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The Hudson Valley has long been an important agricultural region and, with its proximity to New York City's farmers markets and restaurants, an inspiration for the locavore movement. Sometimes referred to as the "bread basket" for the Big Apple, the region is in fact a major producer of apples, onions, and many other products on farms both large and small.
On May 21, five small businesses will celebrate both that heritage and the new trend toward high quality craft beverages with its "Apples, Grapes & Barley" tasting tour. Whitecliff Vineyard, Yard Owl Craft Brewery, Kettleborough Cider House, and Bad Seed Cider will provide a tour of bubbly craft drinks along with Gardiner Liquid Mercantile, a new restaurant, store and bar that serves only local drinks and will soon be producing its own spirits. And tickets are only $25! www.whitecliffwine.com.
This type of multi-beverage event is becoming more common around the State. With a grant from Empire State Development, we are conducting a project titled, "Synergistic Marketing of New York Craft Beverages" to explore what has been, is being, and could be done to help market the different beverages collaboratively (in addition to individually). A simple example is wineries selling New York beers, ciders or spirits in their tasting rooms, or brewpubs featuring New York wines, but special events might also provide opportunities.
The first step in the project is a survey of producers in the four beverage categories, which is currently underway. Initial results indicate that there is clearly an openness to collaboration, that some has already been occurring, and some wineries have branched out to actually make other beverages as well--beer, cider, or spirits--to provide more choices for their consumers.
Make no mistake: Our focus is on grapes and wine, just like our friends at the New York State Brewers Association represent beer. But if there might be benefits to our industry from collaboration, we should clearly explore them.
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