10 Reasons to Visit A Hudson Valley Winery in 2012

2012 is a great year for the Hudson Valley wine community. There has never been a better time to be a Hudson Valley vintner or a better time to be a Hudson Valley wine consumer.

Why is that? Let me tell you.

Expansion! From the top of the Valley all the way down to the bottom, wineries have been expanding. Brotherhood, Millbrook, and Whitecliff have lead the way with major new construction projects, but smaller wineries like Hudson-Chatham, Tousey, and Bashakill have also expanded.

More Wineries! There’s never been more wineries in the Hudson Valley than there are now,and more are on the boards. From wineries to distilleries, there are more new establishments opening in the valley. That’s more diversity, that’s more places to visit, that’s more wines to try.

Better quality and leadership. Great talent is pouring into the region. The Hudson Valley boasts a slew of young and up and coming wine making talent, as well as a handful of older, experienced ones, the talent pool in the Valley has never been richer. More new equipment has also poured into the valley. Also more top notch people from the Finger Lakes and Long Island have come into the valley to consult. And with leaders like Cesar Baez, Mike Migliore, Matt Speccarelli, and Sue Miller and Karen Gardy, the Valley has never been in better hands.

Great reds! The Hudson Valley produces soft approachable reds, in the Burgundian or Rhone-ish traditions. They are medium-bodied, have great fresh fruit, bright acidity, and low tannins. And they are the best red wine bargains in the state, priced below most reds from Long Island or the Finger Lakes.

A great diversity of whites. From bright, sharp, flinty Seyval Blancs and Chardonnays, to wonderful, aromatic Reislings and Traminettes, the Hudson Valley produces a number of delicious whites to go with any meal.

Cassis has become one of the calling cards of the valley. The Valley is the number one producer of artisanal cassis in North America, with production nearing more than 20,000 bottles in 2012. This sweet, tart wine made from black currants has been a huge hit with regional chefs and consumers alike.

Great Ciders! Hudson Valley is home to a vast number of ciders and cider styles, that makes it one of the richest spots in the whole of New York state. From the bottom of the Valley to the top, a wide range of delicious artisanal hard ciders have become the darlings of the food world.

Fruit wines! No other region offers a greater diversity of fruit wines. From crisp dry apple wines to delicious dessert wines made from raspberry, cherries, peaches, and strawberries, the Hudson Valley offers more delicious opportunities than any of the other wine regions.

Availability. Hudson Valley wines have never had better availability. They are in more wine stores, more restaurants, and more tastingrooms than ever before. And if they're not in your store, you need to ask the manager to bring some in.

Added bonus? We’re closer! If you live in New York City, Albany, New Jersey, Connecticut or Massachusetts, we’re just plain closer and easier to get to than any other quality wine region!

Happy New Year and enjoy a glass of Hudson Valley wine in 2012!