Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival Wine Seminars

I can’t believe the summer has flown by so fast and September is right around the corner. You know what that means? It’s time for the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival the weekend after Labor Day. It’s a big weekend for me with lots going on.

We start Saturday morning at 9am with the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition held at the wine festival. If you attend the festival on Saturday you can watch the final round of judging where all the top winners are determined. Just come on over to the building with the garage doors and watch how the best wines, cider and spirits of the Hudson Valley are determined.

Following the competition I will be giving 2 seminars on Saturday and 2 seminars on Sunday. Join me on the demo stage in the building with the garage doors (I know it has a letter to go with it but it’s the small building, last building on the left on your way to the bathrooms)

Saturday at 3pm join me for a Cake Ball and Wine Pairing with three delicious cake balls from Auntie Liana’s paired with local Hudson Valley Wines. You will be tasting the following:

Dark Chocolate Rose - A dark chocolate rose cake mixed with chocolate fudge rose icing, dipped in dark chocolate and topped with an edible rose petal paired with Robibero Winery’s Stray.

Persian Love Cake - Cake is baked iwth hints of lemon and cardamom, mixed in a saffron and rose icing, dipped in white chocolate and topped with roasted pistachios paired with Whitecliff Vineyard’s Vidal.

Lemon Dream - Lemon cake mixed with lemon icing, dipped in white chocolate paired with Tousey Winery’s Chardonnay

I’m back on the stage again at 5pm on Saturday to talk about Sparkling Wine. We’ll talk and taste Champagne, Nino Franco Prosecco and Cava, discuss how they are produced, the grapes used and what makes them each special.

Sunday at 1pm the two Debbie’s take the stage. I have partnered with the Hudson Valley Cheese Lady Debbie Decker who is so knowledgeable in Hudson Valley cheeses. We spent a day together touring the Hudson Valley wineries just to pair the cheeses. Here is what you will taste:

Old Chatham Camembert with Fjord Merlot

Sprout Creek Toussaint with Benmarl Village White

McCadam Hot Pepper Cheese with FREEFALL Sangria

5 Spoke Creamery Harvest Moon with TBD IPA

Back by popular demand for Sunday at 4pm is Auntie Liana’s Cake Balls paired with Hudson Valley wines. If you are at the festival both days, you do want to come to each of the cake balls seminars, because the cake balls are different each day. Here is Sunday’s pairing:

Black Forest Cake - A chocolate cherry cake mixed with chocolate fudge icing, dipped in white chocolate and topped with both chocolate sprinkles and a Very Cherry Jelly Belly® paired with Tousey Winery’s Riot

Green Tea - Matcha Green Tea cake mixed with Matcha Green Tea icing, dipped in white chocolate and topped with green sprinkles paired with Whitecliff Vineyard’s Bourbon Barrel Blonde

Red Velvet - Red Velvet cake mixed with cream cheese flavored icing dipped in white chocolate paired with Benmarl’s Rosé

In between all the seminars you can find me at my table autographing copies of my book Tapping the Hudson Valley.

Join Me September 10 & 11 At The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival

It's time for the annual Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival that takes place the weekend after Labor Day every year.  This is the one event in the Hudson Valley that means  a lot to me.

Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition

I've been working with the organizers since the beginning. It was through my travel business helping them secure lodging for the vendors. It has grown and so have I.  When I was looking for a home for the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition I turned to Michael and Jennifer.  They welcomed the event with open arms.  It's held on Saturday from 9am - 12pm in the small building with the garage doors. (Speaking of I am looking for volunteers to help in the back room pouring wine for the judges. Contact me via email - hvwinegoddess@gmail.com if interested.) If you come to the festival early on Saturday you can watch the end of the competition as the judges determine the best wine and winery of the year.

After the wine competition on Saturday I am doing a wine and cake ball pairing seminar. It's usually around 3pm.  Join me as I pair Auntie Liana's cake balls with 2 Hudson Valley wines and a cider.  Here are the pairings:

• Nostrano Vineyards 2013 Estate Riesling with Auntie Liana's Peach Chardonnay Cake Ball
• Millbrook Vineyards & Winery 2014 Pinot Noir with Auntie Liana's Chocolate Pinot Noir Cake Ball
• Nine Pin Cider Signature with Auntie Liana's Cinnamon Fireball Cake Ball.

All the wines, cider and cake balls will be at the festival for you to purchase afterwards.

On Sunday I'll be hosting 2 seminars. The first seminar is all about the Hudson Valley's signature grape Cabernet Franc. We'll talk about the grape and why it grows so well in the region.  You'll have the opportunity to taste 4 outstanding Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc's from Millbrook Vineyards & Wnery, Benmarl Winery, Glorie Farm Winery and Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery.

