Hopewell Valley Vineyards (New Jersey)

Tucked away off the busy roads in Pennington, New Jersey, is Hopewell Vineyards. It's a gorgeous bit of land with tons of outdoor seating, stunning views, and of course, delicious wine!

Our group was there for a non-bachelorette weekend to celebrate That Sara's impending wedding. We found out that Hopewell had live music on Saturdays, and figured it was a great place to start. It's called Music & Merlot, and it's a great way to spend an evening.

There is a lot of seating at Hopewell, but it fills up fast, so get there early! We were lucky to get a long table for our group, though it was very close to the speakers. Great for listening to music, not so much for hearing your neighbor!

I was a fan of their Barbera- a luscious, rich red wine. I actually liked their Chardonnay, too, but the Barbera by far was my favorite.

We started with some cheese and olives while we waited on our pizza. Nothing too fancy-- cheddar, pepper jack, grapes, crackers, etc.

The pizza was a little chewy and tough to cut, but it was tasty. It had that delicious brick oven flavor, and it went SO well with the wine.

As we made our way out of the building, we had to stop and admire the brilliant sunset settling over the horizon.

We had a great time (for not a lot of money, I might add) and enjoyed our light snacks, wine, and the live music. It's a bit noisy with the music, so if you're with a group, you won't be able to hear anyone sitting more than 2 seats away. If that's the case, make the most of your situation and have some more Merlot (or, if you're like me, more Barbera)!

Hopewell Vineyards
46 Yard Rd
Pennington, NJ 08534
(609) 737-4465

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Palmer Vineyards

A day-trip out to Long Island took my friend Jen A and myself to 3 stops: Palmer Vineyards, Baiting Hollow Farms Vineyard, and Long Island Spirits. Palmer was the first stop, and though it felt a bit early to have some wine, somehow we all managed.

Palmer is one of the smallest tasting rooms I've seen--our 2 buses immediately filled the room to overflowing. My friend Jen and I took a seat in a charming little booth and let most of the chaos die down before approaching for our picks.

Palmer is one of the oldest and most-awarded vineyards on Long Island's North Fork. Founded in 1983 by Robert Palmer, Palmer Vineyards sells their wine all across the country--several plaques and ribbons hang over the bar, attesting to the praise and warm reception for their product.

I selected the 2010 Gewurztraminer, the 2008 Cabernet Franc, and the 2010 Rose Merlot. (Left row of drinks, from top down)


Jen chose the 2010 Gewurztraminer and 2008 Cabernet Franc as well, along with the Sunrise/Sunset.

Neither one of us was a fan of the Cabernet Franc, but that's a tough one for us both. If you like your wines smoky, though, this is the pick for you!

We really liked the Gewurztraminer---bright and light and just a touch of sweetness. It was lovely in the beginning, though the finish was different from what I expected. If I were more of an oenophile I could explain this better, I'm sure. ;)

I enjoyed the Rose Merlot--it had a strong aroma and flavor of strawberries, not too sweet, one of my favorite drinks in the hot summer days--this was a winner, too. Light, refreshing, and dry.

Jen let me try a sip of her Sunrise/Sunset wine, and I thought this was a bit sweet, but we both think it would make a nice dessert wine, perhaps a perfect pairing with some chocolate-covered strawberries. Palmer says it's one of their most popular wines and is back by popular demand. It was okay, but I would still take the Gewurz or Rose Merlot first.

To me, the best part to Palmer is its adorable backyard space. There are seats on a covered patio and chairs and picnic tables on the grass, all in the shadow of the rolling vineyards. This would be an excellent spot for a small party, reception, you name it. What a darling setup!

Check them out and let me know what you think! I will be bringing ABF here soon!

Palmer Vineyards
5120 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 722-9463

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Clovis Point Cabernet!

ABF was in town from London, just in time for my birthday AND for wine club pickup week, so we hopped in his car and headed out for one of our favorite spots on Long Island: Clovis Point!

We were excited to see that Clovis Point was releasing its very first Cabernet Sauvignon, and from the first sip I could appreciate why they are so very proud of its debut. I very much enjoyed the rich, smooth, fruity flavor--consider this added to my list of Clovis Point favorites (and don't be surprised if I show up to the next party with a bottle or two!)

ABF & I grabbed a splash of their Cabernet and walked a few steps over to watch that day's cooking demo, waiting in delicious anticipation--it smelled so good!

Tom Schaudel is the chef at several restaurants, including A Mano. He was promoting his book, "Playing with Fire: Whining & Dining on the Gold Coast" (yes, whining with an H) and putting together a smoked duck & tagliatelle dish--homina homina!

The folks at Clovis Point have spoken highly of A Mano--I think once ABF is home for good (hopefully this fall!) we have to make a date to dine here! Tom was a very entertaining and informative person--he told us some of the crazy tales of patrons he's fed and gotten fed up with--more of that in the book!

The Cabernet was such a great pairing--it went so well with the chewy, smoky, delicious duck. What a treat--getting a tasty bite along with our wonderful wine! We enjoyed every bite and then each got a full glass to take out onto the covered deck.

The rain was coming down in sheets and sheets, but we were perfectly dry and enjoying the protected outdoors.

Live music, good energy, and a wonderful return to a spot we've both missed. Thanks again to everyone at Clovis Point--and congratulations on a delicious new release in your first Cabernet Sauvignon!

Clovis Point Winery
1935 Main Road
Jamesport, NY 11947
(631) 722-4222

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Millbrook Vineyards & Winery Tasting

Now that you know a little history about Millbrook, here are some delicious details from the post-tour tasting!

Andrew, our intrepid tour guide, led us all up to the second story of the building, where we walked past cool art exhibits and paintings, toward a towering room with sunshine streaming in through the windows and skylights.

You can look out the gorgeous arched window towards the lush field of vines.

The first wine we sipped was a white, their 2010 Tocai Friulano ($19/bottle). Jen A & I are red fans, but this wine wowed us! It has a wonderful honeydew aroma, and the flavors just grip your tongue in a wonderful way. We each took a bottle home--it's going to be delicious with some cold summer salads and maybe some grilled chicken.

The second wine was their 2009 Chardonnay. We both got big hints of bell pepper and moved this down our list. Keep in mind I'm just not a chardonnay fan, overall. We did, however, both think that the 2009 Chardonnay Proprietor's Special Reserve was rich and buttery, but we still favored the Tocai.

On to the Hunt Country Rosé! This blend is 37% Cabernet Franc, 37% Pinot Noir, and 26% Chardonnay. It had a fragrant strawberry aroma and taste to it. Pale pink, chilly, and perfect for hot summer days. Jen's not a rosé fan, but I found it soft and smooth.

After the rosé came the Hunt Country Red, a blend of 58% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. One whiff of this and Jen was IN. I found it puckery and tart, but in a good way. We both summed it up thusly: "nice summer red!"

Closing out this delicious tasting was the 2008 Cabernet Franc. Jen & I both are not normally fans of this grape. The Millbrook version, however, with a blend of 13% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, is heavier than others I've tried, and had nice notes of black raspberry and plum. This also got a star from Jen AND me, and completely changed my mind about Cabernet Franc.

Millbrook also has savory biscuits, flavored with white wine and shallots or red wine & pepper. These were both so good (especially the white wine), and really accentuated the layers of flavor in the wine.

I wish I'd brought home some of those white wine crackers. Omnomnom!

Millbrook's owner also has vineyards and olive groves in Tuscany, Italy, and we got to taste their own olive oil. It smelled gorgeously of fresh, tart olives. The olive itself was rich and smooth and packed a SERIOUS wallop of peppery heat. This was very impressive and delicious---well done!

Jen & I each left with a bottle of the Tocai Friulano and a bottle of the Cabernet Franc. We have happily discovered that both are available in a few wine stores around the city--but if you can make the trip out there at least once, you simply must! I can't wait to visit in the fall, too. Thank you again to everyone at Millbrook for showing us such a deliciously lovely time!

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
26 Wing Road
Millbrook, NY 12545
(845) 677-8383

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Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

Jen A & I snapped up a deal on bloomspot.com a few weeks ago--a day trip to an upstate NY winery, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. This deal also popped up on DailyCandy.com. If you have a chance, grab one--and you're about to see why!

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is a gorgeous, sprawling, impressively appointed piece of land in Millbrook, NY, about 30 minutes from the Poughkeepsie, New York train station. It's equidistant from Albany and NYC (about 90 minutes), and while it's a bit of a trip, I absolutely believe it's worth the effort. What a stunning place for a day trip!

