Author Archives: upstatedowntown

At the 2026 (and Last?) Hudson Valley Wine Competition, Whitecliff and Benmarl Dominate Awards

Posted on October 8, 2026 by upstatedowntown

At the 2026 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition (HVWSC) last month in Rhinebeck, the event immediately took on an elegiac quality before the first wine was even poured. Longtime organizer Debbie Gioquindo kicked off the event by announcing that … Continue reading →

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Hudson Valley Wineries Stand Out at 2026 NY Wine Classic  

Posted on August 12, 2026 by upstatedowntown

At the recent 2026 New York Wine Classic, the annual “Oscars” of NY State’s wine industry, Hudson River Region (HRR) wineries showed well, punching above their weight. Two wineries especially stood out with their top accolades: Millbrook Vineyard & Winery’s … Continue reading →

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Hopping to (Cider) Success

Posted on November 19, 2025 by upstatedowntown

It has been a while since I have posted here, with too much work going on at the day job, taking some of the starch out of my writing impulse. Fortunately, my hard cider journey has fared better than the … Continue reading →

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The Big Winner at the 2023 Hudson Valley Wine Competition? The Hudson River Region!

Posted on October 9, 2023 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews While it is one of the oldest wine regions in the US, dating back to the 17th century, the Hudson Valley (HV) has always been a heterogeneous agricultural area, with many different crops and fruits under cultivation, … Continue reading →

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At the 2023 NY Wine Classic, Hudson Valley Cab Franc (again) Struck Gold

Posted on August 22, 2023 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews At last month’s New York Wine Classic 2023, New York State’s annual wine “Oscars” competition, there was both good — and less good — news for the Hudson Valley (HV). On the slightly disappointing side (based on … Continue reading →

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Whitecliff Tops Field at 2022 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition

Posted on September 13, 2022 by upstatedowntown

Most things change, and very few stay the same. But a dependable constant in the Hudson Valley wine scene has been — and remains — the quality and excellence of Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery. Whitecliff owners Michael Migliore and Yancey Stanforth-Migliore … Continue reading →

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The Ultimate Cider Guide (for the Hudson Valley)

Posted on August 10, 2021 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews It has been a tough year and half for just about everyone, and that light at the end of the tunnel seen this past spring has dimmed considerably in recent weeks, unfortunately. But despite the difficulties and … Continue reading →

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A Hard Cider Hat Trick

Posted on May 4, 2020 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Both good things and bad come in threes. For my hard cider entries in the 30th Annual Hudson Valley Homebrew Competition last month, however, it was a rare and perfectly positive trifecta: not only did I take … Continue reading →

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Bordeaux 2017: Despite Adversity, a Solid Vintage

Posted on February 7, 2020 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews The 2017 vintage in Bordeaux was…complicated, and rife with pitfalls: an epic spring frost, the worst since 1991; damaging hail storms; a dry but cloudy summer; and rain in mid-September, adding drama to the harvest period. Overall … Continue reading →

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Jefferson Vindicated: Virginia Wines Wow Wine Media Guild

Posted on November 12, 2019 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Somewhere, Thomas Jefferson is smiling. The Founding Father, third US President and first oenophile-in-chief tried mightily to establish European (vinifera) grape varieties in his gardens and vineyards around Monticello, but encountered only failure, for reasons he mainly … Continue reading →

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