Move Over, Napa Valley
By ML Ball
Photos by Meghan Spiro

Did you know that the Hudson River Valley is the second-oldest wine region in the United States? According to the website Wine Folly, French Huguenots escaping persecution from Louis XIV settled in the Hudson Valley in 1677, bringing their grape vines with them. When the vines failed to thrive, the settlers started cultivating the region’s native grapes. Those grape varieties, centuries in the making, are the foundation of many of the award-winning wines produced today by Milea Estate Vineyard in Staatsburg.

In just five years, owners Barry and Sang Milea have managed to produce a highly sought-after portfolio of reds, whites, and rosés of the finest caliber. “It’s amazing how positive the reception of our wines has been,” says event coordinator Jill Summer. “We’ve only been producing since 2019, and we can’t keep up with demand. The Mileas recently bought additional land nearby, and will soon be opening Hudson Valley Vineyard, a sister vineyard to Milea.”

As well as gourmet lunches and dinners on the outdoor patio, guided tasting and estate tours, and a luxuriously appointed pre-Revolutionary farmhouse for overnight stays, Milea Estate Vineyard also offers a summer full of special events, including Yoga in the Vineyard (July 14), Sang’s Dinner in the Vineyard (July 20), Fizz Fest (August 17), a Labor Day concert (August 31), and a Fall Club Party (September 14). Salut!   ─mileaestatevineyard.com