The Hudson Valley is home to over 25 wineries and now home to 3 wine/beverage trails. Opening April 10, The Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail is home to 3 wineries, a distillery and a brewery. The beverage trail runs from just south of Albany, New York to Hudson, New York and extends 44 miles.
Founding members of the Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail are Brookview Station Winery located in Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, Hudson-Chatham Winery located in Hudson, NY, Harvest Spirits located in Valatie, NY, & Chatham Brewing in Chatham, NY. Opening to the public on April 10 and joining the beverage trail is Tousey Winery in Germantown, NY.
"We chose a beverage trail because Harvest Spirits and Chatham Brewing are two exceptional establishments in the county. Core Vodka has won numerous awards, and Chatham Brewing is sold in numerous restaurants throughout the state, including New York City. We can now offer incredibly exciting, quality expereince to the consumer. What other beverage trail features hand-crafted, small batch ales, artisanal vodka, applejack, eau d'vie, as well as gold medal winning classic vinifera and hybrid wines as well as gold medal winning fruit wines? No wine or beverage trail can boast that kind of gourmet fire power."
The trail plans to host three to four events a year. A spring event, a wine festival at the Columbia County Fair Grounds and a holiday event.
8 comments:
I think you missed at least one winery (a new one that is opening around the time this trail launches) and I know that Carlo was working on another winery as well.
No, Lenn, it is stated in the first paragraph "Opening to the public on April 10 and joining the beverage trail is Tousey Winery in Germantown, NY."
Lenn, maybe your thinking of Clermont? they also havnt opened yet ... (http://hudsonriverwine.blogspot.com/2009/02/clermont-vineyards-has-fabulous.html)
anyway congrats Carlo!
All I know is what Carlo told me the last time we talked. Maybe you should ask him :)
Maybe what he told me isn't for public consumption yet, which is why I'm being vague.
Lenn,
He's who supplied me with the info yesterday.
I wish everyone on this new venture the best of luck. I do think it is a forerunner of things to come ...
Im gonna state this publicly now just so I can claim to have said it first; the wineries (as well as cider makers, brewers, and distillers) of the Hudson Valley need to get their act together, forget the Shawangunk and Dutchess wine trails, and have the Hudson trail (we can go with either East Bank and West Bank, or Right Bank and Left Bank, I like right and left). We also, as Carlo and I have discussed, need to ditch the "Hudson River Valley" appelation, and use the simpler and more colloquial "Hudson Valley." Have you ever heard anyone refer to the Hudson river valley (other than geologically)?
...and while im claiming good ideas for posterity, here is one I think is totally original. Many people have been lobbying for a Hudson Valley Wine and Culinary, Phillys Feder at Clinton Vineyards for one, and you too Deb, right? Senator Larking, in his 2006 final report, proposed a grape and wine equipment exchange, a vineyard and winery supply cooperative, and a custom crush facility in the Hudson Valley, as well as what he calls a "wine visitors center," a tasting room with all Hudson Valley wines available for tasting and sale (THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE TASK FORCE FOR HUDSON VALLEY FRUIT GROWERS. Tending the Vineyards: Renewed growth for the Hudson Valley’s Grape and Wine Industry. FINAL REPORT: MAY 10, 2006) ... read it.
well what Im saying is that all these fine ideas could be realized at one perfect location; the grounds of the former Regent's Champagne Cellars on Blue Point in Highland. Its roughly 400 acres, some of it former vineyard, along a huge bluff over the Hudson, directly south of the 250 acre Scenic Hudson Franny Reece State Park. It has dozens of buildings, some made of stone and dating back to the early 1900's, extensive cellars, all done in the style of an Italian villa. The ridge was used in the Revolutionary war, and still has the grave of a soldier from that war. Its a central location, between the Marlboro growing area to the south and the Columbia growing area to the north, just off 9W and the Mid Hudson Bridge, with nearby exits for the Taconic and Thruway. Its super perfect, and you heard it here first! Friends of Blue Point, UNITE!
Rowland,
I am not involved at all with the HV Wine & Culinary Center. However, Hudson Valley Wine Country is the regional branding arm for the valley and it's wineries. Unfortunately the wineries don't seem to be behind it 100%. I think your statement about the Regent Wine Cellar property is a good one and one that can utilize the history of the valley and it's wine making. Maybe you should voice your opinion to your boss and see what she thinks. She is on the steering committee for the Culinary & Wine Center.
Sorry I have come to the party so late. Firstly, Debbie went with the information she was given. She knew about the other entities that were looking to join, but I had asked her not to mention them. I did not know she would post the blog so soon after we chatted (via email), as she knew some wineries were still in the midst of joining. I appreciate Debbie's attempt to help promote the Valley. She is a good and helpful voice in the Valley. No harm, no foul. I'm just glad everyone is so excited about it. We're going to have the premiere, interstate beverage trail in New England. We're pretty excited.
Debbie does a lot of good work in the Valley. And she has only recently taken on the task of helping rectify the HVWC. And yes, Dan, the Valley memebers need to join forces. It's been a disperate and varied group in the past, but I think there is enough good will, and sense of urgency, that many finally get it, and some road blocks have been removed to make that happen.
I think there are enough people in the Valley now who understand that we need to band together to make things happen. I see it happening already, like our NYWE 2010 booth with Brotherhood, Millbrook and Hudson-Chatham spending the combined resources to promote the Valley alongside the Finger Lakes. That's a good start.
And speaking of good starts, I am very proud the Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail is off and running.
For more, go to:
http://hudsonberkshireexperience.com/
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