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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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An Intergalactic Gift

Gönc Winery
Grape Abduction Company
Orange 2021
Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling
Hand harvested, natural winemaking
Štajerska-Slovenia, Eastern Slovenia
Winemaker: Peter Gönc (and maybe there’s some help from Walter?)

Amber with some lovely natural detritus. Breathing in decadent orange blossoms, a little pie spice, mandarins, honeysuckle blooms, peaches and apricots…so lovely! Now on to the sip and it’s Winesap apples, Bartlett pears, apricots (dried & fresh), squish of lemon with oranges & zest, white & a little black pepper (so shake, shake, shake…shake your…), and a little greenery herby flare and granite that checks everything on the end.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: warm goodness like cheddar cheese on pie

This is my first introduction to the intergalactic gift of Gönc wines (shhh another is coming up soon too). According to their IG there’s help from beyond the stars from their otherworldly buddy Walter. ”Grape Abduction Company 👽 is a story of aliens who, in secret missions on planet Earth 🌍, abduct the best crops 🍇 in vineyards and produce them into earthy wine drinks 🍷 in their extraterrestrial laboratories.” Well, thank goodness it’s a liter! It’ll come in handy on the Mother ship 🛸. BTW is this where they put the chip in, because if so count me in…just no probes please.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #orangewine #Slovenia #ufo #aliens @jp.bourgeois @grapeabduction @goncwinery @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Following The Sun

Cantina Canu
Bibi 2020
Cannonau di Sardegna Rosato DOC
Hand harvested
Luogosanto, Sassari, Sardegna, Italy
Family winery; Co-founder: Carla Cualbu

Pretty dancing pink coral. Giving it a sniff and raspberries & light grapefruit breezing in along with salt, rained on granite on a spring day, and a bit of smoke or peat. Sip and zing! That sure wakes up my mouth with lovely raspberries, tiny wild strawberries, light citrus mix twang, a lick of granite, and a smoke hint on the back mixed with salt. As time goes by it’s lively, fresh and goes smooth only to have the zing zip awakened again.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly delightful…ramps all the flavors up a notch

I wonder if I hold this wine glass up to my ear, can I hear the ocean because this rosé sure takes me right to a sun drenched beach. Oh Bibi, you are sweeping me right through a fast spring and then a let’s party summer vibe! So glad I waited to try you last out of the 3 bottles of nicknames (previous ones: Deispanta & Porteddu). Evidently Carla’s sister Clara was dubbed this as a tot since it was the first word to pop out of her mouth. Such an infectiously joyful sound when you say it over and over. Just try it! Or just grab another glass and join me following the sun. ☀️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #Sardegna #sardinia #Sassari #Luogosanto #Gallura #Cannonau #cannonaudisardegna #rosé #rosato #folliwngthesun @docwineshop @docwinebar @cantinacanu @cheezit

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Fresh Breath Of Life

Weingut A.J. Adam
Riesling Trocken 2020
100% Riesling
Hand harvested, indigenous yeast
Neumagen-Dhron, Mosel, Germany
Brother and sister winemaking team: Andreas Adam & Barbara Gudelj

Springy pale yellow-green. Sniff and it’s a yeasty start…like a fresh baked croissant that goes all mellow or pie crust and skirts in and out, sliced pears, apple wedges, pie spice, blended mellow citrus pops, and a bit of grass. Sip and again mixed citrus tang, a little Orangina, tart apples & pears, honeysuckle, some peaches along with mango a bit of papaya, lick of slate, and a smidge of oregano. It’s just a fresh breath of life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s ok. Brings out a lot of citrus

This is a story of the young cherishing and returning to the land of their family. Andreas and Barbara each came back when the time was right to work and devote themselves to their grandparents’ small plot. They even expanded at an insanely low price per sq. meter. At that time, people were just more interested in heading to the city, but it’s an area filled with ancient winemaking history (well, it is called “Germany’s Oldest Winemaking Centre”). The Romans left their viticulture mark and would transport wine by rowing boats on the Mosel, and there’s a really cool sculptural depiction of one of these double dragon headed vessels (date 220AD), “Neumagener Weinschiff” which was part of a tomb/gravestone of a Roman wine merchant. If you want to experience just a touch of that old Roman boating tradition and take in the beautiful view of Neumagen-Dhron, a wooden replica has been built to let you cruise in style. Don’t forget to bring the wine!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Riesling #Mosel #Germany @skurnikwines @docwineshop @docwinebar @weingut_a.j.adam @cheezit

