Hudson Valley Grape School 2013

So, a few weeks ago Hudson Valley winemakers attended the Hudson Valley Grape School and Hudson Valley Wine and Grape Association meetings in Kingston, NY.

The Cornell folks were on hand for the first round of meetings. With Both Viticulture 2013 and Eastern Wineries Exposition sandwiched on either side, the course work was light this year.

But the HVWGA had a spirited meeting, discussing many regional winemaking issues, as well as starting several new quality improvement initiatives, etc. It was a very good meeting where a number of people aired their concerns.

 

 

Afterwards we tasted some experimental wines from crops being grown at the Hudson Valley Lab as well as at Nine Partners. The wines were all made by Bruce Tripp who is also the winemaker at Tousey with Ben Peacock. These experimental vineyards are important, because they allow winemakers to find out if certain crops can make it in the valley and what the techniques and programs are that will help them make the next new steps in viticulture in the valley.

The Nine Partners Naked Chardonnay 2011 was excellent. Bright with big green apple and a nice citrusy ending. A very, very nice unoaked Chardonnay. Shows again how well Chardonnay does here in the valley. 

The Hudson Valley Lab Sauvignon Blanc 2011 was a shock! Sauvignon Blanc in the Hudson Valley? Maybe! It was bright, and citrusy. Nice mineral quality to it. Extremely nice.

 

 

Another Favorite was the Nine Partners Vignoles 2011. This was a real surprise to me, Very nice, bright fruit. It was not a white grape I would think would do well here, but it was lovely. The Nine Partners Traminette 2011 was also very aromatic and lovely, as well.

A small, short but very good meeting. Things are progressing in the Hudson Valley.