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-   -   Hudson Valley Wine Tour NYC? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/hudson-valley-wine-tour-nyc-452230/)

seeksocean Nov 19th, 2008 04:27 AM

Hudson Valley Wine Tour NYC?
 
Expedia.com offers a Hudson Valley Wine Tour for $135 per person. It is on a Saturday and is 9 hours and includes three tastings and buffet lunch. We would be there in late Spring. Has anyone taken this? Reviews please! Thanks!

gb944 Nov 19th, 2008 05:02 AM

I'll do it for $100 per person.

:)

seeksocean Nov 19th, 2008 06:10 AM

Okay okay already. Would you think doing this for a day would be worth our time on a 5 day NYC visit? We all are into wine.

ekscrunchy Nov 19th, 2008 06:24 AM

The wine is a lot better on the North Fork of Long Island..not sure how many of you there are, but you could rent a car and visit the wineries and do tastings on your own, probably for a lot less money.


http://www.liwines.com/

seeksocean Nov 19th, 2008 06:28 AM

Thanks for the info. I am not sure how many of us there will be, maybe 6? But, we have traveled a lot together and have great success with hiring a driver or going on a tour with a guide. It is generally worth the money to have some history and maybe visit some little known wineries. Plus, someone would have to be the sober driver!

gb944 Nov 19th, 2008 07:59 AM

Well, for $800 for six people, you could have a limo service drive you to several local wineries and dinner and have emough left over for three couples to stay at a B&B in the Hudson Valley.

I guess that I think that the price is out of line, even for a nine hour tour...

J62 Nov 19th, 2008 08:22 AM

Before booking this - either through Expedia or even doing it on my own I'd sure want to know what wineries they planned to visit.

The Hudson Valley isn't like Napa - you could spend 30-60min (or more) driving to and fro between rinky dink little wineries where you may be the first visitor in a month. OK, maybe not the first visitor.

I've been to Millbrook winery a couple of times when passing through. They have been very gracious hosts, even if we are the only ones there. If I were looking for a nice venue in that area to host a large, nice party I'd consider going there ($ notwithstanding)

To me there isn't enough wine industry in the very large, widespread Hudson Valley area to make paying $800 a worthwhile 9hr day. I would research 1 or 2 wineries I'd want to visit, scope out a self guided plan that included a night someplace like Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, enjoy a dinner right there at Terrapin. Rent a 6 person car or minivan for the day and designate a driver (& navigator).

I would prearrange a lunch at one of the wineries - asking them to plan a lunch, or pull together a nice group picnic/cooler lunch which you can grab whenever/wherever. There's a lot to enjoy in the Hudson valley - wineries don't make the top of my list for that price/duration.

J62 Nov 19th, 2008 08:28 AM

Here's a link to a nice 11yr old NY Times article on HV wineries. (so old that many of the 914 tel #'s are now area code 845).

http://tinyurl.com/5g9mj4

ekscrunchy Nov 19th, 2008 10:51 AM

If you are a wine lover, I am not sure why you would skip the North Fork in favor of the Hudson Valley! There are plenty of B&Bs if you want to spend the night..

nytraveler Nov 19th, 2008 05:01 PM

Agree - that LI has many more - and better wineries than the Hudson Valley.

If you don;t want to drive you can take the LIRR out there and then get cabs - for a lot less than $800.

seeksocean Nov 19th, 2008 05:05 PM

Thanks one and all! This gives me lots to think about!


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