Gunks Wine

Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival - This Weekend

2010-07-20T10:21:00.001-04:00

The Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival is this weekend at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery

114 Little York Road, Warwick NY

July 24 and 25, noon to 5pm each day

Tickets $25 in advance / $39 at the door

Attending Wineries:

Adair Vineyards

Baldwin Vineyards

Brimstone Hill Vineyards

Glorie Farm Winery

Palaia Vineyards

Stoutridge Vineyards

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery

Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery

Pazdar Winery

Robibero Family Winery

Cereghino Smith Winery

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

Clinton Vineyards

Hudson Chatham Winery

Cascade Mountain Winery

Attending Restaurants and wineries they are paired with:

Chumleys BBQ paired with Adair Vineyards

Jean Claudes Bakery paired with Applewood Winery

Bellvale Creamery paired with Baldwin Vineyards

Nobel Pies paired with Brimstone Hill Vineyards

Chef Shawn Hubbell paired with Brotherhood Winery

Lady Finger Bake Shoppe paired with Glorie Farm Winery

Storm King Eatery paired with Palaia Vineyard

Sprout Creek paired with Stoutridge vineyards

Landmark Inn (one day) Iron Forge Inn (one day) paired with Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery

Cafe Mio paired with Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery

Cooking Demonstration by Chef Janet from the French Culinary Institute

Local produce from these farms:

Pennings Orchard & Farm Market

Soon's Orchard

Music by:

E'lisa Jones - Saturday

Tim O’Donohue and the TMU Band - Sunday

About the Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival

The Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival is a Shawangunk Wine Trail event celebrating Hudson Valley Wines. The event is the only wine festival featuring 100% Hudson Valley Wines, restaurants and locally grown produce.

Visitors will enjoy side-by side tastings of the region’s array of wines from 18 Hudson Valley Wineries. Dry, complex, locally grown Seyval, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, to sweeter apple and strawberry wines. This is the best opportunity to experience the quality now achieved by the wines of Hudson Valley Wine Country.

Admission is $25 in advance and $39 at the door. Admission includes wine tasting and wine glass. Tickets can be purchased on the Shawangunk Wine Trail website.

Repairing a Trellis

2010-07-12T07:59:00.001-04:00

Jonathan Hull owner/winemaker of Applewood Winery repairs his trellis in the vineyard.

Michael Migliore speaks about the Floatclear technology

2010-07-07T07:57:00.000-04:00

Michael Migliore owner/winemaker of Whitecliff Vineyards speaks about the Floatclear technology he used when making his award winning Riesling.

Interview with Whitecliff Vineyards Michael Migliore

2010-07-01T07:53:00.000-04:00

Michael Migliore, owner/winemaker at Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery speaks about his 2009 Riesling and winning such high honors

Whitecliff 2009 Riesling Wins Best White Wine

2010-06-29T07:50:00.001-04:00

Whitecliff Vineyard, one of the Hudson Valley’s premier small family wineries, just took home a Double Gold and the Best In Show - White Wine award at this weekend’s San Francisco International Wine Competition. This is the largest, most influential international wine competition in America, judged blind by a prestigious panel of nationally recognized wine experts. With almost 4,000 wines entered this year from all over the world, Best White is a significant honor for Whitecliff, and for Hudson Valley winemaking.

The honor went to Whitecliff’s 2009 Riesling. We are proud to note that as Best in Show it was chosen over a huge selection of well-known and highly respected wines, such as Chardonnays from Napa Valley and France, New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, and Rieslings from Germany.

The Riesling was produced at Whitecliff from our own Hudson Valley Riesling grapes, combined with grapes from the Finger Lakes and Long Island, to balance the strengths offered by each of these different New York regions. The end result is a truly New York wine. And as many in the wine world know, New York is increasingly recognized as a world-class region for Riesling production.

This year marks the 30th year of the San Francisco International Wine Competition, making it one of the oldest in the nation. Further information is available at www.sfwinecomp.com.

As a small, artisanal winery, Whitecliff produces a total of about 3,000 cases of wine a year, with wines regularly selling out. Less than 200 cases of our award-winning Riesling were originally produced, and at this time we have a little over 100 cases still available for sale. It is medium dry, with 2% residual sugar, a ph of 3.0, and acidity of 8.25 g/l.

With 26 acres of vineyard, and its roots in a passion for farming, Whitecliff is one of the leading vineyard-based wineries in New York’s Hudson Valley. The winery is located at 331 McKinstry Road, in Gardiner, NY. It offers a line of primarily dry, European style wines, from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, to its award-winning Awosting White, and Gamay Noir. Our wines have been featured at many respected restaurants, including the Culinary Institute of America, the Gramercy Tavern, and Xaviers.

Frost Damage

2010-05-24T20:46:00.001-04:00

Jonathan Hull of Applewood Winery discusses frost damage.

Getting Ready for Around the World

2010-05-11T08:16:00.003-04:00

We are all getting ready for the Around the World event June 19 & 20. Here is a list of what countries the wineries will representing.

Stoutridge Vineyards – USA

Palaia Vineyards – Italy

Whitecliff Winery – China

Benmarl Winery - Cuba

Glorie Farm Winery – Mexico

Brotherhood Winery – Morocco

Brimstone Hill Winery – France

Applewood Winery – Tahiti

Adair Vineyards – Russia

Warwick Valley Winery – Germany.

Baldwin Vineyards - Naples

Pasta Primo Vino - This Weekend

2010-04-13T09:13:00.000-04:00

This weekend is the Shawangunk Wine Trail's Pasta Primo Vino. Taste wines from all 11 wineries on the wine trail while enjoying a free sample of a pasta dish.

The wineries open at 10am and close at 6pm. Many wineries will have new releases to taste. This is a great way to visit the wineries and experience Hudson Valley Wines!

Tickets are $22 plus tax in advance and will be more expensive at the door the day of the event.

Wreath Fineries Tickets on sale NOW

2010-03-28T11:13:00.001-04:00

Wreath Fineries tickets are now on sale. The Shawangunk Wine Trail is bringing back a limited amount of two day tickets. They are first come, first serve.

Wreath Fineries - Sunday December 20

2009-12-20T07:29:00.002-05:00

The Hudson Valley received a dusting of snow. The roads are fine.

The wineries are all open.

Wine Trail Statment on weather - December 19 & 20

2009-12-19T09:43:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of the season, The Shawangunk Wine Trail Wreath Fineries ticket holders for Saturday, December 19 will be able to use their tickets on Sunday, December 20. If the inclement weather prevails and you are unable to attend on either the 19 or 20, all the wineries except Adair will be open on Saturday, December 26 and Sunday December 27. You will be able to visit the wineries, receive your wreath, ornaments, glass and wine tasting. Food will not be available. Tickets are non refundable.

December 13 Wreath Ticket Holders

2009-12-14T20:08:00.001-05:00

Due To inclement weather on Sunday Dec. 13 the Shawangunk Wine Trail has decided that customers who purchased tickets for Sunday December 13th who were not able to make it to all of the wineries due to poor road conditions that those tickets will be honored by the wineries they could not visit on either Dec.. 19th or 20th.

Vote for your Favorite Shawangunk Wine Trail Wine

2009-12-06T07:38:00.003-05:00

The Shawangunk Wine Trail Wineries need You to Vote for your Favorite
Shawangunk Wine Trail Wine

The New York Cork Report is holding a Readers Choice Awards and they need to hear from you!

The editors have chosen their finalists for the wines of the year, but they all have different palates and preferences -- and now they want to hear from you. It's time for our first-ever "New York Cork Report Readers' Choice Awards."

They looking for nominations for wines from across the state, in each region, and we're leaving it up to you to decide which wines should be considered.

The nominating is open until December 15 at midnight. Then they will tally the nominations and choose finalists. From the 16th through the end of this month, they will have polls set up for each reason to pick winners.

