by Richard Leahy | Dec 7, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine
When a very good or great vintage comes along, it’s a good idea to buy enough to lay down for when they really mature, as you enjoy the other bottles when they’re young. Any wine lover deserves to drink mature wines of a decade old or more, especially if...
by Richard Leahy | Nov 26, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine
Since Thanksgiving was the original locavore feast (on the East Coast), it’s only appropriate to drink local wine (or cider, or mead or fruit wine) wherever in the country you are. Thanksgiving gives you the chance (with my encouragement!) to get outside the box of...
by Richard Leahy | Nov 11, 2019 | Competitions, Events, Regions & Terroir, Virginia Wine
The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, comprised of wineries in the Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area, will present the first Shenandoah Cup trophy to the top-rated wine submitted in its inaugural competition at a Gala on November 15. The celebration will be...
by Richard Leahy | Sep 6, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Varietals
For this early September Wine of the Week, I actually present two wines, both Rieslings, and both over a decade old. The dry version is Fox Run’s Reserve Riesling 2008 (Seneca Lake, New York AVA). Winemaker Peter Bell only makes a reserve in great vintages for...
by Richard Leahy | Sep 2, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Winery Visits
I enjoyed a pre-Labor Day vacation in St. Joseph on the east shore of Lake Michigan last year, so I decided to repeat the experience this year. Millicent Huminsky of the Southwest Michigan Tourism Council helpfully worked to set up winery visits in the Lake Michigan...
by Richard Leahy | Aug 23, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Visits
The roots of fine (vinifera) winegrowing in the Finger Lakes come from two Europeans, Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Ukrainian of German descent, and Charles Fournier, a French sparkling winemaker, who demonstrated that cool climate vinifera grapes would grow along the...
