Here Comes Sangria Fest!

For many people, Sangria IS summer. I know that's quite the metaphor, but from what I've heard, its true. Fruity, tangy, delicious, and refreshing! 

Nothing quite says, "It's summer and I'm loving it," like the perfect glass of homemade sangria and once again this year, the Hudson-Chatham Winery will be serving up summer. 

On August 8 from 11 am-6 pm, enjoy the last bit of summer at the winery for the 8th Annual Sangria Festival! Enjoy the fresh-made sangria, live music, food vendors and so much more while sitting atop the hill at 1900 State Rte 66 in Ghent, NY. 

Remember: no admission fee, plenty of parking, no outside food or beverages, and bring a lawn chair or a picnic blanket! Oh, and really enjoy yourself (responsibly, or course!). 

Click here to check out the Hudson-Chatham Winery's website for more information. 

Paint and Sip at the Winery

Who doesn't love relaxing with friends, doing something fun and creative, and a good glass of wine?

This is the scene you'll be painting! 

I'm not sure. But I do know that Hudson-Chatham Winery is hosting a Paint-and-Sip evening on Friday, July 17th from 5:30-8pm.

Head over to the winery to create a beautiful vineyard scene with Christine Flood of Spirited Creations. For just $40 you will get all the supplies you need, a glass of wine, and some light nosh. But if you want in, you better call and make your reservation by July 14th.

Call or email today to book your spot!
518-392-9463
info@hudsonchathamwinery.com 

An afternoon with winemaker and author Steve Casscles

The Hudson-Chatham Winery will host an afternoon with winemaker and author Steve Casscles this Saturday, June 13. This afternoon will include a discussion about and tastes through grapes (and the wines they make) of the Hudson Valley and other cool climate regions.

Join Steve for a private tasting of several wines he's produced for Hudson-Chatham as well as his own cellar. Steve's "experimentals" are amazing, and his personal narrative of how he makes the wines is extremely entertaining. As you sip through one-of-a-kind wines, you'll also be treated to select foods to pair with the wines, and you'll get a signed copy of his newly released book, Grapes of the Hudson Valley.

Saturday, June 13th from 2-3 PM. All for $45/person ($40/person for H-C W Case Club Members). This tasting will be conducted under our tent on the hillside, making for a delightful afternoon in every way. RSVP to info@hudsonchathamwinery.com. Seating is limited to book now!

Be the Big Cheese with this year's Bread, Wine & Cheese Event

A cheese plate is a delicious substitute for excessive desserts through the holidays (or any time), but figuring out what to include can be a challenge. At this event, you will learn more about cheeses made right here in the Hudson Valley and explore pairings of different wines with those cheeses. After your afternoon at the winery, you'll be the Big Cheese of the Cheese Platter!

On November 15, Hudson-Chatham Winery will host an evening of bread, wine, and cheese: The 7th Annual Bread Wine and Cheese event!



Meet the Cheese Makers and Bakers for the Bread, Wine & Cheese Event:

R & G Cheese 
R&G  produces artisan camemberts, chevres, and unique cheeses with fennel pollen, truffles, exotic pepper blends, and more. Sean O'Conner's fresh chevres come in staples like plain and garlic-herb, but also maple-chipotle, orange ginger, and more. Working with locally sourced milk from cows and goats, Sean makes a diverse range of hand-crafted cheeses that are always super-fresh and fabulous.

Hawthorne Valley Farm
Hawthorne Valley Farm was one of the first dairies in the US to be certified organic. Their philosophy is simple: happy cows and healthy soil result in delicious dairy products, ranging from soft, spreadable cheeses to harder, aged cheeses. Hawthorne Valley Farm also produces a range of baked goods made from flours, grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits that are all biodynamic or organically grown. They will have both cheeses and breads at the event.

Four Fat Fowl
This new creamery's motto is "Cheese worth clucking about," and one taste of their signature St. Stephen triple creme and you'll know why. The creamery is in nearby Stephentown, but with rave reviews pouring in, the cheese is finding its way to stores and restaurants from Albany to Manhattan. And the Hudson-Chatham Winery!

Bonfiglio and Bread
With a shop on Warren Street in nearby Hudson that draws accolades from every foodie in the
Hudson Valley, we're always thrilled when Bonfiglio brings their breads and pastries up Route 66 to the winery for this event. This is Seriously. Good. Stuff.

Sample the products and educate yourself so at your next holiday party, you can confidently serve your guests the best bread, cheese, and wine.

BACO-NALIA at the Hudson-Chatham Winery

Did you know that the Hudson Valley is the oldest wine making and grape growing regions in America? More than 100 years before the first vines were planted in present-day California, the French Huguenots had planted vines in the Hudson Valley near New Paltz, starting a wine-making legacy that still continues today.

Today, the friendly folks at the Hudson Chatham Winery continue that tradition on their rolling acres in Ghent, just a quick drive from Albany. Voted best local winery in the Capital Region by Capital Region Living Magazine, and recipient of many accolades and awards for their wines, Hudson-Chatham Winery is truly a destination for those seeking an authentic Hudson Valley wine experience.

Next weekend, on Saturday, October 18, the winery will be hosting a special BACO-NALIA event, in which all five Baco varieties will be released including: 2013 Estate Baco Noir (from their very own vineyard); 2013 Reserve Baco Noir, Casscles Vineyard; 2013 Middlehope Baco Noir (from their winemaker's vines he planted as a teenager); 2013 Baco Noir Old Vines; and 2013 Field Stone Baco Noir Old Vines (made by aging the wine with stones from the vineyard).

The release will be kicked off with a vertical tasting of all five wines in their tasting room from 1-3 pm. Lite fare will be served with the sit-down tasting. $40 per person.

Following, at 6:30 p.m., a Private Dinner will be served where each course, catered by  Blima's, is paired with one of the Bacos. That's a five-course meal with foods as varied as savory cakes to short ribs of beef and much more! $75 per person.

Space is limited and reservations are required for these special events. Email info@hudsonchathamwinery.com or call 518-392-9463.

Of course, the tasting room is open from 12 noon - 5 pm where visitors may sample all of the Baco varieties or choose from their regular list of delectable wines.

Hudson-Chatham Winery is part of the Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail.

Mac & Cheese... and Wine!

Spend this Saturday on the Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail sampling amazing craft beverages AND home-cooked macaroni and cheese dishes specially prepared for this event. Purchase a Trail Passport at any one of the five venues on the beverage trail for just $20 ($5 for designated drivers)!

If you can't make it on the trail this weekend, you can always head to Hudson-Chatham Winery on Wednesday, April 30, from 5:30 - 7:30 for a Hump Day Happy Hour with complimentary wine and food. This celebration of mid-week and mid-spring is sponsored by Ameriprise, who are opening an office in Valatie. So come out, have a glass of wine, and chat with friends old and new. Oh, and there will be door prizes, too! A reservation is requested and can be made by calling the winery at 518-392-9463.

Other events to add to your calendar:

Saturday, May 3: Vertical Tasting of Hudson-Chatham Merlot from 1-3 pm
A very special wine - and food - event where we sample our Merlots from 2007 up to what's currently aging in the barrel. A fun and fabulous way to compare and contrast some great vintages! $25/person ($20 for Case Club members). Reservations required.

Saturday, May 17: Private Wine Dinner from 6:30-9:30 pm
We're pairing our wines with an outrageous "Southern"-themed, multiple-course menu prepared by Chef David Robinson, founder of the incredible Culinary Command program. We guarantee good eating - and lots of wine-pairing discoveries for your own summer menus. Limited seating. Reservations required. ($75/person; $65/person for Case Club members.)

Saturday and Sunday, May 24 & 25: 2nd Annual Hudson Berkshire Wine & Food Festival at the Chatham Fairgrounds, featuring a dozen wineries, multiple distilleries, breweries, and cider makers - as well as lots of food - at the gorgeous and conveniently located Chatham Fairgrounds. For more information, go to www.hudsonberkshireexperience.com.

Vertical Tastings at the Hudson-Chatham Winery

The Hudson-Chatham Winery will host a series of events entitled Vertical Tastings. Each session will offer tastings of a particular wine through the years. This will give wine lovers the chance to learn more about Hudson-Chatham wines. You'll be able to see how they're aging and what you can expect from future vintages!

Each vertical tasting will feature several different vintages of the same variety offered by the vineyard.

Each tasting will offer a minimum of five vintages of the wine being poured, from barrel samples of the upcoming 2013 vintages to those we've cellared from our earliest vintages.

Guests will be invited to compare the difference between aged and "young" wines, as well as the unique flavors created in each vintage by different growing conditions. This tasting event illustrates how the characteristics of wine change with age.

Each vertical tasting will be enhanced with food pairings created by Blima's Catering. PLEASE NOTE: Attendance is limited to 20 guests for each tasting date. Book now to ensure your place!

The events are as follows:

Event 1: Saturday, March 15, 2014 -
We will be tasting the Chelois, doing a barrel sample of the 2013 vintage and tastings of the 2012 (to be officially released on March 21), 2011, 2010, and 2008 vintages.

Event 2: Saturday, April 5, 2014 -
We will be tasting the Empire Reserve, with a barrel sample of the 2012 vintage and tastings of the 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007 vintages.

Event 3: Saturday, May 3, 2014 -
We will be tasting the Merlot, with a barrel sample of the 2012 vintage and tastings of the 2011; 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006 vintages.

All tastings will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 pm and Full Vertical Tasting with accompanying foods is $25 per person. Reservations can be made by e-mailing: info@hudson-chathamwinery.com. E-mail reservations should contain a phone number and number of seats that you're reserving. Seats are sold on a first-come, first served basis.