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Get your calendars out because the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 is making its grand return to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck on September 6-7, and it’s shaping up to be the highlight of fall in New York! This spectacular weekend celebrates everything I love about the region—amazing local wines, mouth-watering gourmet foods, and a gathering of over 100 talented artisan vendors all in one place. For anyone who enjoys good wine, delicious bites, and shopping local, this festival absolutely needs to be on your radar.
Whether you’re a longtime Hudson Valley resident or planning your first autumn getaway upstate, the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 offers the perfect blend of flavors and fun. My friends and I make this an annual tradition to kick off the fall season, and I can honestly say it’s one of the top food and wine festivals you’ll find anywhere in New York State. The combination of gorgeous early fall weather, stellar wine selections, and the charming backdrop of Rhinebeck makes for an unforgettable weekend experience.
📌 Quick-Glance Festival Details
Before diving into all the fun details, here’s everything you need to know at a glance about the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025:
- 📍 Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY
- 📅 Dates: Saturday & Sunday, September 6–7, 2025
- ⏰ Hours:
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- 🎟️ Tickets:
- General Admission: ~$35 advance / ~$50 at the gate
- VIP: ~$75 advance / ~$99 at the gate
- Designated Driver: ~$10–20
- Two-day passes and group packages available
- 🍷 Includes: Unlimited tastings + a keepsake tasting glass (with Tasting Ticket)
- 🛍️ Vendors: 100+ wineries, breweries, distilleries, gourmet food creators
- 🎤 Extras: Live music, cooking demos, wine education seminars
- 🚫 Rules: No outside alcohol, no pets, valid ID required
- 🌧️ Rain or Shine: Come prepared—the fun doesn’t stop!
For full festival details, check out the official website: Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival
📅 Festival Timing and Location
This year’s Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 is happening during the perfect early fall weekend of September 6-7, right when the region starts to show hints of its famous autumn colors. The setting couldn’t be more ideal—the historic Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck offers plenty of space for all the festivities while maintaining that charming small-town feel that makes the Hudson Valley so special.
Rhinebeck itself is worth exploring while you’re in town for the festival. The village boasts gorgeous historic architecture, boutique shopping, and some of the best restaurants in the region. Last time I visited, I spent the morning before the festival wandering through the village shops and grabbing breakfast at a local café—the perfect start to a day of wine tasting!
Getting to the festival is straightforward with several convenient options:
- By car: Free parking is available onsite at the fairgrounds
- By train: The Amtrak Rhinecliff-Kingston Station is just about 10 minutes from the venue
- Local accommodations: Many hotels and B&Bs offer shuttle services on festival weekend
If you’re planning to make a weekend of it (which I highly recommend), book your wine tourism accommodations early—rooms in Rhinebeck and nearby towns fill up quickly for festival weekend!
🍷 What to Expect at the Festival
One of the things I love most about the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 is how much variety it packs into a single weekend. Whether you come for a day or the full two-day experience, you’ll find something new to taste around every corner. Your tasting ticket is your passport to a world of flavors!
With your general admission tasting ticket, you’ll receive:
- Unlimited samples from New York State wineries, cideries, distilleries, and craft breweries
- A souvenir tasting glass to take home (and use throughout the day)
- Access to all educational seminars and cooking demonstrations
The vendor lineup for 2025 looks absolutely fantastic! Some standouts to look for include:
- Country Road Bread with their heavenly wood-fired sourdough
- Pickle Licious offering all things briny and delicious
- Brooklyn Cured for amazing charcuterie options
- Catskill Provisions Distillery serving up locally crafted spirits
- Adirondack Winery and Palaia Winery, just two of the many excellent wine vendors
For wine beginners, this festival offers a perfect chance to practice your wine tasting techniques with guidance from vineyard owners and winemakers themselves. Even my boyfriend, who used to claim he wasn’t a “wine person,” found several favorites last year and now keeps a bottle of Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc in our wine rack at all times!
🎉 Can’t-Miss Festival Features
While the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 puts wine front and center, there’s so much more that makes this event special. The festival organizers have thoughtfully created an experience that goes well beyond just tasting.
Throughout the weekend, you can enjoy:
- Live entertainment from local musicians creating the perfect soundtrack for your tasting adventure
- Cooking demonstrations by regional chefs who share their secrets for creating dishes that pair beautifully with local wines
- Educational seminars covering everything from vineyard practices to advanced food and wine pairing fundamentals
- Artisan shopping featuring handmade goods like candles, skincare products, jewelry, and kitchen accessories
One feature I particularly appreciate is the Wine Pick-Up booth. After you purchase bottles from various vendors, you can drop them off at this convenient service and pick everything up at once when you’re ready to leave. This saves you from lugging bottles around all day—a total game-changer!
For those looking to splurge a bit, the VIP Experience ($75 advance/$99 at gate) includes early entry, access to an exclusive VIP tent with special tastings, expedited wine pick-up, and a luxurious gift bag. My friend splurged on the VIP ticket last year and said the early entry alone was worth it—she got to chat with winemakers before the crowds arrived.
🎒 Festival Packing Essentials
Proper preparation makes all the difference for a day of Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 enjoyment. After attending this event for several years, I’ve perfected my packing list for maximum comfort and fun. Here’s what I recommend bringing:
YES, definitely pack these:
- Valid photo ID – This is absolutely essential as you must be 21+ to participate in tastings
- Small crossbody bag or fanny pack – Keeps your hands free for tasting and holding snacks
- Reusable shopping tote – For carrying purchases (though I also recommend using the Wine Pick-Up service)
- Water bottle – Staying hydrated between tastings is crucial!
