The face of Hudson Valley Wine - What's in the Label

A label can tell a lot about a wine, it can hold a secret, tell a family story or describe a friend.  How many times have you gone into the wine store and purchased a bottle because you liked the label?  I am guilty of that.  


The time has come for the first Hudson Valley Wine Label Award Competition, "The Face of Hudson Valley Wine." sponsored by Hudson Valley Wine Magazine.   Awards will be given to the best-designed labels in several categories, including: Best Type Design, Best Use of Illustration or Photography, Most Memorable Label, among others. Labels will be judged by a distinguished panel of four top design, branding and marketing industry professionals.  More information on the competition can be found at http://bit.ly/cMzc9m 


Do you judge a wine by it's label?

The Mardi Gras Experience

I've been out of town the past week in New Orleans attending Mardi Gras festivities.  This wasn't my first time in  New Orleans, in fact it was my fifth.  This trip I stayed at the Omni on St. Louis and Royal.  Other trips I've stayed at the following hotels which are all in the French Quarter and just as nice.

• Sheraton on Canal
• Ritz Carlton
• Sonesta Royale
• W

Here are some of my notes and experiences during Mardi Gras 2010

• Best if your accommodations are off Bourbon Street - noise and crowd level easier to deal with
• If you don't like crowds, don't go to Mardi Gras
• It can be cold in New Orleans in February. Make sure you pack some winter items, especially gloves
• You don't have to lift your shirt to get beads on Bourbon St

• Best to watch parades on Canal Street down by the Sheraton
• There are many parade the week leading up to Fat Tuesday.

(Drew Brees - NO Saints QB - King of Bacchus)

• You will collect many beads at the parades as they are thrown off the floats
• Beads hurt when they are thrown off floats, especially when they hit you in the face

• If you can go to a Ball, worth the money. Women need a gown and men need to dress in a tux.  The parade actually goes through the convention center.  You get lots of beads.

(Sean Payton NO Saints Coach holding the Lombardy Trophy)

• The food is not heart healthy.  If it's not made with 2 pounds of butter, it's fried.

• Elizabeth's has a great brunch.  Praline Bacon, Eggs Florentine (poached eggs served over home fries with a spinach sauce and 10 fried oysters)

• I like oysters, but they don't like me.
• Emeril's has the best Texas Red Fish
• Mr. B's has the best BBQ Shrimp

• Get your Beignets at Cafe Du Monde at midnight - there is no line.

(The girls with artist and gallery owner Matt Rinard)

• Art galleries on Royal are worth going into and browsing.  They aren't as expensive as you think.

• The climax of festivities is Fat Tuesday on Bourbon Street.  Make sure you go to the Bourbon Street Awards. It is the best costume contest hosted by Bianca.
• Verizon cell service works best in New Orleans.  I was the only one with cell service all the time.  ATT & Sprint were not very reliable. (I guess the map on the commercial is true)
• Most of all make sure your liver and stomach are up for the visit.  Bring plenty of Pepcid AC, Tums and Advil.

Exploring Wine Country part 4

Farewell Kristop - Good Luck

It's sad news for the Hudson Valley Wine Region, but good news for the Washington State Wine Industry.  Kristop Brown, winemaker at Benmarl Winery has decided to leave the region and the Oldest Vineyard in America to further his winemaking skills in Washington State.

I've known Kristop for many years, back when he worked at Millbrook Winery. That is where we met and  his career in the wine industry began. He then made the move to Benmarl and apprenticed under Eric Miller where he blossomed into the winemaker he is today.  When the Miller's sold Benmarl to the Spaccarelli Family, Kristop became head winemaker.  He has won may awards for his wines as you can see in the above photo.

In a phone conversation with Kristop he said he "loves the Hudson Valley Wine Region" and does plan to return in the future.  He said he will miss the closeness of the local wine industry, but I think he will find the same where he settles.

To my friends and fellow bloggers in Washington State- treat Kristop and his family well. If you run into him during the WBC - give him a hug from me.

Kristop - I expect wonderful wines from you.  Paul and I will be out to visit!

Palaia Vineyards celebrates Valentines Day & Mardi Gras all weekend

Join Palaia Vineyards beginning Thursday February 11 as they begin the weekend celebration of Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras.Thursday evening from 7p - 10p special treats for the ladies  that include chocolate of course.  Pair the chocolate with their Cab Franc or Merot - yummm!  Saturday night is the incredible band "Groovy Tuesday" for a valentine's evening of fun from 7-10. And, Sunday the 4 perfectly blended voices of "JADE" from 2:30-5:30. 

Friday February 12th is Mardi Gras night with masks and beads at the door and the fabulous Bruce Perone playing from 7-10.  I will be thinking of all of you celebrating Mardi Gras at Palaia as I will be New Orleans celebrating and collecting beads for next years party.


Don't forget food is available at Palaia - try their gourmet bread/fruit/cheese and antipasto platters to more substantial fare such as chili, soup and baked clams.  

