Hudson Valley Spotlight - Millbrook Winery

Millbrook Vineyards and Winery is the Flagship winery of the Hudson Valley. I look back to 1987 when I dropped off travel documents to a former co-worker Lori, who had taken the marketing position at Millbrook and gave me my first Hudson Valley winery tour and today, how Millbrook has grown. I guess it’s good to say that I’ve seen a lot of my ‘babies’ grow in the Hudson Valley. It’s always nice to check in periodically to see what is new and exciting.

The last time I was there they had pulled out a bunch of vines in the front. Last summer they were planted with Chardonnay, Riesling, Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir. This is a first planting of Gamay Noir for them. I just hope that the very cold temperatures that were experienced in January didn’t do any harm to those young vines. It will be at least 3 years before we will see anything produced from these planting, but I can’t wait for the Gamay!

If you haven’t been to Millbrook recently they’ve made some wonderful improvements to the tasting room. They have their Reserve Room which is great for private tastings for small groups. Beginning Memorial Day weekend at 4pm the Reserve Room will be hosting a wine and cheese pairing featuring Spout Creek cheeses. If you are going to be in the area, make reservations for that tasting. I have not met a Sprout Creek cheese I didn’t like, not a Millbrook wine for that matter.

Their Vineyard Taproom and Terrace if a nice cozy room overlooking the vineyard. I’ve sat in there with the fire going relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine. This winter on weekends through March you can hang out by the fire with a glass of wine and a bowl of Chile from the Slammin’ Salmon for $6. Every weekend you’ll find a different chili. Here is the schedule of the upcoming chili weekends.

Just in a couple of weeks is Valentine’s Day an if you don’t have plans yet, consider their Wine & Dessert pairing at 1pm. These desserts (can you see I have a sweet tooth!) all look so good! After the dessert pairing you can head up to the Vineyard Tap room and have a bowl of Green Chili and a glass of wine. Think of it as a backwards lunch.

Every month leading into the summer with their Decadent Delights series. March 17 is Wine & Irish Cheese; April 21 Wine & Popcorn; May 12 Wine & Sushi; and June 16 Wine &; Pate. Back by popular demand is Food Truck Friday. Start the weekend enjoying Millbrook wine and dinner from local food trucks 5pm - 8pm. Saturdays is Jazz at the Grille where you can enjoy dinner and regional jazz acts from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

If all this eating and drinking has you worried about your waistline, worry no more. You can sign up for the ‘Un-wined’ Wednesday which is an evening yoga series that runs May through September.

Other exciting things to look out for from Millbrook is their 90 point rating for their 2016 Dry Riesling Proprietor’s Special Reserve and 91 point rating for their 2016 Castle Hill Riesling in the March issue of Wine Enthusiast. Congratulations!

Millbrook Vineyard & Winery's John Graziano Wins "Grower Award"

I am so lucky to be involved with the Hudson Valley wine industry. It’s moments like this that I feel so fortunate, and it’s when I’m honoring someone that it brings tears to my eyes.

John Graziano has been Millbrook Vineyard & Winery’s winemaker and vineyard manager since the beginning. He’s the one and only winemaker/vineyard manager at Millbrook. A few weeks ago he was honored by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation at their Unity Banquet receiving the Grower Award. The Unity Banquet was created about 30 years ago to recognize, encourage and celebrate cooperation among grape growers, wineries, grape juice producers and others to advance the entire industry. Nominated by Michael and Yancey Migliore of Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery, John was awarded the Grower Award which recognizes vineyardists who have made exceptional contributions to the New York grape and wine industry. John is a winegrower who manages everything from the vineyard to the cellar at Millbrook.

John couldn’t make it to the Unity Banquet, I didn’t either, but the award was passed to me to present to John. On Thursday, March 9, I stopped in at Millbrook and John was labeling some Pinot Noir for a private label client. He stopped what he was doing and I presented the award to him. I wish I had my camera out at the time to capture the moment. I wanted to do a Facebook Live broadcast but I knew if I did, he would have ran and hid behind the barrels.

When John opened the box the award was in, the expression on his face choked me up and my eyes swelled up with tears of joy. I’m sure John didn’t know I was observing so intently, but the look of pride and accomplishment on his face and I’m sure a tear or two in his eyes was one of the happiest moments I’ve experienced in the Hudson Valley wine industry. Congratulations John it’s well deserved!

My Favorite Chef Peter X. Kelly to Guest Chef at Millbrook's Harvest Party

I am sooo excited!  One of my favorite chefs is going to be the "Guest Chef" at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery's harvest party.

If you have never attended one of Millbrook's harvest party, you must come.  It is a first class event with the beautiful fall foliage of the vineyard as the backdrop. The food is always amazing and this year will be no different with Chef Peter X. Kelly.

Peter X. Kelly is the Chef  owner behind Restaurant X & Bully Boy Bar, X20 Xaviars on the Hudson, Xaviar's at Piermont and The Freelance Cafe and Wine Bar. A Hudson Valley native and although he's a couple years older than me, we went to the same high school (Roy C. Ketcham). His food and service is outstanding!

What can you expect at this harvest party? Definitely a good time and great food! You get to meet new friends and in my case, I got to meet two twitter friends at the last harvest party I attended, Marty Gardner (@MartyGardner)  and Veronique Deblois (@foodwinechickie). I can't wait to see them again this year.

There is always the question of what to wear. Most people get somewhat dressed up. Paul wore jeans with a nice shirt and that was acceptable.

The event begins in the Vineyard Grille where we will be sipping on 2015 Tocai Fruilano Proprietor's Special Reserve, 2015 Hunt Country White, 2014 Pinot Noir and Hunt Country Red and snacking on some wonderful appetizers. Then we move into the big tent for a first class meal featuring 4 courses paired with their wine prepared by Chef Peter X. Kelly.You know it is going to be good! Then there is usually a game played where everyone participates and your table is your team. Not sure what Stacy has in mind this year, but you know it will be fun.

Here's your invitation along with the delicious menu. Come join me and have some fun at the Harvest Party. Reservations must be made by October 10. I'll see you there!

Millbrook Vineyard & Winery Harvest Party Invitation

Enjoying The Harvest Party at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

If you saw my previous post leading up to Millbrook's Harvest Party, you will see that of all these years I wasn't able to attend due to scheduling conflicts.  Well this was the year, the year I had nothing on my calendar Saturday, October 18 so guess what I attended? I can't believe it took all these years to get me to this event.

What began as a cloudy and bit chilly day turned out to be beautiful afternoon dining on dishes prepared by the chefs of the Culinary Institute of America and paired with the great wine from Millbrook Vineyard & Winery.

Not knowing what to expect and having no expectations, I was floored!  I felt like I was attending a wedding, best was I didn't have to bring a gift and actually received one.

Every person or couple attending received an advance copy of WineWise by Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith and Michael A. Weiss.  I am privileged to personally know Steven, have known Brian (sadly he has passed) and got to listen to Michael address the crowd with his humor as he is a great speaker on wine.

The afternoon began with wine and appetizers by the pond.  Not knowing if I would know anyone attending, I ran into Jerry and Janet from The Valley Table. I have known Jerry and Janet for a long time and it was great to catch up with them.  Their publication is a great link to the farm to table movement in the Hudson Valley and they are the creators of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week. (Which begins November 3)

Jerry & Janet from The Valley Table

After an hour or so we were ushered over to the tent for the wine pairing.  When I say it was like a wedding, we all had table cards (assigned seats) there was even a table challenge to see if our table was "WineWise." A game to be played.

