Drinking on the Edge

While brewing beer's a sideline for engineer Jake Cirell, it's a tangent which he's kept close for decades since his college days. His From the Ground Brewery, located on the noted Migliorelli family's farms, is a weekend attraction for locals and the occasional visitor to the mid-Hudson Valley. What makes FrG special is Jake's adherence to VERY locally sourced barley--courtesy of the Migliorellis--and hops grown in Rhinebeck. t He shared with David and producer Jenn a few of his crafty creations 'From the Ground' into our glasses in-studio for DotE.

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

Albariño has come a long way in two decades. Unknown beyond its Galician home until the '90s, its fame and farming have spread from Spain's Atlantic Ocean-facing Rias Baixas to the US where it's found homes throughout the west. Its fecundity and deliciousness make for pleasurable production and consumption. Umpqua Valley's Abacela Winery,, Sonoma County's Marimar Torres Estate, and Horse Heaven HIlls' Coyote Canyon Winery have been pioneers with this aromatic variety in their respective states.

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

Co-host Carlo DeVito joins David for a peek into the HV's oldest craft distillery with Derek Grout of Valatie's Harvest @ Golden Farms and what's likely one undergoing the fastest expansion with Andrew Richards of Millbrook's Shady Knoll. Both are heavily invested in the production and distillation of apples, a fruit first spread throughout and beyond the HV by the legendary Johnny Appleseed. But in keeping with the times, Shady Knoll and Harvest also fashion terrific whiskies from 100% Hudson Valley grains, topping out at national competitions with both iterations.

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

As one of the world's foremost wine grape geneticists, Dr. José Vouillamoz is a much sought after speaker at wine academic, scientific, and business conferences. The author of Swiss Grapes - History and Origin (available in English and French) previously collaborated with Master of Wine Jancis Robinson and has spoken at numerous events David directed. He Zooms in to DotE from his home in Switzerland's Valais region to join David and episode co-host Kevin Pike, proprietor of importer Schatzi Wines and a previous DotE guest with his Branchwater Farms in nearby Milan, for a detailed look into Switzerland's grapes, wines, environment, history and culture.

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

Co-host Carlo DeVito helps David welcome the Crescent City's only distillery crafting bourbon, Seven Three. Luka Cutura and Kelsey Gooch share their journeys, insights, and their 3 bourbons with the DotE crew. Featured amongst them is the soon-to-be released Whiskey Tree, its moniker harkening to an historic and still existent large tree which once served as a trading post for enterprising, discreet Louisiana whiskey aficionados and traders.

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

France's Alsace region has built its reputation with a wide diversity of single varietal and vastly dry, still wines grown upon a patchwork of soils positioned between the moderating effects of the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. On Monday, April 29 Alsace Rocks returns to New York after a six-year absence.

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

While wines have been grown and vinified in what's now Palestine for millennia, the modern context for these wines began during the late 19th century Cremisan winery, founded by French monks and which continues. Cremisan's Italian-educated winemaker today works with indigenous grapes found nowhere else, and is joined likewise in the US market and on this DotE episode by Philokalia winery's self-taught owner/winemaker.

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

DotE's first co-hosted episode is a deep dive conversation with three of the Bayou state's distillers with varying foci upon the creation of rum sourced exclusively from their native sugarcane juice.

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

After 33 years working with wine, it's a rarity that David tastes wines made from new grapes or from new areas. Drood of Iran--made in Sweden-- ticks both these boxes. Its owner, Iranian native, and DotE guest Shahram Soltani harvests old vine varieties grown at 2000+ meters altitude then transports them to his new home and winemaking facility in Sweden to create his first wines from the 2021 vintage--the first in the world made from grapes originating from Iran and sold legitimately by an Iranian.

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

A 1 X 1 session in which vintner Matteo Ascheri, also the president of the consortium comprising all of Barolo's and Barbaresco's growers and wineries, expounds upon the virtues of this high-achieving red grape which--unlike the likes of Cabernet sauvignon, Pinot noir, and others--excels only in its Piemonte birthplace.

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