Raise a Glass to 25 Years of the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival

Mark your calendars: September 12–13, 2026, at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY

Some events become traditions.

Others become part of your life.

For me, the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival is both.

This year marks the festival's 25th Anniversary, and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate this incredible milestone. I've been part of the festival since its second year, and watching it grow from a wonderful regional event into one of New York's premier wine and food festivals has been an amazing journey.

Every August, I find myself counting down the days until the weekend after Labor Day. It's a weekend filled with great wine, delicious food, passionate people, and reconnecting with friends from throughout New York's wine industry. It truly has become one of my favorite weekends of the year.

A Festival That Celebrates New York

One of the things I love most about the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival is that it showcases so much of what makes New York special.

Yes, you'll find outstanding wineries from the Hudson Valley, but you'll also have the opportunity to taste wines from wine regions across the entire state—from Long Island to the Finger Lakes, Champlain Valley, and beyond.

Whether you're looking for your next favorite Riesling, Cabernet Franc, sparkling wine, or a grape you've never heard of, you'll find it here.

Even better—you can purchase bottles directly from the wineries to take home and continue the experience.

Not Just for Wine Lovers

Think the festival is only for wine drinkers?

Think again.

Local distilleries will be pouring exceptional spirits, craft breweries will be serving their latest brews, and there's something for everyone to discover.

No matter what you enjoy sipping, you'll leave having tasted something new.

Come Hungry

Of course, no wine festival would be complete without fantastic food.

The festival features an outstanding lineup of food vendors and food trucks serving everything from quick bites to gourmet specialties.

And if you enjoy watching talented chefs in action, you're in for a treat.

This year's culinary demonstrations feature an incredible lineup:

• Chef Vincent Tropepe – Award-winning author, hospitality leader, and five-time culinary gold medalist.
• Chef Marcus Guiliano – Nationally recognized champion of sustainable, farm-to-table cuisine.
• Chef Ric Orlando – Two-time Chopped champion.
• Chef J. Jackson – Competitor on Beat Bobby Flay and Cutthroat Kitchen.

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A Special Milestone for Me

The festival has also played an important role in my own wine journey.

Back in 2010, I brought the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition to the festival because there is no better home for it. If you're going to celebrate the best of what Hudson Valley wineries are producing, you do it in front of the people who love this region's wine most. That partnership has stuck, and every year the competition gets to shine a spotlight on the incredible winemaking happening right in our backyard.

Today, the competition has grown to include wines, spirits, and cider from across the region and remains one of the highlights of the festival weekend. It's incredibly rewarding to see producers receive recognition for their hard work while introducing festival attendees to award-winning local beverages.

Join Me for My Seminar

If you're attending on Saturday, I'd love to see you at my seminar:

The Tale of Two Traminers: Traminette vs. Gewürztraminer

We'll explore the fascinating relationship between these two aromatic grapes, discover how they're connected, how they're different, where they thrive, and—of course—taste through what makes each one unique.

Whether you're a longtime wine enthusiast or simply curious to learn something new, I promise you'll leave with a greater appreciation for both grapes.

I hope to see you there as we celebrate 25 years of one of New York's greatest wine and food traditions.

Thank You to the Team Behind It All

An event like this doesn't happen by accident.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Michael and the entire team at WineRacks.com for their dedication and vision over the past 25 years. Their commitment has helped transform the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival into one of New York's signature food and wine events.

Their hard work creates an unforgettable weekend for wineries, distilleries, breweries, food vendors, chefs, exhibitors, volunteers, and thousands of attendees every year.

Congratulations on 25 incredible years!

Plan Your Visit

Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival
September 12–13, 2026
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY

Whether you're coming for the wine, spirits, craft beer, incredible food, chef demonstrations, or wine education, this is a weekend you won't want to miss. Gather your friends, make a day (or weekend) of it, and join us as we celebrate 25 years of one of New York's premier food and wine events.

Purchase your tickets here: https://www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com/tickets-2

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.

 

Hudson Valley Wineries Win at Classic

The Hudson Valley Wineries took home 24 Medals at the NY Wine & Food Classic.  Congratulations go out to Hudson-Chatham Winery, Benmarl Winery, Brotherhood Winery, Clinton Vineyards, Robibero Family Vineyards, Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Oak Summit Vineyards,Tuthilltown Spirits  & Stoutridge Vineyards.


Here are the Medal Winners:

GOLD
Hudson-Chatham Winery 2008 Baco Noir Reserve Casscles Family Vineyard

SILVER
Benmarl Winery 2008 Baco Noir
Benmarl Winery 2008 Frontenac
Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery 2008 Pinot Noir
Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Clinton Vineyards NV Nuit
Hudson-Chatham Winery NV Paperbirch Cassis of Good Farm
Robibero Family Vineyards NV Dry Riesling
Robibero Family Vineyards NV Riesling
Tuthilltown Spirits NV Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey
Tuthilltown Spirits NV Hudson Single Malt Whiskey
Tuthilltown Spirits NV Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey
Tuthilltown Spirits NV Hudson 4-Grain Bourbon
Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery 2009 Chardonnay
Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery NV Awosting White
Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery NV Redtail

BRONZE
Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery 2009 Riesling
Clinton Vineyards 2009 Tribute
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery 2009 Tocai Friulano Estate Bottled
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery 2008 Pinot Noir Block Five East Estate Bottled 
Oak Summit 2008 Pinot Noir Estate Bottled
Robibero Family Vineyards NV Cabernet Franc
Stoutridge Vineyard 2008 Seyval Blanc Unfined Unfiltered 
Stoutridge Vineyard 2007 Frontenac Unfined Unfiltered

Empire - 1 State, 3 Wine Regions, 3 Grapes, 1 Wine

What comes to my mind when I hear the term Empire is first the state I live in, second is an Empire Apple. Now Empire has a entire new meaning - A Wine! Empire - 1 State, 3 Wine Regions, 3 carefully selected vineyards, 3 grapes produce one awesome one!