The last seminar I partner with Debbi Decker who I call the "Cheese Lady". She's is the "Cheese Lady" at Adams Fairacre Farms in Poughkeepsie.  We will be pairing Fjord Vineyards 2015 Albarino, Whitecliff Vineyards Merlot- Malbec and Nine Pins Cider's Signature with some great local and regional cheeses.

When I'm not doing a seminar you can catch me at my table talking about my new book that will be out next month "Hudson Valley Uncorked" Day Trips and Weekend Getaways to the Hudson Valley's wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and some sights along the way.  There will also be a chance to win a nice picnic backpack, a bottle of Happy Bitch Rose and an autographed copy of the book when it comes out.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the wine festival.  Please don't hesitate to stop me and say hi or offer me a glass of wine.

Enjoying the Hudson Valley Wine Festival

This weekend is the annual Hudson Valley Wine Festival.  Many will be tasting the various wines, spirits and beer of the Hudson Valley and New York State.

I will be at the festival early Saturday for the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition.  Saturday afternoon I will be hosting a seminar with the winning wines from the competition.  Then Sunday you'll find me right back there with Debbie the Cheese Lady from Adams as  for a Hudson Valley wine and cheese tasting.

To help you enjoy your time at the wine festival or any wine festival here is a brief article on how to survive your day.  Remember, bring water and an umbrella.  You need to keep hydrated and it never fails to rain on Saturday at 3pm.   Enjoy!

How to Survive a Wine Fest by Debbie Gioquindo

Results: 2013 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition

Another year, another competition but this one was different.

Every year I contact the same judges.  It's kind of like a cult when you begin to judge a competition.  So many of my judges came back this year.  However, I was faced with a cancellation 4 days from the competition.  So I sent a note out to my judges and Nicholas came through with a judge who is my equivalent in Connecticut. Renee Allan from the Wine Institute of New England. I can't thank her enough for volunteering her time with all of us Saturday morning.

What was different this year?  Let's just say cucumbers.  Remember back in June when I judged the Ultimate Wine Challenge?  We were served cucumbers as palate cleansers. I thought this was amazing as it really worked for me and guess what I have in my garden....so I sliced a few cukes for the competition and I had some amazing results!

This 2013 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition had more Double Gold and Gold Medals than I have ever seen on the 5 years that I have been organizing it.  I attribute it to the palate cleansing cucumbers! But really, I believe the quality of the wine & spirits produced in the Hudson Valley have increased tremendously and this proves it!

Another element to the competition was the Governor of New York.  He was expected to attended the Hudson Valley Wine Festival and was slated to give out the award for the Best Hudson Valley Wine made with Hudson Valley fruit.  This was all a part of his Taste NY Program.  Well the Governor didn't show up and the award was given out by Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy  to Millbrook Vineyards & Winery for their Tocai Friulano Proprietor's Special Reserve. So exciting for Hudson Valley!

It was a little stress full for me.  I was given a table at the Governor's reception to display the winning wines. So as we went along a bottle of the Double Gold and Gold Medal wines were being pulled.  I was on the final rounds (best of) where the winning wines are decided by a vote of all 15 judges. During this time I had the festival coordinator calling me to see if the wines are ready, the Governor's office texting me to find out the winning Hudson Valley wine and I was trying to get through the last most important rounds of the competition.  Yes a little stressful but we got through it with great success.

Congratulations to all the wineries.

Results of 2013 Competition

Hudson Valley Wine Fest and Competition a Family Affair

This weekend is the Hudson Valley Wine Festival.  I've been part of this festival for quite a long time.  It began for me about 9 years ago (festival is 11 yrs old.) when I had a booth at the festival promoting my travel business. Boy have I morphed and grown since then.  It was at that festival 9 years ago that I got introduced to Hudson Valley Wines and began my journey. (That's pretty sad considering I live and grew up in this area and that was my first experience with the regions wine.)

The festival has grown too.  They moved from Greig Farm to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.  Wise choice!  Didn't know how many more thunder storms in a tent I could handle, not to mention the mud. If you haven't attended the festival, it usually will rain on Saturday at 3pm.

The festival has become a family affair for us.  My daughter Melanie has been the cashier for Whitecliff Vineyards at the festival.  All to often that means she is spending her birthday behind a cash register of wine. Not really what a teenager wants to do.  This year I am proud to say she will not be there as she is embarking on a new chapter of her life at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island majoring in Hospitality and Event Planning. (The nut doesn't fall far from the tree, does it.Or I should say grape from the vine)  My husband is often seen pouring for Whiteciff as he is the Assistant Winemaker.

I've worked for some of the local wineries at the festival and last year launched my wine brand Happy Bitch Wines along with Keryl Pesce at the festival. We had festival attendees vote on which varietal of Happy Bitch Rose we should produce.  Number 2 won!  This year you can come buy, taste and purchase Happy Bitch Rose (#2) along with Happy Bitch glasses and shirts. After all you chose the wine!

Last year the responsibility of the Hudson Valley Wine Competition fell in my hands. I approached the festival about holding the competition there.  What a perfect match!  It went so well, that it is now the new home of the Hudson Valley Wine Competition.  We have 15 judges that judge approximately 90 varietals of local wine and spirits in a blind tasting. This takes place from 9 - noon.  If you get to the festival early, you can peek in the building to watch.

Once the competition wraps up you can find me pouring Happy Bitch Wines!  If you don't have your tickets, no worries, you can get tickets at the door.  See you this weekend at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds for the Hudson Valley Wine Fest!

Happy Bitch Wines takes Hudson Valley Wine Fest by Storm

Happy Bitch Wines had a great weekend at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival.  People had a blast at our booth!  Most of the day people were standing 3 and 4 deep just wanting to be a part of something, to be able to have a say.  It was so heartwarming to hear the wonderful comments and well wishes for us.  I think we were the talk of the festival.

Even the guys were getting into it.  We don't discriminate.  And the stickers were a big hit.  "I Spit!" or "I Swallow."

This picture above was taken at 4:30 Sunday.  The festival had begun to empty out and vendors actually had begun to tear down.  All but us.  Look at the crowd surrounding our booth.

I would like to thank everyone who stopped by whether it was to taste and vote or just say hello.  We had a great time and look forward to many more festivals and tastings in the future.

We are busy tallying the votes.  We should have an announcement in the next day or two.

2011 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition Results & Pictures

On Saturday I hosted, organized and chaired the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival.  We had a wonderful panel of judges and I can't thank them enough for coming out on a Saturday morning to judge the wines and spirits of the Hudson Valley.

And the back room staff worked very hard.  It was no easy task...we had 94 entries which was the largest number since I've been involved with the competition.  We had two wonderful CIA students help us.  I hope it was educational for them.

After 3 hours of swirling, sipping and spitting it was time to socialize, eat and taste what wasn't in your flights.  Our lunch was provided by Gigi's in Rhinebeck.

Now for the results that you were waiting for:

2011 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition Results

Happy Bitch Wines Debuts at the Hudson Valley Wine Fest

We've come a long way in a few months and you have all been with us every step.  Now it's time to determine what blend we will produce.  Join us at Booth 45 at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival this weekend for the debut of Happy Bitch Wines and taste 3 different blends and vote for the one you like best.

Come say hi to me and Keryl.  Taste the different blends and vote.  We have some fun things planned for you.

There will be two girls at the glass counter (my daughter Melanie one of them) to hand you a card to remind you to visit us.  Don't throw the card away, the flip side is your invite to the big Launch Party on October 20th.  (and don't forget to wish Melanie a Happy Birthday as her birthday is Tuesday - I love embarrassing her!)  You can find our booth by looking for this banner in Building B.

Keryl and Craig will be pouring Saturday (yes, we do allow husbands to help every now and then) until I finish up with the Hudson Valley Wine Competition.  Then it's Keryl and I, together for the remainder of the festival.

Although we won't have any wine to sell, yes you have to wait until the Launch Party, Keryl will have some copies of her book Happy Bitch for purchase.  I bet if you are a Happy Bitch she will even autograph it for you.

We'll see you this weekend at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival.  If you want to purchase tickets in advance so you don't have to wait on any lines click here.

Designing the Happy Bitch Wine Label

I've always appreciated people who have artistic talent.  When I was in college I was friends with a few graphic designers and illustrators (yes, Matt, Jeff, Pete I'm talking about you) and was always amazed by their work.  Unfortunately when they were giving out the creative gene, I wasn't on that line.  Stick figures is it for me.

Now with Photoshop and Illustrator one can do wonders when you find your artistic ability you didn't know you had. I am still shy on the creative gene, but Keryl is a wiz at designing and has great creative insight.  Designing a wine is a little more than a design.  It has to get TTB (Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau) approval.

We knew we wanted bubbles on the label.  It has to contain of course the Happy Bitch logo, and all the other requirements by the Feds.  Then there is the back of the bottle.  We also have a special message for everyone on the bottle.  All of this has to be approved by the higher ups.

So now we sit here and wait...and wait....and wait....

Hopefully the approval will come soon and we will be able to bottle the chosen blend right after the Hudson Valley Wine Festival.

We will unveil the label and wine at the Launch Party on October 20 at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie.  Your invited, so don't forget to purchase your ticket. Ticket cost is $65 and $10 of every ticket purchased will be donated to Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation.