Harvest time is upon us, and festivals celebrating our region’s agricultural bounty – including wines – will soon be reaching their annual peak. Among the grandest is the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest, returning to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9.
New York wineries and gourmet specialty food producers are in the spotlight at this end-of-summer event, which started out years ago as a gathering of oenophiles and gradually expanded to include a New York Craft Beer Pavilion as well as distilleries and hard ciders. In addition to perusing the wares of more than 50 wineries and hundreds of other vendors that will be on hand, you’ll also get to watch celebrity chefs Dana Johnson, Gail Sokol and Arlyn Osborne give live cooking demonstrations, and hear Debbie Gioquindo’s expert tips on wine-and-food pairings.
Ticket prices range from $10 to $40, depending on the size of your group, whether you purchase in advance or at the gate, and whether you opt for a beverage-tasting pass or simple entry to the event. All food costs extra. To find out more or order tickets, visit www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com. The Dutchess County Fairgrounds are located at 6550 Springbrook Avenue (Route 9) in Rhinebeck.