WinesNY.com has a fantastic feature on Hudson Valley Wine Region. It features the history of the valley's wine and wine making, the terroir and the Top Hudson Valley Winemakers. In addition they have rated the wines and the ratings are quite good!!!
Visit Winesny.com for the complete article
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For all those who love Riesling the International Riesling Foundation has launched a website www.drinkriesling.com This website will provide you with a broad base of information about Riesling wines from around the world.
You will be able to learn about the grapes, the different variety of Riesling wines that are made. There is a tasting profile and an area on what foods go well with Riesling and recipes. Last but not least, there is an area that tells all about the different regions that produce Riesling. Old World, New World and the Origins of Riesling.
If you like Riesling or want to learn more about the varietal...check out www.drinkriesling.com
You will be able to learn about the grapes, the different variety of Riesling wines that are made. There is a tasting profile and an area on what foods go well with Riesling and recipes. Last but not least, there is an area that tells all about the different regions that produce Riesling. Old World, New World and the Origins of Riesling.
If you like Riesling or want to learn more about the varietal...check out www.drinkriesling.com
The year was 1992 when Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States. Phyllis and Ben Feder, owners of Clinton Vineyards in celebration of the election, released the first vintage of "Victory White" . Victory White is 100% Seyval Blanc. The year President Clinton was re-elected they released the second vintage of "Victory White" that was 1996.
In the late spring, Clinton Vineyards will be releasing their third vintage "2008 Victory White" in celebration of Barack Obama's Presidency. This vintage will be made with 100% Seyval Blanc as well.
I am really becoming a fan of Seyval Blanc. It's crisp and fresh, leaves you with sense of enjoyment after a glass or bottle. Goes very well with shell fish, and is wonderful on a hot summers day. (As I say that, it's +2 degrees outside and I'm waiting for that hot summers day)
Contact Clinton Vineyards to reserve your 2008 Victory White. It's sure to be a sell out.
In the late spring, Clinton Vineyards will be releasing their third vintage "2008 Victory White" in celebration of Barack Obama's Presidency. This vintage will be made with 100% Seyval Blanc as well.
I am really becoming a fan of Seyval Blanc. It's crisp and fresh, leaves you with sense of enjoyment after a glass or bottle. Goes very well with shell fish, and is wonderful on a hot summers day. (As I say that, it's +2 degrees outside and I'm waiting for that hot summers day)
Contact Clinton Vineyards to reserve your 2008 Victory White. It's sure to be a sell out.
I've been thinking for a few weeks how to write this post. It is with great sadness that I bring this news to you. Rivendell Winery closed its doors the end of December 2008.
Rivendell Winery was one of the founding members of the Shawangunk Wine Trail. Bob Ransom and Susan Wine have done a great deal for Hudson Valley Wines and New York Wines. They opened Vintage New York with a stores in SoHo and the Upper West Side. These two stores have also been closed.
As I can explain to you the issues that surround their closing, I think it's best if you visit their website and read for yourself. http://tinyurl.com/7z8nrl
I wish them the best and hope to see them re-open in the future.
Rivendell Winery was one of the founding members of the Shawangunk Wine Trail. Bob Ransom and Susan Wine have done a great deal for Hudson Valley Wines and New York Wines. They opened Vintage New York with a stores in SoHo and the Upper West Side. These two stores have also been closed.
As I can explain to you the issues that surround their closing, I think it's best if you visit their website and read for yourself. http://tinyurl.com/7z8nrl
I wish them the best and hope to see them re-open in the future.
Breakfast and wine. You don't have to eat it at breakfast. Sometimes breakfast makes a good dinner. This blog post in is conjunction with WBW#53. What is WBW - it's Wine Blogging Wednesday. Blogging with a theme. I am taking part in this with wine bloggers from all over the world.
This Wednesday Twisted Oak's El Bloggo Torcido asked us to pair wine with breakfast food. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this pairing. Wine with Breakfast? There were also guidelines to his. Breakfast had to be paired with a dry red or white. Since I am not a big breakfast person, I had to put some thought into this. My friend Steve makes an fantastic Creme Brulee French Toast, so I decided to do some research and walla...a decision was made and recipe found. In keeping with Hudson Valley Wine- I decided to pair the Creme Brulee French Toast with Drunken Strawberries with an Adair Vineyards 2008 Nouveau.
The French Toast needs to be prepared the evening before. As I was preparing it, I realized I didn't have any Grand Marnier. Since it was 9pm and the liquor stores were closed, I called a neighbor. (lifeline). My wonderful neighbor Kathy came to the rescue and I sent my son down the street in zero degree w
eather to fetch that bottle of Grand Marnier. Thank you Kathy!Let me tell you first about the wine. The Adair Vineyards 2008 Nouveau is made from 100% Hudson Valley Grapes. It is 60% Frontenac, 30% Millot and 10% Foch. Before the Creme Brulee French Toast was ready, I tasted the wine. It was an earthy on the nose with a nice ruby color. It was light with hints of sour cherry. The sour cherry hung around under the tongue.
