8/12/2019 Weddings in Hudson Valley Wine Country

1/3

60 HUDSON VALLEY WINE Summer 2014

Basic Checklist:

Before you even start scouting for the setting, get

back to basics. Here are some questions you will

need to answer before hitting the road:

How many people will be invited

Budget

Ideal wedding date and an alternate date

Overall vision

Winery contacts:BENMARL WINERY | Marlboro

Casey 845.236.4265

www.benmarl.com

BROTHERHOOD, AMERICAS

OLDEST WINERY | Washingtonville

www.brotherhood-winery.com

Donny 845.496.3661

MILLBROOK VINEYARDS & WINERY

Millbrook | www.Millbrookwine.com

Tedi 845.677.8383

WARWICK VALLEY WINERY | Warwick

www.wvwinery.com

845.258.4858

WHITECLIFF VINEYARD | Gardiner

www.whitecliffwine.com

Yancey 845.255.4613

Warwick Valley Winery

WeddingsinHudson Valley Wine CountryGetting Started

There are many wineries in wine

country, but not all of them offer their

property for weddings. Its important

that you drive through Hudson Valley

wine country to scout the different

venues and locales and get an idea of

where you want your wedding. And

dont forget other options that serve

local wines and provide the fantastic

backdrop that wineries do as well.

Take into consideration:

Winery or venue size

The view

Amenities at the facility

If a winery, the wine

Photo ops!

Wine has beena central partof weddings for centuries, making it

(almost) as integral to the ceremony

and celebration as the couple being

toasted! (Wine even, arguably, created

the honeymoon: the word itself hails

from the ancient Nordic tradition of a

family feeding a newly married couple

honey wine for a period of 30 days,

or a moons waxing and waning, to

commemorate and start their new life

together).

These days, wine is often seen as

symbol of a couples joy at finding a

partner to share their lifes adventures

with, and a vehicle they and their loved

ones utilize to toast their coming journey.

For many contemporary couples with

an epicurean flair, holding their reception

at an actual winery is the next logical

step in the evolution of wine and

weddings. The Hudson Valley, with its

ravishing scenery and easy accessibility

via train, plane or car, has seen an influx

of thirsty brides and grooms eager to

take their party to an entirely new level.

In addition to the obvious taste treats

that await, the photo options abound.

Most Hudson Valley wineries and similar

venues offer the backdrop of gnarled

vines, meandering creeks carrying clear

mountain water, fruit orchards and

uninterrupted vistas of green and blue in

every shot. There are also a growing

number of rustic barns to choose from,

like Apple Barn Farm and Owls Hoot

Barn, that embody the shabby chic

aesthetic the Hudson Valley is famous

for. Many wineries and barns in the

Hudson Valley welcome couples with

open arms, from rolling out special

toasts with local sparkling wine to giving

brides and grooms the opportunity to

seal their love in the vineyard where the

grapes were harvested or the fields

where animals frolic.

Here at the Hudson Valley Wine

Magazine, we have created a template

for brides and grooms who know they

want to get married here but dont

know where to start.

By Debbie Gioquindo, CTC, CSW, WLS

PHOTOS: Josyane Colwell, LeMoulinCatering.com;

(far left) Courtesy Warwick Valley Winery.

8/12/2019 Weddings in Hudson Valley Wine Country

2/3

www.hvwinemag.com Summer 2014 61

WINECOUNTRYTR

AVEL

continued on page 63

B A R N V EN U ES

Apple Barn Farm

564 County Route 10, Germantown, NY 12546

518-929-7801 | www.applebarnfarm.com

The Hudson Valleys Premier Wedding Venue

Thirteen years of making memories.

Owls Hoot Barn386 Bronck Mill Road, West Coxsackie, NY 12192

518-755-1706 | www.owlshootbarnweddings.com

The Hudson Valleys newest barn wedding venue,

a little off the beaten path.

NEW YORK - HUDSON VALLEY - CONNECTICUT - NEW JERSEY

914.469.6762 FAX 914.591.4680www.LeMoulinCatering.com

Event Planning - Fine CateringPlanning: making every clients unique

dream come true from beginning to end!Food: from ingredients to concept, tastefully yours.Design: texture and color and light.Execution: perfection that flows from within.

