Wine and Art... A Match Not Made in Albany

Happy Holidays !!

     Sometimes I'm just amazed at the proliferation of New Art Galleries the last few years around New York. It would seem every time I walk down a block in west Chelsea.. there's a new big building going up to be filled with art galleries.

   Now, Don't get me wrong.. Clearly, the more art galleries there are, the better! Also, the more places to see and show artists work.. the better it is for everyone.. artists, collectors, museums, and the general community at large.  Well.. apparently The Republicans someone in Albany doesn't agree!

This weekend I was surprised to see in my favorite East End Paper: You Can Buy Some Wine, But You Can’t Buy Art!

     In short, for those of us lucky enough to get to enjoy the beauty of Long Island's east end, the sale (and display) of local artists work just got limited.  One of Dr. Quiz and my favorite things to do out east when the weather's bad, is going free drinking wine tasting at the 30+ improving Long Island wineries.   

    Well apparently, the wisdom of the NY State Liquor authority has determined the sale of Art at a winery is illegal. Other than their wine, they are only allowed to sell souvenirs, of either their winery or the state of New York.  Joshua Toas the new SLA Chief executive and a Pataki appointee, has begun to enforce these laws.

    Over the years, many of the the Long Island wineries, have been showing (and selling) the work of Local East End Artists.  It's been a great outlet for many local artists to have their work seen by the 500,000+ visitors to the wineries each year.  Interestingly some LI wineries have even commissioned well known artists to design labels for their wine.  This year, both Barbara Kruger and Eric Fischl have created labels for Bedell Cellars Winery.

After all, what goes better with Art, than drinking wine??  Clearly many of the people buying art blindly insatiably at ABMB this year were drinking heavily!! 

     Now obviously, you don't go to Bedell Cellars Winery expecting to see the next Loretta Lux, Thomas Ruff, Richard Tuttle, or even god forbid a Mike Kelley installation. But the local East End Art work is generally interesting to see, financially supports local artists, and it sure beats the tired "I Heart NY" bumper stickers we'll be seeing for sale at every winery this spring!!

Comments

[A.J.]

Kruger and Fischl are certainly vintage.
must say, gallery openings turned me off white wine for life.

[Antoinette B. Kean]

Burgundy Wine lies at the very heart of France, and is one of the worlds finest wine producing regions. Located two hours to the southeast of Paris, the wine area starts in Chablis in the north of the region and then it follows the autoroute A6 southerly to Lyon.

The Burgundy soil is mainly based on oolitic limestone, upon which both the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes flourish. The red wines, made with the Pinot Noir, are more difficult to grow because these grapes are more sensitive to disease or to being badly handled. Towards the south of the region, from around Macon, the soil changes to a reddish granite schist and sand of the Beaujolais. Here, the Gamay grape flourishes, making excellent red wines, many of which are drunk while they are young.

If you have not been to Burgundy, try it. It is a great part of France to visit for a holiday. Alternatively, stay at home and simply drink and enjoy the wine.
You can more information for the Burgundy Wine in: http://www.burgundywinevarieties.com/