Thomas Pellechia: Wine Writer and Educator

Thomas Pellechia has been writing creatively ever since he could write. By the age of twelve two of his teachers had recognized a voice that needed to be expressed. They encouraged him and so he started to keep a journal.

Fast forward to adulthood. First it was short stories and poems, then letters to family and friends, then letters to politicians and newspapers, then in-house newsletters on the job, then scripts for corporate clients, then—in 1984—winemaking!

In 1982, Thomas and Anne, his wife, made a trip to the Finger Lakes wine region of New York State. Thomas had already made wine at home and he had started to research the commercial aspect of wine, having taken a part time job in a neighborhood wine shop. In addition, he had taken both wine appreciation and winemaking classes in their hometown, New York City. Within months after their trip to the Finger Lakes Thomas and Anne had moved into a new home on Keuka Lake, commuting to New York City for their income while creating a winery on their property. In 1985 their winery, Cana Vineyards, was up and running. Thomas pulled out of the city but Anne did not (her income as a stellar graphic artist and coordinator was truly necessary).

In 1986 Thomas began to write about wine for some local newspapers like Gannett’s Elmira Star Gazette and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Syracuse NewTimes, The Ithaca Times, and the Ithaca Journal. In 1990, he and Anne were instrumental in gaining the interest of a newspaper publishing couple who started up a local wine periodical aimed at the tourist called, The Finger Lakes Wine Gazette. Thomas and Anne did most of the writing and photography. Soon, Thomas was writing wine articles for magazines like Wine Enthusiast (formerly known as Wine Times), Practical Winery, Vineyard and Winery Management, Washington Wine Style, Spirit, Brandweek, Slow Food’s Snail, Decanter, Wines and Vines, and the American Wine Society Journal. Click here for a list of published articles.

Recognizing his work as an upcoming wine producer, the American Wine Society called upon Thomas to become a wine judge, as did Business Traveler Magazine. In the meanwhile, the Cana Vineyards Winery had to close down. The bad vintage of 1992 left Thomas with no product. Being as small as his business was, he was forced to either go a full year without anything to sell, which meant racking up debts that go with operating a business producing no income, or he could move on. He chose the latter and worked as a wine salesman for a Finger Lakes winery and then for a major East Coast wine distributor. After that, he and a partner opened a specialty wine shop in Manhattan.

Of course, all writers plan to write books. Thomas’ first book was called Conversations With Fred; it told the story of his winemaking and producing experiences in the Finger Lakes in the form of an extended series of telephone conversations between him and a character named Fred that he invented. The book came close to being published locally, but at the last minute the small publisher got cold feet. As time went by, the nature of the book’s story became outdated, but that did not stop Thomas from writing another book.

In the Finger Lakes Wine Gazette Thomas had developed a series on the history of wine. The series required a lot of research. He soon saw a book in it. In fact, he saw two books. The first book was called Garlic, Wine and Olive Oil: Historical Anecdotes and Recipes. The book traced the parallel history of the three foods; it includes 55 recipes as well, all a part of Thomas’ love of cooking as well as of wine. In fact, while he was writing the book he began to write articles about food alongside his wine articles; he even spent a few weeks working in a friend’s commercial kitchen without pay, reasoning that if he was going to write about food and cook more he needed to understand what goes on in a restaurant kitchen; the book was published in 2000 by Capra Press in Santa Barbara, California.

Thomas’ next book is a direct result of the wine history series that he had started for the Finger Lakes Wine Gazette. Titled, WINE: the 8,000 Year-Old Story of the Wine Trade, the book is exactly that: a synopsis of the many important developments in the wine trade since the beginning of civilization; the book was published in 2006 by Thunders Mouth Press, New York City. Click here for more information about these book titles.

Over the years as a winemaker Thomas established a wine education program that he offered to tourists in the Finger Lakes. The program was presented in conjunction with a restaurant; its focus was to teach the consumer about the important components in wine that make a statement when pairing wine with food. When he established the wine shop in Manhattan in 2000 he brought the program with him, successfully presenting seminars to customers and would be customers as well as to corporate clients.

Today, Thomas presents his wine seminars at a variety of venues. Click here for more information about Thomas Pellechia's What is-wine?^® education programs.

