MembroMichaelACimino

My library consists of lots of books, records, CDs, and more. Most of it is non-fiction and Rock & Roll, with excursions into fantasy, medieval folklore, Celtic and Classical musics.

Author Bio – Michael A. Cimino, founder Cottage Views LLC

Restaurant/Wine:

Michael A. Cimino has been a certified Sommelier with the Sommelier Society of America since 1993. He was sponsored by Iron Chef winner Peter X. Kelly, from the famed Xaviar’s Restaurant Group, where he worked for ten years. In February of 2000 the New York Times hailed Mr. Cimino as a “master of accommodating guests and selecting wines.” He went on to speak at WOR Radio’s annual Taste of New York alongside celebrity chefs Lydia Bastianich and John Halligan.

The devastating attack on America that toppled the Twin Towers in 2001 motivated Michael to branch out on his own and establish a restaurant consulting company, Cottage Views, and the Cottage Views School of Wine. As a consultant to several high profile establishments he was awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and Wine Enthusiasts’ Award of Distinction for his contributions to the wine programs at Glenmere Mansion, The Park Steakhouse, and The Lighthouse on the Hudson.

Radio/Music Journalism:

Author, journalist, and radio personality Michael A. Cimino is a professional restaurant consultant, sommelier, and winery manager. Early in life Michael became a serious record collector and during his tenure in suburban NY radio he conducted interviews with various musicians for Westchester’s WZFM, Rockland County’s WRKL, and Orange County’s WKOJ. During this time he had the opportunity to produce a documentary on his childhood heroes, Badfinger, and work with Rock legends Crosby, Stills, and Nash, as well as interview Folk legends Pete Seeger and the Kingston Trio. This also led to the publication of his writing in various music magazines, including the New York Review of Records and Rock Society.

Following the homogenization of New York Radio, Michael founded Cottage Views Classic Rock News and won acclaim from the international music community with poignant reviews and interviews with legendary Rock musicians, including The Kinks’ Davies brothers, The Beatles’ original drummer Pete Best, Gregg Rolie of Santana and Journey fame, the late bassists John Entwistle of The Who and Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, members of 10,000 Maniacs, Little Feat, Fairport Convention, Strawbs, and dozens of others.

Badfinger and Beyond – The Biography of Joey Molland was released to wide acclaim and debuted at the Fest for Beatles Fans in Chicago in 2011. Michael’s first book, The Waitperson’s Guide To Wine – Practical Information For Service, was compiled from his wine lectures and is used as a training tool in newly opened restaurants and dining establishments. A newly updated version, A Beginner’s Guide to Wine, was released October 23, 2019. Michael's latest book, Music Head - A Memoir of Purpose, an auto-biographical tome about his time in music journalism, was released in June of 2023.

Michael currently resides in the Finger Lakes wine district in central NY, where he owns a bed and breakfast with his fiancee.