we can sufficiently say, François loves his job. “I am doing a marvelous profession that I have chosen. No one forced it on me. It’s my life! I didn’t want to do anything else…” How many of us wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and can say the same! Imagine getting to wake up to this view and work in harmony with nature all day. Also explains this quote, “I consider the vine as a human being. We must not imprison her and always be respectful towards her.” He’s even branched out to Murcia, Spain with 2 wines (Bullas DO), which greatly intrigues me, but makes sense…his wife Manuela’s family is from there. Now I’m going to have to make this a new mission to track down these bottles, because if they are anywhere as good as this Brut, they are bound to be fab!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #CheninBlanc #Brut #Loire #France #Murcia #Spain #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #domainefrancoischidaine @polanerselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Certifiably Bat Approved

Domaine de Petit Roubié
Picpoul de Pinet Château 2020
Picpoul de Pinet AOP
100% Piquepoul
Organic (ECOCERT certification)
Occitania, Languedoc, France
Wine family: Floriane and Olivier Azan

Bright golden with green shimmers. A citrusy blend of lemon and zest pop up toward my nose along with lime & light tangerine, a salty sea breeze, and wet granite. Tasting lemon curd, lemons & zest (makes me think of that Expedia/Ewan McGregor commercial), lime, mandarin oranges, tangelo, pineapple, and a tasty rim of salt. It’s bright and free and sings!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: pretty good

Domaine de Petit Roubié got in way early going organic and ECOCERT certified, which is cool but what’s even better is they are a part of “SOS Chauve-souris” who raise awareness for bats and promote their protection. Petit Roubié has created little homes (nesting boxes) for our fuzzy flying friends, and they pay their rent by swooping in and munching on the insects/pests of the vineyard. I’m betting they would give this Batbnb 5 stars. The Azan’s also have welcomed another dear to my heart to live in the vines…beautiful beneficial bees! Ain’t biodiversity grand! ❤️🦇🐝

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #Picpoul  #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #bats #bees #Languedoc #France @misaimports @vinewinenyc @domainesdepetitroubie @cheezit

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That’s No Drone…

Fento Wines
La Galaxia 2020
Vinho Rosado
Touriga Nacional 60%, Tinta Roriz 30%, Jaen 10%
Organic, hand harvested, unfined, unfiltered
Dão, Portugal (grown)
Wine team: Álvaro de Castro (Portugal); Rebecca & Eulogio Pomares (Spain)

Shimmering light salmon. Scents of strawberries, raspberries, light lemon breeze, and delicate apple tree blossoms that weave in and out…very clean and refreshing. Here’s those strawberries again on my tongue along with lemon/citrus squish, watermelon joy, a lick of granite, and a chew of parsley at the end. It’s so delicious, fun and freeing.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: eh well it’s ok but you’re better off without

This delightful wine is a mashup of two countries. The grapes are from Portugal and raised naturally by Quinta Da Pellada’s Álvaro de Castro (and possibly his daughter Maria) and the team’s Spanish other half are Fento Wines’ Rebecca & Eulogio Pomares & then there’s the label artist their eldest son “Gio”. At age 6, he told his dad he was going to design one and sure enough he did…he’s the one in the UFO pulling up by Álvaro’s vines. Rosés/Rosados always have me yearning for the bright summer sun, but this one has me dreaming of laying out in a field away from all the city lights and gazing up at the night sky…waiting for whatever celestial beings might fly by. Hey Gio, if it’s you, how about stop and say hi 👋🛸.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #rosé #rosado #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #iwanttobelieve #organic #UFO #Spain #Portugal #thatsnomoon #FentoWines @avantgardews @quinta_da_pellada @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Let Nature Be The Artist

Johannes Zillinger
Revolution
Ancestral Pet Nat NV
Gruner Veltliner (mostly), Riesling (15-20%)
Organic/Biodynamic (Demeter)
Niederösterreich, Austria
Winemaker: Johannes Zillinger

