HUDSON-BERKSHIRE BEVERAGE TRAIL OPENS APRIL 10TH

The Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail will celebrate its debut on Saturday, April 10, 2010, with a special event called Pasta & Sauce. To welcome visitors, all Trail establishments will be open from 12 noon to 5 pm.

The Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail is the premiere beverage trail in New York State, the Hudson Valley, and the Berkshires of Massachusetts. There is nothing like it! Tucked between the Hudson River and the Berkshires, the Trail extends from southeast of Albany down to Germantown, New York, and out to Richmond, Massachusetts in the Berkshires. This diversity also makes the Trail the largest interstate beverage trail in New England. On it, visitors will find handcrafted and award-winning wines, beers, spirits, and ciders. They’ll also experience local food products such as farm-fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, cider donuts and other baked goods, 100% natural maple syrup, and lots more!



Trail members include: Brookview Station Winery in Castleton, NY; Chatham Brewing in Chatham, NY; Furnace Brook Winery in Richmond, MA; Harvest Spirits in Valatie, NY; Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY; and Tousey Winery in Germantown, NY.


“We’re a great culinary and gourmet destination for Albany, Boston, and New York,” says Sue Goold, Trail co-founder and owner of Brookview Station Winery. “We’re within short driving distance from the greater Albany area and the Berkshires, and with easy access from I-90, I-87, and the Taconic Parkway, the Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail is a fun and enjoyable experience that’s a great day trip!”

When asked "Why a beverage trail?" Carlo DeVito, Trail co-founder and owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery, responded, “We chose a beverage trail because Harvest Spirits and Chatham Brewing are two exceptional establishments in the area. Core Vodka has won numerous awards, and Chatham Brewing is sold in numerous restaurants throughout the state, including New York City. We can now offer an incredibly exciting, quality experience to visitors to our wonderful part of the country.” He continued, “What other beverage trail features hand-crafted, small batch ales, artisanal vodka, applejack, and eau de vie, as well as gold medal-winning classic vinifera and hybrid wines, gold medal-winning fruit wines, and world-class ciders? No wine or beverage trail can boast that kind of gourmet fire power.”

PASTA & SAUCE EVENT MARKS OPENING EVENT
To mark the opening weekend, all Trail members are participating in a Pasta & Sauce Event from 12 noon to 5:00 pm, where people can visit any Trail member of their choice and pay the normal tasting fees, or buy a Trail Passport for $15 per person ($5 for a designated driver), and receive a great discount that covers beverage – and pasta - tastings at all the participating Trail locations!

Passport Members get:
* Complimentary tasting flights of wine, beer, and spirits at all locations on the specified date
* Complimentary tasting of the special pasta dish featured at each location

Passports will be available on the day of the event at each participating venue! The Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail is planning additional events throughout the year, and will be promoting the Trail as an exceptional travel experience for the region any time of year.