It seems there are more New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs on the shelves in wine stores than there are sheep in that country – and that’s saying something!! How to choose from among the burgeoning selection? Here’s one that’s tasty, affordable, and widely available: Matua. I was skeptical about this one when I chose it at […]

Summer is upon us and it’s the perfect season for sangria. There are many premade sangrias that can simply be chilled and served over ice. Super easy and convenient. You can then add whatever you want to make it extra fun – fresh fruit, additional fruit juice, a splash of brandy or triple sec, even […]

Father’s Day is Sunday, and that calls for something special.

If you’ll be gathered around the grill and are looking for a wine that will pair perfectly with beef and that will have Dad saying, “Hey, wow, who brought this wine?” then here’s my recommendation:

Robert Mondavi’s Bourbon Barrel […]

There’s no better way to taste a whole lotta local in one place than to attend the Hudson Berkshire Wine & Food Festival on Memorial Day weekend, May 28 and 29. Held at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham, NY, the festival attracts craft beverage makers from not just the Hudson Valley, but from all […]

What? Temperatures in the 90s on Saturday, May 21?! This kind of day calls for a refreshingly cold, dry glass of wine.

The perfect choice is a crisp Chenin Blanc, and a delicious choice is the MAN Chenin Blanc from South Africa. Chenin Blanc is a very versatile grape that can be fashioned into everything from […]

Wouldn’t it be nice to be in Tuscany, Italy, this weekend?

A quick way to get there is with a Tuscan “stay-cation.” Cue up movies like Under the Tuscan Sun, A Room with a View, House of Gucci (or so many others); check out all the YouTube videos about Tuscany and its sites and culture, including […]

March can feel endlessly gray, so it helps to load it with bright spots when and where you can.

Wine counts! So does live music.

Put them together and you have a soul-lifting, sunshiny day no matter the weather. Milea Estate Vineyard in Staatsburg offers delicious wines across the board, from a lovely Chardonnay to a juicy […]

Watching the snow fall if you’re safe and warm inside is a special kind of magic. Getting out to shovel or clear it is a special kind of punishment. Coming back inside from snow removal is cause for reward, and here’s just the ticket: mulled wine.

Besides the great taste and the delightful warmth of this […]

I went looking for a simple, affordable wine that would give me a good vibe and also (hopefully) some good flavor.

I went with farmhouse (lower case intentional). For less than $12, this California red has a lovely label with a block-print design of a farmhouse stamped against a brown-paper background the the words, “trust in […]

It’s cold, it’s January, and everyone’s in a funk.

Here’s a wine to go with the mood – and uplift it, for sure. It’s a Chilean red blend called The Seeker.

It’s made up of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 25% Syrah, so it’s almost a Bordeaux blend (Cab/Merlot), which is hearty yet smooth, but with […]