Shiny golden with tiny active white bubbles. Floating upward are scents of apples, light young firm peaches, a little something hazelnutty that turns into baguettes and a pinch of baking spice. Sipping tart apple, whiff of smoke that comes and goes, lemony spark kind of like Kas Lemon soda, yeasty goodness like the bread we’ve all been making for the past 2.5 or whatever years, good shake of salt & small bit of white pepper.It’s just vibrant, crisp, and keeps your mouth alert.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bleh

Johannes Zillinger’s dad raised him right…the organic way (since 1983) and “viewing the vineyard as a habitat”, so when his time came to shine, Johannes took it another step further with bio certification. From the moment you pop onto their site, his ideals and passion about it are emblazoned right there on the home page and throughout the site, so I’m just going to let his words tell the tale. “Being ORGANIC is not a trend, it’s a lifestyle and we have been living it for over 35 years. Avoiding all sorts of chemistry is our philosophy. Regarding the environment, natural water, nutrition and particularly in terms of wine. A healthy soil is the key to remarkable and exciting wines. Especially if no boundaries are being set for the development of wines in our beautiful cellars.” And he also let’s nature be the artist which I love that sentiment, “The most beautiful pictures are painted by nature; with minimalistic wine making in the cellar we frame those artworks.” BTW does anyone know who creates his gorgeous labels? Each one is has a circular view of a natural moment with a white line work butterfly floating in on a black label except this “Revolution” Pet Nat. Hey, you know me, I’m always curious in artists in all forms. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #petnat #sparklingwine #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #biodynamic #artist #Niederösterreich #Austria @blisswineimports @vinewinenyc @johannes.zillinger @cheezit

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Brewed Benefits

Matchbook Distilling & Good Liquorworks (seasonal collaboration)
Sparkling Anomaly
Riesling juice, coffee fruit concentrate, botanicals (Wintergreen, Mace, Star Anise & Wild Birch Bark)
5% ABV
Organic; Coffee Fruit: nothing artificial, no fake colors, no carbon footprint
Long Island, NY

Orange gold like a skin contact and fine light bubbles drawing patterns on the glass. At first I don’t know if it’s my nose or brain (it turns out it’s both) telling me something citrus tart smell that turns into a deep wild mix. There’s a woodsy scent that if you hover a whole goes almost baker’s chocolate and then back to wooden matchstick smoke, nutmeg, and a smidge of singed mint. Lively and fresh sip that’s lightly effervescent with kumquats, splash of bergamot, wintergreen, wild sour grass (from back home chewed in the field), anise, and birch. This is a treat for beer, cider and wine lovers so if you have a S.O. like mine, you can share.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly good and makes it even more fresh and friendly

When I first saw something about this bottle I swear I saw coffee wine and boy was I wrong. On 2nd look I realized it’s all about the coffee fruit. You know, I hate to admit but I never thought about what happens to the fruit which is stupid on my part, but honestly I don’t drink coffee anymore…now it’s all about tea. Anyway, turns out this fruit is sometimes made into fertilizer but more often went to waste or doing some not so great things to waterways. Well, with some drying and processing this pulp can end up in all sorts of things (chocolates, sodas, supplements, cookies) and evidently it has great health benefits (from heart, brain, weight, etc)! A big cheers to Good Liquorworks bringing it here for their “Good Vodka” (which they say, “makes a damn fine martini“) & this collaboration. So maybe this bottle of “Anomaly”, may give you a gift of a little more than just a happy buzz.

