Category Archives: Wine

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 →

Advertisement

Posted in Beer + Cider, New York City, NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Hudson Valley, NY craft beverages, NY wine, Spirits + Cocktails, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in New York City, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in New York City, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tuscan Value: the Maremma

Posted on November 11, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Tuscan wines, like Chianti (in its many iterations), the esteemed Brunello di Montalcino and the “Super Tuscans” (such as Sassicaia and Antinori’s Tignanello), are well-known on these shores, at least among cognoscenti. Less familiar, but sources of distinct value, are some of … Continue reading →

Posted in NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2015 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition: Millbrook, Robibero Share Top Honor

Posted on September 15, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Stop the presses! For the first time since the award was originated four years ago, Millbrook Vineyard and Winery, the Hudson Valley’s perennial wine flagship, was not the sole Hudson Valley Winery of the Year winner at … Continue reading →

Posted in NY craft beverages, NY wine, Spirits + Cocktails, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Riesling’s New York Winning Streak Ends…

Posted on August 14, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews …but probably not for long. Yet for the first time since 2008, and only the third time since 2000, Riesling was not the grape of the NY Governor’s Cup winner (i.e. the “Best in Show) at the New … Continue reading →

Posted in NY craft beverages, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Serious Summer Pink (and Other Food/Wine Matters)

Posted on June 29, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews I had tarragon on the brain. We have a perennial patch of tarragon upstate, and this summer, it has produced like no other year. Normally, I have to constrain Kathryn from pillaging the entire clump in one … Continue reading →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Food, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cali Vintners Walking the Green Talk

Posted on April 15, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews The severe drought in California is making not only headlines, but also for some tough, long-term choices. Perhaps this is only a nasty — and lengthy — cyclical drought, and the rains will return, as they have in the past. But that’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Eco-friendly Products, Environment, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment