It’s Time!
The 2021 Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival starts this Saturday!
As New York and the Hudson Valley awaken from the long year that got away, we Epicurean-minded folks have been hankering for that one perfect occasion to safely and joyously celebrate the return to what this beautiful, bountiful region is all about for us: great wine, great food, matchless atmosphere and heartfelt conviviality. Nowhere will that party get started more auspiciously than this Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12, 2021, at the 20th Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest at the historic Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY.
First, let’s get a few concerns out of the way, as there have been many questions regarding Covid-19 protocols for the festival.
It has been a very long year and a half. Much has changed since the beginning of the Covid-19 era. What we now understand is that, with a majority of New Yorkers having been vaccinated, and with careful adherence to protocols, it is possible to partake in a large medium-density event like this with a high degree of safety. The recently held Dutchess County Fair went off without a hitch, and without any incidence of Covid transmission. The Wine Fest, as did the fair, will be adhering to all Covid-19 health guidelines and restrictions for the event as dictated by the county, the state, and the fairgrounds. As such, masks will not be required for those who are vaccinated or have tested negative, but we ask that if you are not vaccinated or cannot show proof of a Covid-19 negative test, that you bring and wear a mask throughout the event as best you can. We will keep everyone posted via social media and email if any further restrictions are put into place.
With that out of the way, it’s time to focus on the fact that the festival is, first and foremost, a celebration of all things wine. As a New York Farm Market, the festival offers the state’s wineries the ability to sell wine by the bottle, thus offering a marvelous opportunity for our guests to purchase New York’s finest wines directly from each winery. The festival often features as well a few select international wines and liquors for our guests who like to explore offerings beyond the Empire State. Many of the best wines are made right here in the Hudson Valley.
Another highlight of the event is the fact that many of the grape growers and wine makers are in attendance, which offers a fantastic chance for oenophiles to truly learn about each wine and ask questions of the people responsible for creating it. Festival attendees can also educate their minds, noses and palates at the free wine education seminars that take place throughout the weekend. Join Hudson Valley Wine Goddess Debbie Gioquindo and other regionally and nationally recognized wine authorities for free wine education events. You’ll learn about choosing, serving, tasting and storing wine as well as other fun wine facts.
As the second half of its name would suggest, the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival highlights some of the best food in the region. Since its inception in 2001, the festival has featured scores of unique gourmet specialty food vendors. You can find everything from farm fresh cheeses, farm raised meats, salsas, BBQ sauce, pasta, pasta sauce, dip mixes, drink mixes, soup mixes, pastries, baked goods, maple syrup, candy, nuts, granola, olive oils and more. In addition, the fest hosts some of the region’s most unique food trucks and food concessions, and presents fantastic cooking demonstrations that go on throughout the weekend. This year’s slate of master chef demonstrators includes Marcus Guiliano, Vincent Tropepe and Ric Orlando.
Add in the matchless live music by The Backburners, the presence of interesting celebrity guests like newly crowned Miss New York State Sydney Park and master artist Thomas Easley (who painted the still-life portrayed in this year’s commemorative art poster), the craft and product market vendors and other attractions, and you have a world of sights, sounds and activity taking place in the gorgeous, park-like atmosphere of the venerable Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Visit https://www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com or https://hudsonvalleyepicurean.com for updates. To purchase tickets on-line, go to https://hvwinefest.ticketspice.com/hudson-valley-wine-food-fest.
For more information, or to contact the festival team or subscribe to the festival mailing list, go to https://www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com/contact. We’ll see you at the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2021!