#wine #beer #cider #brew #vodka #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #sparklingwine #coffee #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #brooklyn #longisland #NY #naturalwine @vinewinenyc @matchbookdistilling @good.vodka @cheezit

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Winner Of A Weiner

Fossil & Fawn
Piquette 2021
Base is from their “Do Nothing” 2021; Pinot Noir & Chardonnay pomace (stems and all), water to rehydrate, then a little Riesling & Gewürztraminer pomace and beet sugar…from going from “Doing Nothing” that’s quite a recipe.
Williamette Valley
Sparkling “Wine-Adjacent” Beverage
Organic, dry-farmed, indigenous yeast
Forest Grove, Oregon
Owners & winemakers: Jim Fischer & Jenny Mosbacher

Hate to start this way but I cracked the cap and it flew out of the bottle and lost probably a 1/4 of it. I swear I stored it properly. Anyway, here we go…fizzy magenta with a white rim of bubbles. Immediately scents pop of hay, funk, a cocktail of raspberries, strawberries, cherries, cranberry; and as it grows a deeper funk that lingers still but continues to fade but never leaves entirely. Brett is that you or one of your buddies? If so…yo get out of here! Sipping and and the flavor is so much better and filled with raspberries, cranberries, a lemon/lime pop, and of all things a little Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red with a spritz of seltzer. There’s still a smidge of hay that fades into a little greenery, so very fresh and backyard drinking ready.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nice and kicks all the funk out

I’ve had my fare share of fab Fossil & Fawn wines, but that’s not the reason I picked this one up. Just look at that hot dog! I’m probably one of the only people (out of my NY friends) that still craves them. For those of you that don’t know, during the lockdown many bars were only able to stay open and serve drinks if they sold something to eat. Let’s just say I lost count on how many I ate! BTW you can even get a giclée print of this mouthwatering art work signed by the artist Brian Crabaugh, but you need to act fast because it’s an edition of 🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #Piquette #sparklingwine #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #portland #oregon   #naturalwine #hotdog @vinewinenyc @fossilandfawn @cheezit

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Artfully Familiar

Nature’s Revenge
Pét-Nat
Millésime 2020
100% Chardonnay
Super natural, hands off, no manipulation
Carcassonne, France
Crafted by Pierre Caizergues & Antonin Bonnet

Pale yellow with green undertones and vibrant bubbles. Scents of pears, apples, fresh blossoms & I can just hear the bees buzzing & seeing their cute little bee butts wiggling in joy, and a light vanilla/Nilla wafer/almond croissant moment. Sipping and it’s limey lemony crisp, some pear and apple cider with a sliver of pineapple and honeysuckle as it opens. There’s also a sprig of grass, a light smidge of ginger that stays way in the back at first that gets lost, and a little almond and sparkling water mineral feel.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh yeah…it goes all creamy and but keeps it’s crisp tingle

I was like…wait, wait, wait…I know this artwork. It’s kind of like being at an art gallery opening, you look across the crowd, and can’t quite place the face that is heading your way until you’re both mid conversation. Sure enough, I’ve seen some of Oscar Lett’s work in person (on a building in my neck of the woods) and had no idea. What a beautiful hand in these murals and on this bottle. Check out how he blends nature & urban on his site. It’s truly breathtaking, and makes sense that it pairs so well with “Nature’s Revenge”.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #petnat #PétNat #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Carcassonne #France #Languedoc  #naturalwine @toutonselection @vinewinenyc @pierre_tailleur_de_vins @oscarlett.artist @cheezit

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Natural Hospitality

Octagono
‘Vino Naranja’ 2019
Macabeo & Moscat
Natural wines very well acquainted with hand and foot, 1st contemporary Mexican winery to make natural wine in clay vessels (depicted on the label) since 2016
This bottle is 673/840
Vergel de la Sierra, San Felipe, GTO, Mexico
Founder: Marcelo Castro Vera
Winemaker: Celia Morales and the winery is run by mostly women

Orangey gold with some non-filtered goodness. Hovering over the glass and at first it’s heady with magnolias, juicy pears, honeydew, pineapple, a whole big ol’ armful bunch of flowers, and a little granite & salt. Sip and it’s an explosion of everything and mostly not what first emerged in the sniffing. It hits so fast that I have to sit here a moment before being taken on a wild ride of young yellow plums, crab apples, lemon, lime & a citrus blended cocktail with smoke, and salt. There’s also a peppery kick that goes in and out and at times turns into green bell pepper. It’s  fresh, tart and funky in a good way. Kind of addictive and each sip makes you want more and it keeps morphing. This would be really good with a rim of salt & hot pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blerg ack

