Happy New Year!

My friend Victoria Carr suggested that I start a blog for my store, Vonadeau, in Berlin, New York.



Even though I thought it was a great idea, I told her I would look into it and try to see if I could figure out how to do it.

Well, that didn't go far with Victoria. She said she would be happy to help me set it up and get started. We set a date and got together to work on it. So now that the holidays are over, and things aren't as hectic, here we go.

Hudson-Chatham Winery in Chatham, New York, is owned by Dominique and Carlo DeVito.



Dominique and Carlo are wonderful people, who make a number of very nice wines.





Dominique has done two tastings at Vonadeau




and has poured most of their lovely wines for us to sample.

The most recent wine Dominique and Carlo bottled was in November - their 2008 Baco Noir Reserve.




The Baco Noir is hand-picked from a select block of Steve Casscles's 15-year-old vines, which are grown along the Hudson River in Athens, New York. The 2008 growing season was good, and the grapes were harvested at peak flavor. The wine was aged in French oak for nearly a year.

This Baco Noir is rich and flavorful with deep cherry flavors and hints of plum and vanilla. It's a luscious, fruit-forward wine that can be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years. Not only does this Baco Noir pair very nicely with red meats, it is also delicious with poultry. We enjoyed a bottle with Thanksgiving dinner but don't forget about chicken, duck, and Richard's favorite – grouse. It also pairs well with appetizers. This wonderful bottle of wine sells for $20.95.

You can find out more about Hudson Chatham Wines by going to their website or, even better, stopping in at the winery in Ghent, New York, for a visit,



in which case you can say hi to Dominique and check out the other goodies available there.

In the meantime, I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!