Browsing CategoryHudson Valley

StillTheOne Distillery 287 Single Malt Whiskey

Recently on a trip to Empire State Cellars, where I always check out the New York spirits, I picked up the recently released 287 Single Malt Whiskey.  The whiskey is a collaboration between StillTheOne Distillery in Port Chester, NY and Captain Lawrence Brewing Company just about 11 miles down highway 287.  The spirit was distilled from Captain Lawrence’s “Freshchester Pale Ale,” aged for about one year in new American Oak, and was bottled last month. According to the distillery’s website, this is a limited quantity “First Taste” edition with Master Distiller, Ed Tiedge’s signature on each bottle.  I hope the limited…

Robibero Family Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Franc

Made with fruit sourced from the Finger Lakes, Robibero Family Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Franc ($40 | Sold Out)  offers aromas of wild blueberries, blackberries and red cherries, black licorice, garden herbs and cinnamon candy. Concentrated but not over-extracted, the palate starts with hat same black and blue fruit before showing woodsy spice, licorice, herbs and enough toasty oak to add a layer of complexity but not enough to get in the way of the intense fruit core. Medium-intensity tannins and a bit of fresh acidity provide a nice frame. Though not overly lengthy, the finish doesn’t drop off either. Robibero is one of…

TasteCamp 2014 Invites Writers to Explore Hudson River Valley Wine Country

Today, I’m thrilled to announce that our TasteCamp will take place October 10-12, 2014 and that we’re bringing it back to New York — in the Hudson River Region. Somewhat sandwiched between New York’s two most prominent fine wine regions, the Hudson River Region doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. Historically, the region has been known for the types of sweet, hybrid grape-based wines that appeal to tourists rather than fine wine lovers, but over the past decade that’s changed significantly. Hybrids are still quite common, but through improved viticultural and cellar practices, quality has never been better. And,…

Winter Vine Survival & Spring Wine Festival

The last snow piles are finally melted after a long winter in the North Country, and while the the season may have been oppressive, those intrepid enough to dwell in it are rebounding with a vigor of surprising quality. This exuberance was evident at the Saratoga City Center this past Saturday when nearly a thousand visitors poured into the inaugural Taste of Upstate event to explore what the region has to offer. In a similar vein, good reports have been pouring in regarding the fortitude of the cold-climate fruits planted in these areas, and of how well they’ve handled a…

Hudson-Chatham Winery 2011 Chelois

Hudson-Chatham Winery,  located in Ghent, NY, has assumed a leadership position in the Hudson River Region AVA when it comes to focusing on quality versus tourism. There are other too, of course — places like Tousey Winery, Whitecliff Vineyard and Millbrook Winery — but what makes Hudson-Chatham unique is that owner Carlo DeVito and winemaker Steve Casscles are leading the region in quality primarily with hybrid grapes. Hudson-Chatham is probably best known for its delicious and surprisingly age-worthy baco noir-based wines but one of the grape (and wine) that I find most interesting in the portfolio is chelois — a…

2012 New York Rosé: Some Standouts, But Mostly Mediocrity

When I endeavored to write the New York Cork Report’s first-ever comprehensive vintage/style report, I deemed rosé the target. Rarely profound, mostly affordable and made by a wide array of New York wineries — it just seemed like a good place to start. I’d treat it almost like a practice run for more “serious” categories in the future. But, mid-way into the tasting, I realized that rosé was anything but an easy a place to start. I was joined for this tasting by three members of the local wine community — Andrew Rockwell, Laboratory Director at Premium Wine Group, Regan Meador,…

2013 Harvest: Hudson Valley Update

Editor’s Note: This short piece was sent to us by Carlo DeVito, owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery and publisher of East Coast Wineries.  So far we’ve had a good year in the Hudson Valley. Many of the hybrids in the region have been picked. Chardonnay, cabernet franc, and merlot are still on the vine. A cold, wet spring gave growers fits and starts at the beginning of the season. Disease pressure was high and frost damage hit certain areas hard. But a dry summer resulted in wonderful grapes that remained. A shaky period during September was a little scary, and some wineries…

New York Wine & Culinary Center Unveils New Awards While Keeping Focus on NY Wines

It probably shouldn’t be a news headline when a state’s culinary center carries a state’s wines exclusively, but it is when it’s the New York Wine & Culinary Center’ After a brief lapse in spring of 2012, the center has made a number of significant changes, with a clearer focus on New York products. That’s true of the restaurant, wine list, and in the news annual awards program that makes its debut Saturday night. In full disclosure, I’m helping emcee the Saturday night event. Yes, there are still tickets available. No, that’s not why I’m writing this piece. I’m writing about…

Robibero Family Vineyards 2012 “87 North”

This blend of 50% vidal and 50% cayuga (grown on the east side of Seneca Lake) is a great example of what is possible with white hybrid blends. Robibero Family Vineyards 2012 “87 North” ($16) is citrusy on the nose — mainly grapefruit and lemon — with a bit of canary melon and citrus blossom. Fruity and medium-light bodied, the palate is super-fresh with straight forward sweet melon and citrus flavors and spritzy acidity. The finish is a bit abrupt and shows a bit of pithy bitterness, this is a fun summer wine. If it were $13 like it was in…