Industries

Five Fantastic Capital Region Wineries to Visit This Fall

September 13, 2021 By upstatecreative

Fall is a fabulous time to visit the Capital Region’s wineries. Drive the gorgeous rural routes and take in the scenery. And, you’ll be rewarded with seeing the makers in the throes of harvesting and making the 2021 vintage. It’s a thrilling yet tiring time at a winery, and they’ll appreciate your visit.

Of course, you’ll find terrific local wines. But there are also the personal stories, and the lovely locations, and the exploration of your “back yard” that can yield such delights and surprises. Truly, you can’t go wrong visiting any of the wineries in the Capital Region. And make sure to explore the rest of the Hudson Valley, and all of New York’s world-class wine regions.

Here are my top recommendations (in alphabetical order):

Altamont Winery, Altamont

Altamont Winery Owner Mike DeCrescenzo (photo courtesy Edible Capital District)

I first met Mike DeCrescenzo, owner of Altamont Winery, at the Schenectady Farmer’s Market, about ten years ago. Intrigued with what was growing on his family’s large farm west of Albany, I took a visit. Knowing nothing about the area, I was skeptical about what kind of grapes could be growing in Altamont. Happily, my expectations were shattered – the vineyard is huge! It was originally planted by Larry Grossi, who passed in 1999. In 2006, Mike’s dad, Louis, decided to take it on, equally trusting what the 26-acre piece of land could yield.

There are many varieties thriving on the site, and the DeCrescenzos are passionate about their craft. Visiting Altamont is like reconnecting with a family member. The experience is friendly, welcoming, casual. The wines are home-grown and homemade. Be sure to try the Sirius, a dry white made with St. Pepin and Cayuga; the Leon Millot – a dry red made from this French-American hybrid; the semi-sweet Rose made from a blend of the grapes; and the others, too! Make a day of it. Learn more at www.altamontwinery.com, follow and like them on Facebook and Instagram, and visit at 3001 Furbeck Road, Altamont, NY.

Galway Rock Vineyard and Winery, Ballston Lake

Galway Rock Founder Kate Soldani, processing the harvest

Kate Soldani is the brains – and the brawn – behind Galway Rock Vineyard & Winery in Galway, New York. She started the winery in 2014, inspired by the garagiste movement of fine wine making (small-scale entrepreneurial wine-makers, who do not adhere to the traditions of wine-making). In under a decade, Kate has launched three signature brands with dedicated followers -– Galway Rock, Robinia Hill, and Saratoga Sparkling. The result is a range of white, red, rose, and sparkling wines to please any palate.

Galway Rock Wine selection — Galway Rock Winery produces a wide selection of wines under three separate brand names

A visit to the tasting room is as creative and uplifting as Kate’s wines, offering a flight of six wines, or a signature “mimosa tower” tasting. What’s better than a tower of bubbles?? Hang out on the tasting room’s sunny patio with a specially prepared cheese board. Try the beautifully balanced Galway Rock Merlot-Malbec blend that’s full of delicious dark fruit notes. The Robinia Hill Riesling unfolds with apple and pear notes. And, don’t miss the Saratoga Sparkling Moscato that tickles the palate and turns on the pleasure. Learn more at www.galwayrockwines.com, follow and like them on Facebook and Instagram, and visit at 988 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake, NY.

Home Range Winery, Canaan

Inspired by Cape Cod (of all places!) wine making, Peter Bartlett and Susan Powell reconsidered what was possible on their farm in rural Canaan, New York. The 30-acre Flatbrook Farm – in the Bartlett family for generations — was already planted with Concord grapes, as well as raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. All are fruits that are suitable for wines. Susan was an amateur (and now a full-time) winemaker. Peter is a farmer who raised his three children on Flatbrook Farm. Why not follow their passions for growing and wine making and start a winery?

Thankfully for the rest of us, they did it. Their goal? To grow grapes suitable for a colder climate, and to make wines they would be proud to serve to friends and strangers alike. They planted Marquette and Baco for red wines, and Traminette and Cayuga for white wines. An old barn on the property was cleaned out and converted to the tasting room and winery. Guests are welcome to explore the farm and to bring a picnic.

The wines have names that reflect the couple’s connections to nature, too. There’s Calm After the Storm, an easy-drinking Cayuga; Big Buck, a signature red made with Marquette; Cold Snap, a luscious blueberry wine; and several others offering a range from dry whites and reds to sweeter wines. Learn more at www.homerangewinery.com, follow and like them on Facebook and Instagram, and visit at 146 Flints Crossing Rd., Canaan, NY.

Nine Lamb Farm Winery, Cambridge

A relative newcomer on the scene is Nine Lamb Winery in Cambridge, NY, about 45 minutes northeast of Albany in some truly breathtaking countryside in Washington County. In 2016, the Bateman family planted six varieties of cold-hardy grapes on land that has been farmed for over 200 years. They’ve created two lovely, distinct brands. For the father/son Bateman team, South Dominion Vineyard represents tradition and heritage. And, their Nine Lamb Farm brand expands their inspiring vision. The Batemans say that Nine Lamb “intersects the realms of art, design, agriculture, and community so as to carry us forward into new life and a shared abundance born out of patience and forgiveness.”

South Dominion Winery, sister brand of Nine Lamb

Take a ride and visit the Cambridge tasting room this fall, when colors are at their peak. Or, try the wines at the Troy Farmer’s Market on Saturdays between 9 am and 2 pm (which is where I discovered them). Their enthusiasm is as inspiring as their wines. The Dionné (South Dominion brand) is a big, dry, oak-aged red with ripe berry notes and some spice on the finish. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/ninelambfarm, follow and like them on Facebook and Instagram, and visit at 166 Brownell Road, Cambridge, NY.

Tousey Winery, Germantown

Ben and Kimberly Peacock of Tousey Winery (photo credit: Hudson Valley Magazine)

Everything about Tousey Winery is quirky and cool, from the unusual tasting room along Route 9 between Columbia and Dutchess Counties, to the names of the wines. That’s because the owners, Ben and Kimberly Peacock, are quirky and cool themselves. Ben is English and Kimberly is Scandinavian, and they share a deep love of fine wine. When they decided to settle in Germantown and start a winery, they went all in. That was back in 2008. Today, over a decade later, their wines are trend setters in the region and the state.

Tousey offers traditional wines like Riesling and Cabernet Franc. Additionally, they have blends like their off-dry Queen of Clermont, and the fun and friendly red blend, Riot. They make a Sauvignon Blanc called Hygge that is as clean and beautiful as any SB out there. Plus, they’ve recently added sparklers to their line-up, including Naughtiness, a rose sparkler. And we all know that bubbles make everything better!

Tousey is also renowned for their cassis, a wine made from black currants. Tangy and sweet at the same time, it’s delicious on its own but is best when topped with sparkling wine to make a Kir Royale. That they do it all with three young children is even more impressive. Learn more at www.touseywinery.com, follow and like them on Facebook and Instagram, and visit at 1774 Route 9, Germantown, NY.

Other Don’t-Miss Spots

I would be remiss to not mention a couple of others that are near and dear to me. Hudson-Chatham Winery, Columbia County’s first winery, is alive and well and making wonderful wines under the ownership of Steven Rosario and Justin Nickell. See where the Columbia County winery experience all started. (1900 State Rte 66, Ghent, NY). Another don’t-miss spot is Stable Gate Winery (12 Linda Way, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY). This female owned and operated vineyard was founded by Valerie Feldman. Her young and forward-thinking perspective on land and relationships shines through everything she does.

Dominique DeVito started Hudson-Chatham Winery with Carlo DeVito and their boys, Dawson and Dylan, in 2007. Today Dominique is a Wine Manager at Exit 9 Wine & Liquor Warehouse in Clifton Park, where she has a world of wines to play with. She writes a monthly feature for Main Street magazine as well as a “wine of the week” for the magazine’s website and social media. Find it at www.mainstreetmag.com.

