Celebrating its tenth year, the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest will present gourmet food and drink from over 60 wineries at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck this Saturday, September 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, September 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a fun and enlightening opportunity for visitors to taste wines before purchasing and schmooze with the vintners at the same time.

“What’s cool is that for the most part, vintners are there to talk with people,” says event coordinator Jennifer Cristaldi. “The Fest is licensed as a New York State farm market, which allows wineries to sell by the bottle at the fair – and give eager customers discounted prices in many cases.”

Anyone who has attended the Fest in past years knows that it’s not just about wine, however. More than 80 food and specialty vendors will be on hand plying their delectables and demonstrating cooking-with-wine techniques as well. On Sunday, the Main Stage will be the place to see Abby Dodge, Patrick Watson, Denise of Fine Cooking Magazine and Vincent Tropepe as they show how it’s done; on Sunday, Dan Leader of Bread Alone, Juli of Fine Cooking Magazine, Vincent Tropepe and Debbie Decker (cheese manager at Adams Fairacre Farms) will be there to share their culinary expertise.

Food and wine seminars will be held throughout the weekend, and you can taste signature dishes from some of our region’s best eateries and caterers. This is a great way to try out a new restaurant for as little as $1 per sample from Reggae Boy Café, French Kiss Bakery/Le Canard Enchainé, Santa Fe Restaurant, Max’s Memphis BBQ, 2 Taste Food & Wine Bar, Kobe Hibachi/Akari Sushi, Twisted Foods and many others. Fine art, craft and lifestyle vendors will be offering unique gifts and goods, too.

This year, the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest will showcase the editorial staff of Fine Cooking Magazine. According to Steve Giannetti, senior vice president at Fine Cooking, “The Hudson Valley area has a rich tradition of combining its agricultural bounty with culinary excellence. Having the wineries, farms, food artisans, great restaurants and the influence of the Culinary Institute of America in its midst, the future for the area’s food culture is even brighter. We’re very excited to be part of this truly exceptional culinary event.”

One-day admission with wine-tasting access to the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest is $30 and includes all demos ($50 for both days). Regular admission for serious shoppers, hangers-on and designated drivers who won’t be imbibing is $15 ($25 for both days). Kids under 12 get in free; parking is free. Call (845) 658-7181 or visit www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com for more information.