Celebrating the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest 2023 participating wineries

In April of 1852 David Hazlitt and Clarissa Roberts Hazlitt purchased 153 acres of land covered in fruit trees and vineyards in Hector, NY. They shipped the fruit that was produced on this land to regional markets via wagon, boat, and railroad. This included grapes to the early wine industry pioneers such as Great Western and Widmer Wine Cellars.

In the early 1900s, David and Clarissa’s son James Roberts Hazlitt and his wife Mary Miller bought a farm adjacent to the land James’ parents owned. The farm was then passed on to William Herbert Hazlitt and his wife Inez LaMoreaux, and subsequently to James (Jim) R. Hazlitt and his bride Elizabeth (Betty) Voorhees. Jim and Betty’s two sons, James (Jim) R. and Jerome (Jerry) V. Hazlitt divided the land and both operated vineyards on the property. Jim and his son, Eric Hazlitt, still own and operate Sawmill Creek Vineyards. Eric’s son Jason Hazlitt, co-owns the winery, Hector Wine Company, located on land adjacent to the original farm.

Beginning in 1980, the region saw a drastic drop in crop prices and the family was faced with a tough decision: sell the land and get out of the business or figure out a different solution. So, in 1985, Jerry Hazlitt, an avid home winemaker himself, and his wife Elaine decided to start Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards. They released Red Cat Wine in August of 1985, along with Pink Cat, White Stag, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Baco Noir.

In the late 1990s Jerry and Elaine’s son and daughter, Doug Hazlitt and Leigh Hazlitt Triner, began working at the winery. They were the sixth generation of Hazlitts to enter the business. In 2013 the Hazlitt family purchased the historic Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, NY to expand production of its best-selling wine, Red Cat. The winery location is now known as Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars. The complex features a tasting room, a 3-million-gallon production facility, a warehouse, and houses a secondary production business, East Coast Crush and Co-Pack. Soon after the purchase, Doug and Leigh became co-CEOs of the Hazlitt family wine holdings.

In 2013 the Hazlitts built the Oasis, a timber frame three-season outdoor party pavilion where they host live music and special events. Since then a seventh generation of Hazlitts has joined the business. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards is located at 5712 Route 414 in Hector, NY. Call (607) 546-9463 for more information.

Presented by WineRacks.com, The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival will take place on September 9th and September 10th at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, N.Y., which will be transformed into a foodie paradise featuring some of the best wines and culinary treats that the Hudson Valley and beyond have to offer.