We just returned from a trip to the Hudson River Valley where we visited several wineries. Growing wine grapes in a cold climate with a short growing season is difficult in this part of New York. Most vineyards grow only hybrid grapes developed to withstand the cold climate and most wineries depend heavily on grapes imported from the Long Island and Finger Lakes AVA's. One exception is Millbrook Vineyards and Winery which was the first farm to successfully grow and vinify vinifera grape varieties in the Hudson River Valley.
John Dyson was the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture in 1975 when he met Dr Konstantin Frank, who was pioneering the growth of vinifera grapes in the Finger Lakes. Dr. Frank encouraged Dyson to try his methods to the Hudson River Valley. In 1979, Dyson and his wife bought an abandoned 130 acre dairy farm near Millbrook, N.Y. which he eventually converted into vineyards and a winery. The first commercial wine was released in 1985 with John Graziano as the winemaker and he remains in that position today. We were very fortunate to meet Mr. Graziano on our visit to the winery. In 1988 Millbrook Winery opened for tours and tastings. Today, only vinifera grapes are grown in the 35 acres planted as vineyard, including Gruner Veltliner, Tocai Friulano, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. In addition to the estate wines, additional wines are vinted from grapes imported from Long Island, Finger Lakes and the Central Coast of California.
Today, Mr. Dyson is president of Pebble Ridge Vineyards and Wine Estates, which owns Middlebrook Vineyards and Winery, Villa Pillo Estate in Tuscany, Italy and the prestigious Williams and Selyem Winery in the Russian River of California. The company also owns five separate vineyard properties in New York, California and Italy.
Our visit and tasting could not have been better. Our server and guide Scott was extremely knowledgeable and quite concerned that we were getting the information needed for this blog. The wines were very good and reasonably priced, so we left with several bottles. My favorite was the New York Estate Pinot Noir which included estate grapes as well as grapes from the Finger Lakes and Long Island. The aroma of the wine burst from the glass and the flavor started with cherry and finished with dark cherry and plum. Wine and Spirits magazine rated the wine at 90 points and Wine Enthusiast rated it 89 points.
If you are ever in this part of New York, you will not want to miss Millbrook Vineyards and Winery.
John Dyson was the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture in 1975 when he met Dr Konstantin Frank, who was pioneering the growth of vinifera grapes in the Finger Lakes. Dr. Frank encouraged Dyson to try his methods to the Hudson River Valley. In 1979, Dyson and his wife bought an abandoned 130 acre dairy farm near Millbrook, N.Y. which he eventually converted into vineyards and a winery. The first commercial wine was released in 1985 with John Graziano as the winemaker and he remains in that position today. We were very fortunate to meet Mr. Graziano on our visit to the winery. In 1988 Millbrook Winery opened for tours and tastings. Today, only vinifera grapes are grown in the 35 acres planted as vineyard, including Gruner Veltliner, Tocai Friulano, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. In addition to the estate wines, additional wines are vinted from grapes imported from Long Island, Finger Lakes and the Central Coast of California.
Today, Mr. Dyson is president of Pebble Ridge Vineyards and Wine Estates, which owns Middlebrook Vineyards and Winery, Villa Pillo Estate in Tuscany, Italy and the prestigious Williams and Selyem Winery in the Russian River of California. The company also owns five separate vineyard properties in New York, California and Italy.
Our visit and tasting could not have been better. Our server and guide Scott was extremely knowledgeable and quite concerned that we were getting the information needed for this blog. The wines were very good and reasonably priced, so we left with several bottles. My favorite was the New York Estate Pinot Noir which included estate grapes as well as grapes from the Finger Lakes and Long Island. The aroma of the wine burst from the glass and the flavor started with cherry and finished with dark cherry and plum. Wine and Spirits magazine rated the wine at 90 points and Wine Enthusiast rated it 89 points.
If you are ever in this part of New York, you will not want to miss Millbrook Vineyards and Winery.
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