The Empire wine is the creation of Carlo and Dominique DeVito, owners of Hudson Chatham Winery. It is a unique reserve meritage blended from three of New Yorks' most accomplished wine regions. Carlo & Dominique took the signature grapes from each of the three regions, Finger Lakes - Cabernet Franc, Hudson Valley - Baco Noir and Long Island - Merlot to blend this red wine.

Two-thirds of the wine was blended and aged in French oak while one-third was aged in American oak for about 16 months. The wine was then blended together in stainless steel, bottled and released six months later.

Carlo and Dominque are very proud of this blend and they should be. They wanted to showcase a New York State wine in a way not showcased before that represents the three major growing regions in the state. To read more of the story about the creation of Hudson-Chatham Winery's Empire click here.

I got to taste this wine this weekend. The first time I tasted Empire was Saturday, with Dominique and Linda Pierro from Hudson Valley Wine Magizine. The bottle had been recently opened. My initial taste was wow, the Baco Noir really comes through on this wine, with the strong spice of the Cabernet Franc to finish. I liked it, but felt the Baco really overpowered the wine. Leather and smoke with a hint of plum in the background and a long finish accompanied by the spice of the Cabernet Franc.

Sunday was a different day. Sunday I tasted the wine at the end of the day with Carlo. This bottle had been opened for a while so it had been "decanted" so to speak. It was a different wine. Soft, brought out the cherry flavor of the merlot, soft spice of the Cabernet Franc with hints of the cedar of the Baco Noir in the background. It was like I was drinking a different wine. Then again, that's what aeration does. My thoughts are this wine is good now and it's going to age very well.

Hudson-Chatham Winery only made 70 cases of this wine. If you are at the winery, or a farmers market and have the opportunity to taste Empire, and like it, purchase it. If you take the time to decide and come back later, you will be out of luck.

Quadricentennial Labels Commemorate the 2009 Vintage of Hudson Valley Wines

A Quadricentennial Commemorative Wine Label will brand special 2009 releases of Hudson Valley wine to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River. Participating Hudson Valley wineries will release one red and one white wine made from 100% Hudson Valley-grown grapes or fruit to commemorate the year-long celebration.

These special gold labels are emblazoned with the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial-themed logo, “ExploreNY400” and will help to place a spotlight on the contributions the region has made in the world of viticulture since its earliest origins. Tourists can visit the wineries or attend one of the many wine events around the region this year and take home a souvenir of the Quadricentennial in the form of a bottle of locally-made wine. More information about the labels and the winemaking history of Hudson River Valley can be found in the Spring 2009 issue of Hudson Valley Wine magazine or online at www.hvwinemag.com.

Nearly 50,000 bottles of these special 2009 commemorative Quadricentennial wines will be available for purchase at participating wineries throughout the Hudson Valley. The wineries include (in alphabetical order):
- Adair Vineyards, New Paltz
- Applewood Winery, Warwick
- Benmarl Winery, Marlboro
- Brookview Station Winery, Castleton-on-Hudson
- Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville
- Hudson-Chatham Winery, Ghent
- Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Millbrook
- Palaia Vineyards, Highland Mills
- Pazdar Winery, Scotchtown
- Silver Stream Winery, Monroe
- Stoutridge Vineyard, Marlboro
- Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, Warwick
- Whitecliff Vineyard, Gardiner

The Hudson River Region is one of nine designated AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in New York State, and is the oldest winemaking region in the country with its grape growing origins dating back to the discovery of the river by Henry Hudson in 1609. Hudson remarked on the abundance of native grapes and fruits growing alongside the banks of the River during his maiden voyage and shortly thereafter, early settlers were encouraged to grow grapes to make wine. The earliest vineyards in the country are attributed to the French Huguenots who settled in present-day New Paltz, Ulster County. There are now over 30 wineries located in the region on both sides of the Hudson River, with the oldest winery, Brotherhood Winery, remaining the oldest winery in continuous operation in the United States.


About the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial:
This year, 2009, marks the 400th anniversaries of the voyage of English Captain Henry Hudson, who led the first European expedition to sail up the river that now bears his name, and the voyage of Frenchman Samuel de Champlain, the first to discover the namesake lake. To celebrate these simultaneous 400th anniversaries – as well as the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s maiden steamboat journey up the Hudson River – New York State is planning a yearlong series of events, programs and projects that highlight the discovery of New York, celebrating the State’s Dutch, French and English roots and heritage. For more information go to www.exploreny400.com.