- Sunscreen – Parts of the fairgrounds have limited shade
- Rain jacket or umbrella – The festival happens rain or shine, so come prepared
- Phone charger – You’ll want plenty of battery for photos and looking up wines you discover
NO, leave these at home:
- Pets – Service animals only are permitted
- Outside food or drinks – There’s plenty to eat and drink inside!
- Large bags or coolers – These will just weigh you down
- Rolling carts or strollers in the tasting areas – They can create congestion
Remember to follow proper winery visit etiquette throughout the festival. This includes pacing yourself with tastings, never pressuring vendors for extra pours, and using the provided dump buckets when needed. A little courtesy goes a long way in making the festival enjoyable for everyone!
👗 What to Wear for Festival Day
Dressing appropriately for the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 means balancing style with practicality. September in the Hudson Valley offers that perfect transition weather—warm days with crisp evenings—so layering is key. I’ve learned from experience that comfortable shoes are non-negotiable for a day spent standing and strolling the fairgrounds!
My go-to festival outfit includes:
- A flowy sundress paired with a denim jacket or light cardigan that can be tied around my waist if it warms up
- Comfortable flat sandals or ankle boots with cushioned insoles (avoid heels at all costs—the grounds can be uneven)
- A wide-brimmed hat for sun protection (also makes for cute photos with your wine glass!)
- Minimal jewelry that won’t get in the way during tastings
For guys, my boyfriend typically opts for chino shorts or pants with a casual button-down or polo shirt. The vibe is relaxed but put-together—think “wine country casual.” Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you can comfortably spend a full day in, as you’ll be walking and standing quite a bit between vendor booths.
Don’t forget to check the weather forecast right before you go! Early September can be unpredictable, so having a light jacket or waterproof layer is always smart. Last year, we had a brief afternoon shower that quickly gave way to gorgeous sunshine—I was glad I had packed my lightweight rain jacket just in case.
🚗 Getting There: Transportation & Parking
Getting to the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 is straightforward, with options for every preference. If you’re coming from the New York City area as I often do, you’ve got several good choices:
For those driving to the festival, you’ll be happy to know there’s plenty of free parking available directly at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. I recommend arriving about 30 minutes before the gates open if you want a spot closer to the entrance. The address for your GPS is 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY.
Taking the train is a fantastic option if you’d rather not worry about driving after a day of wine tasting. The Amtrak Rhinecliff-Kingston Station is just about 10 minutes from the fairgrounds. From there, you can grab a taxi or rideshare to complete the journey. This is how my friends and I usually travel to the festival—we catch an early train up from the city, spend the day tasting, and then head back in the evening.
If you’re staying overnight in the area (highly recommended to fully enjoy the festival), many local accommodations offer shuttle services to and from the fairgrounds during festival weekend. When booking your room, be sure to ask about this amenity—it’s incredibly convenient and eliminates any transportation worries.
For designated drivers (thank you for your service!), there are special reduced-price tickets available. This is a thoughtful touch from the festival organizers and ensures everyone in your group can have a great time, regardless of whether they’re partaking in the wine tastings.
📲 Stay Connected with Festival Updates
To make the most of your Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 experience, staying up-to-date with the latest announcements is essential. The festival lineup continues to evolve right up until the event weekend, with new vendors and special presentations often added in the final weeks.
Here’s how to stay in the loop:
- Visit the official festival website at hudsonvalleywinefest.com for complete ticket information, vendor lists, and special event announcements
- Follow @hudsonvalleywinefest on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes peeks, vendor spotlights, and possible ticket giveaways
- Sign up for the festival newsletter through their website to receive early bird pricing alerts and exclusive announcements
Pro tip: If you purchase tickets in advance online, you’ll not only save money compared to gate prices but also avoid waiting in ticket lines when you arrive. This gives you more time to enjoy the festival itself! When my friends and I went last year, those extra 20 minutes we saved by having pre-purchased tickets meant we got first access to some limited-production wines that sold out by early afternoon.
The festival website also provides helpful information about nearby accommodations, transportation options, and other attractions in the Rhinebeck area if you’re planning to make a weekend of it. Booking your stay well in advance is highly recommended, as local hotels fill up quickly for festival weekend!
Raising a Glass to Hudson Valley’s Finest
The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival 2025 represents everything wonderful about fall in upstate New York. From the incredible diversity of wines produced across the region to the passion of local food artisans, this weekend celebration showcases the very best of what the Hudson Valley has to offer. It’s become my favorite way to welcome autumn each year.
Whether you come to discover new favorite wineries, stock your pantry with artisanal food finds, or simply enjoy a beautiful September weekend in one of New York’s most charming regions, this festival delivers an experience that appeals to both casual wine enthusiasts and dedicated oenophiles alike. The combination of gorgeous setting, friendly vendors, and delicious discoveries makes for a truly memorable weekend.
As someone who’s attended multiple times, I can honestly say that each year brings new surprises and delights. There’s nothing quite like sipping a perfectly crafted Riesling while chatting with the winemaker who produced it, or discovering that amazing small-batch hot sauce that becomes a staple in your kitchen for months to come. These personal connections with producers are what make the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival particularly special.
So grab your tickets, plan your outfit, and get ready to toast to the flavors of the Hudson Valley this September. I’ll see you there, wine glass in hand!
