By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor

This year’s first harvest report comes courtesy of Carlo DeVito, owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY.

“Hudson-Chatham Winery, Brookview Station Winery and Tousey Winery have started their cassis crush. Black currants usually come in the middle of July. All over the valley, they’re making cassis. Somewhere between 12,000 to 15,000 bottles of cassis will be made in the Hudson Valley this year. The region is the largest maker of artisanal cassis in North America.

Here’s an up close photo of the cassis being punched down.”