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When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s, raise your glass and cheers with one of these local pours. Dutchess County is home to some wonderful wineries, offering a variety of sparkling beverages perfect for the occasion. Go beyond the classic Champagne and explore one of these unique takes on sparkling wine.
Planning your winter in Dutchess County? Click here. Searching for other handcrafted gifts in Dutchess County? Click here.
Nothing says New Year’s like a classic sparkling wine, and Millbrook Vineyards & Winery has just the bottle for you! Whether you’re visiting the winery or ordering online, purchase your bottle of their delicious Brut. This methode champenoise sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with dominant characters of lime, apricot, fresh herbs, orange candy and ginger, finishing off with sour dough and mineral undertones.
Milea Estate Vineyard uses incredibly talented, well-researched winemakers to produce top-tier wines. For a crowd-pleasing floral sparkling option, try their Proceedo Rosé. Discover notes of white peach and wet stone on the nose, followed by a dry, light and refreshingly acidic palate. A blend of Pinot Noir, Carbernet Franc and a subtle amount of Muscat makes up this release.
Beyond sparkling wines, Dutchess boasts truly unique salute-worthy libations. Check these out:
C. Cassis is an all-natural liqueur made by hand from Dutchess County black currants, along with wild honey, lemon verbena and other ingredients. Visit the C. Cassis Tasting Room for a glimpse into cassis production in Rhinebeck, and gift this disctinctly Hudson Valley spirit. Fun fact: black currants were illegal to produce in the many parts of the United States for many years, and a local farmer led the campaign on repealing the ban in New York State. For New Year's Eve and other holidays requiring libations, the C.Cassis Spritz is a lovely choice. Lightly fermented black currants blend with bright citrus peel, vibrant bontanicals and a touch of that wild honey with seltzer, making for the perfect cocktail in a can.
This state-of-the-art brewery and tasting room in Hyde Park produces a Junmai Daiginjo-only sake, the highest level of premium sake and the first of its kind made in the U.S. The Nigori Sparkling is made from 100% Yamada Nishiki rice, the gold standard of sake rice, polished down to 50%. Due to its lack of added sugar, the Nigori Sparkling has subtle sweetness and fresh flavors with a bouquet reminiscent of green apples. This refreshing fizzy sake is ideal for a New Year's toast.
Hudson Valley Brewery in Beacon is known for their bright, colorful fruited sour IPAs. However, they've also started crafting natural fermented sparkling wines — with the signature HVB color and flavor. This season, choose between three different varieties: Blueberry Gewurztraminer (with chamomile), Peach Chardonnay (with lemongrass) and Concord Grape, which utilizes Concord Piquette and Riesling from Wild Arc Farm in the Hudson Valley alongside lemon verbena and local wildflower honey.
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Fishkill Farms' Treasury Cider never ceases to impress with their hard ciders, made using heritage methods on a century-old farm. Those seeking to make an impression with their holiday libation should check out their Wild at Heart, which spotlights foraged wild stahorn sumac from the farm. This delivers a delightfully interesting flavor profile, which gets a bit of light sweetness from added ice cider. This tart, ruby colored cider features a delicate fizz and an aroma of cedar and pine.
Looking to try a taste of local apple orchard terroir? Rose Hill Ferments in Red Hook produces a myriad of wines, ciders and other fruited spirits utiziling farm-grown produce. Their flagship Kitchen Sink uses exclusively Rose Hill Farm fruit, including a unique mixture of heirloom and bittersweet apples. Fruity yet dry, unfiltered and refreshing, Kitchen Sink is sure to be a winner when the clock strikes midnight. Also worth procuring is their Bird Bath Rosé, which blens New York State Traminette, Valvin Muscat and Cabernet Franc for a floral pét-nat sparkling wine.
Industrial Arts Brewing Co. in Beacon is mainly known for their bold, bright Wrench IPA series. Well, their non-alcoholic Safety Glasses IPA is a great way to enjoy their big, refreshing flavors without the buzz. Plus, they also make a non-alcoholic pilsner!
Stella's Fine Market in Beacon sells a variety of mocktail ingredients and non-alcoholic craft beverages. Options range from beer and wine to bourbon and gin, with pre-mixed mocktails like negronis. In addition, Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction has a variety of non-alcoholic craft ciders and other unique drinks.
Dutchess County has plenty of craft beverages for every palate. Celebrate the new New Year with a tour of locally made craft beer, cider, spirits and mead with our Dutchess Tourism Taste Finder craft beverage passport! Get yours or gift a pass by clicking here.
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