Hudson River Valley Wineries

This blog is dedicated to news, events, profiles and reviews of fine food and wine in the Hudson River Valley. We especially feature and spotlight the burgeoning wineries of the Hudson River Region. We accept and will relay information about releases, events, festivals and any toher happening related to food and wine in the Hudson River Valley. Send pertitnent information to hudsonriverwine@yahoo.com

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Location: Catskill, NY, United States

Carlo DeVito has traveled around the US, France, Spain, Chile, Canada, and Italy. He has been a publishing executive for more than 20 years. He shepherded the wine book program of Wine Spectator as well as worked with Kevin Zraly, Oz Clarke, Matt Kramer, Tom Stevenson, Evan Dawson, Greg Moore, Howard Goldberg, and many other wine writers. He has also published Salvatore Calabrese, Jim Meehan, Clay Risen, and Paul Knorr. He has also publisher such writers as Stephen Hawking, E. O Wilson, Philip Caputo, Gilbert King, James McPherson, Michael Lewis, David Margolick, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., John Edgar Wideman, Stanley Crouch, Dan Rather, Dee Brown, and Eleanor Clift. He is also the founder of Hudson-Chatham Winery, co-founder of the Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail, and former president of the Hudson Valley Wine Country. His the author of more than 20 books including The New Single Malt Whiskey, Big Whiskey, and the forthcoming The Spirit of Rye. https://carlodevito.wordpress.com/

Monday, September 25, 2006

2006 Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest at Grieg Farm a huge success

Sorry, so I am a little behind in my posts. It's been a busy summer and early fall. Here's some of the enws I forgot to mention.

The Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest in early September was an absolutely huge success. And the Poughkeepsie Journal gave the festival it's propoer due.

On Friday, September 8, 2006, writer Kathleen Wereszynski Murray wrote an article entitled, "Smell, swirl, sip and savor this weekend, Wine & Food fest comes to Greig Farm this weekend."

Murray wrote, "Surrounded by fields of fall raspberries and orchards of MacIntosh and Macoun, oenophiles will sample the best of the Empire State's three main wine-growing regions this weekend in Red Hook.

The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest, now in its fifth year, is expected to draw between 10,000 to 12,000 visitors to Greig Farm for two days of wine tasting and seminars, gourmet cooking demonstrations and local music.

Representatives of wineries from the Finger Lakes, Long Island and, of course, the Hudson Valley, will pour their vintages into the glasses of enthusiasts who are in a New York state of mind.

Wines produced in New York, many with New York grapes, have been generating the kind of national press once reserved for the regions of northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

The May 31 issue of Wine Spectator, known to many as the "wine bible," featured on its cover: "Wine Country, Exploring New York."

This summer, visitors at Atwater Estate Vineyards in Hector have been armed with copies of the magazine, hoping to buy the wine that was featured in it.

"They have actually had our winemaker sign it," said Katie Marks of the Finger Lakes region winery.

Interest has grown

The national attention paid to New York wines recently is a major reason the festival has more than doubled in size from its first year, said Michael Babcock of High Falls-based WineRacks.com, the producer of the festival.

"New York wineries are producing magnificent wines these days," Babcock said. "They have really come full circle."

Marks said the Hudson Valley festival is a favorite of her six-year-old winery.

She describes the typical visitor as having more wine knowledge than his or her counterpart at other regional festivals.

"Guests at the Hudson Valley event appreciate wine a little bit more as an everyday beverage," Marks said. "It is a wonderful atmosphere of people who appreciate wine. There's a lot of support in that region (Hudson Valley), especially for New York products."

Atwater's wines will be paired with Ric Orlando's Jamaican jerk pork riblets with mango pepper part at tonight's sold-out Grand Reserve Tasting.

A portion of the kickoff event benefits Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster and Dutchess counties.

Guests do not need to buy tickets in advance for Saturday and Sunday, the two main days of the festival.

Even though it is billed as an adult event, children will have plenty of activities to keep them occupied.

A family-friendly area includes a corn maze, hayrides, apple and berry picking. Big Yellow Box by Crayola will help kids make model magic monsters, google-eyed creatures and fall flower cards, and ING DIRECT will provide hot-air balloon rides.

George Cafiero, managing partner of Cascade Mountain Winery in Amenia, said the Red Hook festival is a highlight of the year.

"A lot of initial contact is made," Cafiero said. "I've had nothing but great experience, in terms of promotion and return business from it."

Cafiero said festival buzz has been building for months now.

He anticipates a very successful weekend.

"I'm bottling like mad," Cafiero said. "I've got a feeling that I'm going to be running back to the winery on Saturday to get more cases."

Kathleen Wereszynski Murray can be reached at kmurray@poughkeepsiejournal.com.


Participating Wineries included:
Alison Vineyards, Red Hook
Americana Vineyards, Interlaken
Anthony Road Wine Company,Penn Yan
Ashley Lynn Winery, Mexico
Atwater Estate Vineyards, Hector
Bagley's Poplar Ridge Vineyards,Valois
Baldwin Vineyards, Pine Bush
Benmarl Winery, Marlboro
Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville
Cascade Mountain Winery, Amenia
Cascata Winery, Watkins Glen
Catharine Valley Winery, Burdett
Chateau LaFayette Reneau, Hector
Clinton Vineyards, Clinton Corners
El Paso Winery, Ulster Park
Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan
Fulkerson Winery, Dundee
Glenora Winery, Dundee
Glorie Farm Winery, Marlboro
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Hector
Heron Hill Winery, Hammondsport
Hunt Country Vineyards, Branchport
Johnson Estate Winery, Westfield
Keuka Overlook Wine Cellars, Dundee
Keuka Springs Vineyards, Penn Yan
King Ferry Winery, King Ferry
Long Island Meadery, Holbrook
McGregor Vineyard, Dundee
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery,Millbrook
Montezuma Winery, Seneca Falls
Pazdar Winery, Scotchtown
Rasta Ranch Vineyards, Hector
Ravines Wine Cellars, Hammondsport
Red Barn Winery, Liverpool
Seneca Shore Wine Cellar,Penn Yan
Sheldrake Point Vineyard, Ovid
Standing Stone Vineyards, Hector
Swedish Hill & Goose Watch Wineries, Romulus
Thousand Islands Winery,Alexandria Bay
Tickle Hill Winery, Hector
Wagner Vineyards, Lodi
Warm Lake Estate, Lockport
Warwick Valley Winery, Warwick

Times-Herald Record Raves About Warwick's Harlequin Port



Warwick Valley recently recieved a rave for their Harlequin Port from the Times-Herald Record. In an article entitled, "As weather cools, wines get bolder," on September 16, 2006, Lisa Ramirez wrote, "Jennifer Redmond of Enthusiastic Spirits in Rosendale also thinks of port when the weather turns cool, but she set her sights locally. She suggests Warwick Valley Winery's Winston's Harlequin Port ($14.99)."

"This port is made from 100 percent baco noir and is fortified with brandy also made at Warwick Valley Winery. The result is a ruby-style port that has aromas and flavors of ripe raspberries and dark cherries and a lingering finish of vanilla and caramel," she says. "It would go great with rich cheeses and nuts or dessert — I think of flourless chocolate cake when I drink it."

We couldn't agree more.

Congrats!!!!