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Friday, August 31, 2018

Nostrano Vineyards - New and Ready For Prime Time! (NY)


So, in July of 2018 I finally made it down (with my friend Rich Srsich) to Nostrano Vineyards in Milton, New York. I hadn't told Nic Bozzo and Kayleigh Marquis Bozzo I was coming. I had first tasted Nostrano at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival held in September at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. And in a limited tasting, I fell in love instantly. I had felt badly that it had taken me so long to get there. I felt a little sheepish going in. But when I got there, both Nic and Kayleigh were there, and made me and my companion feel like we were family. And it was wonderful, because these are good people. Nostrano is a family run 75-acre farm, vineyard and winery in the Hudson Valley. They grow 10-acres of wine grapes (they also grow some table grapes, and also have 15 acres of apples. 


This is a fourth generation farm, and yet is one of the newest wineries in the Hudson Valley. The Trapani family has been farming this land for fruit since 1943. Joseph Trapani Sr.’s grandson, Nicolas Bozzo, planted the Nostrano vineyards in 2010. 

 

Nic is a passionate grower. He wants to make the best artisanal quality wine in the valley. And that's why it's easy to like him. He unpretentious. He's a farmer first. And that's why it's easy to respect what he and Kayleigh are accomplishing. Nic was born and raised on his family’s farm in Milton, NY; attended SUNY ESF at Syracuse University acquiring his Bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture. During his Senior year of college he traveled to New Zealand to further his knowledge in Eco-Agricultural Tourism and Winery Design. Interested in Sustainability, Land Management and the shear beauty of a working landscape such as a vineyard, Nic saw potential back in the Hudson Valley at his family's farm.

Nic's Father


Kayleigh, who manages the tasting room and event director, is equally inspiring. She's friendly, very smart, out going, and very well liked. Kayleigh was born and raised in the Hudson Valley and graduated from The College of Saint Rose with a B.S in Business Administration. Having worked for several large Corporations in Human Resource Management, Finance & Supply Chain, Kayleigh works on the Operating end as well as our Event Director coordinating Annual Events, Weddings & Special Events in the Vineyards Barn & Tasting Room.



The Nostrano Estate Riesling 2015 opens with a big aromatic bouquet of succulent fresh peaches and apricots. The wine was made in stainless steel, and while it starts of with green apple and other tropical fruits, it ends semi-sweet, or off-dry. A light, delicate, gorgeous Riesling. Very, very good!


The Nostrano Estate Riesling 2016 is a completely different wine. Much more akin to their sold out 2014 vintage, this wine opens with a big nose of Granny Smith apple and ripe Bosc pear, and some other tropical notes. Where the 2015 had softened with the sweetness, this 2016 was huge with minerality and great acidity, finishing with a zesty, citrus-y pop! This was an exquisite off-dry Riesling. As good as anything from the Finger Lakes. Perhaps this 2016 may have been the best wine of the tasting (though I liked the reds) I thought this was the wine ready to stand on its own. A great accomplishment for a winery so young. Impressive.


The Nostrano Ava Rosé 2017 was an accomplishment. The ose gushed with fresh bright raspberry and juicy watermelon as promised. Yet the end was all lemon and lime zest, with a lovely finish. This was an impressive wine as well, and would easily compete with any of the many wines from Long Island or the Finger Lakes. A very eye catching entry into the market.A wonderful wine!!!!


I first tasted the Nostrano Estate Pinot Noir 2014 at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival, alonmg with their chardonnay. The 2014 Estate Pinot was as good as any Pinot Noir made in the Hudson Valley. Especially impressive, considering it was amongst their first offerings. The wine had been aged in American oak for 16 months. Lovely balance and holding layers of complexity, it showed the true promise of what the winery could produce. Easily my favorite wine that they have produced. 


The Nostrano Estate Pinot Noir 2015 was considerably lighter in color, more like a dark rose. But I embrace the notion that sometimes Pinot Noirs don;t have to be dark. Indeed, some of my favorites, from Santa Barbara, Oregon, and New York states all produce lightly colored but incredibly tasty wines.  The 2015 Estate Pinot Noir was released in August 2017. The wine displays lovely aromatics of bright cherry and bright plum, layered with light  cranberries, raspberries, and cherries. The flavors are very pretty and delicate but nonetheless, delicious. An easy sipper great for lunch or with fish, fowl, or pork. A great summer red. A wonderful Pinot Noir.


The Nostrano Estate Cabernet Franc 2016 is a light, but impressive red (aged in American oak for 12 months), with a nose that bursts with violet, bright raspberry, strawberry, hints of graphite, and a sizable dose of black pepper at the end. This is a Loire-ish styled Cabernet Franc, bursting with fruit, and flavor. It deserves slow sipping, as there are delicate flavors that will continue to evolve. 




Nostrano Vineyards may be a new-ish winery (they opened their doors just a few years ago. But they are clear in their desire to be considered among the Hudson Valley's and New York's top quality producers. Their opening statements have been impressive, have flashed some wonderful wines in small quantities, and are poised to make the jump from the small screen to the big screen. They are indeed ready for prime time! Love Nostrano Vineyards!