Please visit the New York Cork Report and in the comments of the post, nominate at least one your favorite Shawangunk Wine Trail Wines as your choice for Wine of the Year. The rules are simple: The wine has to have been released in 2009. That's it. And if you aren't sure, nominate it anyway and we'll double-check the release date.

Thank you for your support!

Warwick Valley Winery Wreath Fineries Specials

2009-12-01T10:15:00.000-05:00

Warwick Valley Winery is offering two great specials for people attending Wreath Fineries at the Wineries December 5,6,12,13,19&20.

If you are starting at Warwick Valley Winery receive 20% discount on any 3 American Cordials purchased between the hours of 10am and 12noon.
10% discount on any Gift Basket purchased during the Wreath Fineries event

Wreath Fineries at the Wineries update

2009-10-25T18:06:00.003-04:00

Dec 5-Sold Out.

The following are sold out Dec 6 - Warwick, Applewood and Baldwin.
The following are sold out for Dec 12 - Brimstone, Benmarl,Warwick,rotherhood & Palaia.

Remember you can begin at other wineries.

Wreath Fineries Ticket Update

2009-10-16T21:44:00.002-04:00

Wreath Fineries tickets are selling quickly. On Saturday, December 5th there are only three tickets available. Two tickets starting at Palaia and one ticket starting at Glorie.

On Saturday, December 12 Warwick Valley Winery is sold out for starters.

Don't delay get your tickets today.

Online event registration

Veggies and Vino this Saturday

2009-09-25T08:20:00.003-04:00

Don't miss this one of a kind event, this Saturday, September 26 at Whitecliff Vineyards and Winery.

Veggies & Vino!

featuring The Bernstein Bard Trio

Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Two sets - starting at 3:30 and 5:30pm

This exciting new Whitecliff tasting event offers an exploration of wine pairings with seasonal vegan and vegetarian cuisine, built around local Hudson Valley produce. Recipes will come from the cookbooks of local cookbook author, Nava Atlas, who will speak briefly, and will be available to autograph books. (This is a tented event, and will run rain or shine.)

Tickets include:

* Tapas sized portions of 3 different dishes
* 6 wines selected for their pairing ability with the foods
* Live music by The Bernstein Bard Trio (on mandolin, guitar & double bass).

Glasses or bottles of wine will be available for purchase throughout.

Choose from 1 of 2 sets, starting at 3:30 or 5:30pm. OR, if the weather is fine, bring a blanket for lawn seating, good for both sets.

* $19 in advance
* $21 at the door
* $25 for lawn seating if the weather is nice
Call 845.255.4613 to reserve your tickets!

Getting ready to harvest - nets in place

2009-09-21T08:25:00.002-04:00

Getting ready to harvest is no easy task. Here is some video of the netting in place at Whitecliff Vineyards. The netting keeps out birds and deer that can do a lot of damage to the crop. Well..the eat it,and the netting keeps them from chowing on the grapes that are meant to make good wine.

Bounty of the Hudson Pictures

2009-08-10T06:42:00.001-04:00

Here are pictures from the Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival held at Millbrook Winery on August 1 and 2.

Bounty of the Hudson -This Weekend

2009-07-29T21:44:00.005-04:00

This weekend don't miss the Shawangunk Wine Trail's Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival at Millbrook Winery. Festival hours Saturday and Sunday are 12noon to 5pm.

There will be 19 wineries, farms for your fresh veggies, and many other vendors. Live music to picnic by and the restaurants that will have food for purchase are Twisted Soul, Gigi's, Parties by Tomas and Slammin Salmon.

Don't miss this wonderful wine festival featuring all Hudson Valley Wineries.

Weather reports say it is going to be a great weekend. Hopefully they are correct!

Ticket special for those reading the Gunks Wine Blog. Receive $10 off each ticket with Code TWBTY by 7/31 http://twurl.nl/1n4o6n. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery featured on the Today Show

2009-07-21T07:22:00.003-04:00

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery was featured on NBC's Today Show. You can read all about the cocktail that was created with their American Fruits' Black Currant Cordial.

Click here to read the article.

Eric Clapton Tribute

2009-07-14T08:26:00.001-04:00

Are you an Eric Clapton Fan? If so you don't want to miss the Tribute to Eric Clapton featuring Steve Devenuta and 337 this weekend July 18 at Applewood Winery. 1pm - 5pm. Best of all FREE ADMISSION! **Rain date of Sunday July 19th

Happy 4th of July from Applewood Winery

2009-07-01T21:11:00.002-04:00

Michele and Jonathan are excited about their vineyard. This spring they decided to farm all their own grapes organically. This means that no synthetic chemicals are used in the production of the grapes. As you know however, we just had one of the wettest June’s on record. This means that there has been incredible disease pressure on the grapes. But despite all this the organic methods have been working well for us. It’s a lot more work requiring much more attention. So we see all this soggy weather as having a silver lining. It’s shown us that organic grape growing is viable here in the Hudson Valley.

SPECIAL 4th OF JULY HOURS We will be open Friday July 3rd in addition to our regular hours of Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5pm – Live music in the Courtyard 2-5PM, Try our signature “Summer Sangrias” WayWay Blue, Blackberry Fields or International Blush Café open..

Around the World in 80 Miles

2009-06-16T09:37:00.001-04:00

This weekend is Around the World in 80 Miles. You get to Eat Local, Drink Local and travel the world.

This year the countries being represented are Stoutridge Vineyards – France; Palaia Vineyards – Spain; Whitecliff Winery – Mexico; Benmarl Winery - Native America; Glorie Farm Winery – Cuba; Brotherhood Winery – Ireland; Brimstone Hill Winery – Sweden; Applewood Winery – Egypt; Baldwin Vineyards – Italy;, Adair Vineyards – South Africa and Warwick Valley Winery – Thailand.

Tickets for this event are $25 plus tax in advance and buys a Passport with Visas for each "country" good for the day purchased, and a souvenir Wine Trail etched wine glass. Event tickets include tasting fees at all eleven wineries and gourmet food tasting. The event starts at 10 am each day and runs until 6pm. Your travels must begin at your designated starting winery.

Some of the starting wineries are sold out for Saturday. That means you just can't begin the day there, since they only have enough passports and glasses for the people who signed up to begin at that winery. After you begin at YOUR starting winery you can go to all the wineries on the trail in whatever order you would like.

Advance tickets are on sale until Thursday. Ticket sales will end at 6pm. For Sunday tickets use this coupon and receive $10 off your ticket.

http://twtqpon.com/rtyodg

Fresh Fish in th Vineyard

2009-05-14T07:27:00.001-04:00

Planning to stop in at Whitecliff this weekend for Fresh Fish In the Vineyard.

Whitecliff's winemaker is going fishing this week for trout, to cook up fish tacos for our May 16th and 17th tasting with our white wines.

Trout tastings will be offered from 11:30-5, both this Saturday and Sunday. Tickets, which include 6 wines, and 2 trout tacos with fresh salsa, are $14 in advance and $16 at the door.

We hope to see you this weekend!

Hudson Valley Wine Competition Results

2009-05-01T08:19:00.002-04:00

Congratulations go out to all the wonderful Award winning wines in the Hudson Valley. Kudos to the winemakers!

2009 Hudson Valley Wine Competition Results

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Recipes & Menus wine hudson valley wine

Warwick Valley Winery wines 2 double Gold Medals

2009-04-14T17:00:00.002-04:00

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery is proud to announce that we have won two prestigious Double Gold Medals for our American Fruits Pear Brandy and Strawberry Liqueur at the Fingerlakes International Wine Competition. National and international judges rated a record number of wines and spirits submitted from all over the world before giving the coveted double gold to our pear brandy and strawberry liqueur. Silver medals were also awarded to our Doc's Draft Hard Apple and Doc's Draft Black Currant Ciders. For more info on the competition and results, visit http://www.fliwc.com/results/2009results.asp

Your invitation the the NY Riesling Experience

2009-03-30T07:40:00.001-04:00

After you view your invitation, scroll down and take the Applewood Riesling Quiz.

