Wine of the Week: Benmarl 2024 Estate Grown Chardonnay

 After spending an afternoon canning pickles, standing over a hot stove, sterilizing jars, watching the clock for processing time. By the end of it, I wasn't looking for anything fancy. Just a glass of something good to help me unwind. I reached for the 2024 Benmarl Estate Grown Chardonnay.

One sip in, and I wasn't in my kitchen anymore. Benmarl's tasting room sits high above the Hudson River, and that view came right back to me — one of the best in the Hudson Valley.

That's one of the things I love most about wine. It has the remarkable ability to bring back memories and transport you to places you've enjoyed.

The 2024 Estate Grown Chardonnay opens with delicate aromas of white flowers before revealing flavors of crisp green apple and juicy stone fruit. While this Chardonnay is beautifully fresh, it also has a gentle, rounded creaminess that gives the wine wonderful texture without overwhelming the fruit. It strikes that balance between freshness and richness that makes you want another sip.

It's an easy wine to enjoy on its own after a long day, but it would also pair beautifully with roasted chicken, grilled seafood, creamy pasta dishes, or a simple cheese board featuring local cheeses.

About Benmarl Winery

Perched high above the Hudson River in Marlboro, New York, Benmarl Winery is home to the oldest continuously producing vineyard in the United States, with roots tracing back to grape breeder A.J. Caywood's plantings in 1877. The name comes from the Gaelic "ben" (hill) and "marl" (the soil found on the property), given by artist and owner Mark Miller when he took over the land in the 1950s. Today the winery is owned by the Spaccarelli family and holds New York Farm Winery license number one — a fitting distinction for a place that's been growing grapes on this hillside for well over a century.

Beyond the wines themselves, Benmarl has become a destination thanks to its breathtaking panoramic views of the Hudson River, making every visit as memorable as the wines in the glass.

After an afternoon spent preserving the summer harvest, this Chardonnay was the perfect way to slow down, relax, and enjoy a quiet evening.

Have you visited Benmarl Winery? If you have, I'd love to hear what wine you enjoyed while taking in that unforgettable Hudson River view.