A1: We've been enjoying Treana, a California blend. We like large, round reds, though with minimal sweetness. Bordeaux, Rhone, Calif, S. American, S. African, Australian, etc. Syrah, Mouvedre blends, Cabernet, Spanish, etc.

A2: Hudson Valley, New York

A3: My dad got me into wine. He did advertising design, and he did a logo for wine shop in Hudson Valley where I grew up. In thanks, the owner of the wine shop said he could buy a case of anything in the store for $350. So, my dad bought a bunch of cases of great Bordeaux from the years his children were born (1961 for me, 1956 for my brother, 1958 for my sister).When I was 16/17, my dad started opening up a bottle of 1961 Bordeaux each year on my birthday. The bottles were sealed not even with lead but with clay!!When my dad retired and stopped collecting wine, we/he drank his whole wine cellar.

A4: "Rarely have had old bottles that have impressed me as much as those Bordeaux from my birth year.It’s really fun being in California – but you get so used to huge California wines- now when I have Bordeaux, it tastes leaner than it used to. "

A5: In LA- AOC. I had a great Chateauneuf du Pape there last week.In NYC: OuestMy last trip to NYC lasted 7 days and I had five meals in those seven days at Lupa (a Mario Batali restauraunt). It's the closest to Italy of any US trattoria I know. Also, they pour quartinos instead of glasses, a practice I like.

A6: I’m married to an Italian woman so we live in a “food & wine” house

A7: " love to cook. My favorite dishes to cook is Beef Braised in Red Wine (Barolo). Since I met, love, and married a woman from Bologna, there are lots of ragus going on at our house. My mother-in-law stayed with us for 2 months after our baby was born; she made homemade pasta & homemade tortelloni stuffed with ricotta, lasagna, etc. "

A8: Red wine over white