Speeches and Transcripts
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| Video conference sample wine tasting |
Wines of the Hudson Valley
Ambassador Alexander Vershbow
Video Conference Sample Wine Tasting
U.S. Embassy Information Resource Center
Seoul, Korea
April 21, 2006
Thank you, Susan, for that ‘virtual’ introduction. While it’s a bit early for those of us in Korea, I am pleased to be able to join you in sampling some of the fine wines of the Hudson Valley.
The Hudson Valley is a beautiful part of the country. It’s only about an hour by car or train from New York City, and offers a variety of experiences to the traveler interested in art, history, literature, cuisine, and, of course, wine.
The Hudson Valley is the birthplace of American winemaking. The first vineyards were planted in the Hudson Valley in 1677. Today it is home to more than 20 operating wineries, including the oldest continually operating winery in the United States.
For the history buff, the Hudson Valley offers numerous attractions associated with the French and Indian War of 1754-1763 and the American War for Independence, including Forts William Henry and Ticonderoga. Visitors can also see the home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, America’s only four-term President, whose leadership lifted the nation out of the Great Depression and saw America through the dark years of World War II.
If you’re interested in American literature you can visit sites associated with James Fenimore Cooper’s famous novel “The Last of the Mohicans” and the home of Washington Irving, whose works “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” popularized the Hudson Valley in the American imagination.
Art lovers can check out the pastoral beauty of the Valley that was captured by the Hudson River School painters in the mid-1800s. They may also see some of the paintings at the Albany Institute of History and Art or take in the magnificent art collection of former Governor Nelson Rockefeller.
The Hudson Valley is a great place to visit. I invite you today to taste the wines of the Hudson Valley and, hopefully, to see the Hudson Valley for yourself to experience the history and culture of a place that has made significant contributions to American art, history, letters, cuisine – and wine! Enjoy.