As a student studying chemistry at SUNY New Paltz, Michael Migliore rented a plot of land in the nearby town of Gardiner, hoping to one day turn the land into a vineyard. After graduating in 1978, he went to work at IBM as a semiconductor engineer and ultimately purchased the property, where he planted his first grape crop one year later.

Equipped with his experience in the sciences, Migliore spent the next few years experimenting to find which varieties of grapes could withstand cold winters, yet still produce abundantly.

"I did it slowly over time because it's labor and capital intensive," said Migliore.

Migliore and his wife, Yancey, now grow 18 varieties of grapes on their property, the Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery, which is one of nine wineries on the Shawangunk Wine Trail, located throughout Ulster and Orange Counties.

In addition, Migliore is making an effort to expand the grape industry in the Hudson Valley, as well as the greater New York region. As president of the Hudson Valley Grape Growers, Migliore hopes to expand grape growth in the area by convincing apple growers to diversify their crop by harvesting grapes, which would enable local wineries to use grapes from the area, instead of importing them. He is also collaborating with the Cornell University Enology program to grow a new variety of experimental grape.

Why New Paltz? From the region (Fishkill) and is a mountain climber

Influences: His grandfathers were both winemakers and he spent his summers in Corning, NY where his aunt had a farm near some wineries.

Hobbies: Mountain biking and mountain climbing

Little-Known Fact: Migliore taught himself enology.

On wine: "You don't have to be a chemist to be a winemaker, but it sure helps."

View from the Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery