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Emma Rubenstein

@botrytits

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sommelier @cooksatl drums @sadfishatl

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I’ll never forget the first time I met you. Summer 2004 at Camp Misty Mountain’s pool. You were effortlessly cool, standing out among a sea of Girl Scouts, and I was immediately drawn to you. Summer ended and years went by, but camp friends are forever.
Then, somehow, we found each other again in high school in the Shaffer’s kitchen, a sacred hangout that became the backdrop for so many memories. The boys had no idea we already knew each other.
“CAMP MISTY MOUNTAIN!” we shouted at the exact same time.
And just like that, we were off again: late nights playing cards, shows, lightsaber battles, endless laughter, and many a basement party.
Summer 2008 will always live fresh in my mind. Your 18th birthday. Camping in the height of your hippie days. Soaked tents, sleeping in the minivan while it rained all night, hot dogs and beans, and smelling absolutely terrible. 😂 Somehow, it was perfect. We were young, free, and had our whole lives ahead of us. Even now, when I go into the woods, I find myself reliving that trip.
Then came GSU in 2009 and The Loft, the coolest dorm, if you know, you know. You walked in, and I laughed. Of course you would be part of this chapter, too.
That’s where we found our forever chosen family. Life put distance between us at times, but our connection was always sacred. I was so blessed to share weddings, babies, heartbreak, and loss with you. At that last funeral, we cried over how we had let our friendship gather cobwebs, and we promised each other we would rekindle it.
That was just a month ago.
Now you’re gone, and damn it hurts.
To know Taylor was to love Taylor. She never met a stranger. She loved unconditionally. She was fiercely loyal, unapologetically loud, and had a heart as big as the sun and a personality to match.
What I would give to hug you one more time and laugh with you long into the night.
I’m going to miss you more than I can put into words. I’m so grateful you were one of my longest-running friends, and I know every chapter of my life from here on out will carry the weight of your absence.
How lucky we were to have you in our lives. How lucky I was to have you in mine.
I love you, Taylor. ❤️
Love always,
Your Shmemma by @botrytits

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a month ago

See you this Saturday 6/6 at @badearl for the @sadfishatl album release show with @slimer_ing @grebeband @bayou___princess 😎✨🐠
Tamo Junto! 💫 by @botrytits

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4 months ago

Olé & Obrigado DAY 3: The birthday celebrations somehow kept getting better. Our next stop in Val do Salnés, Rías Baixas was at Forjas del Salnés with Albariño legend Rodrigo Méndez. A champion of reviving almost instinct red varietals that I’ve become obsessed with. I’d tasted a couple of his wines before, but getting to experience the full lineup, plus some new experimental pours, was electric! His family welcomed us with so much warmth, fed us endlessly, and celebrated my birthday in the sweetest way possible.
We left with full hearts, full bellies, and… one less jacket 😅 before making our way to Douro for the night.
That evening we accidentally took over half the restaurant while our waiter/host/sommelier Chris made sure the birthday festivities continued. Between incredible wine, caipirinhas at midnight, and deep conversations with Natalia, Nate, and Kristen, the night felt unforgettable. Truly my new besties 🤍
Starting my birthday in one country and ending it in another is the kind of experience I still don’t fully have the words for. Perhaps just one word: saudade 😪 by @botrytits

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4 months ago

Everybody’s best friend. Miss you every day but especially today 💕 Love you man! by @botrytits

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5 months ago

Olé & Obrigado DAY 3: Rías Baixas might be one of the most magical places I’ve ever experienced; lush green landscapes, salty ocean air, and some of the warmest people imaginable.
We started the day at one of my favorite wineries, Lagar de Pintos, with the incomparable Marta Castro-Pintos. Truly, nobody is cooler. Smart, hilarious, and deeply intentional about her craft.
Marta spoke about how winemaking is less about heritage and more about legacy, caring for the land and vines today so future generations can continue to enjoy them tomorrow. In a male-dominated industry, she’s carved out her own voice while remaining unwavering in her commitment to organic farming.
I’ve never tasted Albariño with this much complexity. Marta’s patience and precision shine through every glass: seven plots vinified separately, gentle pressing, and élevage in a combination of old foudres and stainless steel. She opened up a bottle of ‘03 for my birthday and I got a kiss from her dog. 35th birthday will be difficult to top! by @botrytits

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5 months ago

Olé & Obrigado DAY 2: More moments from our unforgettable tasting in Valdeorras. We had the pleasure of diving deep with @alberto.orte, pairing truly spectacular wines with the best pulpo I’ve ever tasted.

