Posts Written OnAugust 2014

5 Questions with… Tiffany Robibero Selby, Robibero Winery

What would you do if the winery tenant on your parents recently acquired Hudson Valley property gave notice that they would be moving to a new location? If you’re Tiffany Robibero Selby, then a soon-to-graduate child psychology major at Fordham University, you abandon the professional career path you had been working towards for the last four years and jump head-first into starting your own family winery. With a few years of a Masters program ahead of her and an uncertain job market, a difficult decision to start a new family business was made just a little easier. That was back in 2007 and marked the…

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Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Reserve Riesling

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Reserve Riesling ($25) aligns nicely with the recent trend of richer, decidedly off-dry rieslings in the Finger Lakes. The nose is a stunner, showing aromas of Golden Delicious apple, Bartlett pear, peach, honey, fennel frond, green melon and delicate floral notes. Round and weighty, the palate shows intensely ripe fruit and similar flavors — peach, pomme fruit and melon — with a slight bruised-apple note. Though sweet, it’s balanced by delicate acidity that keeps it from being cloying. The light herbal and floral notes are a bit hidden, but emerge as the wine warms a bit. Don’t…

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Varieties and Varietals: It’s What Makes A Family

Say what you want about my infrequent visits out on the North Fork. Blame whomever you wish for the lack of attention I have given to writing about wine. Sometimes you need an excuse to get out there. And when you get that excuse and take advantage of it, magical things happen. It had been six months since I spent any real time at a vineyard or winery. It’s not important what the cause was or is. The important thing is that I made it happen. And used my wife’s birthday as the excuse to make it happen. Sure, we had family…

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Kelso Beer Co. Industrial IPA

I bought this beer not knowing if I would really like it. Imperial IPAs are often overblown, out of balance and hard to drink. There are always a few solid go-to selections and Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Blast is the first that comes to mind. When done well, the style can be excellent and mouth-filling. They’re best alongside hearty meat dishes like pork shoulder or short ribs. I equate them to the California Cabs of the beer world. That being said, I’m rarely eating short ribs while I drink these beers so I appreciate a balance and quaffability in them as…

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