Gourmet Magazine has become the 2008 Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival’s national media sponsor for the event at held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds on September 6 and 7. This exciting partnership brings other national-level co-sponsors such as Kashi and Weber® Grills to the event that grew out of a farm field seven years ago, according to event promoter Michael Babcock, president of WineRacks.com.

Gourmet’s participation is a tribute to the increasing awareness of the Hudson Valley as a vibrant, world class destination and a region highly recognized for wine, produce, restaurants and beautiful landscapes, said Babcock.

Babcock has turned a seedling of an idea into a vineyard of opportunity as plans for the 2008 event continue to grow at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. “In addition to the New York State wine pavilion, where patrons may actually purchase wines that day, there will be an international travel and tourism arena, where wines from across the US as well as other countries will be featured. A Gourmet Showcase, complete with a fully equipped demonstration kitchen, will show the best of area restaurants and caterers,” said Babcock.

We are very pleased to welcome Gourmet Magazine to our Hudson Valley. They bring a sophistication and brand that will raise the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest to a world class tourist attraction and a spectacular lifestyle event, said event marketing manager Susan Valentine.  .

Based on last year’s attendance, 20,000 patrons are expected for the 2008 Festival. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and there are still openings for restaurants and caterers to participate in our Gourmet showcase.

The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, a not-for-profit organization and a member of America’s Second Harvest, distributes food to nearly 370 member agencies in six counties in the Hudson Valley. Last year the Food Bank distributed 7 million pounds of food to soup kitchens, food pantries, senior programs, day care centers, emergency shelters and programs for the disabled.

Food Bank volunteers will be operating the Wine Pick–up Service, where you can leave your purchased wine at the vendor table and pick it up at a location in the parking area when you leave. Tips all go to the Food Bank! The Hudson Valley Food Bank will also have an information booth, and our Saturday evening live auction at 5pm will also benefit this wonderful and much needed organization.

The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest, one of the premier lifestyle events in the Hudson Valley has expanded significantly over the past 6 years and for the 7th year of the Fest we have added some new features and enhanced some existing ones. Once again we will partner with some major national sponsors to feature New York Wines as well as wines from around the world, in addition to quality gourmet food, fine arts and crafts.

New for 2008 will be the Restaurant and Caterer Showcase added to the Gourmet Food Showcase that has been a part of the festival for the last several years. Patrons will be able to sample food from some of the Hudson Valley’s best Restaurants and Caterers throughout the Festival weekend. The Gourmet Food Showcase will still feature Wine Education Seminars and Cooking Demonstrations by celebrity chefs. An added twist to the cooking demonstrations, this year, will be an “Iron Chef-like” cook-off between two of our guest chefs.

We are partnering with the Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation for our Friday evening kick-off event, The Grand Reserve Tasting. The Grand Reserve Tasting will be a fundraiser for NDHF and consist of wine tasting, gourmet hors d’eourves and an appearance by a celebrity chef.

The Seventh Annual Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest will take place Saturday September 6^th and Sunday September 7^th, 2008 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY.