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I’m fascinated with big wooden tables. Always have been. The thought of King Arthur and his knights sitting around a huge table, drinking mead from heavy mugs and gnawing on legs of mutton always struck me as the ultimate in cool. And the conversations they must have had, tales of dragons, and treasure, damsels, (and…

Here’s a link to latest issue of Finger Lakes Libations. My interview with Craig Hosbach starts on page 3. Check it out. https://fingerlakeslibations.com/latest-issue/

There’s an alarming vein of memory loss running through my mother’s side of the family. I suppose it could be worse, my father had heart disease and Parkinson’s. The memory thing is perhaps just as worrisome and probably more eminent. Fortunately, my mother’s family also has the sense of humor to deal with it. Perhaps…

On the eve of my first (non-self) published interview, I thought I would remind myself and others of the rules of fair play. My intention is to share interesting stories with you, and I would be delighted if I occasionally made you ponder something new. These stories will generally be positive in nature. If you…

I don’t typically spit. It’s an embarrassing admission, given that I’ve now passed numerous WSET tasting exams. (Although, I have failed enough others to keep me from the diploma, hmmm.) From the start of an even half serious wine education, you are taught to spit out the wines you are tasting. Fear not, they say,…

Friday, March 17th, 2023. St. Patrick’s Day. 11:58pm. I just finished driving up from Pennsylvania in the rain. Much preferable to Tuesday night’s drive in snow and ice. Such is March. The winter landscape of the back yard on Wednesday, complete with frolicking dogs, has become a muddy pit, with frolicking filthy dogs. Amy is…

Here’s a fact that some people find counterintuitive; the Finger Lakes flow north, through various rivers to Lake Ontario and then on via the St. Lawrence river to the North Atlantic. There’s no reason this should be a surprise, water finds its level and does not care whether “south” on a map appears to many…

I love old wines. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before but let me reiterate, I really, really love old wines. I love the whole idea of old wines. I love that someone had the foresight, or perhaps the accidental mischance, to keep a bottle for some length of time, long enough for the wine to…

January 3rd, 2023 We didn’t see Tito over the holidays because he is isolating. He’s not going public with the actual surgery date, but things are progressing. Tito sent me an email yesterday that says it all better than I could. With his permission I’m posting it here. Riveting stuff. I’ll continue to post updates…

Prologue. As I’ve mentioned before, I have mixed feelings about tribalism. From one perspective, there’s nothing more human, more fulfilling, than being accepted by another group of humans. Accepted. There’s a lot of power in that word. To be accepted means that we are not alone. We have the company, and perhaps the respect, of…