Mardi Gras and Valentines Day Wine Tasting Party at Brotherhood

Join Brotherhood Winery as they host a Mardi Gras Valentine Wine Tasting Party February 13, 2010 from 7pm-10pm.

This is a great 2 for one holiday event.  Where else can you take your loved one for Valentines Day and celebrate Mardi Gras at the same time with wine and food.

Mardi Gras Valentine Wine Tasting Party will feature wine, food, live music, dancing and of course Brotherhood’s world famous atmosphere. Each of the three open wine tasting bars – The Red Bar, the White Bar and the Dessert & Champagne Bar – will offer a selection of Brotherhood wines and champagnes along with foods and appetizers specifically paired with each tasting bar.

Join Brotherhood Winery and celebrate two of America’s famous holidays at America’s Oldest Winery.  The cost is $50 per person and includes foods and appetizers paired at each tasting bar.  The party runs from 7pm - 10pm .  For more information and to register click here.

Wine for Haiti - A taste of the Hudson Valley - Lot 77

Lot 77 on the auction block for Wine for Haiti is a selection of Hudson Valley Wine.  I would personally like to THANK the following wineries for making donations to this cause:

• Hudson-Chatham Winery
• Palaia Vineyards
• Brookview Station Winery
• Brotherhood Winery
• Clinton Vineyards
• Warwick Valley Winery

A special Thank You to Robibero Vineyards.  They are a new kid on the block and they haven't released any wine yet, but they purchased and donated a bottle of Brotherhood Chablis and Magnanini to the lot.  The rest of the wines came from my private collection..

As I write this bidding is up to $70 for the case. This is a great selection of Hudson Valley Wines and a great way to get a taste of the Valley.   If you are interested go to Palate Press and bid on Lot 77. You won't  be disappointed.

A spicy weekend in the Valley

It's going to be a hot and spicy weekend in the Hudson Valley.  Come in from the cold and warm up at these two events.

 Saturday, February 6 you can feel the heat at Hudson-Chatham Winery from noon to 5:30. Pair some of Larry's Sauces with some Gewuztraminer and see how the spice and the semi sweetness of the wine blend together. Available for tasting will be samples from his line of Southwestern Ranchero and Chipotle Sauces made with healthy all natural ingredients.

They will also have jalapeno cheese from Harpersfield, Maple-Chipotle cheese from R&G, chutneys with zing from Beth's Farm Kitchen, homemade "hot" chocolates from Vasilow's and other spicy goodies.

If you can't make it out on Saturday, Sunday February 7 - pre-game activities - the tasting room staff at Millbrook Winery's Chili Cook-off from 1pm - 4pm.  Tasting room staff Barbara and Stacey are squaring off on whose chili is the Number 1.  Both chili's will be paired with a Millbrook Wine as part of their regular tasting.

Get out of the cold and head to the tasting room to warm up this weekend.

Apples and Pears

What do you get when you mix the fruit Apple and Pear?  You get Pomona by Brookview Station Winery.   Pomona is a tree fruit wine crafted with Apples and Pears.  The fruit is pressed in the apple press and blended together and put in stainless steel tanks fermentation begins and you have an end result of an Semi-Sweet Apple-Pear Wine.

Note - it is the fruit that is blended together, not the wine.

As I tasted this wine, I got a strong flavor of pear with a hint of apple and a nice finish.  When I voiced to Karen that I tasted mostly pear, she told me I like dry wine.  I did not voice my preferences prior to tasting.  When I told her she was correct, she informed me that people who like dry wine taste the pear in the Pomona.  People who like sweet wine taste the Apple.

I challenge you to taste Brookview Station's Pomona and tell me what fruit flavor stands out on your taste buds.

Oh What a Pear

If it smells like a pear it must be a pear.  That is what the  when I tasted "Oh What A Pear!" Pear Wine by Brookview Station Winery. This semi dry wine was everything pear, but not over done and not to sweet.  Stainless steel fermented and very well balanced.

Once again a tree fruit wine that was crafted delicately and has a nice appeal.

Fruit Wine

I will be the first to admit, I tend to shy away from fruit wine.  Wine made with apples, pears, cherries, etc.  In keeping an open mind, I recently had the opportunity to taste wine from Brookview Station Winery.  Brookview Station is located just outside Albany, NY in Castleton.  They make wine from fruit from their orchards.

All their fruit wine is processed in their cider press and aged in stainless steel tanks.

I'll begin with the Whistle Stop White.  This is a semi sweet Apple Wine.  We know I'm not much for sweet wines, but this wine wasn't that sweet.  Believe it or not, it had a dry finish.  The apple was not overpowering in this wine.  It was well balanced and I found that in all the fruit wines I tasted from Brookview Station.  This wine would be great and refreshing on a hot summers day.

I will review more of Brookview Stations wines this week.   Upcoming posts are Pear Wine, Apple-Pear Wine, Strawberry Sunrise.