Altamont Vineyards a Quality Addition to the Hudson Valley

Some time during the last summer, Dominique and I visited Altamont Vineyard Winery.

Mike DiCrescenzo, and his father Louis DiCrescenzo, co-owners of Altamont Vineyard and Winery in Altamont. The DiCrescenzo family bought vineyard a few years ago. But they have really turned the place around and are making wonderful wine. I have always been a great big fan of their Leon Millot Reserve. It is a tremendous quality wine. But what of the others?

Mike and Jessica Harding in the vineyards showing off their fruit this season. The vineyards were lush and full. The place was chock-a-block with ripe fruit. Altamont has two lines of wines, one fruity and flavorful, and the other, dry wines made along more classic lines.

 

While we were there we tasted some wines.

 

 

According to the winery, "This wine is a tribute to the Vineyard’s founder. Against all advice he started the first commercial vineyard in the Capital District." The wine is made from St. Croix grapes which were planted in 1995. The wine was aged in oak in 12 months. As advertised, the wine has a nice cherry profile, and has a nice balance of tannin and spice. A very nice table red.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a lovely classic chardonnay. This wine was produced using grapes harvested from an award winning vineyard on Seneca Lake. The wine has the elegant highlights one expects from a quality wine from this grape, with refreshing lemon citrus and apple with flirty mineral notes and a hint of oak. A really lovely wine.

 

 

This wine was a medal award winner at the Indy International Wine Competition. This was an excellent wine. Great tropical fruits, green apple, and a citrus ending. Light and beautiful.

 

Some great wines are being made there. You need to go and try them. And say Mike and Jennifer I said Hi!....I should have written this article months ago!