Author Archives: upstatedowntown

Bordeaux Chateaux “Punching Above Their Weight”

Posted on February 1, 2017 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Bordeaux Chateaux that “punch above their weight” was how Wine Media Guild (WMG) member Mark Golodetz framed the WMG’s recent, annual Bordeaux walk-around tasting and lunch, held at Il Gattopardo in Manhattan. As the traditional member-sponsor of … Continue reading →

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HV Cider Benchmark: “God Speed the Plough”

Posted on January 7, 2017 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews In the ongoing craft (hard) cider renaissance in the Hudson Valley (HV), a structural impediment (and irony) exists: there aren’t enough cider apples to go around. While culinary/dessert apples are widely available — New York is, after … Continue reading →

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Italian Elegance: Lugana Wines

Posted on October 31, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews For wine lovers, Italy’s incredible regional diversity and myriad grape varieties – many of them indigenous, and some produced only in certain Italian locales – are the gifts that keep on giving. But that’s what also makes Italian … Continue reading →

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KAS Krupnikas: Baltic Spirit from the Hudson Valley

Posted on September 30, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Quality. Authenticity. Versatility. Highly desirable traits for most any product, not least spirituous beverages, but often elusive as a trifecta. One such excellent potation that I recently covered for Edible Hudson Valley Magazine is KAS Spirits’ Krupnikas, a … Continue reading →

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2016 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition: Fjord Vineyards Sweeps Top Awards

Posted on September 15, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Relative newcomer Fjord Vineyards made quite the statement at the recent 2016 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition. Not only did its 2015 Albariño win Best in Show, Best Overall Hudson Valley Wine (made w/HV fruit) and Best … Continue reading →

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Hopping Up Hudson Valley Cider

Posted on August 3, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews With its tradition of apple-producing excellence — and aided by the New York Farm Cidery license option — the Hudson Valley (HV) has become an epicenter of the burgeoning (hard) craft cider scene, supported by the Hudson Valley Cider Alliance. And as a … Continue reading →

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Killer Bordeaux Bargain: Chateau Carbonneau

Posted on May 17, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews It’s no secret that Bordeaux represents a great source of wine value, despite the outsized focus on the Grand Cru chateaux and hallowed First Growths (which certainly have their place, too). Value, of course, is a very relative thing, but … Continue reading →

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A Winning Home-Brewed Cider

Posted on March 21, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Apples have long been a touchstone here at Upstate-Downtown, whether via our farmhouse, where we “inherited” three productive Empire apple trees — a great window into the growing season — or in the Hudson Valley more broadly, through its apple-growing traditions and excellence. Part … Continue reading →

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A Minervois “Reunion”…with Sainte Eulalie

Posted on February 13, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews This past weekend I had a reunion of sorts. Not with college or grad school classmates, mind you, but with one of my favorite French producers from the Languedoc, Chateau Sainte Eulalie, located in the rugged, herb-laced hills of … Continue reading →

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Bordeaux Braves Yet Another NYC Blizzard

Posted on February 1, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews For the second year in a row, the annual NYC tasting of the Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux was affected by a blizzard — winter storm Jonas — this time the weekend preceding the January 25th … Continue reading →

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