Le Moulin

SEASONAL LOCAL

SUSTAINABLE

Restaurant Caf On & Off-Premise Catering

BANGALL,NY REDDEVONRESTAURANT.COM 845.868.3175

THSUN 8A4P

THSAT 6P9:30P

SUN 5P8:30P

zOn the Road

After youve set up a few appointments, analyze the results

(yes, some of these seem obvious, but its important to

build a basic plan upon which you can build your elaborate

vision):

Did you and the event coordinator click?

Will they work within your budget?

Do they provide a date timetable on what needs to be

completed and contracted by when? (The last thing you

want to hear a week before your wedding is you need

to rent a porta-potty or generator.)

Is there an emergency weather plan?

Are there restrictions on where you and your guests

can go on the property?

Honing in

Most wineries in the Hudson Valley can accommodate

between 150 and 300 people, but some, like Warwick Valley

Winery has alternatives if you are planning a smaller

wedding. They offer their tasting room and patio that can

hold between 80 and 145 guests.

The average site fee for a five to six hour wedding ranges

from $7,000$7,500. In most cases, it includes a tent.

(Warwick Valley Winery, Whitecliff Vineyard, as well as

Brotherhood, Americas Oldest Winery do not include the

tent rental). Some wineries offer more than the vineyard,

too: Brotherhoods site rental includes the Grand Hall at

Grand Monarque Hall which encompasses the patio and

an outdoor ceremony location.

At some wineries, the aesthetic is a bit more down to

earth (literally), with the reception being conducted in the

middle of the vines. Whitecliff includes a 40amp generator,

as do some other wineries (double-check ahead of time)

which may come in handy depending on your electricity

needs (a requirement if you want to hit the dance floor)!

Getting Closer

As important as the site and drink is, so is the food and

the logistical staging (including tent rental, set-up and

break-down if the site doesnt provide it). Choosing the right

PHOTOS: (top) Aaron Almendral, http://aaronalmendral.tumblr.com;

(bottom) Courtesy Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

Apple Barn Farm

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

8/12/2019 Weddings in Hudson Valley Wine Country

3/3

continued from page 61

PHOTO: Courtesy Brotherhood, Americas Oldest Winery

caterer will help make your event look and run well so

remember that its not just about the food when you begin

setting up appointments.

Start by consulting with the event coordinator at your site

their recommendations will help ensure your weddings

success, as theyll only recommend companies that theyve

worked with before. Look for a caterer with menus that

include local and seasonal farm-fresh foods so you and your

guests can experience the best the Hudson Valley has

to offer.

The wine at your wedding will be specific to the wine offered

at the winery several, like Whitecliff and Brotherhood also

produce the sparkling wines youll want to serve that day.

There is usually a 15% to 20% discount on wine, depending

on the winery. Brotherhood and Warwick Valley include winein their site rental cost. If you are looking for a full bar as

well, you will need to clear that with the winery, and the

caterer will need to have a full liquor license permit.

Although the tasting room will be open, wine tasting isnt

always included with your fee; if you want to offer the

tasting room experience to your guests, arrange it with thewinery ahead of time. And keep in mind that some wineries

offer custom labeling so you can personalize your wines too.

Youre There (Almost!)

Before you walk down the vineyard aisle, make sure you

have all of the more pedestrian details sorted out.

Wedding attire and the call of nature, for example. It typically

does not lend itself to maneuvering in a Johnny on the

Spot. Benmarl Winery offers a very nice private restroomarea for the bridal party only, and its worth discussing your

options ahead of time (some rental companies offer deluxe

porta potties). Many barn venues have facilities on-site.

Parking can also be an issue. Some venues are equipped

and have large areas for parking, and for those that dont,

you may want to explore having a local bus companyprovide transportation to and from the reception (it will also

make happy hour much more gleeful).

Make sure all your vendors have the proper licenses and

permits and can furnish them to the winery at least 30 days

prior to the event. You may want to protect yourself and take

out wedding insurance against cancellation or other liability.

If you like the idea of including a winery in your nuptual

plans, but youre not quite ready to tie the knot, Benmarl,

Warwick, and Millbrook can also accommodate bridal

showers, rehearsal dinners, Sunday brunch, etc.

Whatever your choice, the Hudson Valley venues will be

happy to help you throw the kind of party you (and yourguests) will be telling your grandchildren about one day.

* Clink *Clink *

Brotherhood, Americas Oldest Winery