Now the French Toast has been baking in the oven and was ready to eat. The Strawberries also soaked in Grand Marnier over night. They were very tasty! Went wonderful on top of the French Toast or just right out of the bowl.
I sat down with my glass of Nouveau and Creme Brulee French Toast. I was impressed on the combination. Never thought I'd be drinking wine with my french toast no matter how gourmet the french toast is. The Nouveau stood up well with the french toast it became softer and the sour cherry that hung out under the tongue disappeared.
Thank you Jeff for creating an interesting combination for us to pair.
After the seminar at the Danny Kaye Theatre we walked across the street to the American Bounty Restaurant. This is one of my favorite restaurants on the campus.We were seated and waited for the first course. As we were waiting, the server filled our glass with a Joseph Carr 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. This wine was paired with Ricotta Gnocchi with Wild Mushrooms and Broccoli-Spinach Puree. As we waited for the dish we munched on a cheese roll and sourdough bread. You have to be careful here not to fill up on the bread. It's very easy to do!
The Ricotta Gnocchi was elegantly placed in front of us. It was incredible! I am not a big mushroom
fan and I ate all the shrooms! The wine...this Pinot paired very well with the Gnocchi. On the nose you could smell some alcohol, it was earthy with hints of current. The mid palate on this wine was a little earthy.The second course was Salad. I should define Salad...Salad of Mache & Roast Beets, House Made yogurt, Pine Nut Butter. This was paired with the 2007 Carneros Chardonnay. The beets were very good and I usually don't like beets. (something from my childhood and my mom making us eat those beets from the can..yuck!) These beets were the best part of the salad. The greens in the salad looked like the clover weeds in your garden. Even with the wine, I didn't like the salad. But I ate all my beets. (my mother will be proud) The beets went very well with the Chardonnay.
On to the main course...Roast Strip Loin of Beef, Creamy Farro, Butternut Squash, Merlot Essense. This was paired with two of Joseph's wines. A 2006 Napa Valley Merlot and a 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I wonder if the CIA used Joseph's Merlot for the "Essence." Both my husband and I agreed while the Cab was good the Merlot stood up better to the beef.
Onto dessert...dessert didn't come with a wine pairing. We finished off the evening with Warm Gingerbread Cake, Carmel Apples, House Churned Ice Cream. Now we were ready for a good night sleep.
I've been attending the CIA's Winter Dinning Series for a number of years. It's a great value and a wonderful evening. One thing I noticed...while years ago, if we wanted a second glass of wine, it was poured. Now they just give you one glass and that's it. They need to time their pouring and serving a little better. After they poured the wine for the first course, it was quite a while before the Gnocchi came out. My poor husband had finished his glass by then. I saved some just for the pairing and shared.
If you have the opportunity to take advantage of any of these dinner, you won't be disappointed!
Last night I went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park for the Winter Dining Series featuring Joseph Carr and his wines.
Paul and I met Joseph last year at the NY Wine Expo at the Javits Center. One notable that stood out from our conversation back then is that he was from New York. He's from "upstate" NY. Joseph's definition last night of "upstate" is Albany and above, but most New Yorkers think Poughkeepsie is "upstate."
The evening began at 6pm at the Danny Kaye Theatre where Joseph presented to us his history and 4 of his wines. Joseph was thrilled to have this opportunity and compared it to a baseball player always wanting to play at Yankee Stadium and finally getting the chance. This was Joseph's dream come true. A little history and I'll get to his wines.
Joseph got his start while in college at SUNY Geneso as a wine steward at a local French restaurant. The wine industry was never a career thought until this experience. After a successful career as Sommelier in various establishments and President of Mildara Blass, North America, he sat his wife down one night, opened a bottle of wine and told her he wanted to pursue a dream of producing wine. (he had to open a second bottle the totally convince her) Hence...Joseph Carr Wines were born.
Today they produce fine wines from Napa Valley and Carneros. Maybe I can talk him into producing a Hudson Valley Line to add to his portfolio. I'll have to see...
Onto the tasting:
Joseph Carr 2007 Carneros Chardonnay - This wine was one of the nicest unoaked Chardonnays I've tasted. It's delicately crafted with hints of fresh pear and pineapple.
Josh Cellars 2007 Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot Noir - Josh Cellars was named after his father. This wine was fruity. This wine was a treat because there was only a small production made.
Josh Cellars 2006 Amber Knolls Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine had a some Merlot blended in with it. It had hints of spice and vanilla with dark berry.
Joseph Carr 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is 85% Cabernet, 10% Merlot, 2.5% Cab Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot. This wine had hints of black currant, and slight pepper on the nose. Soft tannins with flavors of plums and dark cherry.
Tomorrow I will review the dinner and food pairing.
Paul and I met Joseph last year at the NY Wine Expo at the Javits Center. One notable that stood out from our conversation back then is that he was from New York. He's from "upstate" NY. Joseph's definition last night of "upstate" is Albany and above, but most New Yorkers think Poughkeepsie is "upstate."
The evening began at 6pm at the Danny Kaye Theatre where Joseph presented to us his history and 4 of his wines. Joseph was thrilled to have this opportunity and compared it to a baseball player always wanting to play at Yankee Stadium and finally getting the chance. This was Joseph's dream come true. A little history and I'll get to his wines.
