This Weekend: A Toast to Spring!
Posted in Programs and Events on May 1 2015, by Lansing Moore
May is upon us—and may you have a fantastic weekend! The clear, warm forecast calls for perfect weather for a Garden visit. So come join us for Native Plant Garden Wine Weekend and savor the clear spring and vibrant seasonal blooms with delicious wine tastings from local vintners from New York State and beyond. Hear experts discuss wine pairings, or take in the most beautiful parts of the Garden grounds on a guided tour. Delicious snacks will also be available for purchase from Stephen STARR Events, or you can dine in style at the newly opened Hudson Garden Grill, NYBG’s first full-service, sit-down restaurant.
Read on for complete details regarding this weekend’s special tours and programs—including the full list of participating wineries—and join us for the first of this season’s Spring Weekends at NYBG!
Saturday, May 2
Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center.
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert to learn about bird-friendly habitats, migrating species, and birds that make a permanent home at the Garden.
Native Plant Garden Wine Weekend – 2 p.m.—6 p.m.
Native Plant Garden
During this oenophile’s weekend, purchase a souvenir wine glass to join us for a flight of palate-pleasing local wines from New York State vintners while experts on winemaking and viticulture invite you to join the conversation during presentations of their crafts. As you sip your wine, enjoy snacks for purchase and live acoustic music. Tours of the Native Plant Garden by expert guides will highlight the significance of the many plant species within and round out a weekend fit for sommeliers and casual wine fans alike.
Wine Tasting and Refreshments
Near the Native Plant Garden entrance
Purchase a souvenir wine glass to join us for a flight of palate-pleasing local wines from New York State and beyond. Stephen STARR Events provides light refreshments for purchase to help you enjoy your afternoon at the Garden.
Participating wineries include: (check back for new listings)
- Artisan Vintners Guild – Mountain View, CA
- Brimstone Hill Vineyard & Winery – Pine Bush, NY
- Brotherhood Winery – Washingtonville, NY
- City Winery – New York, NY
- La Cantina Wine & Liquor – Bronx, NY
- Millbrook Vineyards & Winery – Millbrook, NY
- Robibero Winery – New Paltz, NY
- Sheldrake Point Winery – Ovid, NY
- Warwick Valley Winery – Warwick, NY (Saturday ONLY)
- Whitecliff Vineyard – Gardiner, NY
- Winemakers New York – Massapequa, NY
- Wölffer Estate Vineyard – Sagaponack, NY
Unwind and Unplug: Live Music by Milton – Sets at 12, 1, 2, 3, & 4 p.m.
Across from the Native Plant Garden
The bluegrass and folk tunes performed by Milton add vibrancy to the Wine Weekend. More than just about anything in life, he loves a tune that you can’t wait to hear again, a story that takes you somewhere, and a singer that you can feel in your heart. You’ll feel this sentiment while you are here.
Wine Talks
In the Native Plant Garden Education Pavilion
Experts on winemaking and pairing invite you to join the conversation during presentations of their crafts.
Home Winemaking – 1:30 p.m.
Learn basics methods and equipment to make your own wine at home with Peter Pagano of Winemakers New York.
Wild Wine & Native Nibbles – 2:30 p.m.
Sonia Uyterhoeven, NYBG’s Gardener for Public Education, will help you discover plants that will keep you happily hydrated and satisfyingly satiated. Join us for a brief introduction followed by a stroll through our state-of-the-art Native Plant Garden.
Basic Principles of Wine & Food Pairing – 3:30 p.m.
If you’re tired or just confused by endless tables listing specific foods and specific wines to drink with them, there are some basic principles you can apply that look to underlying characteristics of both to help you find a happier, easier to accomplish match. We begin with the predominant taste characteristics present in all wines and lead you to the flavor elements in foods that will—or won’t—compliment them. And we’ll outline a few food landmines that might lead you to consider beer instead.
The Great Grapes that Make Wine & Where They Live – 4:30 p.m.
There are thousands of grape varieties that produce the world’s fine wines, but very few take center stage with the consumer. In this talk, we’ll explore six varieties that dominate the wine world: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. From there, we’ll open the world of grapes to your questions about other, less prominent or well-known vines.
Guided Tours:
Azalea Garden Tours – 12 & 2 p.m.
Native Plant Garden Tours – 1 & 3 p.m.
Meet at the Native Plant Garden entrance
Sunday, May 3
Native Plant Garden Wine Weekend— – 2 p.m.—6 p.m.
Native Plant Garden
During this oenophile’s weekend, purchase a souvenir wine glass to join us for a flight of palate-pleasing local wines from New York State vintners while experts on winemaking and viticulture invite you to join the conversation during presentations of their crafts. As you sip your wine, enjoy snacks for purchase and live acoustic music. Tours of the Native Plant Garden by expert guides will highlight the significance of the many plant species within and round out a weekend fit for sommeliers and casual wine fans alike.
Wine Tasting and Refreshments
Near the Native Plant Garden entrance
Purchase a souvenir wine glass to join us for a flight of palate-pleasing local wines from New York State and beyond. Stephen Starr Events provides light refreshments for purchase to help you enjoy your afternoon at the Garden.
Participating wineries include: (check back for new listings)
- Artisan Vintners Guild – Mountain View, CA
- Brimstone Hill Vineyard & Winery – Pine Bush, NY
- Brotherhood Winery – Washingtonville, NY
- City Winery – New York, NY
- La Cantina Wine & Liquor – Bronx, NY
- Millbrook Vineyards & Winery – Millbrook, NY
- Palaia Vineyards – Highland Mills, NY (Sunday ONLY)
- Robibero Winery – New Paltz, NY
- Sheldrake Point Winery – Ovid, NY
- The Lenz Winery – Peconic, NY (Sunday ONLY)
- Whitecliff Vineyard – Gardiner, NY
- Winemakers New York – Massapequa, NY
- Wölffer Estate Vineyard – Sagaponack, NY
Unwind and Unplug: Live Music by Milton – Sets at 12, 1, 2, 3, & 4 p.m.
Across from the Native Plant Garden
The bluegrass and folk tunes performed by Milton add vibrancy to the Wine Weekend. More than just about anything in life, he loves a tune that you can’t wait to hear again, a story that takes you somewhere, and a singer that you can feel in your heart. You’ll feel this sentiment while you are here.
Wine Talks
In the Native Plant Garden Education Pavilion
Experts on winemaking and pairing invite you to join the conversation during presentations of their crafts.
Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery, Takes a New World Turn – 12:30 p.m.
Join us as we visit the new vision of Brotherhood. What used to be known as a winery that made sweet, & fruity wines, is now a winery with a vision of quality, and superb varietals. You may be familiar with our wines made with grapes from the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and Hudson, N.Y., but now you will also have the chance to try our craft hard apple ciders, made from local NYS apples Learn about the new endeavors of America’s Oldest Winery.
Home Winemaking – 1:30 p.m.
Learn basics methods and equipment to make your own wine at home with Peter Pagano of Winemakers New York.
Wild Wine & Native Nibbles – 2:30 p.m.
Sonia Uyterhoeven, NYBG’s Gardener for Public Education, will help you discover plants that will keep you happily hydrated and satisfyingly satiated. Join us for a brief introduction followed by a stroll through our state-of-the-art Native Plant Garden.
Basic Principles of Wine & Food Pairing – 3:30 p.m.
If you’re tired or just confused by endless tables listing specific foods and specific wines to drink with them, there are some basic principles you can apply that look to underlying characteristics of both to help you find a happier, easier to accomplish match. We begin with the predominant taste characteristics present in all wines and lead you to the flavor elements in foods that will—or won’t—compliment them. And we’ll outline a few food landmines that might lead you to consider beer instead.
The Great Grapes that Make Wine & Where They Live – 4:30 p.m.
There are thousands of grape varieties that produce the world’s fine wines, but very few take center stage with the consumer. In this talk, we’ll explore six varieties that dominate the wine world: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. From there, we’ll open the world of grapes to your questions about other, less prominent or well-known vines.
Guided Tours:
Azalea Garden Tours – 12 & 2 p.m.
Native Plant Garden Tours – 1 & 3 p.m.
Meet at the Native Plant Garden entrance
Reading and Book Signing of Just Kids from the Bronx with Arlene Alda – 3 p.m.
In Ross Hall
Join Arlene Alda accompanied by her husband Alan Alda as she shares her stories about growing up in the Bronx. Arlene Alda’s Just Kids from the Bronx is a collection of vivid oral histories revealing what it was like to grow up in the place that bred the influencers in just about every field of endeavor today. The Bronx is where Michael Kay, the New York Yankees’ play-by-play broadcaster, first experienced baseball; where J. Crew’s CEO Millard “Mickey” Drexler found his ambition; where Neil deGrasse Tyson and Dava Sobel fell in love with science early on; and where music-making inspired hip-hop’s Grandmaster Melle Mel to change the world of music forever.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Spring Fun! – 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Watch the Garden’s plants and animals wake up from winter with buds bursting, birds nesting, and seeds sprouting. Investigate the ways that nature signals spring and help our feathered friends build their nests with special nesting bags to take back to your neighborhood.
Dig! Plant! Grow! Wake Up, Garden! – 1:30 p.m.—6:00 p.m.
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
Plants and imaginations grow at the Howell Family Garden, where kids are allowed!—no, encouraged!—to play in the dirt. Display gardens, such as the Global Gardens and the Bean Tunnel or Salad Bowl, and daily interactive gardening activities delight and inspire. Drop-in activities end at 5:30 p.m.
had a most enjoyable afternoon at the native plant garden wine weekend. The wines were superb & we enjoyed the talented band. We are trying to remember the name of the winery that sold the hard cider with cinnamon. We wanted to purchase a bottle after the wine tasting but they had sold out. If anyone remembers the name it would be so helpful..we wish to purchase some online. I would absolutely recommend this event & we plan to return to the next wine tasting & many other events the garden has to offer!!