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A French Brooklyn Twist

Forthave Spirits
Marseille Amaro
Brooklyn, NY
Purchased in 2018 and just opened
Co-founders and herbal mixmasters: Daniel de la Nuez and Aaron Fox

A neat pour of dark burnt amber. Before the glass even gets near my nose pine and eucalyptus appear. Get a little closer and there’s coriander, cloves, mint, and catnip tea (yes, I drink this, it’s good for your gut). Here comes the first sip and it’s a powerful beautiful statement of pine, gingerbread, cinnamon, cloves, singed orange peel, honey and vanilla. It’s not a dessert or a holiday in a glass, but it could be a combination of both with a warm comforting feeling enveloping you, or shall I even say a hearty hug.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blurgh! don’t do it and ruin your lovely evening

Not going to lie, when I saw the bottle and design, I knew I had to bring it home with me. Kept putting off for that special occasion to open it, and here we are still in the middle of this pandemic mess. What better time than now! Just look at that Plague Mask on the label. Our N95s are no where near that dramatic. That giant herb filled beak is not what I would want to see my GP wearing during a doc appointment. This Marseille Amaro is built off the historical recipes attributed to the Four Thieves tale, who during a plague outbreak, were stealing from the sick and dead, but had come up with a “secret” vinegar herbal concoction that kept them safe from infection by warding off the fleas. The other more plausible tale is Richard Forthave’s vinegar remedy based on botanical research. Whoever got there first, Forthave Spirits’ contemporary version, I’m sure is far more delicious and aromatic than anything from ages long ago. Absolutely love it, and glad I have many more glasses for future evenings.

@vinewinenyc @forthave_spirits @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Brooklyn #NY #NewYork #Flatbush #Bushwick #Marseille #bitter #liqueur #digestif #spirits #amaro #forthavespirits

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We Could All Use a Heroine (or a Sidekick) Right Now

Iconic Wines
Sidekick 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon
Lodi, California
Sustainable farming
Winemaker: Birk O’Halloran

Deep ruby shine. Inhaling cherry and dried cherries, plum and prune, flowers, and of all things pine sap like the same smell from the small forest near my grandparents home. There’s a deep richness and some smoke. Wow, first sip and it packs a delicious punch! There’s deep sweet cherries, dark plums, raspberries and blackberries. It has some rustic earthiness, then juicy, and here comes the velvet, and at last a small touch of licorice. Fabulous!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: dried fruit explosion

Iconic Wines was started by Birk O’Halloran and Karl Antle (college buddies), and according to their website, Birk made his career by “drinking his way up the supply chain.” Honestly from what I’m also seeing, he did this with a lot of hard work and picked up influence both from California and European styles. They have two lines, Heros and Sidekicks. Sidekicks are the best bang for your buck. Made from locally sourced grapes from different vineyards that they rely and trust. I can vouch for this reasonably priced wine. If I didn’t know the original sticker, I would have thought it was a lot more $$. On top of such a fab wine, just check out their labels by artist Cliff Chiang. He’s known for working with Lucasfilm, DC Comics, GQ Magazine, ACLU, etc, and very importantly his and Brian K. Vaughan’s comic book series “Paper Girls” which has been green-lit on 7/23/20, by Amazon for a television adaption (exciting!). In short, the wine and the labels are totally kick ass.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @iconicwine @cliffchiang @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Lodi #California #CabernetSauvignon #hero #heroine #sidekick #papergirls #cliffchiang

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Bubbly Berry Breeze

Evil Twin Brewing
Evil Water
Blue Raspberry
Hard Pastry Seltzer
Made with red raspberries and butterfly pea flower
4.5% ABV
Ridgewood, New York
Founder, owner, brewer: Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø

Sea foam green-blue tinted bubbly water. Smelling candied raspberries, just like the “blue raspberry” popcorn I used to get as a kid at the mall. Ok this will be fun, that was my favorite treat. Loved when mom would get me a kid sized one for behaving and putting up with trying on clothes for school. Back to the taste…again candied raspberries and seltzer. Not overly sweet just very berry and crisp. Makes me want to be out on a lake with the sun beating down…on a boat just cruising along sipping this very chilled refreshing can and feeling the breeze on my face.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: better than I expected. It knocks back the berries.

Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø’s story is of a man who can’t sit still. Constantly taking on one creative project or job to the next. Starting out in Denmark as a teacher and beer tasting traveler, to opening a beer shop, collaborative brewing, becoming an importer, and opening a bar in NY. Now he’s put down brewery roots also in NY with Evil Twin and is still very much into collaborations. He’s definitely proof if you have a dream and put your mind to it you can make it a reality.

@eviltwinbrewingnyc @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelvepercentbeerproject @cheezits #beer #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #hardseltzer #HardPastrySeltzer #seltzer #jeppejarnitbjergsø  #EvilTwinBrewing

 

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A Gift Through Generations

Fattoria San Lorenzo
…di Gino… 2018
Le Marche Region
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
Montecarotto, Ancona, Italy
100% Verdicchio
Organic and biodynamic, and 6 months on the lees
Winemaker and owner: Natalino Crognaletti

Put a ring on it golden with an orange tinge. Crisp pops of tangerine, a little salt, pears, and dried apricots; all on the tip of my nose. It tastes a lot like it smells with the pear, citrus and smokey salt with addition of crisp apples; and as it warms up peaches and honey. Oh this is so lovely. It’s like when you get a new book from your favorite author (mine is Martin Walker), and as you turn the pages and get further in it just keeps getting better and better.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes all the flavors more bold

Natalino Crognaletti has a wonderful way of choosing names for his wines. “…di Gino…” is named in honor of his father who passed down the farm/winery to him. Others are for a dog, hares, the sun, and what I thought was maybe another word than “gattina” for kitten due to the image on the bottle, but as I searched, I discovered “La Gattara” pretty much means “cat lady”. Ah, “cat lady” a moniker I know well. Maybe this should be the next one I try. I digress. Back to “…di Gino…” which is made from the local Verdicchio clones that Gino selected for the vineyard after it was handed down to him from his father Enrico. This beautiful land is in the province of Ancona which is known for their towns of medieval fortresses. The town Montecarotto is one of these romantic medieval towns but it also has other more modern cultural interests. Their MAM Museo d’arte Moderna e Mail Art appears to be the only public mail art museum in Italy. A recent exhibition called “Le Disobbedienti” which is a tribute to Artemisia Gentileschi, Frida Kahlo, Charlotte Salomon, Berthe Morisot, Suzanne Valadon and Elisabeth Vigèe Le Brun; that included work from 150 artists from all over the world. Would have loved to have seen it in person.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny #FattoriaSanLorenzo @natalinocrognaletti @indiewineries @BrunoChiefOfPolice @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #lemarche #marche #Montecarotto #Ancona #Italy #Verdicchio #organic #biodynamic #NatalinoCrognaletti #mailart #martinwalker

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Beautiful Bunches of Grapes

Christina
St. Laurent 2019
Göttlesbrunn Carnuntum Austria
St. Laurent 100%
Winemaker: Christina Netzl
Organic and carbonic maceration

Dancing purplish garnet ruby. Here comes wafts of roses, and pow! cran-cherry, a little dark plum, some woodsy earth, and cola. While sipping again there’s cranberries, cherries and a jumble of juicy raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries; and also a touch of earth. Smooth velvet feel to this fun, light, and year round slightly chilled wine.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Smooth and good but I think it would be better with heavily buttered popcorn, and why you ask? Because this was tasted while watching the debate.

