Michael Yurch attended New Paltz as a political science major at the height of the Vietnam War, and, at the time, wine was the last thing on his mind. After graduating, he worked as a reporter for the Gannett group newspapers, writing movie reviews, and he and a friend operated a trucking company delivering the same paper he was writing for.

"During that period, a friend introduced me to fine wine… I bought every book I could find on the subject," said Yurch.

Soon, Yurch's hobby became a career opportunity when he was given a chance to replace a wine critic who had called in sick at the paper.

"That's when the bug really bit," said Yurch.

In 1980, Yurch made his move to the wine industry. He began working as a wholesale wine seller, then worked in purchasing and in 1985 started working for Sherry-Lehman Wine & Spirits on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. It was there that he was eventually promoted to president and partner of the company, which is now purported to be the top wine seller in America.

"This job has allowed me to travel all over the world," said Yurch. "It really made a lot of my dreams come true."

For Yurch, one of those dreams is being able to fight for something he believes in. Yurch is a founding member of the informal coalition to preserve consumer access to wine, a group devoted to liberalizing wine laws. In doing so, Yurch has met with senators and congressmen to lobby for his cause.

"When I got my degree in political science, I never imagined I'd meet these people," said Yurch. "I guess I picked the right degree, in retrospect."

Hobbies: Spending time with his family, watching thoroughbred racehorses and sports car racing

Little-Known Fact: Helps plan the Annual Wine Festival and charity auction in Saratoga each year with fellow alum Kevin Zraly

Influences: Michael Aaron, Chairman of Sherry-Lehman, who taught him about the wine industry

On wine: "It's an incredibly civilized beverage that brings people together."