Frisky Mayhem

Karim Vionnet
Grabuge!
Gamay
Méthode Aromatique Demi-Sec
Sustainable, hard harvested, native yeasts
Villié-Morgon, Beaujolais, France

Magenta orange tinged sunrise with very fine & active bubbles tracing Rorschach tests on the surface. Scents float up of cherries, blueberries, raspberries, a sprig of hay that heads out the door, slams it hard & will not be heard of again, light touch of cream, and as it opens a small spritz of lemon/lime. Sipping and oh this is delicious! There’s full on raspberry, blueberries & ripe strawberries, a cherry or two, honeysuckle that grows as it opens, and a little light lemon tang on the back.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: brings out even more berries

With a name that means mayhem and chaos, I had no idea what I was getting into but hey I just had to give it a go, and if it explodes on me, I have the steam mop ready. Then I read Karim is an AC/DC fan, known to use some colorful language, and has “a weakness for beer”, so wondered if this was going to be like a framboise lambic. As much as I love a good framboise…this is so much better & no frothing fountains to clean up! So all you beer lovers (yes, Joe I’m thinking of you & Rhea) out there, give this gamay bubbly a try, and if your S.O. is a wine lover…it might even spark a perfect frisky date night because this is one exuberant bottle of delight. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #bubbly #sparklingwine #winestagram #instawine #winelover #redwine #winetasting #redwine #winetime #organic #naturalwine #beer #framboise #datenight #Beaujolais #France #karimvionnet #regalwineimports #vinewine #vinewinenyc @cheezit @regal_wine @vinewinenyc @domaine_karimvionnet

History, Heritage & Horses

Casa Cadaval
Padre Pedro 2019
Tejo DO
Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Alfrocheiro
Organic (certified in 2020), hand harvested, vegan
Muge, Portugal
Owned since 1648 by the Álvares Pereira de Mello family
Current generation: Teresa Schönborn, Countess of Schönborn and Wiesentheid

Stained glass ruby. Give this glass some space to breathe (and later a steak or blood sausage). Scents grow of cherries fresh & dried, plums, dark raisins, cranberry, a little cola, oil cured olive pits, and a light earthy that turns into a toasty goodness. Tasting and all of the scents are heightened and more dry, blend of cranblueraspberry with a tiny fig dropped in, orange & peel, balsamic reduction, and a spice slow burn on the back.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: smooth

Had no idea how much centuries of history was going to be in this bottle when I grabbed it from the under $20 shelf. There’s a lineage of royalty, patrons of the arts, 5 generations of women at the helm, the vast varying territory including the vineyards, a bird sanctuary, cork trees, and the list goes on. Of course, the one thing that truly stands out to me (other than the fab wine) are their noble & majestic  Lusitano horses, that have been linked to the estate since the 1600s. What an amazing ability to get to raise and grow with these historic (lineage of this breed can be traced to the early neolithic) spirits. Horses also can be such a source of comfort, and in my case during my youth when things were not bright they pulled me out into the sun. There’s nothing like that contact & connect where your ride as one. 🐎 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #redwine #winetasting #redwine #winetime #organic #portugal #naturalwine #winesofportugal #lusitano #horse #vosselections #CasaCadaval #vinewine #vinewinenyc @vinewinenyc @casacadavalmuge @vosselections

Something’s Always On My Mind

Bodega Frontio
Follaco 2021
Juan García 70%, Tempranillo 30%
D.O. Arribes
Vineyards certified organic, low intervention, native yeasts; & every 6 bottles sold = 1 tree will be planted in their forest
Fermoselle, Castilla y León, Spain
Thyge (Chus) Benned Jensen

Purple ruby stained glass. Scents of red currants, a bit of wild flair that flees, cherries, strawberries, plums, and an alpine herbal pinch. Sipping and it’s a light & fresh strawbluecranpomrasberry cocktail that has a lip tingling brightness and goes delightfully dry. Let it keep opening and a bit of tomato leaf roams out and the Juan Garcia begins to groove & grind even better with the Tempranillo.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: snacking good

