Posted on

“That’s How Strong My Love Is”

Poderi Cellario
È Orange
Nascetta & Moscato
SQNPI certified, biodynamic, hand picked, unfiltered
Carrù, CN, Italy
Winemakers: Fausto & Cinzia Cellario

Tangerine orange-gold. Inhale and my my all the oranges, orange blossoms, tangerine, kumquats & a big ol’ citrus mix, irises, magnolias, apples, smidge of ginger, and 1 straw of hay. Sipping and again ALL THE ORANGES & zest, clementines, the citrus blend again with a twist of lime, papaya, mango, sprinkle of ginger, mineral lick, white pepper, and a pinch of salt. So fresh, freewheeling, and fun!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

At Poderi Cellario they’re keeping it natural for their native & “forgotten vines”, holding onto the traditions passed down, and working in synch with the moon in their cellar (“waning for still wines, waxing for sparkling ones”). Then I found out one other special thing they/Fausto does: “I discovered about twenty years ago that my wife was intolerant to sulphites, this was one of the reasons that pushed us over time to create more and more a wine without chemicals … Genuine, natural. I could not leave her without drinking!” This is a true sign of love, and I can’t think of a better reason to ditch sulfur (or at least keep it minimal). Of course it brings to mind the tune Bryan Ferry covered.

🎶If I was a songbird way up there
I’d go with love most everywhere
I’ll be the moon when the sun goes down
Just to let you know that I’m still around
That’s how strong my love is, that’s how strong my love is
That’s how strong my love is, that’s how strong my love is
I’d be the weeping willow drowning in my tears
And you could go swimming when you’re here
And I’d be the rainbow after the tears are gone
Wrap you in my colours, keep you warm
That’s how strong my love is, that’s how strong my love is
That’s how strong my love is, that’s how strong my love is…🎶

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #orangewine #italy #selectionaturel #podericellario #docwinebar #docwineshop

Posted on

Gratitude

Bindi Sergardi
Tenuta I Colli
La Boncia 2023
Chianti DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Monteriggioni, Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Nicolò Casini – Bindi Sergardi & daughters Alessandra & Maddalena

Rubilicious color. There’s scents of dark cherry, all sorts of plums, raspberries, a depth that almost goes baker’s chocolate (just opened), and as it opens more a citrus back twang of grapefruit & a few red currants. Sipping away and there’s cherries, a cranberry or two, red & black currants, raspberries, blackberries (fruit, seeds & all bite), white & black pepper, a hint of that baker’s chocolate again, and as it continues to breathe it becomes more juicy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: deliciously opens everything

This is a family with a long history and also one that is filled with gratitude. Nicolò writes he’s grateful to God & his ancestors, the lands, and most importantly his family: “Today my children work with me and this mixture of blood and earth makes me feel eternal.” His daughter Alessandra is happy she was born into a farming family and is “grateful to be able to live in close contact with nature whose teachings, sometimes hard and difficult, have opened me to different perspectives and filled life with meaning.” Maddalena (daughter) had taken time to explore the world while picking up more work experiences, but returned to her home..as she says, “I celebrate with gratitude the land that has always called me back.” Their words are so refreshing to me since so many in this world as of late have put more emphasis on entitlement. Thank you for making such a beautiful wine and bringing a warmth back to my heart. As I was telling someone this past week, “be kind, be nice & be grateful”. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #italy #broadbentselections #bindisergardi #docwinebar #docwineshop

Posted on

“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

Posted on

A Glass Of Sun, Sea & Time

Portugal Boutique Winery
Gorro Loureiro 2023
Vinho Verde DOC
Aveiro, Portugal
Winemakers: Ricardo Sarrazola & Diogo Carvalho

Shining golden glass. Fresh floral scents of irises, violets & orange blossoms followed by an orange, tangerine, lemon/lime, citrus swirl, a mineral & salt breeze, apples, and round pears. Everything in the sniff is there in the sip with a little more of a citrus sizzle that now includes a squeeze of grapefruit, and a touch of green pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: easy as pie

