Pasta Primo Vino!

I've wanted to attend the Shawangunk Wine Trail's Pasta Primo-Vino event since its first year but have not yet had the opportunity. I've toured some of the wineries on the trail in separate events and liked what I saw (and tasted!) Maybe this year I'll get to Pasta Primo Vino -- how can you go wrong with this? Fine pasta dishes paired with nice wines .. I also understand that the tickets sell quickly, so it's best to make reservations soon!

Here is more info from the wine trail:

Celebrate the start of the winegrowing season by visiting each of the wineries on the wine trail as they pair their wines with a delectable pasta dish. Your taste buds will be tingling with 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.

Be the first to taste 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 just in time for the Pasta Primo Vino is Harvest Moon, a semi-sweet white wine with 1% residual sugar, made from the Cayuga and Vidal grapes.

When arriving at Glorie Farm Winery, pair their “Husband’s Delight” with their first Estate Released 2006 Cabernet Franc. 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 for this event.

Celebrating spring with Pasta Primo Vino is a wonderful way to be introduced to Hudson Valley Wines. The new releases available for tasting at the 10 wineries will make you see why Hudson Valley Wine has reached new levels in winemaking.


This year the event takes place over the weekend of April 19 and 20. Event tickets include tasting fees at all the wineries as well as the pasta sampling. The event starts at 10 a.m. each day and runs until 6 p.m. Tickets for this two-day event are $20 per person when purchased in advance or $25 in person the day of the event at any of the participating 10 wineries. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.gunkswine.com.

Wine trail members include: Adair Vineyards & Rivendell Winery, New Paltz; Whitecliff Vineyards, Gardiner; Benmarl Winery, Glorie Farm Winery & Stoutridge Vineyards, Marlboro; Baldwin Vineyards, Pine Bush; Brotherhood "America's Oldest" Winery, Washingtonville; Applewood Winery & Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, Warwick.