Bianca breaks the mold on vermouths with some super, wild entries. Three seasonal options, four times a year. This one has a beautiful burn and the slight whisper of Provence.... read more →
Bravo Bloomers! Slaving there in the thankless but oh-so-promising Lake Seneca, showing the world that terroir prevails. A combination of whole bunches and crushed grapes. Vinified in steel tanks for... read more →
Many USA commercial and small independent ciders lack the personality of Europe’s best. This is shameful as the Northeast has some of the world’s best cider apples. Evidence? Sponti. Culled... read more →
Going American on Thanksgiving and don’t know where to turn? Sure, it’s incredibly difficult to hit the domestics at a friendly price. I offer you Finger Lakes and Bloomer. Fun.... read more →
Past chef, now distiller, Colin started this grappa journey years back and was foiled by Hurricane Sandy. But now almost three years later, his newest example of Brooklyn-made (Long Island... read more →
When the vintage is stellar, we get the aforementioned cabernet franc, but in lesser years, Kim and Debra blend it with some gamay noir (which they believe is actually valdigue),... read more →
In 2004 when I was the Time magazine wine correspondent, I visited winemakers/farmers/artists Kim Engle and Debra Birmingham, who were then in a very different vinous place. In 2006, a... read more →
10% purple elderberry foraged from Wurtsboro woodlands, 90% unsprayed west Sullivan County apples of the Liberty and Spy varieties. The color of rosé, the taste of apple cider and it’s... read more →
Story coming up in the New York Times, so I can’t scoop myself, but put this under kiddush alert. Made by observant Jews in Yonkers. David is third generation distiller—parents... read more →