I had the pleasure of meeting John Frishkopf and Brett Mattingly, partners in life and business, in 2016 in their early days of exploring the Hudson Valley for a suitable location to start a bona fide brandy distillery. John visited the Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY, where we had lots of Baco Noir grapes in […]
Is it summer? Is it fall? Is it time to get out the sweaters and put away the white pants and shorts? What a conundrum. Hey, there’s a wine for that. A really good one. Actually, two of them, both really good. If you’re feeling the this-way or that-way of this time of year, pour […]
I know several people who are headed off to vacation next week, another reminder that summer is coming to an end. Summer is my favorite season, so to keep those vibes going, I’m turning to a bottle of Mirabeau’s Forever Summer Rose. This wine is a winner in so many ways – first, that it […]
Are you as sad as I am that the Olympic games in Paris are over? I was as over-the-top about them as Jimmy Fallon was as he co-hosted the closing ceremonies. Well, it’s on to Los Angeles in 2028. So let’s embrace that with the same enthusiasm that Tom Cruise brought to it, ziplining into […]
Oh no, the Olympics are over on Sunday! Waste no time in reaching for more French wine! How about a crisp, refreshing, and lastingly lovely white wine? It’s a Muscadet de Sevres et Maine sur Lie. That’s a very long name for a wine, and it’s worth getting to know. The Muscadet is not what […]
With the beautiful backdrop of Paris for the exciting Olympic games, I have to go with a French wine this week. I love seeing teams from around the world, and so I’m also going with a blend. Wines from the Côtes du Rhône are wines that shine thanks to the different grapes that go into […]
To celebrate the start of the Olympic games in Paris, I think only Champagne will do. Settle in for the Opening Ceremonies with a bottle of The Best (in my opinion): Veuve Clicquot. Perfected centuries ago by la grande dame herself, Madame Clicquot, this iconic bubbly with its signature orange label is as bright and […]
Mid-July and we’re in the dog days of summer. Yikes! Hopefully you can find yourself poolside on these sweltering days, and here’s the perfect poolside refresher: a popsicle spritz! Spritzes are quite popular these days, and it’s no wonder why. They’re basically sparkling wine added to a liquor of your choice, such as Aperol or […]
It was a beautiful day for a scenic drive from Troy to Hyde Park, through Rensselaer and Columbia Counties into Dutchess County. I was traveling with a special friend, sun roof open, soaking up the sunshine and gasping at how green everything was for mid-May. All was right with the world on that sunny […]