Vine and Cheese

March 28, 2012 9:00 am

There’s nothing like a drink after a hard day’s work, especially when the work is making the drink.

So reap your just rewards with the first-ever Winegrowing Boot Camp by Millbrook Winery, now taking signups.

Held just two hours from NYC in the verdant Hudson Valley vineyards of Millbrook Winery — beloved by half of Hall & Oates! — Boot Camp is a series of six Saturday field seminars, spaced out over a year, in which Millbrook’s veteran vintner teaches you to tend vines and bottle your own custom vintage of Tocai Friulano white wine. Each session includes lunch and vino and lasts about three hours. Cost for the entire year: $750

Here’s how it works: on four afternoons from April to July you’ll ply the vineyards, tying and pruning your vines, inspecting buds, and pulling leaves to provide the ideal amount of sunlight.

Come October, you’ll harvest the little green fruits of your labor and hand-deliver them to be crushed. In March 2013, you’ll bottle your wine and receive a full case, complete with custom labels. Bonus: you’ll also be invited to Millbrook’s annual Tocai Celebration and their Harvest Party luncheon.

After all this, it’ll be good to relax, invite guests to your table, and see their envious expression when you start pouring from a bottle with your name on it.

EMAIL IS THE NEW HAPPY HOUR

Join America's Fastest Growing Spirits Newsletter THE SPILL. Unlock all the reviews, recipes and revelry — and get 15% off award-winning La Tierra de Acre Mezcal.