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Steven Kolpan

Tasting Great Wines: A New (York) Approach

WHAT MAKES A GREAT WINE? Traditionally, the great wines of the world have shared several things in common. First, if the wine is based on a single grape varietal, then

New Rule: No Rules

RECENTLY, I CHECKED IN WITH MY dentist for a cleaning and checkup. As usual, Mary Ann, the dental hygienist, chatted with me as she cleaned my teeth, and inevitably the

Full Disclosure: Who Makes Your Wine?

IN OCTOBER, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA received the Nobel Peace Prize. The award engendered much controversy as many observers of the international scene were flummoxed as to why Obama received this

The French Paradox at 20

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, Timothy, on the advice of his mentor, St. Paul, instructed, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often

On Vintage and Parker Power

WHEN MOST OF US PURCHASE a bottle of wine—either in a retail shop or restaurant—we have to make a number of judgment calls. Which wine will work best with tonight’s

New York State of Wine: Long Island

EVERY YEAR, I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH to have about three weeks of vacation, a summer break during the month of July. Apparently, I am constitutionally incapable of planning a trip

Warm Weather Reds

WITH WELCOME WARM WEATHER UPON US, most wine and food enthusiasts think about light wines to pair with the season’s light foods. And when we think light, most often we

White Wines of Summer

NOW THAT WE GET TO ENJOY the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer in the Hudson Valley, think about enjoying crisp, refreshing white wines—lighter, simpler, fruit and acid-driven dry or

A Midsummer Night’s Wine

WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS WARM, our food turns cold. And so does our wine. Gone are the chilly days and nights of stick-to-your-ribs stews and big red wines. Welcome lots

Apple Cider the Hard Way

HISTORICALLY, CIDER—THE HARD STUFF—is the alcoholic beverage of choice in the Hudson Valley; wine is a relative newcomer. In fact, from the founding of the Republic and until Prohibition became

Sparkling Wines for the Holidays

AS WE ENTER the Celebration Season, which starts with the Thanksgiving feast in late November, runs to the conspicuous consumption of Chanukah, Kwanzaa and Christmas in December, jumps quickly to

A Toast to Health and Happiness

THANKSGIVING, CHANUKAH, KWANZAA, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day–there’s no doubt about it, we’re into the holiday season. If you’re like me, sometimes you wish you could just hibernate

A Signature Grape for the Hudson Valley?

ONE OF THE issues I floated in a brief talk at the regional Beer, Wine & Spirits Summit late last year was whether the Hudson Valley—and the Hudson River Region

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is back this October 28 to November 10!