A Beginner's Guide to Hudson Valley Wines
America's First Wine Region
Most people are surprised to learn that the Hudson Valley has been making wine longer than anywhere else in the country. French Huguenot settlers planted vines near New Paltz in 1677, and the region has produced wine continuously ever since. The Hudson River Region AVA is, by that measure, the oldest continuously cultivated wine region in the United States.
That history is not just trivia. It shaped what grows well here, and it explains why a valley an hour north of New York City is quietly having a quality renaissance.
Start With Cabernet Franc
If you try one Hudson Valley grape, make it Cabernet Franc. It has become the region's signature red for a simple reason: it ripens reliably in a cool, variable climate that punishes fussier grapes.
Expect something medium-bodied and savoury rather than jammy. Red fruit, a green herbal note, gentle tannin, and enough acidity to sit up at the dinner table. If your reference point for red wine is a big Napa Cabernet, this will taste leaner and more food-friendly. That is the point.
The Whites Worth Knowing
Cool climates are kind to white grapes, and the valley has several worth your attention:
Seyval Blanc - crisp and citrusy, a hybrid built for this climate. Think of it where you would reach for a dry Loire white.
Riesling - increasingly planted here, and the acidity holds up beautifully.
Chardonnay - usually made in a leaner, less oaky style than you may expect.
Traminette - aromatic and floral, an excellent match for spiced food.
How to Taste Without Overthinking It
You do not need a vocabulary to taste well. Three questions cover most of it. Is it light or heavy in your mouth? Does it make you salivate, or does it dry your tongue? Would you want a second glass with dinner, or on its own?
Those answers tell us more about what to recommend next than any tasting note you could recite. Come in and tell us what you liked and what you did not, and we will take it from there.
Where to Go From Here
The Shawangunk Wine Trail links more than a dozen producers within a short drive of Highland, including Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, established in 1839 and the oldest continuously operating winery in America. A weekend on the trail is one of the better ways to spend an autumn day in this part of the valley.
When you get back, we are on Route 44/55 with the shelf to match. Ask us what the valley is doing well right now.
Lucky Horseshoe Wine & Liquors, 591 State Route 44/55, Highland, NY 12528. (845) 834-2024. Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 12-6pm. Free in-store and curbside pickup. Must be 21+. Please drink responsibly.