This is my second Christina wine, and her wines are consistently wonderful due to all her care for keeping it organic and low-intervention. St. Laurent 2019, is another beautiful wine to her list, that is making me fall more in love, and I’m betting it’s due to the carbonic maceration done in their old cellar. The last one I had was her Zweigelt Rosé 2019, and you can read more about it and a very long post about her, why there’s bugs on the label, the winery, and surrounding lands at https://worldbyglass.com/lets-hear-it-for-the-bugs/.

One more thing…remember to chill this wine, but not too much like I originally did. Yep, I screwed up and therefore had to wait a while. You don’t want to have to wait to dive into this glass, do you? So just a little and you’ll be so happy!

@vinewinenyc @Weingut-Franz-Christine-Netzl @christina_netzl @jennyfrancois @cheezits #cheezit #wine #redwine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #organic #Carnuntum #Austria #Göttlesbrunn #Zweigelt #StLaurent #ChristinaNetzl

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Flower Freedom

Casal de Ventozela
Contatto 2019
Vinho Verde Region
Minho, Portugal
Avesso 100%
Sustainable farming, skin contact
Winemakers: Fernando Moura and Pedro Campos

Deep gold orange glass. A mixed bouquet of flowers, natural funk that fades really fast, orange peel, candied apple, and salt. It’s light but let it warm a bit and there’s something tawny and nutty. It’s a fresh mouthful with tart light orange and Orangina, apples, peaches, and dry.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: very sweet orange

Casal de Ventozela has a history back to at least 1874, but changed hands in 1978, to José Ferreira Cortinhas. Portugal was still coming back post the Carnation Revolution, which I’m finding incredibly fascinating. Celeste Caeiro is proof that any of us can play a major role in history. She was the Lisbon restaurant worker and pacifist, that started the symbol of this movement. Due to all the military activity, the restaurant where she worked closed for the day, and gave her all the carnations they were going to pass out to customers. She decided to give the flowers to the tanks and soldiers. This one beautiful act spread and others started passing them out and here you have a mostly peaceful culmination of a revolution. Yes, more had to be politically dealt with in the following days and years, and 4 people died on April 25, 1974, but a democracy was on its way.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @casaldeventozela @communalbrands @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Portugal #VinhoVerde #Minho

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Thrill on Blueberry Hill

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery (Farm Brewery)
Blueberry French Toast Imperial Brown Ale
8% ABV
Goochland, VA

Dark Coca-Cola pour. Once the can is popped, out comes caramel, blueberries, maple, and toasty. The label doesn’t lie, my tastebuds are all over the blueberries or from what I remember as a kid…blueberry syrup (was great on homemade biscuits), toast, maple, cola, and a touch of bitter but in a good way.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: At first sip it takes away the blueberries but even before the next sip they just come back and slap you in the face. So if you want to get slapped in the face by blueberries then go on ahead.

Checking out Lickinghole’s site, and what an idyllic place. It’s a brewery, it’s a farm, and they have their own sustainable water source. They grow most of what they use for their beers and if it’s something they don’t have, they work with other local farmers. They also have a show this Saturday, Oct. 10th (The Trongone Band) which is a start to a series of concerts. All ticket sales go to support the artists, who really need it right now. Prices vary depending on which package you want. Just remember mask up, social distance and wash your hands. Make this a safe event for all.

@lccb_farmbrews @BeerBoutiqueNYC @BeerBoutiqueInc @trongoneband @indiebeer_ @cheezits #beer #cheezit @worldbyglass  #pairswithcheezits #imperialbrownale #ale #lickingholecreek

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Magical Mixture

Bràulio
Amaro Alpino
Lombardy Region
Bormio, Italy
Invented by pharmacist Francesco Peloni
Rested in Slavonian oak barrels
Acquired at D.O.C. Wine Bar after an amazing dinner outside

Served neat. Dark amber more reddish brown color. Take a deep breath in and it’s all sorts of herbs, piney, juniper berries, orange peel, cloves, and the whole forest floor with a touch of briney. Going in for the sip and it’s sweet and bitter at same time. Also tastes just like all of the above listed for scents. It’s better than a ricola and much more healthy. This will cure what ails ya!

