DUTCHESS COUNTY FARM FRESH LINK

CHEESE, WINE & ART WEEKENDS*
Saturdays:  September 15, 22, 29
Sundays:   September 16, 23, 30

Get whisked away for a day-long celebration of local cheese, wine and art when you step on the Dutchess County Farm Fresh Shuttle at the Poughkeepsie Train Station.  First stop is Sprout Creek Farm (www.sproutcreekfarm.org), a model of sustainable agriculture that’s also known for its artisanal cheeses lovingly produced by a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America.  Sample the creamery’s mouth-watering creations and enjoy an outdoor picnic of local seasonal fare from the farm market.

Nothing goes better with hand-crafted cheese than wine tasting at two of the Hudson Valley’s premiere wineries, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery (www.millbrookwine.com) and Clinton Vineyards (www.clintonvineyards.com).   

Located in a renovated Dutch-hip dairy barn with views of its 130-acre estate, Millbrook produces high-caliber wines using classical French and Italian wine-making techniques.  Take a guided tour and tasting at this award-winning winery and make sure to visit the upstairs loft gallery featuring local Hudson Valley artists.  (Tasting fee is $6 per person and is in addition to the package price.) 
 
Toast the end of the day at Clinton Vineyards, award-winning producer of fine wines, champagnes made in the classic French me´thode champenoise and hand-crafted dessert wines.  Relax in the intimate tasting room, visit the wine-making facilities in the adjacent historic barn, or stroll around the magnificent estate grounds.  (Tasting fee is $7 per person and is in addition to the package price.) 

This special discount package is available beginning June 1, 2007 by calling Metro-North Railroad at 1-800-METRO-INFO (in NYC call 212-532-4900) or by visiting the Metro-North website .

The Dutchess County Farm Fresh Shuttle will stay with you all day, transporting you to the various locations and bringing you back to the train station for the return trip home.  Reservations for the Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link Shuttle are required in advance by calling 1-800-445-3131 and selecting "0" for an operator.  Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. 

Once you've made your reservation, purchase your rail and shuttle ticket at Metro-North’s ticket office in Grand Central Terminal or any Metro-North station with a ticket office, at all full-service ticket machines (except Wassaic Station), or online through WebTicket .

* Dutchess County Tourism has the right to substitute a farm or related itinerary stop to ensure the quality of the overall program and the individual getaway experience.