The winery itself is a converted dairy barn, and this place has been rolling out impressive vintages commercially since 1985 (so why did it take me so long to find out about it?) John Graziano has been the sole winemaker there since 1984.

It's a shlep for people from the city, but the folks at Millbrook make it so easy--they shuttle you to and from the train station! (More about this later when I share my interview with Sales Director Scott Koster)
While it takes some time to get there, it hardly takes any effort--we took the train from Metro-North, then we clambered onto a bus waiting for us right outside the Poughkeepsie stop.

A short 20 minute bus ride later, we drove up to an awe-inspiring, lush landscape of rolling hills and lovely, scrolling vines. We were told the owner, John S. Dyson, wanted it to resemble the rolling hills of Tuscany. Well done!

Andrew, our tour guide, started us in the vast, sprawling field right outside the main building. He explained that the proprietor, John Dyson, patented the Dyson Goblet trellis, used in their vineyard. This method helps the vines grow up and outward, and gets them a ton of sun.

The tour took us inside the winery, as well, and showed us where they keep their red and white wines, how the aging process works (nerd stuff--love it!) and where they bottle them. We saw a striking visual display of how the barreling process affects the color.

I gotta say, I wish we could have seen the bottling/labeling machine in action--I'll bet that is one sweet event!

One of the coolest displays indoors was a sample from a cork tree. I must say I made it a good few decades on this earth before really knowing where cork comes from--and how it's harvested. How cool is that?!

After we moved through the wine storage areas, we went upstairs for the tasting (that post is right here!) and after the tasting, we enjoyed a delicious lunch outdoors by one of their lakes.

Lunch was included with the tour & tasting. Students from the nearby Culinary Institute prepared our meal, which was even better than I hoped! Jen & I each ordered the grilled ahi tuna. It came on a surprisingly soft ciabatta roll with salad and of course, a glass of the Tocai Friulano.

After I finished my lunch, Millbrook's ebullient Director of Sales, Scott Koster, sat with me for an engaging interview. I was full of questions, and he was so kind to sit down with me during a really busy afternoon. I had seen him walking around, taking the time to approach everyone he passed and not only ask how they were enjoying themselves, but stick around for the answer! I could tell he genuinely loves what he does and where he's working. That's Lollipop Hill over his shoulder--called so because deer eat the bottom foliage off the cypress trees until they look like..lollipops! It's also where they grow the grapes for the Tocai Friulano.

Scott's first question to me was if I was having a good time. I assured him Jen & I both were, and that we loved his wines--even the Cabernet Franc, which we normally avoid (except for Clovis Point's!) His eyes flew open even wider as he exclaimed "Yes--it's not vegetal at all, is it!" and suddenly, he put his finger on exactly why I normally shy away from this grape. He was so pleased to hear that they'd helped expand my wine palate!

Scott told me how he'd always been in the wine business in some way. I was impressed to learn Scott graduated from the Culinary Institute of America himself at age 50--rock on, Chef Scott! He also started at Millbrook as tour guide, and now he's their Sales Director and one of the most welcoming people on their friendly staff!

While passionate about everything Millbrook has to offer, Scott readily admits it isn't easy to get to for a lot of people, which is why they work so hard to simplify the travel time (check out the map on the bottle to the left)! I can testify that the travel time was effortless, from train to bus without missing a beat, and a lovely journey that let us know we were definitely leaving behind the hot, concrete-filled city. Hey, I love NYC but sometimes it's still good to get outta town!

My pictures don't do this place justice--Jen and I just walked around and around in awe of the scenery. Scott promises it's even more stunning in fall--which I hope to see in person!

Millbrook's passion right now, Scott says, is educating the rest of us on what they do and what they have to offer: from tours and tastings to outdoor classes, weddings, and dinners (including one in October with Top Chef favorite & NYC restaurateur Angelo Sosa). They already produce 15-20,000 cases a year, but they always want to do and reach more. With the friendly staff , gorgeous location, and passion of people like Scott, they will have no problems accomplishing that goal. Cheers!



(There are so many photos I had to leave out of this post--go to my blog's Facebook page to see the rest of the gorgeousness that is Millbrook Vineyards & Winery!)

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
26 Wing Road
Millbrook, NY 12545
(845) 677-8383

John Dyson, Proprietor
John Graziano, Winemaker/Vice President
David Bova, General Manager/Vice President
Their website: Millbrook Wines
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