After trying “Bébeme”, I knew I had to grab the other Bodega Frontio I could find (there’s others so I’m still on the lookout for more). Kept glancing at the label art, and started to see more than a bottle and a mountain range…remembering a trip to see the Grand Tetons and we all know where that name came from (those naughty French-Canadian trappers 🦫). Wondering if it’s just my naive or dirty rambling mind. So I was bit curious about this name and just like the previous bottle of “Drink Me” it has a little twist. “Follaco”, I’m betting has to relate to the Spanish verb “follar” which translates to a word that flies off my tongue way too quickly and sometimes gets me in trouble. No matter if I’m the one that is assuming too much and is lost in translation, I say give this bottle a try bc it’s good with things sexy or even spicy (like a good curry)…yes, this time I’m talking about food…do you really think my mind is always only on one thing…well other than wine?

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #redwine #winetime #organic #spain #naturalwine #vinewinenyc #bodegafrontio @cheezit @wearenomadic @vinewinenyc @bodega_frontio

Agree To Disagree

Clos D’Audhuy
Les Polissons 2020
Malbec de Cahors AOC
Organic, hand harvested, stainless steel
Lacapelle-Cabanac, France
Winemaker: Benoit Aymard

Deep velvet ruby. Breathing in violets & other sorts of powdery light flowers, raisins, cherries dried & fresh, plums, and a little balsamic reduction. The tastes are all of the above with cinnamon pinch & a small white pepper shake on the back, along with juicy blackberries, a bowl of fun assorted blueberry, raspberry, strawberries and other assorted, smidge of dark chocolate with a touch of cream and silkiness (post a little chill).

Pairs with Cheez-Its tonight I’m just not in the mood. I’ve had one of those weeks or months or years

My S.O. and I have a bit of a let’s agree to disagree moment about French Malbec. Ok, he swears he hates it, but hasn’t tasted this one. Personally every grape from everywhere is precious in their own way in my book, so why limit yourself, and this one is a whole different creature than the Argentinian he prefers. It can be fun, graceful, has a backbone, and has the strength & finesse like women’s rugby team players during a lineout lift. BTW did I mention I love rugby, and am proud that the popularity of women’s rugby is continually growing! Anyway, I was led to this bottle due to Aymard’s “Queue de Pressoir” (70% Ségalin, 30% Malbec) which is one lovely bottle of bouncing happiness. If you can find either Clos D’Audhuy, give them a try because not only are they delicious, they are also gentle on your wallet.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #redwine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #worldbyglass #rugby #womensrugby #organic #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #France @cheezit @closdaudhuy @ripewineimports @vinewinenyc

Just Drink Me

Bodega Frontio
Bébeme 2021
Juan García
D.O. Arribes
Vineyards certified organic, low intervention, native yeasts
Castilla y León, Spain
Thyge (Chus) Benned Jensen

Deep ruby purple. Give it a little cellar chill out time. Scents start popping up of cherries, plums, strawberries with caps, pinch of black pepper, and then a fine jumble of thyme, cloves, anise & ginger. Taking a few sips and it’s so light & graceful yet with strength (you know…iike an ice dancer), cherry, plum & strawbluecranpomrasberry cocktail, a violet or two, herb & spice blend with a grind of pepper & a teeny twist of lime/orange. I ❤️ this wine!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly brings out all the delicate lovely moments even more

Oh, I never tire of hearing of a person finding their dream. Thyge (or as his friends call him: Chus) left his old work life in Copenhagen and followed a glass of wine that led him to Spain. Pretty darn brave without a background or training in the vines, but I guess love & determination can be a recipe for success. He’s now a champion of native grapes and honestly he has romanced Juan García into a true gem. This bottle lured me in and then made me pick up a second one. Just follow the instructions in the name “Bébeme” and “drink me”. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #redwine #winetime #organic #spain #naturalwine #drinkme #vinewinenyc #bodegafrontio @cheezit @wearenomadic @vinewinenyc @bodega_frontio

