creative economy

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.

ACE Creative Economy Survey: Income/Employment Loss 2020/21

March 10, 2021 By upstatecreative

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CapNY Relocation Stories: Chrissy and Ben Traore

July 8, 2020 By Maureen Sager Leave a Comment

Chrissy and Ben Traore met while working in a New York City restaurant. Soon, they were commuting upstate on weekends for a cooking gig. To their great surprise, they began dreading going back to Brooklyn during the week. “We’ve always worked 70 to 100 hours a week,” Chrissy said. “And the city and the expenses just added stress to all of that.” Something had to give. So, by 2017, they settled in Cairo, a small, rural town in Greene County, about ten miles outside of Catskill.

Together, they founded S ee and Be Kitchen and Cafe. Their funky, functional, multi-building “compound” met all of their dreams. There’s a prep kitchen inside of a storage container (they insulated it themselves) and outdoor wood-fired oven for baking bread. Plus, there’s a chicken house and pen, and café / retail shop. Additionally, outdoor seating plans are in the works, in the shaded, rustic grounds.

See and Be’s Breads and Business Plan

Ben began baking bread in Burkina Faso, a West African country near Ivory Coast and Ghana. He uses a sourdough base for all of his products, including gorgeous croissants, pastries, and a full line of breads. The starter is fermented for 48 hours, making a refined and gorgeous loaf that even gluten-sensitive customers can digest (yep, this writer can vouch for that — and it’s fantastic).

The baking life isn’t easy. Ben goes to bed by 6 or 7pm, in order to tend to the wood-burning oven by 2am every day. Chrissy has pivoted their baking and food businesses from farmers markets to wholesale distribution, and now to online ordering and curbside pickups during COVID. Oh, and did we mention that they’ve also got an 18-month-old son in the mix now? These bakers are BUSY!

Chrissy utilizes Ben’s breads in all of her food creations, including a weekend sandwich selection. You can place online orders here, and pick them up at See and Be from Wednesdays through Saturdays.

“We’ve always taken things one step at a time,” said Chrissy. “We have room to grow here, and space to breathe. I want to let people know that they should not be afraid to try something new. We’re building something that is ours.”

Connect with See and Be Kitchen

Address:
512 New York 145
Cairo, NY 12413, US
Phone: (518) 719-9229
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Freelancing in Portugal with ACE Executive Director Maureen Sager

February 24, 2020 By upstatecreative

I did not exactly plan to have a working vacation during Freelancing February. I’d booked this trip to Portugal last year, long before I knew that I’d be up to my elbows in the Regional Brand project (it’s a new initiative that we’re launching in the fall — more about that soon!). I also didn’t know at that time that I’d be traveling alone (I’d had the trip planned with a friend). I was tempted to cancel. I’d never taken a major trip by myself, let alone a two-week excursion to a foreign country. But here’s what I thought about:

I’m in no position to go on a two-week vacation right now because of work commitments, but what if I worked part-time from Portugal? My official contract is for 7 hours a day. If I worked two hours in the morning and 90 minutes at night, that would still leave me plenty of time for touring.
In my ACE (and now the additional Regional Brand role), I sometimes spend more than 20 hours a week driving to and from meetings. What if I didn’t drive for two weeks?? I’d potentially have more “desk time” in Portugal than I have in the Capital Region!
The price was right – plus, my Airbnbs were all booked and my flight was paid for, so I’d lose over $800 if I canceled this trip. Off-season prices in Portugal are fantastic – wonderful apartments in perfect locations for less than $30 per night. I could swing that.

So, should I stay or should I go?

The answer is, I decided to go. I’d freelance, on a part-time schedule for two weeks, from Portugal. Crazy? For sure. But, why not give it a try.

I started my trip in Lisbon on a Sunday, after a super-easy, five-and-a-half-hour flight from JFK. It took less than five minutes to know that my month of studying Portuguese had not done much good at all, because they speak way too fast, and it’s a notoriously difficult language to begin with. It all worked, though. I got a $15 Uber to my apartment, and within an hour of landing, I jumped onto email, just to make sure I was set. Everything worked. I spent the day walking up the ridiculously hilly streets, and took an “Airbnb Experience” tour, where local people show you their city. It’s much more personal than a corporate tour. I’ve become quite enamored of them.

Monday was the moment of truth – would I be able to work? I woke at 8 a.m. and worked for two hours as planned, making cappuccino in my lovely apartment. By the time I finished my “shift”, it was 10 a.m. in Lisbon, and 5 a.m. in New York. I headed out for an amazing day, then came back after supper and worked 90 minutes til 9 p.m. By the time I finished, it was 4 p.m. in New York. I’d spent about the same amount of time working as I do on a normal work day, if I’d had two meetings that were 30 minutes from my home.

While working and doing email, I rarely mentioned that I was in Portugal unless it was pertinent to the conversation – it actually didn’t matter where I was. I scheduled phone calls at mutually convenient times, and used WhatsApp when it was someone who knew I was away.

I’m on Day 11 of my working vacation. The usual things go “wrong” and need to be worked out, same as any other work week, AND I’m in my fourth Portuguese city — it’s in the south, called Evora. I’ve also been to Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto. All have been wonderful.

Like I said, I did not plan this as a working vacation, or my first big solo trip. Life just happened that way. It’s been a life-changing experience. I feel brave and competent and bad-ass, because there have been some damn challenging moments – like driving the wrong way down ridiculously narrow, cobbled streets — that totally worked out.

This working vacation NEVER would have happened if I’d not become a freelancer. I wouldn’t have had the imagination and gumption for it. It’s been fifteen years since my last traditional job. Fifteen years without health insurance, paid vacation, or 401K. And it’s been the best fifteen years of my working life, AND my personal life. Here’s to Freelancer February! Freelance forever. That’s my goal and motto.

I’m very happy to share travel tips on Portugal – it’s been absolutely gorgeous, stunning and affordable! Hit me up, and share your travel stories with us! maureen@upstatecreative.org

Creative Economy Mixer: Capital Roots

July 10, 2019 By upstatecreative

Our next mixer is only days away! Join us on Wednesday evening at 4:45pm at Collar Works for a 5pm guided tour of their current exhibition ART STANDS STILL. Then, head across the street to the amazing Capital Roots, where Amy Klein and crew are providing access to healthy food through nutritional and horticultural education and programs for all ages and coordinating urban greening programs in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and southern Saratoga Counties.

The event will feature a tasting with farm to table chefs Joan Porambo and Kyle MacPherson of Field Notes NY and a cameo performance by Brooklyn based singer Belle-Skinner. Our conversation topic is the DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) grant opportunity. If secured, this could create connectivity between all areas along the waterfront including the development in the City of Troy incorporating a more human-centric connected cityscape. This will be spearheaded by Capital Roots director Amy Klein and Troy Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski. Additional partners to be announced.

Thanks to our sponsors The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region and MVP Health Care.