Legislation sponsored by Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) to expand the routes on the Shawangunk Wine Trail was today passed by the State Senate.
According to the bill (S.4293), the length of the Shawangunk Wine Trail would be extended to create the "Shawangunk East Wine Trail" which will include Route 94 from the Village of Washingtonville eastbound to U.S. Route 9-W, then northbound on U.S. Route 9-W to Routes 44-55 in Highland and then westbound on Routes 44-55 to the intersection with Route 208 in Gardiner.
Under current law, the wine trail travels generally north from Warwick on Route 94 to Route 208 in Washingtonville and then on Route 208 to Gardiner and then north on Routes 44-55 to Route 299.
"Over the past few years, the west bank of the Hudson River in both Orange and Ulster Counties has experienced new growth in the number of wineries and vineyards," said Senator Larkin. "It makes sense to extend the Shawangunk Wine Trail to include these areas so that we can help promote these new businesses and locally grown wine. The new trail would certainly help growers and the local agricultural economy."
The effort has been spearheaded by organizations such as the Hudson Valley Wine and Grape Growers Association, the Hudson Valley Fruit Laboratory, and Cornell Cooperative Extension. These organizations are working to encourage a dialog among fruit growers and winemakers so that both wine production and grape cultivation needs can be met by other industry partners. The primary subjects of interest are the fruit growing areas that are located in the Towns of Newburgh, Marlborough, Lloyd, Plattekill and Gardiner.
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