The team took time to connect with the land, feeling the healthy topsoil of the A Portella vineyards (with a little yoga mixed in). We ended the day with a breathtaking hike to Escalada do Sil, and I’m incredibly grateful to have witnessed such beauty. by @botrytits

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5 months ago

Olé & Obrigado DAY 2: Standing on the stunning Escolada do Sil vineyard site in Valdeorras, Spain, gazing out at Ribera Sacra across the way. @alberto.orte introduced us to these incredible old vines home to Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, and Merenzao - or Bastardo as it's known in Portugal, and Trousseau in France's Jura region. As a long-time fan of these wines, I was utterly overwhelmed with emotion. Thanks to @bottles_up_chicago's Melissa for capturing the moment 💙 @oleobrigado by @botrytits

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6 months ago

Olé & Obrigado DAY 2: Oro de Castilla in Rueda! Despite the minor inconvenience of my luggage existing elsewhere, the morning was redeemed by a lineup that perfectly captured Verdejo’s potential: sharp, lifted, and unapologetically precise.
Pablo del Villar Igea spoke to the defining role of diurnal shift, but it’s equally about place; high elevation, river stones over limestone, and old vines with the kind of root systems you can’t replicate. His winemaking is very meticulous which could be seen and felt on the palate. I was gifted and gathered a sizable amount of stones from this vineyard, of course!!🤩 On the way to Valdeorras we stopped for gin & tonics, empanadas and obviously beer. Gas stations in Spain are legendary 👌 by @botrytits

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6 months ago

Olé & Obrigado DAY 1: Next stop in Ribera del Duero was Bodegas Vizcarra; a family that’s been shaping this region for decades and the future is already in great hands. At just 24, Celia Vizcarra welcomed us with so much passion, showing how they honor tradition while continuing to push forward. She was incredibly inspiring to say the least. Her father, Juan Carlos, is a pioneer of Spain’s garagiste movement, starting in a garage before building their gravity-fed winery in 2007.

From elegant, age-worthy reds to a single-vineyard Albillo (my first!) dedicated to their matriarch Alejandra; every wine told a story of place and family.

Truly a well-oiled machine, but more than that… a family whose love for the land is felt in your glass. Hard to say goodbye when you feel so at home 🤍 by @botrytits

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Olé & Obrigado DAY 1: Torremorón was our first stop of the trip and WOW what a deep mark it left on me. The winery was founded by a co-op in 1957. Families have been making wine in these underground limestone cellars for centuries. While it’s no longer safe to age wine down there you can still visit them (must walk carefully). Tinto Fino (tempranillo) isn’t heavy here; it’s retained brightness from the elevation and stainless steel aging. Some of these vines are over 80 years old and the community knows it’s a precious commodity that won’t be here forever. We feasted on lamb, gildas and porróned red wine all over ourselves (it was windy😂). The hospitality was legendary and there is something so charming about a winery so commited to one expression of the land. by @botrytits

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6 months ago

Happiest of birthdays to my love, my rock and my everything. Arthur is my favorite person to cry, laugh and drink coffee with in the morning. To know Arthur is to love him. My karaoke 🎤 king! Our pact leader 🐕!It’s going to be my first birthday (this Sunday) without him since we’ve been together 😭 but I promised him that I would have fun in Spain. I love him more than words could express and am so thankful for my best friend ❤️ throwback to our engagement shoot at our lovely @plazaatlanta with @tin_can_photography by @botrytits

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Happy 5th Birthday to my bestie Geordi La Forge! I am so thankful, every day, that @telepathic_hug needed a dog auntie to her bb Radar. He is the sweetest boy and has made our lives so much better. All the dogs love him and he is intelligent, kind and silly 🥰 LOVE YOU BUDDY!!! by @botrytits

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