Applewood Winery Riesling Quiz

2009-03-30T07:07:00.001-04:00

To get everybody in the spirit of things for The NY Riesling Experience on May 2nd and 3rd here at the winery in Warwick. We have decided to test your Riesling IQ and allow you to write your own Riesling Manifesto. There will be 4 prizes and a grand prize awarded to those who demonstrate the greatest powers of Riesling, which can be difficult after a few glasses.

To claim your prize you must answer me these questions three:

Best Meal you've had with Riesling?

Best Riesling Cocktail? Come on, James Bond could come up with something...

Famous Riesling Quote?, ie; The more you Riesling the less you create. Raymond Chandler The wise are instructed by Riesling Marcus Tullius Cicero Riesling is not what decides love. Moliere

Bonus Question Most interesting place you've ever had a Riesling?

Send us an email to info@applewoodwinery.com or leave a comment here with your name and email answering these three questions below to enter. We will give away a bottle of Riesling for the winner of each category and a grand prize of a mixed case of Applewood Wine to the best overall entry. How cool is that! The winners will be judged by Jonathan & Michele and will be announced at The NY Riesling Experience and here on our website blog.

At The NY Riesling Experience we will have special bottling's of Sweet Riesling, Semi Dry, Dry as well as a vintage 2006 Riesling.

Good luck to all of you and may the best Wino win!

You must be 21 or over to enter and you must come to the winery to claim your prize.

Glorie Farm Winery Label Contest

2009-03-16T06:54:00.002-04:00

Last year Glorie Farm Winery held a label contest for their Jumpin Jazz wine. The design here was chosen as the winner.

This week Glorie Farm Winery is holding another wine label contest for the label design for their "Red Quartet" wine. The contest will run on 99designs.com from March 15 - March 22.

If you are an artist, or know one, please go to 99designs.com and search under "Glorie Red Quartet." It will explain what they are and aren't looking for. They will also give you feedback during the course of the week so you can tweek your design. The grand prize is $150 if your label is chosen.

Applewood Winery to host New York Riesling Experience

2009-03-12T12:19:00.001-04:00

Applewood Winery located in Warwick, New York is launching the first New York Riesling Experience – A celebration of New York’s finest grape. The event will take place May 2 & 3, 2009 at the winery located on 82 Four Corners Road in Warwick, New York from 11pm to 5pm each day. Your visit to the New York Riesling Experience will feature Riesling tastings, Riesling food and wine pairings, Chef Demonstrations, Winemaker discussions, free recipes, comparative Riesling tastings and live entertainment. Admission to the event is $12 if purchased before April 30th or $15 at the door. Admission also includes admission to the Applewood tasting room with over a dozen different Applewood wines to taste.

Winemaker/Owner Jonathan Hull states that “Riesling is the grape of the 21st century. It is also a grape underdog. It’s not appreciated it and is the ultimate food wine. The grape has great flexibility, as it can be made, dry, semi dry, sweet, late harvest and ice wine. This grape grows very well in New York State and I want to bring awareness of the grape and the wonderful wines it produces to the wine consumer.”

About Riesling…Riesling vines are tough. They thrive in cold climates, on steep hillsides, and in marginal soil. The green-skinned grapes ripen later than many other varieties, and sometimes are left hanging on the vine to produce sweet late harvest wines or even ice wines when the grapes actually freeze on the vines. The aromas in the wine that the Riesling grape produces tend to be pear, apple, jasmine, lime, honey and some spice. The flavors range from bright, fresh citrus to ripe tropical fruit. The New York Riesling Experience, customer will have the option to taste the many different variety of wines the Riesling grape produces, as well as a variety of Riesling wines produced throughout the world.

Applewood Winery, is in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley! Come discover the oldest working farm in Orange County and one of the oldest west of the Hudson River. The Hull family and their friends began planting apple and peach trees in former pastures in 1949. In 1994 the winery was created and vineyards planted.

In our tasting room we talk food constantly, almost as much as we talk about our wines. It’s difficult to mention one without the other. Instead of “just talk” we offer a universe of wine experiences, food pairing weekends, tasting classes, a Summer Café and of course you can just hangout and enjoy the wine and listen to live music in the courtyard.

It gives all of us at Applewood Winery great pleasure to share with you our harvest of wine. Newcomers to the world of wine learn in a comfortable setting and the most jaded imbiber will find a rich and complex tasting experience. To purchase tickets to New York Riesling Experience visit Applewood Winery website or call 845-988-9292.

For your personal video invitation click here

Wreath Fineries Tickets

2009-03-07T14:59:00.005-05:00

Wreath Fineries Tickets go on sale Monday, March 9 at 9am. To purchase tickets go to
http://shawangunk-wine-trail.ticketleap.com

Note:

Tickets are limited, purchase early as this event sells out.
You must choose a starting winery
There are 25 tickets available at each winery for starting.
Ticket is defined as a single or couple ticket.
Purchases are limited to 4 tickets per order. (4 tickets in any combination of single or couple)
Tickets are on sale until the Wednesday prior to event.
Once ticket is purchased no changes are allowed.
Tickets are non refundable.
Event goes on regardless of weather.

Check Blog for any important messages prior to event.

Applewood Winery - No Oak Wine Tasting

2009-02-23T06:54:00.000-05:00

Rivendell Winery Closes it's doors

2009-01-19T09:39:00.003-05:00

It's sad news today as I tell you that Rivendell Winery has closed it's doors. Rivendell Winery was one of the founding members of the Shawangunk Wine Trial . They have done so much to support Hudson Valley Wines and New York State Wines! They will be truely missed. We wish them the best of luck and hope they can open their doors again in the future.

To read more about why they closed go to http://tinyurl.com/7z8nrl

Adair Vineyards Winter Happenings

2009-01-06T20:35:00.001-05:00

Adair Vineyards will be closed until Pasta Primo Vino and will open April 18 for the event. You can visit Adair at the following Farmers Markets throughout the winter season.
• Albany - Empire State Plaze - Every Wednesday
• Hastings on Hudson - January 10; February 14; March 14 and April 11
• Mamaroneck - January 17; February 7, 21; March 21; April 8,18; May 2, 16
• Rosendale - February 1; April 5
• Westchester County Center (White Plains) February 8, March 15
Adair's first Vintage 2007 Cabernet Franc is available in limited quanities. Only 40 cases produced. On February 4th Adair will be releasing the following:
• 2008 Peche
• 2008 Landmark Red
• 2007 Oak Aged Vidal

Wreath & Fineries - Dec 20 & 21

2008-12-20T09:49:00.002-05:00

The wineries are open today for the Wreath Fineries event. The event will go on as scheduled.

However, with the impending storm tomorrow, Sunday, December 21st, all Sunday tickets will be honored on Saturday, December 20th.

Happy Holidays!!

The Shawangunk Wine Trail

Wreath Fineries

2008-12-19T08:38:00.002-05:00

This is the last weekend of Wreath Fineries. All three weekends sold out around Thanksgiving. If you weren't able to get your tickets for this years event, think early, as the tickets will go on sale the end of January.

Every time one travels the Shawangunk Wine Trail you will learn something new, try new releases and a wonderful experience tasting Hudson Valley Wine.

If you were unable attend, I hope you enjoy these videos. Our spring event Pasta Primo-Vino tickets are on sale now http://tinyurl.com/3o9hdt

Harvest Video

2008-11-20T07:20:00.002-05:00

If you couldn't make it to the Shawangunk Wine Trail during harvest, no worries...here some video for you to enjoy.

