HUDSON-CHATHAM WINERY

THE HUDSON-CHATHAM WINERY was started by Carlo and Dominique De Vito when they acquired their property in early 2006. The last remaining 15 acres of the former 500-acre Brisklea Farms dairy in Ghent in Columbia County, with rolling hills that afford views stretching from the Catskills to the Berkshires, the De Vitos knew when they first stepped onto the land that it was where they wanted to be.

In early 2006, they planted 1,000 vines – a combination of Seyval Blanc, Golden Muscat, Chancellor, and DeChaunac – and became instant farmers. Knowing a first crop was several years in the growing, they tapped into their extensive knowledge of the wines and winemakers of New York State to develop and bring in grapes and blend wines they could fashion under their Hudson-Chatham label. They also established a Paperbirch label for fortified dessert wines, which have won multiple awards, including a Gold Medal for the Bannerman’s Castle Amber Cream at the 2009 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. A tasting room was constructed in early 2007, and the Hudson- Chatham Winery opened its doors in September that year.

The concept behind the Hudson-Chatham Winery is to showcase and produce distinctive New York State wines in an enjoyable setting. The tasting room is large and airy and features a long bar made from a single piece of pine from a tree in Ghent. The winery also produces a line of its own 100% natural maple syrups under the Sugarmaker’s Reserve label, and promotes a wide range of artisanal cheeses from throughout the Hudson Valley, as well as other locally made jams, chutneys and condiments.

The Hudson-Chatham Winery is an award-winning winery. They notched medals at the Hudson Valley Wine & Grape Association Awards, the New York Food & Wine Competition, the New York State Fair, and the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. Wine Spectator awarded the Hudson-Chatham Merlot 2005 a score of 85 Points! Wine Enthusiast awarded the Hudson-Chatham Cabernet Franc 2006 a score of 84 Points!

The Hudson-Chatham Winery hosts many events throughout the year. You can learn more about the winery, the wines, and the events on their website, www.hudsonchathamwinery. com. They are also founding members of the newly formed Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail (www.hudsonberkshireexperience.com).

Empire White is only the second super-blend made in New York State. This is a followup to the 2007 Empire Red, introduced last year. It features 33% Sauvignon Blanc from Long Island; 33% Riesling from the Finger Lakes; and 33% Seyval Blanc from the Hudson Valley. A refreshing, crisp, elegant, minerally white, with lots of floral aromas and a citrusy finish.

Hudson River Valley Red is a fresh, light, soft, Beaujolais-style red. It is a Goldmedal awardwinning blend of Hudson Valleygrown DeChaunac and unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year the art on the label changes, showcasing a famous painting or print of the Hudson River Valley. This year’s art is “West Point, from above Washington Valley” (1834) by George Cooke, famed portraitist and landscape painter.

This cassis is made from black currants grown at Good Farm in nearby Claverack. The berries are harvested by hand, and the wine is made by mascerating the fruit over a twelveweek period, punching it down by hand once a day. The resulting wine is a dark purple, fragrant, thick, and sweet but tart elixir that is delicious with cheese and strong enough to stand up to fruit tarts and chocolate desserts.