The Press Deck
News from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation
April 3rd, 2019
Field Notes...
From Member Carlo DeVito, Hudson-Chatham Winery
Dear Friends,
Whenever you want to know what’s going on in New York state craft beverage, you really should start with the Hudson Valley. The Hudson Valley is the home of the oldest continuously operating winery in America, Brotherhood Winery , and the home of the oldest continuously operating vineyards in America, the old Caywood Vineyards, now a part of the legendary Benmarl Winery . Of course, the original farm winery movement began in the Hudson Valley. Farm distilleries, farm breweries, and farm cideries all began in the Hudson Valley as well! One of the most advanced vineyards on the east coast was planted by Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery , with all the latest techniques and technology with input from Cornell, UC Davis, and a host of other leading industry experts.

But more importantly, people often forget where the Hudson Valley is. While many people tend to think that the land just north of Westchester is the Hudson Valley, it actually extends all the way up to Albany and just beyond. 

There is no other food and wine destination like the Hudson Valley, with its numerous small family farms making cheese, meat, bread, and other artisanal foods, to be paired with local wines, beers, spirits and ciders. It is a veritable food-lover’s Disney World.

Often thought of as a sleepy backwater, the current Hudson Valley craft beverage scene is the hottest in New York state! There are five wine and craft beverage trails in the region: the Shawangunk Wine Trail is the oldest, followed by the Dutchess Wine Trail . From there we go to the intrastate Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail , the Capital Craft Beverage Trail (the largest), and the Upper Hudson Valley Wine Trail . The Hudson Valley has the most diverse offerings of wine, beer, cider, and spirits in the state.

On the wine side, there’s all kinds of things going on. There’s the Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc Coalition , which features estate Cabernet Francs from a half dozen of the region’s wineries. The region is also home to some of the state’s best quality fruit wines, especially apple and cassis, from producers like Baldwin Vineyards and Brookview Station among others, as well as quality premium red and white wines.

And there are some amazing individuals and ideas going on as well. There are people like Stephen Casscles , grape historian and winemaker at Hudson-Chatham Winery, who has seemingly single-handedly brought about a renaissance interest in heirloom and historic regional grapes and varietal wines. There’s Matthew Spacarelli who is making terrific wines at Fjord Vineyards while having his vineyards grazed by sheep. There are wonderful vinifera wines from Milea Estate Vineyard , Tousey Winery , Millbrook Vineyards & Winery , Glorie Winery, and Nostrano Vineyards . There are also highly acclaimed wines made using unique varieties from Clinton Vineyards , Victory View Vineyard , Fossil Stone Vineyards, Bashakill Vineyards , Clearview Vineyard , Clermont Vineyards , and others.  

You can taste incredible Albarino, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinto Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Tocai Fruliano. Or you can sample fantastic Baco Noir, Chelois, Marquette, Traminette, Frontenac, and Frontenac Gris. 

These wines have won gold from as far away as San Francisco, and further, as well as garnering press in places like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Wine Enthusiast, and many other outlets.

