Bashakill Vineyard

So down (or up, depending on where you are in the world) in Wurtsboro, NY, there's a fantastic little home-run winery. The owner, whose name I believe is Paul, "hated his day job" so decided to take seminar classes at Cornell on how to open a winery. Realizing that Wurtsboro is on the same latitude as the vineyards in Germany that grow the world's best Riesling, he decided to buy some land on the Bashakill and see where it goes. This all happened in 2005, and now, in 2011, there's a great mix of homegrown whites, some decent, if light, reds, live music on the weekends during the summer season, and a brick oven pizza joint in the back open occasionally. Plus, it's dog (and puppy!) friendly, with cool house dogs Walter and Fredo (2 Italian greyhounds) and Dario, a well-mannered German short-haired pointer. Neighbors seem to love the place, and you can hang out, bring some food, and watch as your dog jumps in a rather scuzzy pond. And why does the pond look so scuzzy? Because the owner is still building and growing! He purchased a few lambs to do the weeding, and is now hoping to build an area to hold the wine during the winter as it ferments. In fact, the owner loves his new life so much, that he tattooed the label of his wines (drawn by his good friend) on his forearm, and has a barbed-wire-esque tattoo of grapes as well.

Standout wines include Wood Duck Chardonnay, fermented in half steel, half oak (and I actually like it!) Barn Owl (more like a Riesling, very sweet) and the best red is the Coyote. But it's a great place to chill with some good friends, hang out, and have a nice little weekend. Everyone is super friendly, and you'll be sure to make some awesome friends.

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