Hudson River Valley Wineries: October 2008

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

About Me

Name: Carlo De Vito

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/

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

USA Today Raves About Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY wine region got great exposure in yesterday’s USA Today, with front page coverage in the Destinations section written by Jerry Shriver, who judged for us in this year’s New York Wine & Food Classic at the historic Mohonk Mountain House high above the valley. Right after the Classic at nearby Rivendell winery, there was a wine tasting and unveiling of the Hudson Valley ’s new regional branding initiative, “The Roots of American Wine”, a theme reflected in the USA Today piece. Accompanied by photos from Brotherhood America’s Oldest Winery, Ltd. in Washingtonville, the article was a succinct and practical guide to what makes this region special, how to get there, where to stay and eat, and what to visit in addition to the wineries.

(a consumer at Brotherhood Winery courtesy of USA Today)

The wineries specifically mentioned include Brotherhood and Stoutridge on the west side of the river, and Clinton and Millbrook on the east side, but web sites for the Dutchess and Shawangunk wine trails and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation were given for consumers to get more complete information. Besides being very beautiful, the Hudson Valley is also very historic in many ways including having the country’s oldest continuously operating winery (Brotherhood, with its first recorded vintage in 1839) and vineyard (Benmarl, first farmed in 1772). In addition to covering this unique New York region, the article spotlighted our friends in Michigan and Texas , as well as a small winery in Quebec . It’s great for people to know that wine is made practically everywhere, and that their local wineries are worth visiting and supporting.

Read USA TODAY article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-10-02-wine-new-york_N.htm

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Kevin Zraly Serves and Raves About Millbrook Chardonnay

I was recently at a private tasting at the Mohonk Mountain House where Kevin Zraly of the Windows on the World Wine School was giving a short but very enjoyable wine presentation. He walked us through two whites, two red, and a port. It was most enjoyable.

Most surprising was one of his picks for the two whites: Millbrook Chardonnay. Now I am not surprised he picked Millbrook - it's a fantastic wine. But I was both surprised and pleased he picked something from the Hudson Valley.

He spoke glowingly of the wine, raving about the fresh fruit, and the oaking, which he considered light and just right (and spoke several times about it not being over oaked).

Zraly also spoke glowingly of John Dyson (one of the people who made the farm winery act a reality and helped to bring a new chapter to Hudson Valley Wine) and Millbrook. Congrats to the folks at Millbrook. And winemaker John Graziano deserves a mention too!

Congrats!