Pasta Primo Vino

I attended Pasta Primo Vino yesterday and am getting ready to go back today.

Yesterday I started in Warwick and got to Brotherhood then the Marlboro wineries. I will be going back in about an hour to finish up with the New Paltz, Gardiner and Pine Bush wineries.

Yesterday I took my friend Gina with me. Gina likes semi-sweet to sweet wines which is in contrast to what I like...dry wines. With an open mind I did do some port tasting. I tasted the Winston's Harlequin Port at Warwick. This port was very good. I expected cough syrup but was very surprise at how light it was. (As you can see, I am not a port drinker) The port was made from Baco Noir which gave it it's smoky taste. They told me it would be good paired with stilton cheese and dark chocolate. Their Chardonnay was very good and I did purchase a bottle.

Applewood Winery wins on best pasta so far. Their Blue Cheese Baked Pasta was wonderful, runner up is the Gnocchi at Benmarl. I did taste the port at Benmarl too. It was very good. Very different from Warwick's.

At Glorie Farm Winery I had the pleasure of tasting their new released 2006 Cabernet Franc. It was very soft and delicate. There was romance in this wine!

Now to go get ready for today's tastings.....

Pasta Primo Vino - This Weekend

This weekend is the start of the Wine Tasting season and the Shawangunk Wine Trail's Pasta Primo Vino event. According to the weather, it's going to be a fantastic weekend so what better way to spend it than wine tasting on the the Shawangunk Wine Trail.

The event is April 19 & 20th. Tasting begins at 10am each day and runs until 6pm. Tickets are $20 plus tax in advance and $25 at the door. There is still time to purchase your advance tickets. Tickets include wine tasting and pasta sampling at all 10 wineries on the Shawangunk Wine Trial.

Click here to purchase your tickets.

What will you be tasting and sampling...some wonderful wine and pasta dishes.
Pasta dishes like Pasta Carbonara with Pancetta at Warwick Valley Winery, Fettuccini con Zucca e Pangrattato (with pumpkin and bread crumbs) at Whitecliff Vineyards,“Husband’s Delight” comfort food at its best at Glorie Farm Winery and Gnocci in a sage and butter sauce at Benmarl Winery.

You will be the first to taste some wonderful new releases! New releases like Warwick Valley Winery’s 2007 Pinot Gris crafted from 89% Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) and 11% Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a delicate floral and honey aromas are followed by good fruit and welcomed acidity. Also newly released at Warwick Valley Winery for the Pasta Primo Vino is the Harvest Moon, a semi-sweet white wine with 1% residual sugar, made from the Cayuga and Vidal grapes.

A stop at Whitecliff Vineyards will have you tasting their 2007 Estate Grown Awosting White which is their “Hudson Heritage White,” a blend of Seyval and Vignoles. This wine is lovely, soft, low acid with flavors of apricot and peaches. In addition to the Awosting White, Whitecliff will be releasing their 2007 Pinot Gris, 2007 Redtail, 2007 Mt Laurel White and 2007 Riesling.

Don't forget to get your tickets in advance!