Applewood Winery Harvest

Whitecliff Winery Harvest

Wreath Tickets

2008-11-07T08:06:00.003-05:00

I attended a wine trail meeting last evening. Wreath tickets are selling fast. Saturday, Dec 6th is already sold out and there are only a few tickets for Saturday Dec 13. Sundays tickets are still available as are Saturday Dec. 20th.

I would suggest ordering your tickets as soon as possible to make sure you can start at the winery of your choice. If a starting winery is sold out, it doesn't mean the day is sold out, you will just have to start at a different winery.

You can order your tickets below.

Online event registration

Weekend Wine Tasting

2008-10-11T13:04:00.002-04:00

It's a great weekend out there so no excuses. Vist the wineries on the Shawangunk Wine Trail. You might even get to see harvest and winemaking first hand.

Wreath & Fineries at the Wineries

2008-10-01T21:31:00.001-04:00

Tickets are now available online for Wreath & Fineries at the Wineries

Online event registration

Glorie Farm Winery 2nd Annual Wine Label Contest

2008-09-28T09:30:00.001-04:00

Glorie Farm Winery - CALLING ALL ARTISTS! We've kicked off our second annual wine label art contest! This year's winner will have his or her artwork featured on the ever popular Glorie Red Quartet, a semi-dry red blend that's perfect when you're getting together with friends.

All entry fees will be donated to the Newburgh Animal Shelter. Last year's winning artist, Brandi Budziak, will join us, Doug and MaryEllen Glorie, as a judge for this year's contest. The entry fee is just $10 ($5 for students).

The contest is open to artists who live in or attend school in a New York or New Jersey county that borders the Hudson River. The winner will receive a case of the labeled wine and two tickets to the Shawangunk Wine Trail's 2009 Bounty of the Hudson. In addition, the winner will be featured on the Glorie Farm Winery website, www.gloriewine.com, as well as in all press releases and media related to the contest.

The deadline for submissions is November 8. The winner and the newly labeled wine will be unveiled on November 22. All participating artists will be invited to attend the unveiling which includes complimentary wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres. For more information and entry forms, visit www.gloriewine.com or call 845-236-3265.

Congratulations Shawangunk Wine Trail Members

2008-08-24T09:36:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to these Shawangunk Wine Trail Members for receiving awards at the 2008 New York Wine and Food Classic.

Whitecliff Vineyards Double Gold Medal 2007 Traminette
Whitecliff Vineyards Gold Medal 2007 Gamay Noir
Benmarl Winery Silver 2007 Traminette
Benmarl Winery Silver 2006 Baco Noir
Brotherhood Winery Silver 2007 Riesling
Brotherhood Winery Silver 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Whitecliff Vineyards Silver 2006 Sky Island Red
Whitecliff Vineyards Bronze NV Awosting White
Whitecliff Vineyards Bronze NV Redtail

Bounty of the Hudson Food and Wine Fest - THIS WEEKEND

2008-07-24T07:20:00.004-04:00

This weekend - July 26 & 27th is the Bounty of the Hudson Food and Wine Festival. This is truly the ONLY wine festival featuring 100% Hudson Valley Wineries. Every year the Shawangunk Wine Trail hosts this event. Every year it rotates to a different trail members winery. This year it is being held at Benmarl Winery

Festival hours are 12p - 5p each day. It is going to be a wonderful weekend to come and taste award winning wines from 17 Hudson Valley Wineries. The weather is going to be good. There will be wonderful food available from local restaurants.

This is the only festival in the Hudson Valley where you find wine, food & farm produce that is 100% from the Valley.

See you there!

Bounty of the Hudson

2008-07-16T16:38:00.004-04:00

Next weekend is the Bounty of the Hudson Food and Wine Festival at Benmarl Winery.
Festivities begin at 12 noon July 26 and 27 and run until 5pm each day. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door.

There are transfers available from the Poughkeepsie Metro North Station BUT THEY MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE.

IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BY METRO NORTH TRAIN FROM NYC TO POUGHKEEPSIE: There will be a bus service between the Train Station and the Festival on the following schedule: Will meet arriving trains at 12:37, 1:38 and 2:38 Will Depart Festival at 4 and 5PM to catch the 4:31 and 5:31 trains back to NYC.

TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE. Tickets cost is additional $10 per person.

Go to www.gunkswine.com to purchase your Bounty tickets today!

Watch video of last years Bounty.

Shawangunk Wine Trail Networking Site

2008-07-06T15:19:00.004-04:00

The Shawangunk Wine Trail has created a site for everyone to share their experiences on the wine trail.

Please join and share you thoughts, experiences,pictures and videos with us.

View my page on Shawangunk Wine Trail

Congratulation Benmarl and Brotherhood Wineries

2008-07-04T11:18:00.003-04:00

Congratulations go out to Benmarl and Brotherhood Winery who took home some medals from the New York State Fair Competition.

Benmarl Winery took Silver for 2007 Seneca Lake Traminette and Bronze for 2006 Hudson Valley Baco Noir and 2007 Slate Hill White

Brotherhood Winery took Silver for 2007 Riesling 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Pinot Noir Holiday Spiced Wine and Blanc de Blancs and Bronze for May Wine, Ruby Port and Cream Sherry.

If you attend the New York State Fair August 21 - September 1, 2008 you will be able to view the top award winning wines which will be on display in the "Giant Wine Bottle" in the Horticulture building during the fair. Sample of wines entered in the competition will be available to fairgoers following most of the presentations in the Demonstration Kitchen in the lower level of the Arts and Home Center.

Better than going to the New York State Fair is to spend a day on the Shawangunk Wine Trail and visit the award winning wineries.

Hudson Valley Wine Dinner

2008-06-26T07:53:00.002-04:00

The winning wines at the Hudson Valley Wine Competition were celebrated with a dinner at the Culinary Institute of America. This is a great recap of the evening and education on Hudson Valley Wines.

Enjoy

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Pasta Pictures

2008-06-01T18:16:00.001-04:00

I've added pictures of Pasta Primo Vino. Take a look.

Metro North Transfers for Bounty of the Hudson

2008-05-26T10:52:00.003-04:00

The Bounty of the Hudson Food and Wine Festival is being held this year July 26 and 27th at Benmarl Winery in Marlboro NY. We just secured transportation from the Poughkeepsie Metro North Station. If you have a group of 10 or more you can contact Metro North Groups for a special discounted train ticket.

IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BY METRO NORTH TRAIN FROM NYC TO POUGHKEEPSIE: There will be a bus service between the Train Station and the Festival on the following schedule: Will meet arriving trains at 12:37, 1:38 and 2:38 Will Depart Festival at 4 and 5PM to catch the 4:31 and 5:31 trains back to NYC.

BUS TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE

Click here to order your tickets

Listen to a Bounty Podcast.

Fresh Fish in the Vineyard

2008-05-13T08:55:00.002-04:00

This weekend don't miss the Fresh Fish in the Vineyard event at Whitecliff Vineyards Winery. It's happening on Saturday May 17th from 11:30 to 5pm.

Their winemaker and owner, Michael Migliore will be traveling to the Finger Lakes to go fishing and bring back some fresh New York trout which he will grill and serve with your choice of dipping sauces. The fish will be paired with their wonderful 2007 white wines.

Advance purchase is encouraged. Tickets are $14 in advance, and $16 at the door. To order tickets call the winery at 845-255-4613

Pasta Primo Vino

2008-04-20T10:16:00.002-04:00

I attended Pasta Primo Vino yesterday and am getting ready to go back today.

Yesterday I started in Warwick and got to Brotherhood then the Marlboro wineries. I will be going back in about an hour to finish up with the New Paltz, Gardiner and Pine Bush wineries.