Paul & Paul chatting before entering the tent

The pressure was on for my table.  But I think we were disqualified because Paul is a winemaker, we sat with Paul Gatti, Millbrook's Cellar Manager, but Lydia, and MaryKay from Dutchess Tourism was insistent that we (I) fill out the quiz.  I did, everything but the Team Essay, Haiku.  That I deferred to them.  

The first course was prepared by the chefs at Bocuse Restaurant.  Smoked Trout with Horseradish Cream, Radishes, Shallots, Citrus Vinaigrette paired with Millbrook's 2013 Dry Riesling Proprietor's Special Reserve, Hudson River Region, Estate Bottled.  Yummy is all I can say!

Second course was prepared by Ristorante Caterina De' Medici, Cannelloni with Braised Beef & Lobster paired with 2012 Millbrook Chardonnay Proprietor's Special Reserve and 2014 Millbrook Pinot Noir.  This I have to say was my favorite.  Amazingly, each of the flavors from each of the Cannelloni's stayed within each other. The pairings fantastic! This was my favorite dish of the day.

I have to laugh for the third course pairing. If you ever followed my posts on the CIA Winter Dining Series, one year I attended 4 dinners and each of them we were served lamb.  The third course was prepared by the American Bounty Restaurant which paired Grapevine Grilled Rack of Lamb, Wild Mushroom Ragout, Brussel Sprouts with Chestnuts, Parsley Oil, Cabernet Jus with Millbrook's 2012 Cabernet Franc, Proprietor's Special Reserve. The lamb and pairing was great, but I have to ask what is the lamb connection and the Culinary?

Dessert was prepared by the Apple Pie Bakery Cafe.  If you are ever in Hyde Park, you can drop in at the Apple Pie Bakery and pick up a sweet, or lunch, no reservations required.  Dessert was Milk Chocolate Marquis with Apple Butter Center & Warm Local Pear Compote paired with Millbrook's first Ice Wine a 2013 Riesling.

When you go to these events, you wonder who you'll meet.  Well, after posting a picture on Instagram I saw that Veronique Deblois aka @foodwinechickie was also at the event.  One tweet over to her and she said was three tables away.  It was great to meet her in person! Hopefully I'll see her at other events. Oh social media, what did we do before you existed?

In all, the Harvest Party at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is a must!  I just can't believe it took me so long to attend or should I say, clear my calendar.

TasteCamp - Hudson Valley

The view from Millbrook's tasting room

This past weekend was the yearly event TasteCamp which is held in a wine region on the Eastern side of the United States every year.  I was thrilled when it was announced that they had chosen the Hudson Valley and the date was Columbus Day Weekend, the busiest weekend of the year.  

The organizers The New York Cork Report's Lenn Thompson and Drink Local's Michael Michael Wangbickler chose this weekend and at first I thought, the busiest weekend of the year, but then it truly highlighted the best, the Hudson Valley during harvest.

I attended the events on Friday and could only attend Saturday evenings dinner at Tousey. I will go into detail later about each winery and the new things I learned. In the meantime, here are some pictures of the weekend.

The gathering began at Noon in the vineyard at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

Chardonnay grapes from Long Island at Millbrook

Processing the Chardonnay

Michael & Carlo tasting selections from Millbrook

Tasting Clinton Vineyards sparkling and Seyval



Kristop Brown, winemaker at Robibero Family Vineyards addressing the group

 

Robibero selections for tasting.

Bad Seed Cider at the grand tasting at Robibero

Benmarl selections at the grand tasting at Robibero

Clearview Vineyards at the grand tasting at Robibero

Frank from Clearview pouring Tiffany from Robibero a tasting

Dinner selections at Whitecliff Vineyards

Beautiful table arrangements at Tousey for dinner

The bloggers gather at Tousey

Tousey's Scarlet Tiger label (wait till you hear the story behind this!)

Bottled just for us

Great presentation of lamb for dinner

Remy and Katie having a great time

Evan presenting Carlo a gift of appreciation

Getting carried away and having fun

Many wines were tasted, new friendships formed and old friends visiting!