It's time for the annual Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival that takes place the weekend after Labor Day every year. This is the one event in the Hudson Valley that means a lot to me.
Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition
I've been working with the organizers since the beginning. It was through my travel business helping them secure lodging for the vendors. It has grown and so have I. When I was looking for a home for the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition I turned to Michael and Jennifer. They welcomed the event with open arms. It's held on Saturday from 9am - 12pm in the small building with the garage doors. (Speaking of I am looking for volunteers to help in the back room pouring wine for the judges. Contact me via email - hvwinegoddess@gmail.com if interested.) If you come to the festival early on Saturday you can watch the end of the competition as the judges determine the best wine and winery of the year.After the wine competition on Saturday I am doing a wine and cake ball pairing seminar. It's usually around 3pm. Join me as I pair Auntie Liana's cake balls with 2 Hudson Valley wines and a cider. Here are the pairings:
- Nostrano Vineyards 2013 Estate Riesling with Auntie Liana's Peach Chardonnay Cake Ball
- Millbrook Vineyards & Winery 2014 Pinot Noir with Auntie Liana's Chocolate Pinot Noir Cake Ball
- Nine Pin Cider Signature with Auntie Liana's Cinnamon Fireball Cake Ball.
On Sunday I'll be hosting 2 seminars. The first seminar is all about the Hudson Valley's signature grape Cabernet Franc. We'll talk about the grape and why it grows so well in the region. You'll have the opportunity to taste 4 outstanding Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc's from Millbrook Vineyards & Wnery, Benmarl Winery, Glorie Farm Winery and Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery.
The last seminar I partner with Debbi Decker who I call the "Cheese Lady". She's is the "Cheese Lady" at Adams Fairacre Farms in Poughkeepsie. We will be pairing Fjord Vineyards 2015 Albarino, Whitecliff Vineyards Merlot- Malbec and Nine Pins Cider's Signature with some great local and regional cheeses.
I look forward to seeing all of you at the wine festival. Please don't hesitate to stop me and say hi or offer me a glass of wine.