At the recent 2026 New York Wine Classic, the annual “Oscars” of NY State’s wine industry, Hudson River Region (HRR) wineries showed well, punching above their weight.

Two wineries especially stood out with their top accolades: Millbrook Vineyard & Winery’s Platinum-winning 2024 Clone 623 Cabernet Franc (HRR) took the competition’s Best Red and Best Cabernet Franc; and Milea Estate Vineyard’s Platinum-winning Right Bank Blanc de Blanc (NV, New York State) won Best Sparkling Wine and Best Traditional Method Sparkling Wine. Both wineries racked up multiple medals, with Milea leading the way with a head-spinning 18 medals (1 Platinum, 10 Gold, 6 Silver, and 1 Bronze), while Millbrook garnered 8 (1 Platinum, 3 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze).

Over the last few decades, Cab Franc has clearly been established as the HRR’s signature red vinifera variety, leading to the formation (in 2016) of the Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc Coalition, which is committed to promoting a Cab Franc brand identity for the HRR. This hard-earned success was played back in spades at this year’s Classic, as HRR wineries rang up 13 Gold medals (and a Platinum!) for Cab Franc-based wines, seven of which designated as HRR wines (the others were designated as New York State), produced by Millbrook, Fjord, Rosina, Quartz Rock, and Milea, respectively.  

Still, Hudson Valley viticulture is no monoculture, with many diverse grape varieties, both vinifera and hybrids, under cultivation. The highest scoring white wine from the HRR was Fjord Vineyards’ Gold Medal-winning 2024 Estate Albariño, a traditional cool-climate Spanish/Portuguese grape with which Fjord has excelled. Milea scored a Gold with its HRR 2024 Blaufränkisch, a spicy Austro-Germanic red vinifera grape that has translated well to the Hudson Valley. On the hybrid side, Benmarl Winery earned a Gold for its HRR 2024 Estate Traminette, and Quartz Rock Vineyard took Gold for its HRR 2023 Estate Noiret.

While the Hudson Valley is New York’s (and America’s) oldest wine region, it has far fewer wineries and produces much less wine than the Finger Lakes or Long Island, owing to the more challenging climate/growing aspects, and the more heterogeneous agriculture and land use. Nevertheless, despite the smaller footprint, the overall quality of HRR wines has clearly been on the rise, which the 2026 Classic has again confirmed.

I look forward to judging some of these award winners myself at the upcoming Hudon Valley Wine & Spirits Competition this September in Rhinebeck, NY.

Cheers!