Can you tell I love Portuguese wines? Over the years, if I have an opportunity to get my hands on one, it is definitely coming home with me. Portugal Boutique Winery is so up my alley. They started out with an aim to celebrate Portugal’s grapes, vines, lands, & history; featuring the Douro Valley, Bairrada & Vinho Verde (this bottle) regions. Gorro Loureiro carries their philosophy: “To express Loureiro in an authentic and genuine way in its natural habitat – Vale do Lima” where their two vineyards are located 5 km from the Atlantic ocean. The label is also a nod to the old Portuguese farmers & viticulturists/vignerons & the beanie/cap they’re known to don. The lines on their aged faces reflect their environment of sun, sea & earth; and are wizened by their work & time…capturing a moment of their heritage & history and passing on their traditions just like PBW wants to hold onto and share with us. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #portugal #gkselections #portugalboutiquewinery #docwinebar #docwineshop

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

Ditch The Suit & Tie

Vigneti Vumbaca
Cirò DOC 2023
Bianco
100% Greco Bianco
Organic
Calabria, Italy
Christian Vumbaca

Yellow with green starlight twinkling and over time starts to head toward golden. Sniffing and there’s lemon, mango, pineapple, a little lychee, pears, winter melon, and a seaside breeze. Sipping away and there’s a lemon/lime/other citrus & their zest sparky blend, white peaches, kiwi, winter melon, light young spring cucumbers, and a pinch of salt along with a mineral lick. Has me pining for a summer picnic.

Pairs w Cheez-Its: Most definitely

Vigneti Vumbaca was born from a passionate hobby. Christian’s mom (teacher) & his uncle (also in the education field “Secretary of the Scientific High School”) decided to purchase 6 ha in Cirò to farm & 2 of those were vineyards. Christian joined them after 15 years in Rome where he was studying & eventually practicing law. On return he took some time in a local winery to learn more of the ropes. Then his family’s dream became his to follow. What’s the saying, “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Now he has 13 ha with 6 that are vineyards homing in on indigenous grapes. I find it so interesting to think of going from working in law, suited up, going to court on a regular basis; and then have an opportunity to take such a beautiful turn to working with your hands, ditching the tie & shiny shoes, feeling/tasting/smelling the earth, lovingly & organically nurturing their vines, and reconnecting with their home & history. I think my favorite quote I’ve found by Christian (on South Philly’s Le Virtù restaurant’s IG) “Making wine is easy when compared to the work that happens in the vineyard. I don’t make Coca-Cola, I make natural wine. Clean tasting and following the path made by hundreds of years of tradition. I make mistakes and I will probably make more. Every vintage is different and it should be. My wines are a reflection of the vintage; weather, drought rain etc are all factors that shape the wines.” Now that sounds like a man who is following his calling & enjoying every bit of it. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #Calabria #italy #omniwines #VignetiVumbaca #docwinebar #docwineshop

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

Guess It Was Just Destiny

Giacomo Mori
Chianti DOCG 2021
95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo & Colorino
Practicing organic
San Casciano dei Bagni (SI), Tuscany, Italy
The Mori Family

Deep ruby. Breathing in cherries (fresh & dried), something woodsy, dried Mission figs, and a blend of licorice/mint/alpine herbal. All of the sniffs are in the sip with the herbal popping up more along with dark plums, & after a time out there’s raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, Ligurian olive pit, Mediterranean Thyme, and as it continues to open there’s red plums too…yet it is nice & dry on the back.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: yes please

Giacomo Mori set about revamping & jumpstarting his family’s estate & winery in 90s. The estate had been the family for eons, and produced grapes & wine for a local co-op, but Giacomo wanted to take it to the next level. There was replanting, updating some equipment, keeping it natural, no pesticides or nasty chemicals in the vines, and beneficial plants are sown on every other row. Guess what plants they use…Vicia faba or known as broad beans or fava beans which draws it all back to the thing I was determined not to write about…Mr. Lecter because I swear if I had a dollar for every time I hear that quote when someone mentions anything about Chianti. Guess it was just destiny when this bottle found me. 🤣🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Tuscany #Italy #chianti #winetime #cannonau #worldbyglass #skurnikwines #GiacomoMori #docwinebar #docwineshop