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| Karen and Frank Graessle (photo provided) |
Clearview Vineyard stood out from most of the nation's 8,700 commercial wineries in the publication's rankings of "Top Vineyards Across the U.S." The businses, located at 35 Clearview Lane, off Route 94/17A between the villages of Florida and Warwick, was founded in 2007 with a planting of 900 vines on just under two acres. Owners Frank and Karen Graessle opened a very modest winery in 2010 in a two-and-a-half car garage, offering tastings on a canopy-covered wooden platform.
Growth came quickly, with construction in 2013 of a 3,800 square-foot facility with a large covered porch, opening of a tasting room the same year, and membership in the Shawangunk Wine Trail.
The Graessles now grow eight varieties of grapes and purchase several others to produce a portfolio of seven red and five white wines.This year, they added local beer, ale and hard cider on tap in the tasting room.The facility also offers The Blackboard Café serving finger foods to go with the beverages.
Clearview Vineyard, located about an hour and 45 minute drive from downtown Albany, is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. April to mid-December, with food and live music on weekends.
WARWICK
— There are more than 8,700 wineries in the United States and the
well-respected Travel and Leisure Magazine just named Warwick's
Clearview Vineyard as first in New York and No. 14 in the United States.
The June 2 online article was titled, "Top Vineyards Across the US."
The vineyard is located at 35 Clearview Lane just off Route 94/17A between the villages of Florida and Warwick.
It all began in 2007 with a planting of 900 vines on just under two acres. Then, in 2010, owners Frank and Karen Graessle opened a winery on their property in a two and a half car garage and offered wine tasting on a wood platform with a canopy.
Three years later they built a 3,800 square-foot facility with a large covered porch. The wine tasting room opened in June 2013 and Clearview Vineyard joined the Shawangunk Wine Trail at the same time.
Since that time the winery has won more than a dozen major awards.
Today, Clearview Vineyard produces 12 dry wines, seven reds and five whites.
They grow eight varieties in their vineyard and buy several varieties of grapes from the North Fork of Long Island. And this year marks a milestone, with the addition of local beer, ale and hard cider on tap.
The Blackboard Café also serves a number of great finger food dishes, such as a cheese and fruit board, a sliced baguette with mozzarella cheese, fresh tomato and basil and a charcuterie platter.
There are four sets of corn hole games to play and the vineyard is open to all with a picturesque 15-mile view from the top. It's well worth the climb.
Clearview Vineyard is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. April to mid-December, with food and live music on weekends.
Go to www.clearviewvineyard.com for additional information and directions.
The June 2 online article was titled, "Top Vineyards Across the US."
The vineyard is located at 35 Clearview Lane just off Route 94/17A between the villages of Florida and Warwick.
It all began in 2007 with a planting of 900 vines on just under two acres. Then, in 2010, owners Frank and Karen Graessle opened a winery on their property in a two and a half car garage and offered wine tasting on a wood platform with a canopy.
Three years later they built a 3,800 square-foot facility with a large covered porch. The wine tasting room opened in June 2013 and Clearview Vineyard joined the Shawangunk Wine Trail at the same time.
Since that time the winery has won more than a dozen major awards.
Today, Clearview Vineyard produces 12 dry wines, seven reds and five whites.
They grow eight varieties in their vineyard and buy several varieties of grapes from the North Fork of Long Island. And this year marks a milestone, with the addition of local beer, ale and hard cider on tap.
The Blackboard Café also serves a number of great finger food dishes, such as a cheese and fruit board, a sliced baguette with mozzarella cheese, fresh tomato and basil and a charcuterie platter.
There are four sets of corn hole games to play and the vineyard is open to all with a picturesque 15-mile view from the top. It's well worth the climb.
Clearview Vineyard is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. April to mid-December, with food and live music on weekends.
Go to www.clearviewvineyard.com for additional information and directions.
• Go here to visit Dowd On Drinks
• Go here to visit Notes On Napkins
• Go here to visit the Capital Region Brew Trail
