Klocke Estate
Where Brandy Meets Legacy in the Hudson Valley
Photos by Eric Medsker

By Clementina Verge

Sprawled on 160 acres of rolling farmland in Hudson, Klocke Estate is redefining American brandy with artistry and precision. At the helm is John Frishkopf, whose passion for brandy has blossomed into a regenerative orchard and vineyard, where tradition meets innovation.

Frishkopf’s journey is as layered as the spirits he crafts. It began with a youthful epiphany—an 18-year-old sipping Hennessy Paradis at a friend’s house, igniting a fascination with fine spirits that would follow him through college and beyond. While studying at MIT, he enrolled in a winemaking class, followed by winemaking in his parents’ laundry room. He made red and white—the white was better, he reminisces—and created his own label. It was not exceptional, but it was rewarding. Yet, a distillery was still a distant dream. First came graduate school, then Wall Street, then a banking career that led him through Europe. He worked and tasted his way through Vienna, London, northern Italy, France, and the Czech Republic, his home for seven years. In Prague he learned how to make brandy: a weekend ritual shared by friends and colleagues—trading plums and apricots, and transforming the fruit into brandy. “It was rocket fuel,” he remembers. “It was so bad, but it was a lot of fun. It was my first introduction to how easy it is to make brandy. Now, good brandy, that’s a different story,” he laughs. He learned nuances of the craft—precise equipment, temperature control, and fermentation—and discovered that the “sweet spot” for the best production lay in artisanal-scale production. The realization ignited a dream: craft world-class artisanal brandy in America.

Frishkopf found the perfect terrain in the Hudson Valley—an abandoned apple orchard with 360-degree views of the Catskills, rich soil, and spectacular western-facing slopes. Untouched for 40 years, the land was a perfect blank canvas for growing a unique combination of grapes and heirloom apple varieties. Frishkopf’s husband and business partner, Brett Mattingly, grew up on a farm and devised a masterplan to prepare the land. An intense transformation ensued, removing rocks by hand, on hands and knees, and planting more than 11,000 apple trees and 26,000 grapevines. Every detail reflects commitment to regenerative organic farming, a choice Frishkopf admits makes the process harder, but ultimately delivers better fruit and a deeper sense of stewardship by honoring the land’s history while securing its future. Klocke Estate is more than a distillery—it’s a curated sensory experience. Designed by BarlisWedlick Architects, with interiors by Ken Fulk and landscape architecture by Wagner Hodgson, “the estate’s modern vernacular architecture blends seamlessly into the landscape,” while the tasting room transports guests with dramatic painted ceilings, custom murals, and sweeping Catskill vistas. The design blends simplicity with warmth, “celebrating time and tradition through vintage furnishings and art inspired by Dutch heritage.”

Central to Klocke’s story is craftsmanship. Brandy is distilled in custom-built stills imported from France and Germany, then aged patiently in French oak barrels—Quercus robur—imparting a nuanced, spicy softness that sets it apart from American oak varieties. “I’ve tasted world-class brandies across Europe,” Frishkopf reflects. “Now, guests enjoy something just as refined—crafted right here. It’s a farm product, but elegant and sophisticated. Honestly, there’s nothing like sitting atop this hill at the end of a long day, watching people enjoy themselves, the food, the space. I now understand why people are so passionate about hospitality.” The forthcoming release of the first aged apple brandy, a Calvados-style spirit, marks a milestone in this meticulous journey at Klocke (the Dutch word for “clock”): the launch of a new chapter in American brandy—rooted in history, crafted with care, and destined to become timeless.—klocke-estate.com