Behind the Scenes At “The Costumer”

July 6, 2021 By Maureen Sager

In 2016, Erik and Bonnie Johnsen moved from Massachusetts and bought The Costumer, a 100-year-old, full-service costume and makeup business with locations in Albany and Schenectady. The Johnsen’s are passionate about the positive impact of scholastic theater! Read on as Bonnie takes us behind the scenes at this creative — and mission driven — business.

How and why did you buy a costuming company?

Erik and I are theater parents. Our son, Tyler, was a very, very introverted little boy. Teachers tried everything to get him out of his shell. So, in fifth grade, he signed up for chorus, and he ended up with a solo. He blew us away! That was his stepping stone into theater, winning awards and leads in every show in high school. He just completely took off and it changed his life.

So, when Erik wanted to get out of the corporate world and saw this opportunity to buy a small business, we knew it was the right thing. We believe completely in this mission because know what scholastic theater can do for a young child’s confidence. It’s fabulous.

Tyler is 22 now and studied theater and business in college. He’s now getting his Masters degree, and helps us in the summers. We all love it. This business is truly something we’re passionate about.

What’s the history of The Costumer?

The business was started in Schenectady in 1917 by a woman named Anna White. She was trading handmade costumes in exchange for dance lessons for her daughter. Since then, it’s changed owners four times. The Sheehan family were performers and teachers, and they saw the niche of school productions. They believed that kids deserved Broadway-caliber costumes.at affordable prices.

Constructing costumes for *Something Rotten!*

Our head designer has been with the business for over 30 years, with experience from Broadway. She creates costumes for all of the new shows, and makes sure that they are shipable and durable, because they’re for kids. We’re one of the few businesses that customize our products for all ages, even elementary schools. It used to be that high schools were the main customers for high-end costumes, but now we see it for all ages, even young children. So, the costumes need to be tailored to suit.

What kind of jobs and careers are there at The Costumer?

There are a wide variety of jobs here, and most of us wear a lot of hats. For the costumes, we need seamstresses to construct new products and tailor the costumes for our orders. Everything needs to be laundered, pressed, and packed, so we’ve got people who handle all of that.

Shrek costume — The Costumer’s annual catalog photo shoot

Plus, we’ve got a retail establishment, so there are others who meet and talk to customers. And, there’s of course the office and administrative staff, who are doing bookkeeping and a variety of other things. I handle some of the marketing, and social media is done by retail manager. We’re all multi taskers. At the height of the theater season and during Halloween, we’ve got about 40 employees on staff.

Many businesses and organizations have expressed a need for tailors and seamstresses. Have you, too, had trouble finding people?

Yes, it’s very difficult to find trained seamstresses. I think it might be because they’ve largely stopped teaching Home Ec in schools, and that’s the way that a lot of us learned to sew. It’s definitely become a dying art.

Thankfully, though, they do teach sewing in college theater programs. Tyler knows how to sew for his theater degree, and we’ve hired other people from his school. But the best source of seamstresses has been young people who are very active in the cosplay community (the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game). Young people are making their own costumes. Cosplay and Comicon are absolutely enormous businesses, and sewing is a great skill for young people to have.

You’ve got a move in your future?

Yes! We are moving our retail location over to Mohawk Harbor, and are looking at an August opening. We’re very excited. The Harbor has got the whole “live, work, play” environment. There are restaurants and the casino and the amphitheater. It’s a fun place, and we’re a fun company. Our employees are excited about it, too, After a difficult year and a half, it’s nice to have something great to look forward to.

Foreland: A Fantastic, New Arts Complex in Catskill

June 8, 2021 By upstatecreative

Along the Catskill Creek, on the site of a Civil War Era mill, sits the huge, new arts campus called Foreland. This completely renovated, artist-led, contemporary art complex is gearing up for a fantastic summer opening. The vision is to provide space, resources, and programs designed for artists, by artists.

“We left no stone unturned,” said Stef Halmos, Foreland’s founder. “Foreland is an artist-led development. Therefore, we’ve created the studios, galleries, and special project spaces that we ourselves would want to inhabit.”

Foreland’s Renovation Story

In 2017, Stef Halmos acquired the flagship building of the Foreland Campus at 111 Water Street. Mentored by her father, she hit the ground running. It took 18 months to complete the structural remediation — essentially, saving the building’s shell. Since then, the two remaining buildings of the Campus (125 Water Street and 361 Main Street) have begun renovations. The buildings will be completed by August, 2021.

Foreland Interior — Foreland’s Interior Space

The transformation from dilapidated factory to thriving arts campus is remarkable. “Our Campus includes 4 contemporary exhibition spaces and 31 artist studios,” said Halmos. “Plus, there are two food & beverage spaces, and two residential loft apartments. Soon, a cooperative workspace and two massive waterfront event / project spaces” will also come online.

Commitment to Diversity

Diversity at Foreland means more than demographics. “We are very proud to have diversity of ethnicity, age, sex, and so forth in our artist-neighbors, and which we feel is crucial to the success of the project,” said Halmos. “Additionally, we’re intentional with the type of (and caliber) of work made within our buildings. Our tenants range from highly conceptual video artists to novelists and ceramicists.” Click here for more on Foreland’s resident artists, including Laleh Khorramian, seen above.

And, Foreland’s campus is kid-friendly, pet-friendly, and accessible to the disabled. To keep up to date on this summer’s opening schedule, as well as gallery, food, and event plans, visit https://www.f orelandcatskill.com/. Interested in finding out more about Foreland’s artist studios? Click here.

Discover Your Inner Pinball Wizard At UPH

August 19, 2020 By Rachel Dunn

Want to spend some time with Elvis, Dolly Parton and Mick? Always thought you could be a pinball wizard just given the chance? Well, you’ll get your chance at Universal Preservation Hall’s “Part of The Machine: Rock & Pinball Exhibit“.The interactive exhibit is on loan from Cleveland’s Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Rock an old-school wooden machine or test drive a spectacular, modern, high-tech model. It’s a super-fun walk through music history by way of pinball machines.

The best part is that you can PLAY the machines as much as you want during your 90-minute visit. Attempt to break the high score solo, or if you’re like my husband and me, you can go head-to-head to see who is truly a pinball wizard. Hint: It wasn’t me.

There are also artifacts from the Hall of Fame including Alice Cooper’s electric chair, a Dolly Parton concert dress and more. It’s such an immersive and fun experience that you won’t want to leave. The good news is that the tickets are just $20, which includes all the pinball you can manage in 90 minutes, so you can go back again… and again… and again. At least until September 26th, when the exhibit moves on.

Side note: If you’re concerned about safety during your visit, UPH has put your health first and created an incredibly clean and sterile environment. I felt absolutely safe the entire time I was at the venue. See details below.

The Details:

Tickets:
$20 for a 90-minute session
Purchase here
Dates:
August 11, 2020 through September 26th, 2020
Times:
Sunday – Wednesday: 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday: 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols

UPH will follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State safety guidelines in establishing safety protocol for exhibit visitors.

Each visitor, staff person and volunteer will be required to bring and wear a face mask and to wear provided gloves while playing the pinball machines.
All individuals will also be required to maintain proper social distancing.
Staff will take and record each individual’s temperature and procure proper tracing information
Proper sanitization of all surfaces including handrails, light switches, elevators, exhibit pieces, restrooms and common surfaces will occur before new groups are admitted.

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CapNY Video: Four Questions with Artist Takeyce Walter

July 28, 2020 By Maureen Sager

Landscape painter Takeyce Walter lives in Round Lake in Saratoga County, where she has an art studio in sight of the marsh and lake. But don’t let the timeless serenity of her landscapes fool you, because Takeyce knows how to hustle. First off, she is one of the region’s most successful painters and instructors. Second, she’s a mom to three children, with two young ones at home. Third, she works a full-time job as a video producer. Yes, you read that right.

ACE asked Takeyce about how she balances her work and art, whether she had black female artist role models, and more. Plus, watch her in action, as she creates a wonderful pastel landscape in the video, below.

Image courtesy North Country Public Radio.

Connect with Takeyce Walter:

Website: TakeyceArt.com

Instagram: @takeycewalter

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