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.

Apples and Wine Signal Autumn's Arrival

Capital Region Apple & Wine Festival

One thing I’ve learned in my few years in destination marketing is that people travel on their stomachs. Some of the most successful destinations take a regional food, incorporate it into a festival, and voilà! People flock! Autumn brings many people to the Albany area for this simple reason: we have foliage, food, and festivals.

One of such festivals takes place this weekend at the Altamont Fairgrounds. The Capital Region Apple & Wine Festival will be the perfect complement to a weekend that is supposed to be mostly sunny and about 70 degrees. Enjoy a craft and quilt show, car show, food vendors, cooking demonstrations and wine tastings all day while music drifts through the fairgrounds. Tickets are a reasonable $8 for adults and can be purchased at the gate or in advance at Price Chopper locations through September 12. Parking is free, and more information can be found on their website.

Another event you wine lovers will want to add to your calendar is Hudson-Chatham Winery’s BACO-NALIA event on October 18th. If you’ve ever tasted their Baco Noir wine, you understand that it’s some pretty incredible stuff; just read the reviews on their new website here. Well, it’s very exciting to announce that they’ll be releasing some additional Baco Noirs in their tasting room that day: their first Estate Baco Noir (BN) made with grapes from the winery; the '13 BN Reserve Casscles Vineyard; the '13 BN Middle Hope Vineyard; and the '12 Field Stone BN. They join the already released '13 BN Old Vines.

Then, at 1 pm, they'll be doing a first-ever vertical tasting of the Baco Noir Old Vines. This is the chance to taste multiple vintages of this wonderful wine. The cost is a worthwhile $35 per person ($30 for their Case Club Members) and includes wines and food.

To cap the day, at 6 pm, they’re celebrating with a private wine dinner featuring only the Bacos. It'll be a true wine-and-dine celebration of Hudson-Chatham Bacos past and present, paired with a 5-course meal. This event costs $75 per person ($65 for Case Club Members). Email Hudson-Chatham winery about reservations to these events here.

For information on other events and festivals in the area, be sure to check out our events calendar!

Hudson-Chatham Winery Announces Summer Events!

We know you'll like this: Hudson-Chatham Winery recently announced a number of summer events that are perfect for weekends and weeknights alike! Take a look at the events below and make plans for your visit to the winery, located just southeast of Albany.

Wine Slushies Day
Saturday, June 7. 12-5
IceDelites will be making wine slushies from all-natural mixes and Hudson-Chatham wines. The perfect kick-off to summer. 12 to 5 pm

Wine & Cigars Night
Saturday, June 14. 5:30-7:30 pm (after regular winery hours)
The folks from Habana Cigar Shoppe in East Greenbush will be at the winery rolling cigars and sharing their expertise while guests smoke and taste wines and enjoy sliders and snacks. Reservations required. $25/person ($20 for our Case Club members). RSVP to info@hudsonchathamwinery.com.

Outdoor Movie Night
Saturday, July 12. 8 pm (after regular winery hours)
Join us as we show the highly entertaining wine-themed movie, Bottle Shock with Chris Pine. A fun movie based on a true story! Enjoy the movie under the stars! ($10 for movie and 1 glass of wine)

Clam Bake
Saturday, July 19. 1-4 open (winery open 12-5)
Clams, salads, corn, chicken, and dessert - all paired with your favorite Hudson-Chatham wines! More details to come.

7th Annual Sangria Festival
Saturday, August 9. 11-6
Our annual fiesta, complete with different sangrias, yummy foods, crafts, tarot card readings, henna tattoos, and flamenco guitar music by the renowned Maria Zemantauski & Jose Miralles!!

Other announcements from the winery:
We are now open Wednesdays through Sundays, 12 to 5 pm.
Back in Stock: Ghent Blush, Lindenwald White, Blanc de Blanc
Happy Hour Fridays start on June 6, when the winery remains open from 5 to 7 pm.
Sangria Sundays start on July 6, when we concoct a sangria to enjoy by the pitcher or the glass.

Hudson-Chatham Winery is part of the Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail. Other members of the trail include Brookview Station Winery at Goold Orchards, Harvest Spirits Distillery, Chatham Brewing, and others. Check out the trail website here for more details.

Hudson Berkshire Wine Festival Plans Announced

The 2nd annual Hudson Berkshire Wine Festival will take place May 24-25 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham, NY.

The 2nd Annual Hudson Berkshire Wine and Food Festival will feature the five beverage trail members - including some of our very own from Albany County - plus other regional wineries, distilleries, cideries and craft breweries. There will also be delicious foods for sale and sampling including gourmet cheeses and creameries, baked goods, grass fed meat producers, crafters, artisans and more!

Johnny and Professor Louie

Throughout the weekend there will be special guest appearances and book signings, seminars of wine and food pairings, home brewing, and cheese making by some of the region’s foremost experts. In addition, Celebrity Chef and Culinary Rocker, Johnny Ciao, will appear on stage to prepare several of his inventive California-style dishes on stage before performing on the harmonica with Blues Hall of Fame Inductees Professor Louie and Miss Marie!

Professor Louie has produced some of the music world's biggest names including New York State's very own legendary group The Band. His music is a delicious blend of Americana, and he will be part of Johnny's Culinary All-Star Band. He performs on piano and accordion accompanied by Miss Marie on vocals and percussion. Johnny will also be on hand at his booth on Saturday and Sunday meeting, greeting, sharing stories and signing cookbooks.

Dates and Times:
Saturday, May 24th from 11 am - 6 pm
Sunday, May 25 from 11 am - 5 pm

Tickets:
A Tasting Ticket includes admission, souvenir tasting glass, and all the wine, beer and spirits you care to taste for one price.
One Day Tasting - $25.00
One Day General Admission - $10.00 (Designated Driver/ Non- Beverage Tasting Tickets)

Click on "Purchase Tickets" tab at the website to buy online www.hudsonberkshirewinefestival.com.

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.

Yono's Grabs Second Nomiation for Top Wine Program!

For the second year in a row, Yono's Restaurant has been nominated and made it to the semi-finals for the coveted James Beard Award.

Yono's is one of 20 semi-finalists in the category: Outstanding Wine Program.

The coveted award is known as "The Oscars of Food." James Beard Awards are granted for excellence in cuisine, culinary writing, and culinary education in the United States.

Oktoberfest Wine & Beer Tasting Dinner at La Serre

La Serre will offer a special Oktoberfest Wine & Beer Tasting Dinner on Saturday, September 28 at 7 p.m. Music for this fun and unique event will be provided by local artist Franklin Micare.

Hors D’oeuvres served at the event will include Bavarian Obatzda Cheese Spread, Soft Pretzel Sticks, Black Forest Ham Stulle as well as Warsteiner Pilsner and Select Wines.

The main menu will feature Stuttgart Potato Soup, Saint M, Riesling, Sautéed Bratwurst, Weisswurst & Knockwurst,  Cucumber Salad, served with Düsseldorf Cabbage Spaten Oktoberfest.

Pork Tenderloin Schwarzer Pfeffer crust, potato pancakes, Blauer Zweigelt, Skeleton , a drink from Austria, will also be a part of the evenings menu.

Guests are welcome to wear Lederhosen to the meal.  Tickets to this event (meal included) are $80 per person. Seating is limited. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (518) 463-6056.