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

Carlo DeVito is a long time wine lover, and author of books and magazine articles. He is the author of Wineries of the East Coast. He has traveled to wine regions in California, Canada, up and down the east coast, France, Spain and Chile. He was also a publisher at Running Press Book Publishers, where he published books from Wine Spectator, as well as books with Greg Moore (of Moore Bros.), Matt Kramer, Howard Goldberg, and many other wine writers. Mr. DeVito has also been the editor of many successful traditional trade books, including Strange Fruit by David Margolick, On the Shoulders of Giants by Stephen Hawking, and three titles by Malachy McCourt. Other authors include John and Mary Gribbin, Thomas Hoving, Philip Caputo, E. O. Wilson, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., John Edgar Wideman, Stanley Crouch, Dan Rather, Dee Brown, Susie Bright, and Eleanor Clift. He lives with his wife, pet publisher Dominique DeVito, their two sons, their two dogs, and their numerous goldfish.

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!