Vinitrek Visits: Millbrook Winery, Hudson Valley, NY

If you’ve been following us here at the “beta” version of Vinitrek, you know we’ve been out visiting wineries and talking to cool wine folk for a few months now, putting our new HD cam through its paces (and making a few rookies mistakes in the process).

We hope you’ll stick with us, though, as we work the kinks out.  We’re learning, but like good wine people, we won’t sit on something good–we’ll grab the corkscrew, open the top, and pour you a glass.

So, with a holiday weekend upon us, we thought we should uncork a video for you to check out.  We recently drove up to New York’s Hudson Valley and dropped in on the very cool people at Millbrook, which has a great–and growing–reputation as one of New York State’s finest wineries.  (As if to drive home the point, the day we visited, none other than nearby resident and wine guru Kevin Zraly was there, setting up to teach one of his amazing classes in Millbrook’s old converted barn)

So have a look, and by all means, give us some feedback.  (We can take it!)  And thanks to David Bova, Stacy Hudson, and the entire crew at Millbrook for being such great hosts.  They even managed to make the sun come out on an otherwise rainy weekend!

MILLBROOK FACTS:

Wine Region:  Hudson Valley, NY

Website:  www.millwine.com

Visiting Millbrook:  Called “the Hudson Valley’s flagship winery” by The New York Times and “a great place to visit” by The Wall Street Journal, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is located in the magnificent Hudson River Valley just 1.5 hours from both New York City and Albany.  (Directions to the winery are here.)

Millbrook’s Wines:  Thirty of the vineyards’ 130 acres are planted. Current varietals include Chardonnay (13 acres) Pinot Noir (5 acres), Cabernet Franc (7 acres), and Tocai Friulano (5 acres). Winemaker John Graziano has been crafting wines for Millbrook since 1984. He has been the only winemaker at Millbrook since its establishment. Currently, John is producing approximately 10,000 – 12,000 cases of wine annually from Millbrook’s own fruit, as well as fruit from across New York and the winery’s California vineyards.

Tasting Fees:  Standard Tasting – $7.50 per person; Reserve Tasting – $17.50 per person ($14 for Case Club Members)

Wines:  Millbrook’s wines cost from $15.75 for its 2007 Chardonnay to $29 for its 2007 Pinot Noir Proprietor’s Special Reserve.  Millbrook’s extremely popular 2008 Tocai Friulano, a summer favorite, costs $17 a bottle.