Yesterday I took my friend Gina with me. Gina likes semi-sweet to sweet wines which is in contrast to what I like...dry wines. With an open mind I did do some port tasting. I tasted the Winston's Harlequin Port at Warwick. This port was very good. I expected cough syrup but was very surprise at how light it was. (As you can see, I am not a port drinker) The port was made from Baco Noir which gave it it's smoky taste. They told me it would be good paired with stilton cheese and dark chocolate. Their Chardonnay was very good and I did purchase a bottle.

Applewood Winery wins on best pasta so far. Their Blue Cheese Baked Pasta was wonderful, runner up is the Gnocchi at Benmarl. I did taste the port at Benmarl too. It was very good. Very different from Warwick's.

At Glorie Farm Winery I had the pleasure of tasting their new released 2006 Cabernet Franc. It was very soft and delicate. There was romance in this wine!

Now to go get ready for today's tastings.....

Pasta Primo Vino - This Weekend

2008-04-14T07:21:00.003-04:00

This weekend is the start of the Wine Tasting season and the Shawangunk Wine Trail's Pasta Primo Vino event. According to the weather, it's going to be a fantastic weekend so what better way to spend it than wine tasting on the the Shawangunk Wine Trail.

The event is April 19 & 20th. Tasting begins at 10am each day and runs until 6pm. Tickets are $20 plus tax in advance and $25 at the door. There is still time to purchase your advance tickets. Tickets include wine tasting and pasta sampling at all 10 wineries on the Shawangunk Wine Trial.

Click here to purchase your tickets.

What will you be tasting and sampling...some wonderful wine and pasta dishes.
Pasta dishes like Pasta Carbonara with Pancetta at Warwick Valley Winery, Fettuccini con Zucca e Pangrattato (with pumpkin and bread crumbs) at Whitecliff Vineyards,“Husband’s Delight” comfort food at its best at Glorie Farm Winery and Gnocci in a sage and butter sauce at Benmarl Winery.

You will be the first to taste some wonderful new releases! New releases like Warwick Valley Winery’s 2007 Pinot Gris crafted from 89% Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) and 11% Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a delicate floral and honey aromas are followed by good fruit and welcomed acidity. Also newly released at Warwick Valley Winery for the Pasta Primo Vino is the Harvest Moon, a semi-sweet white wine with 1% residual sugar, made from the Cayuga and Vidal grapes.

A stop at Whitecliff Vineyards will have you tasting their 2007 Estate Grown Awosting White which is their “Hudson Heritage White,” a blend of Seyval and Vignoles. This wine is lovely, soft, low acid with flavors of apricot and peaches. In addition to the Awosting White, Whitecliff will be releasing their 2007 Pinot Gris, 2007 Redtail, 2007 Mt Laurel White and 2007 Riesling.

Don't forget to get your tickets in advance!

Applewood Winery creates Wino TV

2008-03-30T10:12:00.002-04:00

Trail member Applewood Winery has created Wino TV. Watch co-owner Michelle Hull discuss Applewood Winery's history, wine and how to pair their wines with food. Congratulations Applewood.

Whitecliff interview by Slice of New Paltz

2008-03-05T18:04:00.001-05:00

Michael Migliore of Whitecliff Vineyards was recently interviewed by Slice of New Paltz. You can view his interview here:

http://www.sliceofnewpaltz.com/Slice_of_New_Paltz/EP.20.html

Whitecliff Awosting Revisited

2008-03-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

Well I found myself in Gardiner today so I stopped by Whitcliff Vineyards. I re-tasted their Awosting, this time out of the bottle. WOW! What a change from tasting from the tank. I think when I tasted from the tank it was to cold. Wine does go through changes from tank to bottle and in this case it was a good change.

This wine is lovely..soft, low acid with flavors of apricot and peaches with a little zesty finish. I describe it best as similar to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This is a great wine to pair with fish or sit on the porch watching the sunset.

Whitecliff Futures

2008-02-22T07:25:00.002-05:00

I had the wonderful opportunity last weekend to taste some of Whitecliff Vineyard's soon to be released wines straight from the tanks.

I tasted the Seyval which is mixed into the Awosting White. I liked the Seyval, even thought it's known as the "Plain Jane" of whites with it's suttle flavors. Some wineries blend Seyval with other whites, some have it stand alone and I know of one local winery who makes Champagne from it. It's really winemakers choice.

Next I got to taste the Awosting White which was going to be bottled sometime this week. It didn't have the strong crispness it has had in the past. It has soft citrus flavors with a soft finish. It will be a wonderful white especially for the summer months.

Then I tasted wine from a grape I have never tasted before...Traminette. Traminette is a hybrid of Gewurztraminer. This was very good and crisp. Not sure it it's going to be a stand alone wine or if it is going to be blended with another variety.

The only red I tasted was a blend that they are going to release as their first "critter wine." It's called Red Tail. This blend was very good. We took the samples out of the tanks, so after the wine warmed up a tad, the flavors that came to and it's sure to be a winner.

Pasta Primo Vino Tickets

2008-02-11T07:46:00.000-05:00

Pasta Primo Vino tickets can now be purchased on line at:
http://www.shawangunkwinetrail.com/swtevents.html#anchor383285

The event is April 19 & 20. Event hours are 10am to 6pm. Come sample some pasta paired with wonderful wine from the wineries on the Shawangunk Wine Trail. Be the first to taste the new wines from the 2007 harvest!

I Love My NY Farmer

2008-02-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Michael Migliore, Owner and Winemaker at Whitecliff Vineyards. He won the I Love My NY Farmer contest put out by NY Farms.

NY Farms! a not for profit organization whose mission is to strengthen NY agriculture and food systems by creating public awareness of the importance of farming; promoting agriculture and food system literacy; and fostering consumer loyalty to New York farm products.

Through their land-based livelihoods, New York farmers enhance the lives of all New Yorkers in multiple ways, by: providing farm fresh food, increasing food safety and security by decreasing our dependency on food from far away, creating jobs and economic development, maintaining aesthetically pleasing rural landscapes, wildlife habitat and biological diversity, and being good neighbors, committed to community well-being.

Winners for the I Love My NY Farmer were selected based upon the notation in the entry of a farmer’s: living and selling within New York State; producing a quality product; being a good steward of the land; being a good neighbor, serving the community, and "going the extra mile". NY Farms! asked to have explained in 250 words or less, why a particular farmer deserves such an award.

Michael won in the category of Wine & Grapes.

Stoutridge Vineyards goes Solar

2008-01-16T06:59:00.001-05:00

There is a great article in the Woodstock Times about Stoutridge Vineyards installing a Solar Electric System and the benefits it has. To read it click here.

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery opens Distillery to Public

2008-01-14T20:07:00.000-05:00

For the first time ever.......Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery will open their Distillery to the public on February 9th and 15th.

Join Master Distiller, Jason Grizzanti for a demonstration and tasting on Febuary 9th or the 16th at 11am.

Price is $30 and includes lunch, distillery demonstration and tasting. Seating is limited, so reserve early.

This should be a wonderful event.

Benmarl Winery host Food Pairing for Superbowl

2008-01-07T08:51:00.000-05:00

This Sunday, January 13, from 2pm to 4pm Benmarl Winery will be hosting at food pairing for Superbowl snacks at the winery. They will explore the sweet & spicy, big & bold and alternatives to the usual snacks.

You must purchase your tickets in advance and the cost is $35.

A beautiful weekend ahead of us

2008-01-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

The forcast for this weekend is beautiful. Weather in the 40's and 50's. Just because it's the middle of winter, don't thing business stops on the Wine Trail

Wineries that are open this weekend are:
Rivendell Winery
Stoutridge Vineyards
Benmarl Winery
Baldwin Vineyards
Brotherhood "America's Oldest" Winery
Warwick Valley Winery

See you on the trail!!

Whitecliff releases Champagne for New Years

2007-12-29T16:18:00.000-05:00

Just in time for New Years Eve, Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery has just released it's first bottling of Champagne. This Champagne was made with 100% Chardonnay grapes. A must have to ring in the 2008.

Their tasting room is open today until 5p, Sunday 12p - 5p, Monday - New Years Eve 12p - 4p

Happy Holidays

2007-12-24T10:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays from the Shawangunk Wine Trail

Adair Vineyards
Applewood Winery
Baldwin Vineyards
Benmarl Winery @ Slate Hill Vineyards
Brotherhood America's Oldest Winery
Glorie Farm Winery
Rivendell Winery
Stoutridge Vineyard
Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery
Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery

Wreath & Fineries at the Wineries

2007-12-07T06:55:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I attended the Wreath & Fineries. What a blast! I will post my pictures later including the completed wreath.

I started out the day at Warwick Valley Winery indulging in homemade pizza which was very good! Their Chardonnay was excellent, just like I like my Chardonnay..buttery on the finish. While I was at Applewood I met a couple from NJ who followed me to the rest of the wineries along with another couple from Connecticut. We had a great time tasting and sharing experiences.

At Brotherhood I really enjoyed their holiday wine. It was served warm with spices of cinnamon and cloves. I lost my new best friends at Baldwin as I ran into my UPS driver. Well..he hasn't had my route for years, but our kids go to school together. When I found my friends they had gone through their tasting, so we left and went on our way to Whitecliff.
After Whitecliff the couple from Connecticut decided they had enough and headed home. The couple from NJ stayed with it and finished the wine trail , completed their wreath, and purchased some wonderful wine.

There are still tickets available for Sunday December 16th if you would like to attend the event.

Rivendell's 2002 Merlot

2007-11-15T18:14:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Rivendell Winery as their 2002 Merlot was mentioned in a recent New York Times article as a great match with your Thanksgiving Turkey. The story was about 4 people who get together for a pre Thanksgiving meal. Each one of them brings two different wines costing no more than $25 to enjoy with the feast.

The article said "Even more surprising was Florence’s wine, a 2002 Rivendell merlot from the North Fork of Long Island, which tasted of plums and flowers. It reminded me that Long Island merlots are very different from California’s, often leaner and snappier, and well worth investigating."

To read the entire aticle go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/dining/reviews/14wine.html?ex=1195794000&en=5ddd28995d806f1b&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Hudson Valley Cab Franc Harvest

2007-10-23T06:45:00.000-04:00

This weekend as the harvest season starts to wind down some vineyards were picking Cab Franc. The Cab Franc grapes at Whitecliff Vineyards are the best in New Yorks State according to Cornell Cooperative Extension. They sample grapes from various vineyards across New York and compare the ph level, acid & sugar levels to collect data on the different growing regions. Within the next two years there should be some fantastic Cab Franc being released at their tasting room.

Harvest at Whitecliff

2007-10-17T21:55:00.000-04:00

I have posted pictures of the harvest at Whitecliff Vineyards your viewing enjoyment.

Click here to view them.

Aroma - What they describe in your wine

2007-10-14T11:56:00.001-04:00

Use the this as a guide when you're tasting wine for fun, and I think you'll be surprised to see how well this list of descriptive terms will help you recognize those elusive characteristics.

FRUITY: Citrus - grapefruit, lemon; berry - blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, black currant (cassis); tree fruit - cherry, apricot, peach, apple; tropical fruit - pineapple, melon, banana; dried fruit - strawberry jam, raisins, prune, fig.

VEGETATIVE: fresh - stemmy, cut green grass, bell pepper, eucalyptus, mint; canned-cooked - green beans, asparagus, green olive, black olive, artichoke; dried - haw-straw, tea, tobacco.

NUTTY: walnut, hazelnut, almond.

CARAMELIZED: honey, butterscotch, butter, soy sauce, chocolate, molasses.

WOODY: vanilla, cedar, oak, smoky, burnt toast, charred, coffee.

EARTHY: dusty, mushroom, musty (mildew), moldy cork.

CHEMICAL: petroleum - tar, plastic, kerosene, diesel; sulfur - rubbery, garlic, skunk, cabbage, burnt match, wet wool, wet dog; papery - wet cardboard; pungent - acetic acid (vinegar); other - soapy, fishy.

PUNGENT: hot - alcohol; cool - menthol.

MICROBIOLOGICAL: yeast, sauerkraut, sweaty, horsey, "mousey."

FLORAL: orange blossom, rose, violet, geranium. SPICY: cloves, black pepper, licorice, anise.

Gewürztraminer harvest

2007-10-09T17:40:00.001-04:00

These are pictures of Gewürztraminer grapes that were harvested this weekend on the

Shawangunk Wine Trail.

The Best of the Hudson Valley

2007-09-19T08:07:00.001-04:00

Congratulations goes out to the Shawangunk Wine Trail as it won the "Best of the Hudson Valley" in the category of "International Wine Event" for Around the World in 80 Miles. This event is held every June, Father's Day Weekend. Each of the 10 wineries on the trail adopt a country and serve food from that country paired with their wines. Each customer receives a passport and as they travel to each winery, they have the opportunity to taste food from the adopted country, paired with the wines and their passport stamped. At the end of the day, they can turn their passport in for a chance to win a case of wine.

Congratulations goes out to Benmarl Winery who received "Best of the Hudson Valley" in the category of "Best place to sample Sangria."

Congratulations goes out to Whitecliff Vineyards . Their Awosting White won the Best Cocktail Wine.

Congratulations goes out to Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery who won the Best Distilled Fruit Beverages.

Congratulations to the Wine Trail and it's members!!

2007-09-19T08:07:00.000-04:00

Harvest

2007-09-05T19:52:00.001-04:00

I spoke to Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery today and they told me they have been harvesting Seyval all week. It looks like a banner crop. Much to their surprise, it looks like they will be harvesting Chardonnay next week.

This is a great time to visit all the wineries and experience the "Crush." It's quite an experience.

Hudson Valley Harvest

2007-09-03T09:48:00.000-04:00

Well it's harvest time in the Hudson Valley. Usually harvest starts the second or third week in September. Not this year...this year we are looking at an early start to harvest! Some vineyards will start harvesting Seyval this week...two weeks early.

As you travel about the next few weeks you will be able to see harvest at its best at area vineyards. As the grapes get delivered to the wineries...you will be able to witness Hudson Valley wine making up close and personal.

Hudson Heritage White

2007-09-01T22:29:00.000-04:00

As you go wine tasting in the Hudson Valley you will run across a white wine called "Hudson Heritage White." This wine is available at many of the wineries. Although the same name, each winery will craft their own version of "Hudson Heritage White."

What does that mean...It is common practice in France for regions to have a clearly defined wine styles, with strict parameters established and enforced for grapes and blends that qualify. The growers in the Hudson Valley are using that platform to build their own identity and understanding for Hudson Valley Wines.

The Hudson Valley Grape Growers Association has selected Seyval Blanc as the primary grape for wines that will qualify for the new designation, with Vignoles, Vidal or Cayuga White allowed for blending. In time consumers will see wines labeled "Hudson Heritage White" and the wine will be a light and easy-drinking white wine.

Whitcliff Vineyard's Gourmet Burger Celebration

2007-08-17T07:36:00.000-04:00

This event is a must! Have you eaten local grass fed beef, paired with red wine? You should attend this event. I attend last year and was amazed at the difference a grass fed burger tastes.
Paired with Whitecliff's red wines...yum!! I hope they have their Malbec bottled for this event. Last year it paired great with the burgers!

At this event, you will enjoy the pleasures of eating local in a Hudson Valley summer at Whitecliff Vineyard’s Red Wine & Grass-Fed Beef Gourmet Burger Celebration. It all takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th, from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 12-3 Sunday. The Celebration will give you a true taste of Hudson Valley agriculture, as it offers up the delicious synergy of wine, burgers from local grass-fed beef, sweet corn, and ice cream.

For more information and tickets you can call the winery at 845-255-4613. You can visit their website as well at www.whitecliffwine.com

New York Wine & Food Classic

2007-08-12T10:41:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Rivendell Winery...their 2006 Soho Cellars Johannisberg Riesling won Best Semi-Dry Riesling Wine at the 2007 New York Wine & Food Classic that was held last week at Copia in Napa, CA.

The awards were based on blind tastings by 24 expert judges—10 from California, 6 from New York, 6 from other states, and 2 from other countries. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators. Four-judge panels determined the initial awards, with top-scoring wines evaluated by all 24 judges for Best of Category and Governor’s Cup awards.

For more information on the compeition visit www.newyorkwines.org

Bounty of the Hudson

2007-07-25T20:00:00.001-04:00

The Bounty of the Hudson Food & Wine Festival is this weekend July 28 & 29th at Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery in Washingtonville NY. Festival hours are from 12noon to 5pm each day, rain or shine. This festival is host to all Hudson Valley Wineries, not just those located on the Shawangunk Wine Trail. There will be food as well as farm fresh produce from local farms.

Ticket prices are $25 in advance and $33 at the door.

For more information call 845-255-2494 or visit Shawangunk Wine Trail

See you there!

Jumpin Jazz @ Glorie

2007-07-15T12:08:00.000-04:00

Here it is...the new label from Glorie Farm Winery. Glorie held a contest for the label of their new Jumpin Jazz wine. A beautiful label as well as a fine tasting wine. Jumpin Jazz is a blend of Seyval, Cayuga White an Vidal. It's a semi sweet wine with hints of citrus, melon and tropical fruit. It's quite lovely and is a nice summer wine!

I attended the festivities yesterday at Glorie Farm Winery. The winning artist was Brandi Budziak from Lexington, New York. There currently is a silent auction going on for the original artwork. Auction ends at 5pm on September 1st, 2007. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Animal Rescue Foundation in Beacon, New York.

Trail Happenings

2007-07-07T07:38:00.000-04:00

Boy, I've been lacking on my posts. I do apologize.

There has been a lot going on, on the trail this summer. I hope you have had time to come and visit.

Next weekend Glorie Farm is unveiling their Jumpin Jazz Label. Big party at their winery. I plan on being present for this unveiling. Should be very exciting!

The Bounty of the Hudson is coming up at Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery, on July 28 & 29th. I'll be posting more info on that in the next few weeks.

Tasting @ Adair Vineyards

2007-05-14T20:37:00.000-04:00

I had the chance during the pasta event to taste at Adair Vineyards. They were serving an Almond Torte that was very good and went right to my hips.

The first wine I tasted was the 2005 Vidal. This was a dry white wine made from 100% Vidal Blanc Grapes. Vidal is a grape that grows very well in the Hudson Valley. This was aged in Hungarian Oak barrels. With that it give the wine a hint of carmel flavor. This wine was crisp with citrus fruit flavors. It was very good. Something you would pair with seafood.

Next was the Blackberry Kir. This was light fruity and refreshing. It had a little residual sugar... 2 3/4 to be exact. It was made with 30% Seyval, 40% Vidal, 30% Blackberry wine, which was made from blackberries from the Marlboro/Milton area.

Then it was on to Rosalias...a dry Rose. When poured, it was dark, not your typical pink looking Rose. It is made from 25% Chambourcin, 29% Dechaunac, 25% Frontenac & 25% Chancellor. It was very nice with overtones of cherry and strawberry.

The last wine I tasted was their 2006 Peche. This is a sweet dessert wine made from 100% local New Paltz white peaches. This makes a nice after dinner drink, or drizzled over a fruit salad.

If you had the opportunity to tast any of these wines, I would love to hear how you enjoyed them.

Warwick Vally Winery & Distillery

2007-05-01T20:56:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful day last Saturday for the Pasta Primo Vino event, a far cry from last years rain. Our first stop was Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery. They have done some renovations to the winery and bakery area since last year. The big doors leading out to the patio were open giving the outdoor café feel.

We tasted tasted 5 wines during our visit here. The first was a Merlot, which was also used in the pasta dish. This Merlot was crafted from 100% Merlot grapes which were picked at peak ripeness. It was then aged in French Oak for 24 months. We felt it was a light bodied wine with hints of cherry and cassis.

We then tasted the Riesling. This Riesling had a wonderful floral nose with hints of apple and pear. It was a Semi-sweet wine with a light mineral finish. These types of wines go great with spicy food. I like them with Thai food.

Next up was the Black Dirt Blush. This was grape jelly in a glass. If you grew up with Welches or Smuckers grape jelly, this smell of this wine will bring you back to your childhood. These grapes were made from the Vincent and Delaware grapes.

Then it was onto the Hard Cider…Doc’s Hard Cider… I’ve had the Apple before, which is very good, so I decided to try something different. I tried the Black Currant Cider and Paul tried the Pear Cider. The Pear Cider was very dry. It is made from Bartlett and Bosc pears. The Black Currant Cider is made from pressed NYS apples and fermented with Champagne yeast and local black currants. Both ciders are very good and will quench your thirst on a hot summers day.

Pasta Primo-Vino

2007-04-24T08:53:00.000-04:00

I hope all who attended the event had a wonderful time. I did! We tasted some wonderful new releases as well as some wonderful pasta dishes. (picture of Rivendell's Orzo Pasta Salad.) My favorite dish was Applewood's Baked Ziti with Sausage and Ricotta. I wonder if it will taste as good when I try to make it:)

I would love to hear your comments on the event.

Pasta Pasta Pasta

2007-04-17T20:42:00.000-04:00

I have heard from some of the wineries and the pasta dishes sound wonderful. Here is some of what you can expect:

Almond Torte Pasta, Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Sausage, Shrimp, Bean and Pasta Salad, Pasta e Piselli (Oricchiette), Stuffed Shells, Orzo Pasta Salad, Asian Pasta, Pasta with Bolognese Sauce.

Now guess who is serving which dish.

Pasta Primo-Vino

2007-04-15T10:53:00.000-04:00

The season is starting...the annual Pasta Primo-Vino is this coming up weekend April 21 & 22 on the trail. Many wineries will be featuring new releases.

I will be around on the trail, taking pictures. I will be posting on the different wines that I will have the opportunity to taste.

We encourage you to contribute to our blog and post your comments.
Publish
If you need tickets to the event, you can purchase them by clicking here.

What's an AVA

2006-11-13T15:02:00.000-05:00

An AVA is an American viticultural area. That means it has been recognized and defined by Federal regulators to include a specific geographical area as a wine-growing region.AVA’s were first established by law in 1973, the regulations governing them were finalized in 1978 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the regulations became mandatory in 1983.

What does all that mean to wineries and wine-drinkers?

The idea of the AVA was to establish standards to protect consumers and producers alike. The regulations control what a winery needs to do if it wants to label wine as being from an AVA.

To label a wine as “Estate Bottled”, the winery must own or control vineyards in a common AVA from which the grapes come, and must handle the entire process of making and bottling the wine on their own premises.

The AVA is not necessarily an indication of quality. The regulations do not allow for the government to test and grade the quality of wine the way they do eggs or meat. It is an indication of where the grapes came from, and generally indicates areas that have historically grown grapes for wine and have a particular defining characteristic. As long as the interested parties in an area can provide the data to persuade the regulators to approve their petition, almost anything can be a designated. The process is long and expensive – you need work from historians, soil experts, meteorologists, lawyers and others to detail the AVA and shepherd your petition through the system. The costs of that add up quickly, but well over 100 AVAs have been designated since the regulations went into effect.

Wine-drinkers benefit by that protection as well. The AVA regulations allow the consumer to buy with confidence, knowing that wine that says Hudson River Valley, actually came from the Hudson River Valley AVA. No need to wonder where the grapes were actually grown.

The AVA will also allow you to make certain broad characterizations. If you like a particular wine from an AVA and know of several similar ones you have tasted, you might place more confidence in purchasing a similar but unknown wine from that same AVA. Nothing can guarantee satisfaction here, but you may be able to form some general rules for what you find appealing.

Stoutridge Vineyard

2006-10-23T10:48:00.000-04:00

WOW! is what I have to say about Stoutridge. Steve and Kim have done an incredible job on designing this winery. A lot of thought, love and attention to detail have gone into this state of the art winery.

This winery sits on the site of the "1902" Marono Winery. Stoutridge will feature a "gravity flow" style production.

They have an indoor event room that can accommodate 125 persons with spacious rooftop patios adjoining. Beginning the summer of 2007, they will have an underground barrel room available for dinner events up to 30 people.

Not only will Steve and Kim be producing wonderful wine, but they will also be producing Whisky and flavored Vodka. The flavored Vodka will be flavored from fruits from surrounding farms.

A tour of this winery is a must! Congratulation to Steve and Kim!

Whitecliff Harvest

2006-10-20T15:08:00.000-04:00

I just got back from visiting two vineyard / wineries...Whitecliff & Stoutridge.

At Whitecliff, as I stood in the tasting room, I could look into the winery and see the tanks filled with juice and crushed grapes. You can see the Merlot grapes crushed fermenting with their skins on. The entire winery smells of crushed grapes... It's a nice sweet smell.

Fermenting in other tanks are Seyval, Vignoles, and Riesling. If you have the time to visit on Sunday, you will get the opportunity to see Michael and his staff at work crushing Malbec and Merlot.

The next stop was Stoutridge...Stay tuned and I'll write more later on that beautiful state of the art winery!

Harvest

2006-10-18T12:01:00.000-04:00

It's harvest time in the area. Many of the wineries are in the midst of processing the next few years vintages. If you have time to visit, you will learn lots about the wine making process.

Cheers,

Baldwin Wins Double Gold

2006-10-04T10:29:00.000-04:00

Baldwin Vineyards won a double Gold Medal for their Strawberry Wine. This made their Strawberry Wine the Best Fruit Wine in New York State for the third year in a row.

Congratulations Pat and Jack!!!

Benmarl's Winemakers Workshop #4

2006-10-03T17:23:00.000-04:00

Sunday October 22 from 11:00AM to 3:00PM join Benmarl's winemaker Kristop Brown in the cellar.

The grapes have been harvested and are in the cellar. Find out what happens next in the winery!

Celebrate the harvest with Winemaker Kristop Brown. Coffee, donuts, lunch & wine tasting all for $25.00.

Reservations are a must ... Call 845-236-4265 ext. 102.

Benmarl Winery

Annual Benmarl Harvest Grap Stomping Festival

2006-09-28T12:10:00.000-04:00

ANNUAL BENMARL HARVEST GRAPE STOMPING FESTIVAL
Saturday & Sunday, October 7-8
From 12 Noon to 6 PM

Stomp grapes (be just like Lucy)
take a hayride
learn about winemaking
tours-tastings-food
and much much more.

Crafts for the kids ... Vendors for the grownups

This is your chance to be voted by your friends as
the 2006 "King & Queen of the Harvest Festival".

Admission:
Adults, with wine tasting ... $15.00
Designated drivers, non-drinkers ... $10.00
Minors, non-drinkers ... $5.oo
Buy your tickets at the gate.

Benmarl Winery is Open Daily from 12 Noon to 6 PM

Located at 156 Highland Avenue, Marlboro, N.Y

Pictures from the Bounty

2006-08-21T17:18:00.000-04:00

I have posted pictures from the Bounty on the website. Click here to view them.

Glorie Farm Winery "Jumpin Jazz" Wine Label Contest

2006-08-15T13:49:00.000-04:00

Glorie Farm Winery announces a "Jumpin Jazz Wine Label Conterst.

Artists from the Hudson Valley Region, loosely defined as counties that border the Hudson River from Albany to New York City, plus Bergen County, New Jersey, are invited to submit their artwork for consideration to be used on the Glorie Jumpin Jazz bottle. Entry fee is $10 and one submission per artist is allowed. The winning work will be printed on 4” x 4” labels, and artists are encouraged to be creative.

In addition to being featured on the Glorie Farm Winery website as well as promotional materials related to the contest, the winning artist will receive half the entry fees, a case of the labeled wine, plus two free tickets to Bounty of the Hudson 2007, an annual event sponsored by the Shawangunk Wine Trail. The artist’s name will also appear on the label.

For more information and details go the Glorie Farm Winerey Website

winemakers workshop @ Benmarl

2006-08-11T11:46:00.000-04:00

-Saturday, August 19th from 11AM to 3PM
Winemaker's Workshop #3
Benmarl Winemaker Kristop Brown takes a day out of his
busy pre-harvest schedule to lead attendees on a romp
through the vineyard. Want the answers to questions
like "What is Veraison"? Bring your own questions to
stump the pro. We will provide lunch, a winetasting
and complimentary gift to each attendee.
Yes, you should attend even if it is your first
workshop ... each is a unique and fun experience.
Fee and reservation required by Thursday August 17th.
845-236-4265 ext. 102

Congratulations Baldwin Vineyards

2006-08-08T17:03:00.000-04:00

Congratulations goes out to Baldwin Vineyards who recently won Two Gold Medals at the Connecticut wine competition - Armiento del Vino - Double Gold for the Black Raspberry Wine and Gold Medal for their Trilogy (their red raspberry wine which was bottled to celebrate the birth of their Triplet Grandchildren (Ben, Emily & Matt, born Sept 23, 2005)

Congratulations!!!

Adair Vineyards 3rd Annual Cajun Jamboree

2006-08-07T16:15:00.000-04:00

If you attended the Bounty of the Hudson at Adair Vineyards, you will want to go back on August 19th for their Cajun Jamboree. Tickets are $35 (plus tax) in advance and $40 at the door...rain or shine. It is going to be a wonderful day with live music throughout the day featuring Cleoma's Ghost with Jesse Lege and Friends. Lots of fantastic cajun food like; Chicken and Vegetarian Jambalaya, Blackened Catfish, Alligator Gumbo, Crawfish Boil, Banana's Foster and more.

To get your tickets call Adair Vineyards at 845-255-1377

Wines to taste at the Bounty

2006-07-28T09:44:00.000-04:00

I have the list of wine that everyone will be able to taste at the Bounty. Here is a sample

Adair Vineyards: Solitary Oak and Baco Noir
Applewood: Wawayanda White
Baldwin: Strawberry, Blueberry & Raspberry Wine
Benmarl: Slate Hill White, Hudson Rive Rouge
Brimston: Vin Rouge, Vidal Blanc
Glorie: Pear White, Red Monkey
Rivendell: Merlot, Sangria
Stoutridge: Glen Vidal
Warwick Valley: Docs Hard Cider, Black Dirt Red
Whitecliff: Awosting White, Vidal Blanc

And this is just a sample from the 11 Shawangunk Wineries, there are 18 wineries attending. The others are from the Hudson Valley Region.

See you this weekend.
Cheers,

Bounty Line Up

2006-07-27T11:13:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone is ready for the weekend. There are 18 wineries and may other vendors.

Here is the lineup from the WDST Stage

Saturday:
12p Vicky Russell
1p Todd Giudice
2p Valen
3p The Trapps

Sunday
12p Martine
1p Bibi Farber
2p Kurt Henry Band
3p The Trapps

I hope to see everyone there.