Joseph got his start while in college at SUNY Geneso as a wine steward at a local French restaurant. The wine industry was never a career thought until this experience. After a successful career as Sommelier in various establishments and President of Mildara Blass, North America, he sat his wife down one night, opened a bottle of wine and told her he wanted to pursue a dream of producing wine. (he had to open a second bottle the totally convince her) Hence...Joseph Carr Wines were born.
Today they produce fine wines from Napa Valley and Carneros. Maybe I can talk him into producing a Hudson Valley Line to add to his portfolio. I'll have to see...
Onto the tasting:
Joseph Carr 2007 Carneros Chardonnay - This wine was one of the nicest unoaked Chardonnays I've tasted. It's delicately crafted with hints of fresh pear and pineapple.
Josh Cellars 2007 Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot Noir - Josh Cellars was named after his father. This wine was fruity. This wine was a treat because there was only a small production made.
Josh Cellars 2006 Amber Knolls Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine had a some Merlot blended in with it. It had hints of spice and vanilla with dark berry.
Joseph Carr 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is 85% Cabernet, 10% Merlot, 2.5% Cab Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot. This wine had hints of black currant, and slight pepper on the nose. Soft tannins with flavors of plums and dark cherry.
Tomorrow I will review the dinner and food pairing.
Here is a link to the Shawangunk Wine Trail's January Newsletter.
http://is.gd/fH1W
Enjoy and Drink Local!
http://is.gd/fH1W
Enjoy and Drink Local!
Some of the local wineries are closed for the winter. Adair Vineyards is one and will reopen April 18, 2009. In the meantime you can find Marc and his wines at the following farmers markets.
• 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
• 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
During the Holidays while out shopping for a dishwasher and fridge, I headed up Route 9 and kept going until I arrived at Hudson Chatham Winery. They are Columbia County's first winery. This was the last weekend they were open for the season, so we were just in time. They will re-open in April. Their address states Route 66, however my GPS said Route 66 didn't exist. It's HWY 66 according to my Garmin.
Hudson Chatham Winery is situated on the former Brisklea Farms
Ayrshire Dairy. Beautiful views stretch from the tasting room of the Berkshires and Catskills. The winery is housed in the original 1780’s farmhouse.
Upon entering their tasting room we were warmly greeted by Dominique and her tasting room staff. They were having an event on that Saturday “Bubbly Endings and Beginnings,” of course, that meant “Champagne” for everyone. A Mimosa was made for us using their Blanc de Blanc and some orange juice. Their Blanc de Blanc is a semi-dry sparkling wine made from Cayuga grapes.
Once the tasting bar cleared a bit, we bellied up and started tasting the rest of the wines produced by Hudson Chatham Winery. We began with their Seyval Blanc. The Seyval grape is a French American hybrid that grows very well in the Hudson Valley Wine Region. It produces good sugar and acid balance in the wine and used alone as well as blended with other varieties. This Seyval Blanc delivers a fruity nose and a dry and lemony finish that sits in the back of your mouth.
The next wine we tasted was "the big tasting tease!" A Gewurztraminer they were sold out of. It was a wonderful, light wine with floral on the nose and a smooth finish. Would have purchased some if they had it in stock.
Following the Gewürztraminer we moved to the reds. Unfortunately we weren’t able to taste their Baco Noir which I heard was wonderful. This wine was sold out too. You might not be familiar with the Baco Noir grape, as it’s another French American hybrid that grows very well in the Hudson Valley Wine Region. The Baco Noir grape produces a medium bodied, deeply tinted red wine with aromas of vanilla and chocolate. I often think it has a smoky finish, but that depends on the winemaker.
Since the Baco was a bust, we moved on the the Cabernet Franc. Cab Franc is one of my favorite varitials. This Cab Franc was aged in French Oak for 8 months and received a 84 point rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Kudos to Carlo.
As we moved on the next up was a Malbec. This was aged in French Oak for 8 months as well. It was light in complexity with earthy tones. Next was their Merlot which won a Silver Medal at the Hudson Valley Wine Competition in April 2008. It was also rated an 85 by Wine Spectator Magazine. The Merlot was aged in French Oak for 18 months. It was medium in complexity with hints of dark berry and vanilla.
The last tastings were the dessert wines. I am not a big fan of dessert wines, but I must say they were nice and flavorful. As you can see from the picture, the dessert wines are award winning wines. The Raspberry Fine Ruby won a Gold Medal at the 2008 NY State Fai Wine Competition, Silver Medal at the 2008 NY Food and Wine Classic and a Silver Medal at the 2008 Hudson Valley Wine Competition. The Bannerman's
Castle Amber Cream won a Silver Medal at the 2008 NY State Fair and a Bronze Medal at the 2008 NY Food and Wine Classic.
After our tasting we even had time to hit the Sears Appliance Store in Hudson. It had the best selection of dishwashers and fridges we saw that day.
We ended our day at Mexican Radio on Warren Street in Hudson for some fantastic mexican food.
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