If you’re not visiting the rolling hills of the Hudson Valley, to see one of the continent’s greatest rivers, to glide through her rolling hills in summer or winter, or experiencing the grandeur of her fall, and sampling Hudson Valley wines, then you are just missing out!
Cheers,
Carlo DeVito, Co-owner
Hudson-Chatham Winery
Industry News...
Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable Wines Explained
There is a focus on organics in the production of wine. In addition to “Organic”, “Biodynamic” and “Sustainable” are two other terms getting wider and wider exposure. When it comes to wine, what do these terms mean, and what difference do they make? We are all fairly familiar with the phenomenon of organic agricultural foodstuffs. They have their own niche in our grocery stores, and they cost more. We are told that they are better for us, and that they taste better. Read more...
We’re Calling It: Orange Wine Is the New Rosé 
Red, white, rosé… orange wine ? Despite the name, this style of wine is neither made from oranges nor orange grapes. Rather, it refers to the distinct color of skin-contact white wines that can range from soft yellow to golden amber to highlighter-hue orange. Orange wine has been around for centuries — it’s been produced in the republic of Georgia for thousands of years, and more recently made in Italy, Slovenia, and even Long Island, NY. It’s been sneaking its way into the menus of trendy restaurants and wine bars for the past couple years but never really had its true moment to glory. Summer 2018 (let’s be honest, summer 2017 and probably 2016 , too) was all about that cheerful pink glass of rosé (or even frosé ). But it's official: Orange wine as the go-to drink of this summer.  Read more...
E. & J. Gallo Winery Announces Deal With Constellation Brands
E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Constellation Brands, Inc. to purchase more than 30 wine and spirits brands, along with six winemaking facilities located in California, Washington, and New York. According to Joseph E. Gallo, chief executive officer of Gallo, "We are committed to remaining a family-owned company focused on growing the wine industry. While we continue to invest in our premium and luxury businesses, we see a tremendous opportunity with this acquisition to bring new consumers into the wine category." He added, "We will continue to provide our customers and consumers with quality products at every price point."   Read more...
Join our New Consumer Newsletter: WineVine!
Want to Learn More About NY Wines?
If you're a New York State wine enthusiast you don't want to miss our email newsletter focused on insider news and behind the scenes access for consumers featuring industry interviews, tips, trends, awards, and special events.
Click here to sign up . Check out latest edition of WineVine .
New York in the News...
Times Review Talks: The Future of Wineries on the North Fork
Asked to characterize his administration’s views on winery operations, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said he doesn’t believe the town is “anti-winery,” saying instead he doesn’t wish to treat the craft beverage industry differently than any other operating there. His remarks came at last week’s Times Review Media Group event, “The Future of Wineries on the North Fork,” the second in a series of 10 panel discussions on newsworthy topics affecting Southold and Riverhead towns. Read more...
Whitecliff Vineyard: Come for the View, Stay for the Wine 
In the fall of 1998, long before the Hudson Valley was national craft beverage mecca, before the words “Napa of the East” had ever been uttered, husband and wife Michael Migliore and Yancey Stanforth-Migliore produced their first vintage on the nascent Whitecliff Vineyard in Gardiner. This year, the Migliore family celebrates 20 years in the Hudson Valley wine-making business. “We are still going strong, an accomplishment we are proud of in a challenging farm-based business,” Yancey says.    Read more...
Inside the Oregon, Washington & New York State Tasting
Originally billed as a tasting of the best wines from Oregon and Washington States available (and some not yet available) in the UK, an eleventh hour change saw a number of wines from New York State added to the line-up too.
The NY State inclusion was a canny one and added a further string to a tasting which showed that it’s possible to look beyond California for great quality and eminently interesting wines from across the pond. Read more...
Third Thursday Summer Music Series Makes Return in 2019
After a successful summer season in 2018, Anthony Road Wine Company's "Third Thursday Summer Music Series" is coming back this June. Liz Castner, who manages Anthony Road Wine Company's tasting room expressed her excitement for the return of this summer staple. “I’m looking forward to this year’s Summer Music Series because I love celebrating summer nights. It reminds me of being ten years old again, summer nights were the best," she said this week. "I love listening to the original music and being around all the talent! It's casual fun with the family, and my kids enjoy it, plus no dishes to do!" Read more...
Hound's Tree Winemaker Cuts New Path for North Fork Wines
One can feel serious FOMO (fear of missing out) when wine tasting on the North Fork, unable to fit more than a handful into a day. As you whiz by wineries, at least one label might fly under the radar, given its low-key signage: Hound’s Tree, which announces itself quietly outside Sherwood House Vineyards in Jamesport.   Read more...
Welcome New Winery Member!
" Hound's Tree is an estate winery based on the North Fork of Long Island. Founded in 2015 in partnership with Apolloni Vineyards, a family-owned grower producer of premium Pinot Noir in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Hound's Tree brings two decades of West Coast winemaking experience to the unique maritime terroir of Long Island. We currently grow French and American clones of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, with an average vine age of over 20 years. In past harvests, fruit from our vineyard has gone into some of the most awarded wines in New York State."
Welcome Back Members!
(Renewing Members from March 1st to March 31st, 2019)

Traphagen Law, Women for New York State Wine,
Daren Simmons, Bet the Farm Winery, Damiani Wine Cellars, Silver Thread Vineyard, FLX International LLC,
and Mazza Chautauqua Cellars

Member Corner: News, Benefits, Events & More
Wine and Climate From the Past to the Future Featuring Dr. Benjamin Cook [Webinar] Last Chance to Register!
April 11th, 2019 2:00PM to 3:00PM
Dr. Benjamin Cook is a climate scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He specializes in the study of drought and the role of the land surface and vegetation in the climate system, including how climate change is likely to affect ecosystems and agriculture. His lecture will illuminate the historic relationship between drought, temperature, and the timing of wine harvest and examine how this relationship has evolved over time due to the influence of climate change.  Register here...
East Coast Crush & Co-Pack's Open House
Please join us for our annual open house! You will have the opportunity to meet our East Coast Crush & Co-Pack team, network with our key suppliers and vendors, take a tour of the facility, and enjoy excellent eats from local food truck, Lighthouse BBQ. R.S.V.P. by April 10, 2019.   Read more...
Entries Open for the New York International Wine Competition
We are pleased to invite your winery to participate in our upcoming annual New York International Wine Competition. This international wine competition will be held at the 3 West Club in the heart of New York City, across from Rockefeller Center. After the success of running the first annual New York International Spirits Competition in November 2010, vintners from around the world asked us to replicate this successful competition with wine. We were excited by the over 700 wine submissions we received in our first year in 2011, and we have more than doubled our size then.  Read more...
The Vine Hotline: Financial, Accounting & Tax-Focused Help Desk for Members Only!
The day-to-day questions that most often challenge growers and winery owners do not have to do with the vines and winemaking themselves, but rather with overseeing the financial management of the business and ensuring compliance with tax rules and other regulations. In order to help New York Wine & Grape Foundation members tackle the complex issues of alcohol regulations and excise taxes, tax credits, tax preparation, grant applications, business planning, and more, we’ve partnered with our Business Associate Member Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co., LLP to provide you with a Members Only Help Desk . NYWGF Members can now submit their confidential questions online here . These will be answered each week by Anthony Sandonato and his team at Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co., LLP. The answers will be sent directly to you within 48 hours.
The Winners Are...

Congratulations to these Wineries, All Awarded Gold in
The 2019 Berlin International Wine Competition

Gold awarded to Lakewood Vineyards 2017 Riesling
Gold warded to  Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2017 Riesling

Upcoming Wine Trail Events