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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

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The Language Of Flowers

Sonshine Vins
Blanksia 2019
100% Colombard
Biodynamic, indigenous yeast
Jujurieux, France
Winemaker: Lisanne van Son

Spun gold. Breathing in and it starts out soft or should I say creamy with mellow peach, pear & apple, a tiny tangerine whiff, pluots, and salt. Sip and it elegantly glides in with nectarine, pear & apple, also those pluots again & green plums, a lime/citrus stabilizing spark, and lick of slate. It’s just fresh, delicious, and full of life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: vibrant joy

Blanksia’s name is taken from Australia’s Banksia flower(s). I had always wondered what these exotic looking beauties were. Turns out they symbolize rebirth and new beginnings which could represent each part of Lisanne’s wine globe hopping tale. Originally from the Netherlands (somm life started there), then on to the stops in the UK & Belgium, next up is France where she set her sights on making her own wine in a troglodyte cave with grapes from reputable organic/biodynamic grapes which she was part of the hand harvesting. She doesn’t stop there either, bc there’s also Australia and another project with other natural wine friends in the Adelaide Hills. I can’t wait to see where or what she has coming up next!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Colombard #France #tessbryantwine @tessbryant.wine  @vinewinenyc @sonshinevins @cheezit

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When Life Brings You Grapes

Commune of Buttons
Gloria 2019
100% Pinot Noir
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeast
Basket Range, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Winemakers, owners & farmers: Sophie & Jasper Buttons (sister & brother)

Shining ruby with purple splashes. Ooh what’s that waving at my nose…strawberries, cherries, some forest floor with a dash of cardamon, and then back to blossoms. Tasting strawberries ( both ripe and green), cherries…and oddly a little of a cherry starburst (over time), lemon (fruit & zest), a splash of mandarin orange, red currants, and a pinch of white pepper. Just remember give it a little breathing room…don’t crowd it…a little extra space and time is a good thing.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yummy

Jasper and Sophie came back not to get into winemaking but to revitalize their parents’ farm. Well..sometimes life just throws you a new route. You know how the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, and in their case it brought them grapes and influence & knowledge from natural winemaker Anton van Klopper, so then hey, make organic/biodynamic wine! Not only did they make wine but Jasper was voted in as the 2016 Best New Act at the Young Gun of Wine Awards. Guess they were really fast learners and got into the rhythm of the vines to the cellar. Also in 2016, they branched out past the farm to become a partner in the restaurant/wine bar and communal conversation place, “The Summertown Aristologist” which added on their “Cellar Door” in 2020, where you can do a wine tasting and if you like, take some home. Sounds like they are keeping quite busy in a beautiful way of life. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #PinotNoir #SouthAustralia #Australia #adelaidehills #communeofbuttons #thesummertownaristologist @tessbryant.wine @vinewinenyc @commune_of_buttons @cheezit

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Naturally Engineered

Maysara
Cyrus
Pinot Noir 2014
McMinnville AVA
Biodynamic, native yeasts
McMinnville, Oregon
Owners: Moe & Flora Momtazi and their 3 daughters: Tahmiene (winemaker), Naseem (sales manager), Hanna (events & hospitality)

Ruby stained glass beauty. Breezing in are fresh & dried cherries, puff of smoke, plums, prunes, very ripe strawberries, roses, and dried marjoram. Tip and tasting cherry, a tobacco tingle, prunes, singed orange zest, raspberry, rhubarb, a pinch of earth, and a good berry darkness. Alive, bright and smooth all at the same time and stays that way over several days.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm silky

“Pure, female-made biodynamic wines: grown with intention, crafted in harmony with the land we farm.” Reading a statement like that always piques my curiosity, so I wondered about how did the parents of these brilliant young women start this wine dream, and it was more than I expected. Moe was originally from Iran, but had come to the U.S. for an engineering degree, and after finishing he returned home with his wife Flora in 1978. I was a kid back then and remember my parents having the news on at dinner and hearing about unrest and upheaval and then the “Iran hostage crisis” so I can’t imagine how their family felt when they knew it was time to leave. Luckily they did get political asylum in the U.S. and in 1997, they bought their farm because it turns out Moe did have more than just an engineering background…his dad and grandfather both used to make wine. From the start they were dedicated to biodynamic, so as for the pesky weeds…no problem just plough and turn the earth over and over and let it rejuvenate. Also instead of chemicals they use natural tea concoctions. As they say”90% of the winemaking is in the vineyard”, and it’s so gloriously natural with such a delicious outcome!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #PinotNoir #Oregon @vinewinenyc @maysarawinery @cheezit