Exploring Wine Country part 2

A Race to Remember

Every year I begin the new year with the Hudson Valley Alzheimer's Association "Race to Remember."  It's always a good feeling to give and I am on the committee for this event.  It takes place January 10, at Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills.  For $25 you receive a lift ticket, and entry into the "Race to Remember."

Belleayre has been very generous to the Alzheimer's Association.  This year they are offering a combo ticket for $40 that includes breakfast, race, lift ticket and some other stuff.  This is great, because running out of the house at 7:30am on a Sunday to get to the slopes doesn't always include time for breakfast.  When skiing, one must eat a good breakfast so you have fuel to get down the mountain.(or back up after you take a fall.)

Belleayre also has a nice bar for that after skiing glass of wine or beer with Football on screens. 

Tickets for this event MUST be purchased before January 6, 2010 through the Alzheimer's Association.  The paperwork is below.

Come spend the day skiing with me and my kids. You will have a great time!

2010 Alzheimer's Race to Remember   

Happy Holidays

 We are always in search of the "big" tree and this year we got one.  It might have been a tad to big, considering we had to push it in the front door.  I think I am the only person in my family enjoying the tree.

The holiday time is for enjoying and being thankful.  I am enjoying my super sized tree and thankful I have a wonderful family and wonderful readers. 

I am looking forward to the new year and what it will bring for the Hudson Valley Wine Region.  I will do my best to keep you up to date with the news and tasting reviews.

I would like to wish you all a Happy Holiday and a Healthy New Year!

Ring Out the Old and Ring In the New

There are a few Holiday events still going on this weekend in Hudson Valley Wine Country. If you would like to go tasting with your family and friends here are two wineries to visit. I realize they are on opposite ends of the Valley, but you decide which one to visit.


Hudson-Chatham Winery - They will be hosting their 3^rd annual Bubbly Endings and Beginnings event. To toast the outgoing year and usher in the New Year – and to thank everyone who has supported the winery – they will be offering their visitors this weekend a complimentary sparkling wine cocktail. Every day is a good day for sparkling wine, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s is especially good, so start it off right at the Hudson-Chatham Winery. Along with this and our other award-winning wines, the winery will have a great selection of cheeses and 100% natural sauces and spreads to try.The hours for the event are Saturday and Sunday, December 26 & 27, from 12 noon to 5:30 pm. Hudson-Chatham Winery is located 1900 Route 66, Ghent, NY


Applewood Winery -  The tasting room will be open  for the season finale Dec. 26th and 27th from 12-5pm for a Holiday White Sale.  All of their white wines will be marked down 25% for one weekend only; Seyval/Chardonnay, Seyval/Chardonnay Reserve, Vidal, Wawyanda White,  and Riesling all on sale.  After this weekend the tasting room will be closed for the season until April 3rd 2010. applewood Winery is located at 84 Four Corners Road, Warwick, NY

My Wreath Fineries Experience

I waited until the event was over before I posted my experience.  I traveled the Shawangunk Wine Trail on December 5th.  That day they were calling for snow.  Boy, I thought, that will really  put everyone into into the Christmas Spirit and it did.



I began the day at Palaia then went to Warwick and worked myself North.  I wanted to end at Whitecliff because my kids were working there and I was worried about them driving home.  Not that they would drive with me and leave their car there, but at least I could follow them if it did begin to snow.

When I arrived at Palaia all was calm. Jan was checking people in. They were serving Chocolate Mousse which was very good.  I wish I would have gotten the mousse and took it to taste the reds.  Being the sweet tooth person I am, it didn't make it to the tasting bar.

I arrived at Warwick Valley Winery and there was nobody at the check-in.  What was with that. HELLO...  I waited, and waited.  I finally helped myself to the ornament and took a peek at the food which was pork and potatoes.  I can't carry, ornament, glass, camera and serve myself, so I opted out on the food and went on to taste the wines. 

On to Applewood Winery.  They have wonderful food and wine pairings.  They had Blue Cheese Potato Gratin paired with their Merlot.  Fantastic pairing.  The recipe is available on their website and I am going to try my hand at it Christmas Eve serving it with Filet Mignon and a Cab.