I had no idea that bringing home this bottle would lead to a place to escape and start your own adventure, and wine wasn’t the beginning. Marcelo Castro Vera had a background in hotels/hospitality and then he turned his knowledge and experience on its head. This man is a total multitasker…he opened the hotel El Nidal, made of shipping containers that bring you back in touch with beautiful wild nature and maybe even yourself, but in comfort (there’s even hot water powered by solar & a minibar). Then he embarked the Octagono winery, a distillery, a brewery and more. Wow, what a life! I think he has it all covered, and wonder when he gets time to sleep?

#wine #vin #vino #Piquette #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Mexico #naturalwine @josepastorselections @vinewinenyc @octagonovinomx @elnidalmx @cheezit

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A Concrete Cuvée That’s Right Up My Alley

Dashe Cellars
Les Enfants Terribles
Chenin Blanc 2018
“Concrete Cuvée”
Natural winemaking, fermented in a “Concrete Egg”
Vineyard: Clarksburg, CA (they work with very select small growers)
Winery & Tasting Room: Alameda, CA
Co-founders and married to each other & the wine: Mike and Anne Dashe

Yellow with light green shimmer. Let it breathe, it needs room. Trust me and you’ll start smelling pâte à choux, fresh & baked pears, melon, apricots, almonds, and a touch of slate. Next up sipping that melon again, lemon/lime, orange zest, honeysuckle, apricots, firm pears, a grapefruit greyhound splash, and a sprinkle of salt. Lovely and full of grace.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious and delightful

I think I may have a new reason to pack my bags and “Going Back to Cali”. Spirits Alley (Alameda Point) definitely looks…well…up my alley. Dashe Cellars resides there along with other distilleries, breweries, and wineries. What a fabulous use for an old Naval Air Station, and what a great way to spend a day wandering (and hopefully not weaving and wobbling). Also if you visit on the 1st Sunday of the month, you can do one of my other favorite pastimes that I know I will have to bribe my S.O. to do, shopping at an antique faire. Ok, maybe it will take a big bribe of a trunk load of IPAs 🍺 because Alameda Point Antiques Faire is the largest antiques show in Northern California. Think of the treasures you can find from the booths, bottles, and by the glass! Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #Piquette #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Alameda #CA #CheninBlanc #naturalwine @AlamedaAntiquesFaire @vinewinenyc @dashecellars @cheezit

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A Little Bottle of Summer

Folias de Baco
Uivo “aqua nat”
Piquette
Aromatised wine-based drink
Field blend
5.5% ABV
375 ml
Organic, unfined & unfiltered
Alijó, Duoro, Portugal
Winemaker: Tiago Sampaio

Pop that cap and either pour or drink straight from the bottle. Dark rose with electric magenta and s little natural detritus at the bottom of the bottle. Taking my nose on a walk through a rose garden along with strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, and a faint whiff of smoke. Ooh there’s an effervescent tongue tingle leading to a cocktail of cranberry, young strawberry, blackberry with a squish of lemon, and a chew of wild sour grass from back in my youthful country living days.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yummy!

Folias de Baco’s wines have never let me down, and I’m known to “howl” my praise. This easily portable, fresh, crisp & fun bottle with one fine label, is your new summertime buddy (definitely not your mama’s 1980s wine cooler, that honestly I couldn’t stomach). Head out and embrace a sunny day with a couple “aqua nats” and bluetooth speakers in your bag because this little bottle pairs well with Blondie’s “In the Sun”. Don’t forget to bring along your 🕶

#wine #vin #vino #Piquette #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Duoro #Portugal #Blondie #summervibes @saviosoaresselections @vinewinenyc @folias_de_baco @cheezit