Post #1.
I like science, and art and music, and stories. I photograph, I drink wine, I do science experiments in my home much to the chagrin of those I live with. I have been educated in chemistry, by a tight knit chemistry department at liberal arts state school, SUNY New Paltz, with a few gems of professors. I pursued vineyard jobs, and after being turned down several times, got a frantic call from the co-owner of a small but high quality winery that changed my life. Her staffing catastrophe was my golden opportunity. I worked for Whitecliff Winery in Gardiner, NY for just over 2 years, loved every minute of it (If you like dry wine, visit them and buy their wines) and became inspired to make my own wine. I also pursued a job teaching, and into my lap fell a biology opening at a local high school. So, I taught a biology class for 6 weeks during their defecit, and though I was stressed out, became hooked. I then got educated in well, education, at University Of New Haven, in Connecticut. They have a great graduate program, with internships available to pay for over 90% of the tuition costs. Rigorous, but excellent education. While in graduate school, I declined the internship, and worked as a chemist in the Quality Control department of a small OTC pharmaceutical manufacturer. Too busy to continue making my own wine, I met another home winemaker, who kept my interest afloat.
What does this mean for my tastes and opinions?
*Whitecliff instilled in me sense of quality, purism, and balance in wine. The importance of sustainable, local, natural products.
*Chemistry training taught me to be immediate and specific in my observations; thoughtful and resourceful in my analysis; innovative and creative in my experiments.
*Teaching taught me to be as objective as possible, despite the slanted world each of us sees based on our prior experiences.
*Living in both the Hudson Valley, and Thames Valley has allowed me to try several wines from two small appellations, to develop an appreciation and curiosity for excellent wines of unlikely regions. I am partial to Bordeaux blends, slightly buttery chardonnay, and above all balanced and beautiful wines showcasing the best qualities and flavors of a specific region or variety of grape.