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Good Connections

Cantina Canu
Porteddu 2020
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC
Hand harvested
Luogosanto, Sassari, Sardegna, Italy
Family winery; Co-founder: Carla Cualbu

Deep ruby shining glass. Ooh breathing in and it’s creamy smooth. There’s plums, cherries, and a delightful fruit tree blossoms, next up are raspberries, strawberries, and hmmm a little passion fruit. First sip and it’s so inviting…cherries, raspberries, ripe strawberries, plums & prunes and for that matter of fact dried cherries…can you dry a raspberry? (just checked and evidently you can freeze dry them.) Back to the rest of the flavors, there’s some earth but just like a pinch and a little bit of black olive pit. This is so smooth and makes me soooo happy

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: sharpens everything

Totally enchanted by my 2nd Cantina Canu wine, but then I’m sure you could tell from what I wrote above. As with “Deispanta”, this is another bottle that carries a family nickname. Don’t even bother trying to Google Translate “Porteddu”, it’s not going to get you anywhere, but this is what I’ve found from their IG. In Sardinian, it means a connection between places or locales, and in their own words and interpretation “We like to think that the Porteddu family have been our “connection” with the project we are carrying out today, because, having fallen in love with Gallura several years ago, they have laid the roots of a dream that today has resumed life thanks to the new generation.” For me…this glass I’m staring into is a connection between my senses and their passion. Thank you for letting us all in on your dream. ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #italy #Sardegna #sardinia #Sassari #Luogosanto #Gallura #Cannonau #cannonaudisardegna @docwineshop @docwinebar @cantinacanu @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

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Full Of Personality

Bodegas Altolandon
Enblanco 2020
Manchuela D.O.
Amber Wine
Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Gris
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeasts, unfined, unfiltered
Landete, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Wife & Husband winemaking team: Rosalia Molina & Manolo Garrote

Golden orange or amber without any little critters trapped in it. Scents flow out of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, orange zest, peaches, a bouquet of spring flowers, apricots, mango, and heady goodness. So this is one of those wines where you’re hit from all sides, but in a good way. Tasting honeysuckle nectar, wisteria, peaches, those reddish yellow plums from my grandmama’s trees, oranges and orange zest, peaches, apricots, papaya, mangoes, smidge of fennel, whiff of pine needles, salt, blade of grass, white pepper, and a tart citrus pop hangs out to make this even out with a good round way. This would be so good with unagi kabayaki.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it sharper but I like it better as a full open burst of flavors

Remember the old tale of “The Three Bears” where Goldilocks tastes the porridge and one was too hot, another too cold, and then finally hits the one that is “just right”. Was just listening to Rosalia speak on a video for Simply Spanish Wine, and I think she and her husband found that “just right” place to set up their organic shop at 1,100 meters above sea level (highest part). They have the advantage of cooler climes which is a good thing with climate change being very real, lots of wonderful sun exposure, and also later harvests. They even have a REAL ice wine (Dulce Enero) which I am dying to try. This magical setting also has varied soils, so all of this combined together is the perfect grape recipe for as they say, “wines with their own personality”.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #organic #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Spain #GarnachaBlanca #Garnacha #castillalamancha @skincontactwines @docwineshop @docwinebar @altolandonbodega @cheezit

 

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A Responsible Way Of Life

Bosman Family Vineyards
Generation 8 Chenin Blanc 2021
Chenin Blanc (mostly),and a little bit of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Vermentino
Wellington, South Africa
Vine growers & wine producers: Bosman Family (8 Generations so far)
CEO Petrus Bosman

Pale greenish gold. Hovering over the glass and gentle blips of pear & peach emerge along with a little tangerine that mellows out and then here comes  spring blossoms. Ok let’s find out how this baby tastes. Again there’s pears & peaches, mellow apples, a fresh citrusy zing in the back, a little salt, and it all circles back to the beginning again.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh yeah, it’s even more full fruit

I had no idea how this bottle factors into so much social responsibility. The Bosmans have been an accredited Fairtrade producer since 2009, and back then their 260 employees received a 26% stake of the business. They really care about their workers, community and growing healthy vines that can be spread to other producers which can also be seen with their work with the Adama Trust. Each bottle sold gives back a percentage to the Adama foundation and the community can sort how to allot the funds, such as education, child care, housing, healthcare, a choir and so much more. As Petrus Bosman said, “We have lived together, worked together and cared for each other on this farm for centuries, passing on values and skills from one generation to another, over and over again. For us creating opportunities for advancement within our community is not simply a good idea, it is a way of life.”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #SouthAfrica #cheninblanc @docwineshop @docwinebar @bosmanwines @cheezit

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Our Friends In The Fields

Celler Credo
Miranius 2020
100% Xarel·lo
Penedès D.O.
Organic, biodynamic, dry farmed, hand harvested, indigenous yeast
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Penedès (Barcelona), Catalonia, Spain
Xarel·list & winemaker: Ton Mata (Josep Mata Capellades’ grandson)

Golden starlight glass. Sniff and here come tart pears, apple blossoms, lemon zest. light tangerine fades in and out, and then there’s a roll in the green meadows that leads to grass stains on my jeans, and finally toasty brioche goodness mmmmmmmm. Tiny sip and it’s already lovely and slightly frisky. There’s pears blended with mellow golden delicious apples, lemon/lime spritz w a touch of cucumber juice, and that brioche toasty is is linger a bit in the back but will surely fade, along with a lick of salt and slate. It’s crisp, fresh, and makes up your mouth but not with a jolt…more of a nuzzle.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the citrus pop

Damn I love Celler Credo’s wines (Recaredo’s still white wine label)! First encounter was at La Vinya Del Senyor with Credo’s ꓕⱯNƎꓒꓕⱯꓤ or ‘Ratpenat’ (or in other words: bat) was a lovely introduction. If you buy a case, it can transform into a bat shelter…how cool is that because they’re beneficial to not only the vineyards but the world. “The bat is the only flying mammal on Earth and can kill between 600 and 1,200 insects per hour.” From the labels alone, you can see Ton Mata & Cellar Credo love the creatures that roam the vineyards, fields & skies above; and respect, nurture, and coexist with them. As with the bats, this little ‘Miranius’ sleek and shifty fox can also help them with some pest control while munching on an evening bite. 🦊

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #Xarello #fox #bat #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Penedès #Penedes #catalunya #catalonia #Spain #organic @vinyadelsenyor @vinewinenyc @cellercredo @cheezit

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Wine, Cookies & Family

Bodega Humberto Canale
Canale Black River
Estate Malbec 2020
100% Malbec
Sustainable agriculture, hand harvested
Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina
Family winery since 1909; Guillermo Barzi Canale (president)

Maroon with bluish purply hints. Scents immediately flow out of dried cherries, plums, raspberries, tiny bit of woodsy nature, and a familiar scent from home of apple blossoms floating on a spring breeze. Sipping and again cherries (dried and fresh), plums, raspberries with an addition of a touch of Nilla Wafers. It’s lively and as it grows there’s a tingle in the back that mellows and that woodsy nature flair is there again.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blerg…but it would be fabulous at a good ol’ backyard bbq with some steaks on the grill

This is a winery born from a biscuit…ok it’s more than just that. José Canale, originally from Italy ventured to Argentina, met his wife Blanca Vaccaro, had a small brood, opened the family bakery that expanded and grew, and then here’s the bad news. At 44, José passed but Blanca with strength and determination forged forward in the business to care for herself and her children. Out of the brood Humberto Canale became a civil engineer and later a government official, while the others kept growing and industrializing the family cookie business (which was quite a success). Even though they walked different paths, they were still together. Humberto saw potential in the Rio Negro area and invested in a fruit and wine venture that led to where the family and the winery is today and is in the hands of Guillermo Barzi (Humberto’s nephew) and the future generations. BTW there is a heck of a lot more to this tale but no way to fit it in an IG post. Just enjoy a glass and you’ll be drinking their history and it’s all you need. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Argentina #Patagonia #Malbec  #usawineimports @docwineshop @docwinebar @bodegahcanale @cheezit