Clinging On As Summer Fades

La Lata
Vermujito
Wine Spritz
Organic, vegan, gluten free & no chemical additives
Spain
Created by Álvaro de la Viña & Ana González (Selections de la Viña)

Crack open and pour on the rocks or you can just drink it straight up from the can (an orange slice is suggested too but I’m fine as is). It’s warm gold with lovely active bouncing bubbles. Take a sniff and there’s mountain herbs, blossoms & other white flowers, that lovely dry vermouth smell joined with a pop of nose tickling citrus. Sipping and again that delicious vermouth taste and feel and again that mountain herby along with a touch of coriander/cloves, a drop of clover honey, and a red grapefruit juice splash.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: bleh

This is one fun cocktail to sip holding onto the last bits of summer while embracing the oncoming feel of fall. Álvaro & Ana selected the vermouth for this recipe from Bodegas Robles in Montilla-Moriles, who have been around since 1927, and organic since the 90s. There’s an extra gift that comes with their wines/vermouths…they have paired soundscapes which are  “not so much a prescription for the ‘right’ matching of wines and sounds as an invitation to open up to what your senses awaken in you.” So when you pop this can and let it roll around over your tongue, what do you feel?

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Hallo

The End Of Nowhere
Spaceboy 2022
100% Pinot Gris
Organic, hand harvested, native yeasts, unfined & unfiltered
Grapes from Heringer Vineyard in Yolo County
Amador City, CA
Founder and winemaker: Chris Walsh

Burnt orange red stained glass. Sniffing and there’s cherry wit a teeny touch of balsamic, rhubarb, strawberries red & green, ripe bell pepper, and a dusting of white pepper. First sip and those strawberries & rhubarb are there again along with tart & smooth cherry, a cranberry & bell pepper cocktail, a grind of white pepper, and a lemon peel twist.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: deliciously vibrant

Drinking another glass and listening to “Hallo Spaceboy” remix on repeat. Will admit I am a fangirl of Bowie, Eno & PSB, so this bottle just said bring me home, and that led me to finding out who Chris Walsh is. Originally from Amador, his dreams took him to NYC. Eventually he ended up in the food & wine industry, became a sommelier, and then realized it was time to return back to his roots, home, wine studies, and work with great wineries & winemakers (two in particular I love: Donkey & Goat and Matthew Rorick). Now he has 2 lines of wines. “Little John Lane” made with grapes he grows on his 10 acres, and “The Edge of Nowhere” sourced from Sierra Foothills small organic growers he respects and trusts. As he says, “We are committed to practicing organic farming and treating the land with more than a little love. We live here, and will do whatever it takes to preserve our land for future generations… even if that pulling weeds by hand.”

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #california #organic #naturalwine #spaceboy #vinewinenyc #theendofnowhere @cheezit @vinewinenyc @end_of_nowhere

A Creative & Delicious Solution

Les Filles des Fêtes
Afternoon Disco 2022
Chardonnay 66%, Viognier 34%
Natural wine, zero/zero
Greenport, NY
Leslie Merinoff

Warm gold just like a perfect ring on your finger. First sniff and there’s a natural seaside tide pool whiff that departs and then heads into a pinch of light pie spice, next up are spring flowers & fruit blossoms, apples, pears, and overall it’s just light, bright and uplifting. Sip & swish and apples & pears appear again with s little zing of lime & zesty tart bit of liveliness, lick of mineral rock that has a small shake of salt sea breeze, and smidge of mace on the exhale with a little sprig of hay. This glass is super chill and comfortable and perfect to ease into an afternoon DJ set.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: bleh. don’t bother

