I arrived at Benmarl Winery with good friend Diane Letulle. She is a major wine journalist. She has traveled to major wine regions in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, and the Republic of Georgia, South Africa, and Australia. She earned the Advanced Certificate with Distinction from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and teach wine classes and present wine-pairing dinners at the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School in New Jersey. She's spoken internationally on wine tourism at conferences in Croatia, Italy, and Portugal and was a featured speaker at the Travel Bloggers Exchange Conference in Dublin in 2013. Her blog is Wine Lover's Journal. And she is always wonderful company. I have had a massive crush on her for years. She's the coolest.
Nestled in the lush green hills of Marlboro you will find Benmarl Winery. Overlooking the historic Hudson River Valley, it’s 37 acre estate lays claim to the oldest vineyard in America. The winery also holds New York Farm Winery license no.1.
“Here at Benmarl we are committed to producing small batch wines that capture the unique character of each vineyard from which they are sourced. Our estate production had almost tripled in the past six years showing our faith in the wines that the Hudson River Region can produce. We invite you to visit our 37 acre estate overlooking the historic Hudson River Valley where you can taste our award winning wines, tour our cellars, and walk through the Oldest Vineyard America," says Victor Spaccarelli Jr., owner.
Matthew Spaccarelli has grown into one of the most forward thinking winemakers in the Hudson Valley and New York State. "“We are not focused solely on quality and consistency, but also on progression. Our environment is consistently changing. Global warming is creating new challenges as well as opening doors to opportunities that were never there before. New technologies and winemaking practices are aiding us in crafting exceptional wines while at the same time, allowing us to address issues of sustainability. The decisions that we make today will inevitably shape the environment we will have to work in down the road. This is not only a challenge, but a responsibility. We look forward to working with nature and science to continue crafting our wines.” says Spaccarelli. Matthew can talk winemaking with anyone. He is truly doing some of the most interesting things in the valley.
The first wine of the day was the Benmar; Cab Franc Petillant made from Finger Lakers 2020 fruit. This effervescent wine has just enough sparkle to get the party started! Juicy and fruity, look for the yeast on the bottom of the bottle–this wine is alive and will be the life of the party! Started off with strawberry rhubarb, that then turned to red grapefruit and blood orange. I will tell you right now, this was the best wine fo the tasting. Absolutely superb. Unfortunately, it's so popular, they only sell it at the winery, and only by the glass, and it's running out! Terrific!
Loved the Sauvignon Blanc like Benmarl Estate Seyval Blanc 2020. Big notes of Chamomile tea, fresh green apple, and lemon and lime zest. Almost Vino Verde-esque. He topes it off with a small touch of riesling, which amps up the green apple and brings out some tropical notes. A thirst quencher of the highest rank. Fun white wine, perfect for sipping or with food! Bring on the fresh shellfish!
The Benmarl Semi-dry Riesling Finger Lakes 2019 was amazing. A big bite of fresh Granny Smith apple, with lovely tropical notes, with hints of apricot and tangerine. A hint of petrol. And just a hint of sweetness balanced out by mouthwatering acidity. One of the big wines of the tasting as well. Delicate. Elegant. Complex. This is superb Riesling. This is one you have to get a few bottles of as well.
This is a sentimental favorite for me. This is one of the wines I first fell in love with when I came to the Hudson Valley almost 20 years ago! And it is still a stand out. Unhappily, this is the penultimate vintage of this historic wine, which has been made at this winery since the 1960s and 1970s. The vines have been struggling, and the family decided to move on to their commitment to Cabernet Franc and several other grapes. I am heartbroken. Despite this, Diane and I both thought this was one of the better wines of the tasting. A superb wine with dark cherry, bramble, smoke, and elegant and complex layers. Superb. Stock up now. Next year's vintage will only be 50-100 cases. And then it's gone. Fantastic!
The Benmarl Malbec North Fork of Long Island 2018 was wonderful. Plummy, velvety, with notes of cherry and black berry, and super, super smooth. A super easy drinker. Fruit lingered for ever.
A sentimental journey for sure. Have always loved Benmarl, but Matthew Spaccarelli has done a remarkable job of making these wines, and turning this famous winery into a leader for a new generation of wine enthusiasts. Benmarl remains one of the most important wineries in the Hudson Valley....and New York state.
