Drinking on the Edge

When considering what to eat when drinking wine, an inevitable and varying point of discussion goes to 'cheese'. Sharing their vast experiences with David are HV local Kate Arding of Hudson's Talbott & Arding and Napa Valley-based author Janet Fletcher of Planet Cheese.

This second in the DotE series of foods with drinks touches both upon uncommon and typical considerations when determining your wine and cheese selections--whether or not you choose to pair them.

As this was (so far) the most complicated episode to arrange, DotE leaned upon two of its "friends of the show", national wine importers Kevin Pike and Bartholomew Broadbent, to ably assist in providing samples both to myself for use in-studio with Kate and to Janet in California--to excellent effect!!

Produced by David Furer, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud at Radio Free Rhinecliff

From Vivac way high north of Taos, to southwestern Luna Rossa near the Mexican border, to Noisy Water in the southeast mountains near Texas; hard work is being applied with great wines grown and made throughout New Mexico. Sharing their diverse stories from the Land of Enchantment are Marco D'Andrea who was born into it, Michele Padberg who married into it, and Jasper Riddle who chose it as a second career--all embracing wine's challenges and successes.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff

A conversation about currants grown and drinks made in the Hudson Valley between purveyors Greg Quinn of CurrantC, Ute Londrigan of Heimat New York, Branchwater Farms' Kevin Pike, and vintner / viticulturist Stephen Casscles. Held at Branchwater Farms, this episode of DotE was co-hosted by Carlo DeVito. It explores the history, techniques, tastes, and uses of berries harvested from the Ribes genus.

Produced by David Furer, Carlo DeVito, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud at Radio Free Rhinecliff

In the first of this occasional series David ventures north to neighboring Red Hook to savor his favorite pizzas made by a favorite person, Nobile Attie of Lucoli. Attie's better known via his BrickOven.com through which he's fashioned for decades distinctive ovens for many famed chefs worldwide. That said, those of us in the mid-HV are privileged to have in our midst an artisan of this caliber. It's BYO at Lucoli, and for this David brought Steven Matthiason's Cabernet Sauvignon, Raffaella Bissoni's Sangiovese Riserva and, in recognition of his Abruzzo heritage, a few indigenous bottlings from Il Mostro.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff

As the latest generation of family proprietors at Weingut Breuer, Theresa Breuer's plenty to shoulder with a noteworthy family history. She's done so admirably adapting methods learned from her ancestors while applying techniques of her own that reflect current circumstances. She spoke with David from her estate overlooking the Rhein River in Rüdesheim Germany.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff

As our itch for Grüner Veltliner was barely piqued by the two episodes focused upon the US, it's understandable that in order to soothe it that the next step would be to have on DotE one of Austria's greatest proponents of it and its Riesling, the ever-articulate Michael Moosbrugger.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff

David chats with vintners Estelle Roy of the estimable La Chablisienne cooperative and Valentin Servin of his namesake family estate about their work with Chardonnay in this Burgundy appellation benchmark.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff

Too long overlooked, for decades Oregon's Rogue Valley has shown that its pioneering spirit extends beyond Pinot Noir to a wide array of fine wines from a diversity of sites, styles and grapes. David talks Rogue and its subset Applegate with vintners Troon's Craig Camp, Foris' Ted Gerber, and Quady North's Herb Quady.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff

Planted worldwide, Sauvignon Blanc is a noble variety though too often made, and therefore recognized, as less than. These three northern hemisphere owner/winemakers are amongst a handful who keenly understand this vibrant white grape so as to coax from it the best their terroirs can offer. France's Loire, Styria shared by Austria and Slovenia, and California's Napa Valley have few peers for fashioning benchmark expressions from an often underachieving grape. This is driven deep by tasting immaculate bottlings from the Tement family dating to 2015 and 2019.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff

Christian Drouin is Calvados' most renowned proprietor and vociferous proponent, his self-titled distillery of this noble apple brandy distributed worldwide. His book, The Art of Calvados, has been translated into English and was published in October by Bill Owens' White Mule Press, with Bill joining David and Christian.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff