Part 2 interview with Steve Osborne

This is part two of my interview with Steve Osborne owner/winemaker at Stoutridge Vineyards. In this episode we speak about his gravity flow winery. This is also available on Hudson Valley Wine TV. If you missed episode one, you can view it under past episodes

Palaia Vineyards - Newest Shawangunk Wine Trail Member

When you are waiting at the Dentist office, what are you thinking sitting there in the waiting room? Me, I usually pick up some gossip magazine and catch up. Jan Palaggi of Palaia Vineyards was sitting in the Dentist office and picked up a business magazine that said “What do you want to do when you retire..do something you have always wanted, or do nothing?” Jan thought..”I’ve always wanted to own a winery.” Now 9 years later her dream is a reality.

Set on a 200 year old cow farm, Palaia was officially licensed as a winery in 2001 and the spring of 2002 they planted their first vines. Today their vineyard consists of 1500 vines which include: Cab Franc, Traminette, Seyval, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. The tasting room opened in 2006.

Jan's labels are quite unique. They are all family members, including one of her when she was a teen. Very nostalgic.

I tasted most of her selections. Her Chardonnay was very nice. Hints of vanilla and lemon with a little oak. The 2006 Traminette was nice. I am so trying to like this grape. Jan crafted it quite nicely. A little minerally, but not overpowering.

I found their 2003 Pinot Noir light and the 2002 was more complex. I enjoyed both Cab Francs I tasted.

Fairly new to the winemaking scene, I expect wonderful wines to be produced at Palaia. She is off to a great start!

All year long Palaia has live music Thursday thru Sunday in the tasting room. Check their website for times. During the summer they have a stage set up on the lawn for music. July 25 & 26 they host a Neil Young Tribute which is a benefit for "Joan's Legacy" in the fight for Lung Cancer and they host a free Pig Roast for their customers. You have to be on their mailing list to be invited.

Palaia is a member of the Shawangunk Wine Trail and will be participating in all Shawangunk Wine Trail events.

Wine Tasting @ River Grill with Vino 100

After a long hike on Sunday up Storm King Mountain, we stopped at Vino 100 wine tasting that was being held at the River Grill on the Newburgh Waterfront. Friends of ours have been bugging us to attend one of these events. She said there are many different wines to try from many distributers and the food was plentiful. The cost was $30 per person and ran from 4p - 7p

Keep in mind Sunday was also the beginning of Hudson Valley Restaurant week where you can get a 3 course dinner for $28.09.

We arrived we were greeted nicely at the door by the owner of Vino 100. He explained to us if we liked the wines being poured, you can go across the street to Vino 100 and purchase them at a discount. There were 5 tables set up with various distributors pouring. Each table had between 4 and 6 bottles from various regions of the world.

The wines being poured were fine for the average consumer. Most of the bottle prices averaged between $13 and $15 before the evening discount. Between $7.50 and $13 with the discount. I did like the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc and Paul liked the Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc. Those were the two wines that stood out for the evening. I think I was expecting a little more WOW.

The food was disappointing, however the Truffle Mac and Cheese was the highlight of the evening. There were no appetizers being passes as I was told there were in previous Vino 100 tastings. I wasn’t expecting dinner, but for $30 per person, I was expecting a little more than truffle mac and cheese, another pasta dish, veggie fried rice and sliced pork tenderloin as a sampling.

An interview with Steve Osborne of Stoutridge Vineyards

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Steve Osborne - owner and winemaker of Stoutridge Vineyards. Here is part 1 of my video interview.

WBW#55 - North vs South

March assignment for Wine Blogging Wednesday was North vs. South. I originally wanted to do Rieslings, but the winery in the Hudson Valley that grows their own Riesling was all sold out. That presented a problem.

I decided to choose Chardonnays. I chose a 2007 Finger Lakes Chateau Lafayette Reneau (Proprietor’s Reserve) Chardonnay from the North, traveling down state to the Hudson Valley’s Whitecliff 2007 Reserve Chardonnay. Then I thought I would really travel farther south, I purchased a Chilean Chardonnay as well as a South African Chardonnay. I am never good at deciding. For the tasting I opened a 2007 Nederburg South Africa Chardonnay. (I'll bring the Chilean to Wine night next Friday)

The Chateau Lafayette Reneau Chardonnay we purchased on our recent visit in February to the Finger Lakes for the Palate. This was not an oaky Chardonnay. The color was a pale yellow. On the nose it was clean and fresh. This Chardonnay, even though fermented and aged 10 months in new French oak, was less oaky with more acidic. It displayed overtones of lemon and pear.

As we travel farther south, downstate to the Hudson Valley, I had a 2007 Whitecliff Reserve Chardonnay in the cellar. The grapes used in this wine come directly from their vineyard. This wine was light and didn’t have a strong malolactic feel. There was oak on the nose, with citrus on the back of the tongue. The wine was smooth and well balanced with a light creamy buttery finish.

To compare the above selection a wine not made in New York State, I chose a Nederburg 2007 Chardonnay Winemakers Reserve from Western Cape – South Africa. Unfortunately I can’t say I’ve been to South Africa, but maybe in the future. This wine was acidity with hints of citrus and apricot. The apricot had a large presence. As the wine began to open the oak flavors were brought to life. As it opened, improved quite a bit all around.

We tasted all of the above wines out of the same Riedel glass (on different days) with cheese and crackers after work. It was a delightful way to end a long hard day.

All the above wines were priced under $20.

Wine Label Contest

Glorie Farm Winery is holding a wine label contest for the design of their "Red Quartet" label. 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.

Last year they ran a similar contest for a label for their Jumpin Jazz wine. This was the winning label.

Good luck to all of you. Stick figures is about it for me.

Millbrook 2006 Pinot Noir

It's very interesting when you taste wine. Subjective I guess. I recently had a bottle of 2006 Millbrook NYS Pinot Noir. (Sorry, no picture of the bottle, as it was a corporate gift with custom label I received at an event. )
As I tasted the wine, wrote my notes and in looking back, maybe this wine needed to be decanted.

Onto the tasting notes....As I poured the wine, it had a beautiful light ruby color. I found the aromas earthy with a hint of cherry. As I began to taste I found sour cherry at the beginning, with black pepper mid palate and spice on the finish. I tend to like my Pinot Noir fruity. I did let the wine breath quite a bit to open up but maybe I should have decanted this wine prior to drinking it.

The grapes used in this wine were 100% Pinot Noir from New York State. They were picked at 19 brix. Ideal bix to pick grapes is 21-23. Remember this in New York and there are many issues out of our control that will force the picking of grapes before the ideal time. Weather being the main culprit . This wine spent 9 months in oak and was bottled in August 2007. It sells for $16.50.

Millbrook's Pinot Noir has one of the highest levels of resveratrol found. Medical studies have attributed the antioxidant resveratrol to help reduce cholestrol and fight cancer.

I think I will go back to the winery and get another bottle and decant it, so I can compare my notes.

An 1890 Bottle of Port

If any of you follow me on Twitter I had a post Thursday about an 1890 bottle of port that tasted out of this world! I will reveal to you it was a bottle of Brotherhood Winery Port. The bottle seen here on the desk of the winemaker after the recorking.I am going to post Colleen Hughes's words as she described the small taste she received from this Port.

"you won't believe, bob called me down to the lab to "see" something.

some angel of a person brought in a bottle of 1890 Brotherhood port, we filled them up and re-corked them and bob took a little bit out so i could smell and taste. once he took the cover off of the glass, a ripe rush of raisin aromas flew up my nose. it was magical!!! unbelievable that something so old can still be in good and DRINKABLE condition! i took a micro sip and was blown away that there was still some valid qualities after over 119 years!!! I thought it would taste like vinegar, but it really was incredible!!! "

One clarification...where she stated they refilled it. They didn't refill it with current port. What they do is take out the old cork that is small and shrunk, thus allowing oxygen in..and fill the bottle with beads or marbles to bring the wine level up. They then re-cork it and seal it. Good as new.

I wish I was there for this incredible moment. Maybe next time.

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Preview

Tuesday evening at the Thayer Hotel on the grounds of West Point was the preview for the 2009 Hudson Valley Restaurant Week. Since I represent Hudson Valley Wine Country, I was there with my wonderful display, pouring wines from wineries that were gracious enough to supply me with an inventory of wine for the restaurant owners and chefs to taste to serve during Restaurant Week.

First I must tell you who is in the picture with me, as I was asked/told to stand with these two handsome chefs for a picture opportunity. I felt extremely old. If it wasn't so cold out that day, I would have worn something more appealing. I look like a frumpy old lady. The handsome chefs next to me were Chef Eric Gabrynowicz of Tavern and Vincent Barcelona of Harvest on the Hudson. Both are advisors of



Restaurant Week. I feel honored! I wonder if I will show up on the cover of "The Valley Table" with these two hunks.

The brain child behind Restaurant Week is Janet Crawshaw of "The Valley Table." The purpose of this evening was to introduce the chefs of the Hudson Valley to the Wines and other products of the Hudson Valley to use in their restaurant during Restaurant Week. Restaurant Week's main focus is using Hudson Valley ingredients, whether it's, veggies, meat, or wine in the recipes, or in the case of wine also available to the patrons on their wine list. It's one price - $28.09 for a three course dinner or $20.09 for a three course lunch at the participating restaurants.

I was there pouring wine with my wonderful husband Paul, whom I couldn't have done it without! We were pouring wines from Whitecliff Winery, Brotherhood Winery, Glorie Farm Winery, Baldwin Vineyards, and Clinton Vineyards. It was a nice representation of Hudson Valley Wines.

We had an variety of wines ranging from Sparkling Wine, Seyval Blanc's, Chardonnay,Rieslings, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignons to dessert wines such as Cassis. All wine selections were very well received.

I do hope to see the wines I poured on the wine list at the various restaurants during Restaurant Week.

NY Wine Expo

Yesterday I took the train into the city and went to the New York Wine Expo.We attended last year which was the first year of this event.

This year I found not as many state side representation.(NY,CA,WA or OR) There were many South America and Down Under wines.

I did taste a wonderful South African Sauvignon Blanc (unfortunately, between holding my coat and glass, I didn't take note on the name) it had wonderful balance. I found many of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs had high acid on the finish. It was disappointing, but maybe a result of the growing season. That high acid finish can really mess up your palate.

We had some wonderful Argentinian Malbecs The favorite for the day was the Malbec that had 90% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cab brought the Malbec to life. A nice pick me up on the finish.

If you have the chance to attended a wine expo like this, I would highly suggest it. It is a good opportunity to taste a wide range of wines from all over the world. If you like a selection, they can tell you where you can pick it up in your home town liquor store.