“Fall Fest” Returns to the Hudson Valley
By: Brian Rackliffe
Nostrano Vineyards in Milton, NY was home to the seventh annual Fall Fest this past Sunday, October 13. Fall Fest is one of seven annual events held at the vineyard and has been said to be one of the most popular to attend.
“These last four years have definitely been the busiest since we started” said Kayleigh Bozzo, tasting room manager and event director at the vineyard. “It’s such a great time of year to be in this area, especially before it gets too cold and nobody will want to leave their couch.”
Nostrano Vineyards is a family-owned farm business in its fourth generation of lineage to carry on the grape production. Grape and tree-fruit growing has been a tradition of the Trapani family since 1943. Seventy years after the Trapani family moved from Brooklyn, Joseph Trapani Sr.’s grandson, Nicolas Bozzo, established Nostrano Vineyards on the family farm in 2010. Nicolas and his wife, Kayleigh, have maintained a steady progression in business since opening, with the help of their relatively new wine tasting room that they unveiled in 2014.
The festival is made up by dozens of local vendors selling anything from dog bandanas, to craft beer, to homemade salsa and jam. Live music has been provided by the same cover band, Talking Machine, since the festival came into fruition in 2012. The acoustic trio performed traditional blues, rock, R&B, country, and folk music while guests picked pumpkins, ate from local Hudson Valley vendors, and sipped craft beer and homemade autumn sangria. Aside from indulging on food and drink, guests strolled through rows of local shopping market booths were set up distributing home goods and small items for low prices and rode mechanical bulls while their children painted pumpkins or ran in the ten acres of grape fields the venue has to offer.
“The atmosphere is always so welcoming, as it should be” Mrs. Bozzo explained. “It’s a family business in a small, community based area. Family and friends come together and get outside to enjoy each other’s company and on top of that, local businesses are getting great exposure and support in one area. This event in particular always feels the friendliest to me because of how pretty the trees are in the fall here and how many people come with their kids or siblings.”
The festival has seen noticeable growth in attendees every year. With such a wide variety of shopping booths and fall snacks and beverages in a beautiful venue such as Nostrano Vineyards, it is no surprise that more people keep coming back with more friends and family year after year.
“This is my third year coming to the festival. Came my first year with my wife in 2016 and the past two years we’ve made it our own little annual meet up with our group of friends” said Tom Elbe of Marlborough, NY.
Things only seem to be looking up for the vineyard as the Bozzo family gets ready to close out another successful fall season. They remain open for business in the tasting room until December, open to any and all guests.
