Grape Collective

07/07/2025

✨ TIME & TERROIR: Inside Hudson Valley’s $21M Brandy Revolution ✨🥃

Step inside where Old World European traditions meet New York terroir in the most ambitious American brandy project we’ve ever covered! 🍇🍎

From Prague to the Hudson Valley, founder John Frishkopf spent a decade mastering European brandy-making before investing $21 million into this stunning 160-acre estate in Claverack. Using traditional French alembic stills and organic farming practices, they’re looking to prove American brandy can compete with the world’s finest spirits.

🌟 What makes Klocke special:
• Traditional Cognac & Calvados methods on Hudson Valley terroir
• Estate-grown heritage apples & grapes specifically for brandy
• 100% organic, regenerative farming practices

Our latest deep-dive features exclusive interviews with founder John Frishkopf and master distiller Caleb Gregg, plus the fascinating history of brandy in America. From their sunken European-style barrel house to their innovative cocktail program, this is American craft distilling at its finest.

📖 Read the full feature story (link in bio)
🎥 Watch our exclusive video tour
📍 2554 County Route 27, Hudson, NY
“We believe that making fine brandy is a celebration of time and place.” - John Frishkopf

07/05/2025

Time and Terroir: Klocke Estate Brings Old-World Brandy Traditions to New York’s Hudson Valley
Klocke Estate represents a $21 million investment in reviving the American brandy tradition, opening to the public in July 2024 after four years of construction and development.

The History of Brandy Brandy, derived from the Dutch word “brandewijn” meaning “burnt wine,” represents one of humanity’s oldest distilled spirits. The commercial development began in medieval Europe, where Dutch traders discovered that distilling wine into concentrated spirit solved prese...

07/03/2025

A bottle for mom, a biscuit for Nova—everybody wins.

07/03/2025

🍷 “The wine industry needs to stop complaining”
That’s the refreshingly honest take from Dan Petroski, founder of —Napa’s only all-white wine winery.

While others worry about younger generations drinking less, Petroski sees the bigger picture: we raised kids who self-medicate with therapy and prescriptions instead of alcohol. Maybe that’s… progress? 🤔

From publishing to winemaking, selling to and converting vineyards to organic—Petroski’s journey challenges everything we think we know about wine’s “crisis.”

His Mediterranean-style whites (made from Italian grapes in California soil) are now more accessible than ever, proving that adaptation beats complaint every time.

Read his full unfiltered thoughts in his interview with on generational shifts, immigration fears, tariffs, and why wine has survived thousands of years of disruption ⬆️ Link in bio

“Wine has been here for thousands of years, and it’s going to shake out.” —Dan Petroski

06/28/2025

Massican's Dan Petroski Has a Very Different View of Wine’s Challenges Right Now
"Everyone historically from our generation knows that we self-medicate with alcohol. And now we’re dealing with the generational shift of a group of young adults who have been self-medicating with professional prescriptions of different types of drugs, different types of therapy and social media." Read the interview by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher

06/25/2025

🍷 A historic wine tasting Showing the Great Progress of American Riesling

On June 19th at in the East Village - The “Judgment of New York” took place - a blind tasting comparing Finger Lakes Riesling with some of Germany’s finest producers - delivered interesting results. The event included opening remarks by .pigott of and (some of which are included in the story on GrapeCollective.com)

Key highlights: 🏆 Hillock & Hobbs (Finger Lakes) placed 3rd overall 🇺🇸 Three American wines scored 90+ points
🇩🇪 Competed against legendary German estates 👥 Judged by wine professionals and media

What made this special wasn’t just the scores, but the collaborative spirit. As one winemaker said, “We see ourselves as colleagues in the same fight - getting more people to drink Riesling.”

Might this be a watershed moment for the Finger Lakes region, similar to how the 1976 Judgment of Paris elevated California wine on the world stage?

I wrote the full story for - link in bio 📖

The piece includes exclusive quotes from the evening and analysis of what this means for the future of New York Riesling.🍾
. .

06/21/2025

📖✨ New on Grape Collective: Lebanon’s Wine Renaissance ✨📖
a.wine.journal goes deep—into the extraordinary world of Lebanese wine, featuring Sami Ghosn of This isn’t just a wine story; it’s a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of rebuilding.

🍷 What you’ll discover:

- How Sami reclaimed his family’s Bekaa Valley land after Lebanon’s 15-year civil war
- Ancient winemaking traditions dating back to the Phoenicians
- Why vineyards at 5,900ft altitude create Lebanon’s wine magic
- The inspiring French partnership that transformed Massaya
💫 Most powerful moment: “I am a peace seeker... We plant and we build forward.” —Sami Ghosn

From just 5 producers surviving the war to 80+ thriving today, Lebanon’s wine renaissance is a story of hope triumphing over conflict.

Read the full essay—link in bio. Warning: You’ll want to drink a Bekaa Valley wine immediately! 🇱🇧

06/21/2025

Massaya Lebanon and a Hope for Peace
"The 15-year civil war that tore the country apart had just ended. Sami (and his brother Ramzi), who have been living abroad to escape the horrors of war, wanted to return home to rebuild their family’s land in the Beqaa Valley." By Lee Pai
https://www.grapecollective.com/massaya-lebanon-and-a-hope-for-peace/

06/20/2025

Discovering Lebanese Wine Excellence with Sami Ghosn
Get ready for an insightful conversation with Sami Ghosn from Lebanon's renowned Massaya Winery! In this quick-hit interview, Lee Pai talks to Sami Ghosn of Massaya Lebanon about his favorite wines and places to visit 🍷

Have you experienced Lebanese wines? Let us know in the comments below!

06/18/2025

The Shocking History Of Champagne That They Don’t Teach You In School
"The most persistent myth about Champagne involves Dom Pierre Pérignon, the Benedictine monk supposedly responsible for “inventing” the sparkling wine in the late 17th century. This romantic tale of a holy man discovering bubbles in his cellar makes for excellent marketing, but it’s largely fabricated. The reality is far more complex and considerably less spiritual."

When you pop open a bottle of Champagne, you’re not just celebrating—you’re participating in a tradition steeped in bloodshed, political intrigue, and centuries of manipulation. The sparkling wine we associate with luxury and celebration has a dark and fascinating history that textbooks conven...

06/18/2025

🎬✨ INCREDIBLE NEWS! Our film “Palmento” has been officially selected for the prestigious Ischia Global Film and Music Festival 2025! 🍷🍷🎥🇮🇹🇮🇹

We’re absolutely thrilled to be part of this celebrated festival’s 23rd year. This recognition means the world to our entire team and everyone who believed in this project. Congratulations to

The Ischia Global Film and Music Festival has been a cornerstone of independent cinema for over two decades, and we couldn’t be more honored to screen alongside such talented filmmakers from around the globe.

Thank you to everyone who has supported “Palmento” on this incredible journey. Can’t wait to share more updates as we approach the festival! 🍇🎭🎬

06/17/2025

8 Wine-Themed Vacation Ideas That Are Actually Affordable
Wine tourism doesn’t have to drain your bank account.
https://www.grapecollective.com/8-wine-themed-vacation-ideas-that-are-actually-affordable/