Next stop was Brotherhood.  They outdid themselves on this one.  They had chicken, rice and cheese.  Their tasting is done in the church and they pair the wines with the food.  Very nice.  I then made my way to Marlboro.  It had begun to snow.  I stopped at Benmarl.  They were pairing pork, homemade applesauce and spice cake with their wines.  Then Stoutridge and Glorie Farm Winery.

At Glorie Farm Winery, I tasted their Leon Millot.  I am not much on hybrid reds, but I have to say this was very nice.  It had nice balance and wasn't to acidic. I was pleasantly surprised.

I left Glorie and headed to Adair.  This is what I drove in.  In the spirit of the season, I had Christmas music playing in the car and it put me in the Holiday mood.

At Adair I got to taste the Nectarine Wine.  I was there when they were crushing the nectarines. I am going to save that review for another post.  Lori and Marc also have nice wine pairings. They had a quiche and homemade chocolate brownie.

Next on to Whitecliff to see how my kids were doing and to see when they would be released.  I was getting worried about them driving home.  As you can see, my daughter was thrilled to see me.  She was serving potato and corn soup. By this time, the roads weren't to good and I opted not to taste any wine.  I was by myself, and wanted to get home without incident.

I live 35 minutes from Whitecliff.  My son followed me home that evening.  It took me an hour and a half to get home.  Nobody can plan on the weather.   Event tickets are non refundable, no different than that NFL game or concert.  The snowy weather made it so festive.  The snow really brings the Holiday element into the event.  What's Christmas without snow.

If you are wondering.  Here is my completed wreath.

Hudson Valley Eiswein Harvest

Brotherhood Winery harvested Riesling for Eiswein or how many people refer to it Ice Wine this past Saturday.  Not many wineries in the Hudson Valley produce ice wine.

The first time I was exposed to ice wine was in Ontario Canada.  The girl at Jackson Triggs explained to us how they harvest ice wine in January.  It is done in the middle of the night and ends just as the sun rises.  Brotherhood chose to harvest the Riesling for their Eiswein at 9am. There was only 6 rows of grapes harvested.  The vineyard is located in Hudson NY  on the banks of the Hudson River.  After harvesting, they are transported to the winery in Washingtonville, NY for processing.

As you can see from the pictures some of the grapes have Botrytis.  It is those grapes the will be much sweeter. I did get a chance to taste some of the grapes and they were very sweet.  They will make a nice Ice Wine!  The wine produced from this harvest will be in limited supply.

Brotherhood Winery in the Albany Times Union

There was a nice article in the Albany Times Union yesterday.  I thought it would  be worth sharing with you.


Brotherhood Winery in the Albany Times Union    

Exploring Hudson Valley Wines with the Wine Philosopher

I have teamed up with the Wine Philosopher for this video on Exploring Hudson Valley Wines. We take a look and taste 4 Hudson Valley Wines. As I post the series, notice the reference at the very end to Breakfast. I have to tell you, we did this at 10am on a Sunday morning. Bunch was on our minds as we concluded the series.

Wine - Bologna

No it's not a food pairing.  Although I grew up singing the Oscar Mayer B-O-L-O-G-N-A my husband grew up on Lebanon Bologna.  Must be the difference between NY where I was born and raised and Philly where he was raised. 

I have one word for Palaia's 2006 Lemberger - B-O-L-O-G-N-A.  Paul will tell you Lebanon I will tell you Oscar Mayer, either way it's Bologna.

It doesn't come across on the nose.  In fact the nose was a little earthy with a hint of spice.  The taste...Bologna and it lingered in the aftertaste as well.  In fact, I am not sure I have had a wine with an aftertaste that lasted so long.

If you like Bologna, you will like this wine.

New York Cork Report 2009 Readers' Choice Awards

IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM YOU!

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

Please read the original post on the New York Cork Report and tell them your favorite Hudson Valley Wine or New York Wine that you have tasted in 2009.  You have until December 15 to do so.  Don't forget to tell your friends to vote too.

My favorite - 2007 Palaia Traminette.

Please cast your vote!

Adair Vineyard's Cayuga White

I tasted this 2008 Cayuga White while wine tasting last week at Adair Vineyards.  I don't usually like wine made with Cayuga grapes because it taste to grapey.  That wasn't the case here. 

This wine was aged in oak for 10 months and was bottled two weeks ago (three now.)  It was a blend of fruity flavors with a strong butterscotch finish.

This wine sells in their tasting room at $14.50.