I’ve become quite a fan of Matchbook Distilling & Leslie Merinoff’s creations, and this wine makes me fall a bit harder for them, or maybe I should say it makes me want to get up and dance. Reading on how it all came about and turns out it is a creative solution for what could have been a big problem. Originally it was to be all about Viognier, but in order to keep the ferment process at just the right spot cool they needed more juice to fill their tank. Since Leslie sources & works with local farmers/growers, North Fork Long Island’s Macari Vineyards provided the beautiful Chardonnay to balance everything out. BTW, I’m really glad these two grapes had their chance to mingle because oh they do shine so well together kind of like bright daylight shimmering on a spinning 🪩.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #cocktails #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #cheezit #naturalwine #pairswithcheezits #greenport #NY #Longisland #discoball #disco #matchbookdistilling #vinewinenyc @cheezit @matchbookdistilling @vinewinenyc

A Big Smooch To The Future

Staffelter Hof
Jan Matthias Klein
Kiss Kiss Maddie’s Lips
Rosé Pét-Nat
100% Fruhburgunder (early-ripening variant of Pinot Noir)
Organic
Kröv, Mosel, Germany

Rose plum orange with bubbling activity and natural haze. Oh, also open over a sink with a towel near because they’re might be a chance of a pink bubbling fountain. Wafting up from those bubbles are scents of plums with some creaminess, tree blossoms & roses, and citrus zest blended with a touch of a running down that hill grass stain. Sipping and here comes tart bright plums & that touch of cream again, a swish of pomegranate-blackberry juice, smidge of cedar in the back, touch of kumquat, green wild strawberries, and a kick of wild sour grass that fades in and out…dry, fresh and fun!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious and brings out more fruit, who would have thought?

Staffelter Hof just may very well be one of the oldest wineries or companies documented in the world (that is still in business), with a mention of it in legal paperwork back in 862 A.D. It went from an abbey to a winery/farm with the size varying over the years, and adapting with the times by modernizing the buildings (including central heating!). As of the latest generation Jan Matthias Klein (eldest son of Gundi and Gerd) they’re organic (2023 is their 10th year), and expanding into natural wines with also very cool new label art…just like this delicious pet-nat which carries on the family heritage image of a wolf from their coat of arms (albeit frolicking, imbibing & carefree). Oh and look here, Jan & team are adding fungus resistant PiWi grapes to their vineyards. That’s a good move for keeping this historic winery moving forward into their delicious, sustainable & organic future, and for that they do deserve a big smooch! 💋

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #piwi #organic #mosel #Germany #cheezit #PétNat #petnat #naturalwine #vinewinenyc #bowlerwine #StaffelterHof @cheezit @bowlerwine @vinewinenyc @staffelterhof862

Stained Happy Feet

Bodega de Forlong
Blanco 2021
100% Palomino
Organic, biodynamic
El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Andalucia, Spain
Alejandro Naváerez & Rocío Áspera

Yellow starlight with blinking green bits. Breathing in blossoms floating out, banana & some of it toasted, apples, light lime, fresh crusty plain bagel, gentle hazelnut, a pinch of dried fennel, and a dash of salt. All the scents are there in the taste along with smoke, apple & pear blend, crisp lemon/lime splash, more of that very welcome sea salt breeze, puff of smoke, mineral lick of rock, mild hazelnut, and ends in the back with a tiny piece of green pecan from my Granny’s backyard.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: gentle and smooth

This is one of those lovely tales of two friends (both with wine degrees) that end up falling in love, rescuing an abandoned farm, and nurturing it back to certified organic life. Sounds like a perfect dream life to me (I’m not jealous…well maybe a little…maybe a little more than a little), but I’m sure it’s also a ton of hard work. Through their own words, you can see how rewarding it all is. “We make wines with love, always with feet stained with Albariza and with a heart that pumps the fruit of their work.” Now, onto addressing Victoria Cerezo Doello’s label art of a serious looking business-fish decked out in a pinstripe suit, pocket square, and briefcase. He’s letting you know that you can pair this bottle with any fancy-schmancy sea loving gastro creation to fish & chips takeaway, or even just a Krabby Patty (just don’t forget the secret ingredient a pinch of King Neptune’s Poseidon Powder). 🐟🐠🦀🦪🦑🦞🍤🦐🌊

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #Cadiz #Andalucia #Spain #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #vinewinenyc @cheezit @forlongwine @laluzselections @vinewinenyc