This is where Thomas lives.


*Background and Experience* Thomas Pellechia has been writing creatively ever since he could write. By the age of twelve two of his teachers had recognized a voice that needed to be expressed. They encouraged him and so he started to keep a journal. Fast forward to adulthood. First it was short stories and poems, then letters to family and friends, then letters to politicians and newspapers, then in-house newsletters on the job, then scripts for corporate clients, then—in 1984—winemaking! In 1982, Thomas and Anne, his wife, made a trip to the Finger Lakes wine region of New York State. Thomas had already made wine at home and he had started to research the commercial aspect of wine, having taken a part time job in a neighborhood wine shop. In addition, he had taken both wine appreciation and winemaking classes in their hometown, New York City. Within months after their trip to the Finger Lakes Thomas and Anne had moved into a new home on Keuka Lake, commuting to New York City for their income while creating a winery on their property. In 1985 their winery, Cana Vineyards, was up and running. Thomas pulled out of the city but Anne did not (her income as a stellar graphic artist and coordinator was truly necessary). In 1986 Thomas began to write about wine for some local newspapers like Gannett’s Elmira Star Gazette and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Syracuse NewTimes, The Ithaca Times, and the Ithaca Journal. In 1990, he and Anne were instrumental in gaining the interest of a newspaper publishing couple who started up a local wine periodical aimed at the tourist called, The Finger Lakes Wine Gazette. Thomas and Anne did most of the writing and photography. Soon, Thomas was writing wine articles for magazines like Wine Enthusiast (formerly known as Wine Times), Practical Winery, Vineyard and Winery Management, Washington Wine Style, Spirit, Brandweek, Slow Food’s Snail, Decanter, Wines and Vines, and the American Wine Society Journal. Click here for a list of published articles. Recognizing his work as an upcoming wine producer, the American Wine Society called upon Thomas to become a wine judge, as did Business Traveler Magazine. In the meanwhile, the Cana Vineyards Winery had to close down. The bad vintage of 1992 left Thomas with no product. Being as small as his business was, he was forced to either go a full year without anything to sell, which meant racking up debts that go with operating a business producing no income, or he could move on. He chose the latter and worked as a wine salesman for a Finger Lakes winery and then for a major East Coast wine distributor. After that, he and a partner opened a specialty wine shop in Manhattan. Of course, all writers plan to write books. Thomas’ first book was called Conversations With Fred; it told the story of his winemaking and producing experiences in the Finger Lakes in the form of an extended series of telephone conversations between him and a character named Fred that he invented. The book came close to being published locally, but at the last minute the small publisher got cold feet. As time went by, the nature of the book’s story became outdated, but that did not stop Thomas from writing another book. In the Finger Lakes Wine Gazette Thomas had developed a series on the history of wine. The series required a lot of research. He soon saw a book in it. In fact, he saw two books. The first book was called Garlic, Wine and Olive Oil: Historical Anecdotes and Recipes. The book traced the parallel history of the three foods; it includes 55 recipes as well, all a part of Thomas’ love of cooking as well as of wine. In fact, while he was writing the book he began to write articles about food alongside his wine articles; he even spent a few weeks working in a friend’s commercial kitchen without pay, reasoning that if he was going to write about food and cook more he needed to understand what goes on in a restaurant kitchen; the book was published in 2000 by Capra Press in Santa Barbara, California. Thomas’ next book is a direct result of the wine history series that he had started for the Finger Lakes Wine Gazette. Titled, WINE: the 8,000 Year-Old Story of the Wine Trade, the book is exactly that: a synopsis of the many important developments in the wine trade since the beginning of civilization; the book was published in 2006 by Thunders Mouth Press, New York City. Click here for more information about these book titles. Over the years as a winemaker Thomas established a wine education program that he offered to tourists in the Finger Lakes. The program was presented in conjunction with a restaurant; its focus was to teach the consumer about the important components in wine that make a statement when pairing wine with food. When he established the wine shop in Manhattan in 2000 he brought the program with him, successfully presenting seminars to customers and would be customers as well as to corporate clients. Today, Thomas presents his wine seminars at a variety of venues. Click here for more information about Thomas Pellechia's What is-wine?^® education programs. This is where Thomas lives.