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Hawke’s Bay, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, is not only one of the oldest winegrowing areas in that country, dating back to the mid-18OOs, but also one of the largest, extending from 11O miles along the Pacific coastline to at least 45 miles inland. There, cultivatable... Read More

The Cecchi family has been making and selling wine in Tuscany for more than a century, now in Umbria, too. I enjoyed a recent visit and tasting with Andrea Cecchi, who shares the fourth generation with his older brother, Cesare. Andrea, who holds a master of enology degree, is in... Read More

Matt Steinberg is a rare breed in the beer business, an individual who understands the intricate details of how to both brew and sell beer. Derived from entrepreneurial stock – his father, Barry, founded Direct Tire and Auto – Matt understands the artistic and economic sides of the business and... Read More

Though LUPEC Boston ladies are egalitarian imbibers, rye whiskey holds a special place in our hearts,largely because the spirit itself was endangered for a good chunk of the last century. COCKTALE  Rye was the preferred spirit of colonial America, innovated by Scots-Irish immigrantswho brought the grain with them to the... Read More

Image is all important in the wine business. Unless there are positive identifications with a country or region some of its wines may be of outstanding quality, but consumers and critics alike remain indifferent. What’s interesting is how often the emergence of a regional industry from obscurity is associated with... Read More

After a tasting some years ago three of us were schmoozing –  a winemaker from California, one from Italy and me. The Californian commented that my house must be very old. He “wowed!” when informed it was first occupied in 1913. His “old house” had been built in 195O. Then... Read More

Hot and relaxed sunning on the Cape enjoying the brisk breeze and a cold, cold beer.Wish that kid next door would shut up. Just me and my beer and the deep blue sky, reflecting the deep blue ocean,rolling in all the way from Europe.Wonder if those clouds are going to... Read More

The culture and influence of American craft brewing is quietly moving across the world. From upstart Danish micro brewers to quirky Japanese extreme ale producers subtle changes are taking place in the way we all think about beer. These operations are often run by beverage alcohol industry veterans who are... Read More