It’s been quite a week. I had surgery on Tuesday (everything’s fine) and have spent the past 6 days in and out of a Percoset-induced haze. During my more lucid moments, I’ve been reading wine blogs. A LOT of wine blogs. This has not been as good for my health as I would have hoped.

We’re back from our weekend in the Finger Lakes, and I’m pulling together my pictures, videos, and thoughts, many of which I’ll be sharing in the coming days. Here are a few first impressions.

Just a quick programming note to remind you that I’ll be heading upstate to the Finger Lakes for TasteCamp, a weekend of wine tasting, blogging, and perhaps some mild bacchanalia.

This one’s a request from a good friend, advisor and loyal reader who wishes to remain anonymous: could I recommend a few good gift wines for Mother’s Day? Well, as with so much in life, it all depends on one’s mother.

When a friend suggested I write more about wine labels on STBNY, I immediately thought of Michel Chapoutier. What sets Chapoutier’s labels apart is not their look (elegant fonts, neutral colors, classic crests) but their feel.

Here’s a round up of some of my favorite wine news as of late, with an emphasis on local New York happenings. (Hence the Mets logo.)

My dear friend Gary was clearing out his boss’ office and came across a bottle of wine. Would I, he wanted to know, be interested in trying it? You bet I would.

Chris Phelps and I had the chance to talk about his work, French Tupperware parties, and what happens when you microwave wine.

When’s the last time you saw a guy drinking white wine?

Believe it or not, I do get sick of wine. My palate goes numb and I wonder if it’s all just a waste of time and money — at the end of day, it’s just fermented grape juice. And then. Then I taste a wine that reminds me why I fell in love with wine.