Thank you Francesco Peloni for being so into herbs and creating this robust concoction back in 1875. From what I’m reading some of the herbs, plants and berries still used in this magical mixture are gathered on Monte Bràulio in Stelvio National Park, and are dried in the crisp mountain air and then ground before being added to the alcohol. Post mixture they hang out in stainless steel tanks for a few weeks and near the end some mountain water is added. I can’t imagine how strong that must smell. After extraction here’s where the Slavonian oak barrels come in. 15 months later, you have the perfect “secret” recipe and masterpiece.

Oh and obviously, no “Pairs with Cheez-It’s” since I was dining out, but I can pretty much guarantee it would be a big fat NO!

Cheers!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @amarobraulio.official @cheezits #cheezit #wine #spirits #amaro #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #braulioamaro #bormio #lombardy #Italy #bitter #liqueur #digestif

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Chill It! Chill It Good!

Bojo do Luar
Deu Pinote 2019
Vinho Verde Region
Minho, Portugal
33% Arinto, 33% Alvarelhão, 33% Vinhāo (Wandering where that 1% is)
Organic, spontaneous fermentation with ground chestnut flowers
Project between Savio Soares and winemaker Antonio Sousa

Shining see through deep rosy chilled red. Scents of ripe cherries, plums, and lovely flowers. Delicious raspberries, strawberries, cherry tang, and of all things watermelon Jolly Rancher (my favorite Rancher). It’s juicy, fruity and perfect on this beautiful end of summer afternoon.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Nope…don’t even attempt putting a Cheez-It in your mouth while drinking this wine.

Very intrigued with the use of ground chestnut flowers instead of SO2 for stabilization in this unfiltered wine. I wonder, does it matter which to use, either male or female, or is it a blend of both? Whichever the answer, I’m so glad that Savio Soares and Antonio Sousa saw the potential of working in this manner. Fabulous!

@vinewinenyc #BojodoLuar #AntonioSousa @saviosoaresselections @cheezits #wine @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #cheezit #vinewinenyc #organic #VinhoVerde #Minho #Portugal #Arinto #Alvarelhão #Vinhāo #AntonioSousa

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Respecting the Land of Stars

Domaine Mittnacht Frères
Terres d’ étoiles 2018
Pinot Blanc
40% Pinot Blanc, 60% Pinot Auxerrois
Alsace Region
Hunawihr, France
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeast
Winemaker: Christophe Mittnacht

Pale very chilled gold. Tickling my nose are dainty flowers, lemon and lime/citrus, a touch of salt, yellow fruity and it’s fresh and clean. Tilt back the glass and there’s lemon, pears, honey, a smidge of salt, yellow plums, and Froot Loops minus the milk. Keep on drinking it grows more juicy/fruity and even a touch of peach the more it warms.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: a little less lemon but it really doesn’t change the flavors that much

I know I’ve been writing a lot about whether a vineyard/farm is sustainable, organic, biodynamic, etc. Well, it is so important to many of the winemakers I’ve been writing about and it should be to you too for a multitude of reasons. For Christophe Mittnacht and his wife Yuka it is no different, but they were in the forefront of it in Alsace. They were certified organic in 1999, and biodynamic in 2013. They believe in respect the vineyard and therefore respect the consumer. Everything has minimal intervention but when there are times the vines need a little extra help with defending itself from natural enemies, they may be sprayed with nettle tea and other willow and horsetail remedies.

Hunawihr (what a cool name) is also a member of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France”, and yes, it is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Their famous fortified church overlooks Domaine’s vineyards, and looks like it’s still existing in an older time when life was lived at a happier, slower pace. I feel like you can just smell the fresh cool air.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @mittnachtfreres @skurnikwines @cheezits #cheezit #wine #vin #vino #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #PinotBlanc #PinotAuxerrois #Alsace #Hunawihr #France #organic #biodynamic