August 2012 – THE GRAPE BELT

The New York Wine Mind — More Questions Than Answers

Before discussing the challenges that face many of the wineries in attendance at the recent “America’s Grape Country Wine Festival,” a few more words about the event itself and some small things organizers can do to take their performance up a notch. What I’m about to suggest is not rocket science; these are part and […]

by Tom Riley

In A New York State of Mind

Despite spending the past 25 years in California and Connecticut, I’m a New Yorker through and through. And, as such, I tend to root for the home town team, wherever it might be found. In recent years I’ve tried my best to defend wines from New York’s major regions – Finger Lakes, Long Island, Hudson […]

by Tom Riley

Five Red Wines Under $10

I’ve spent a lot of time and energy these past few months drinking, er, researching, rosé and white wines. Most of that effort comes from the fact that I’m an optimist (read: wildly delusional); even if the weather around the East Bay has been telling me, loudly, that it’s not really summer, I’m going to […]

by Tom Riley

UPDATE Tasting Notes

Latest notes include two mediocre red Burgundies, a biodynamic fume blanc from Napa, and a beautifully complex riesling from New York State’s Finger Lakes region. Slainté!