My wife and I stopped by with our three friends about 8pm on Saturday night. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised by the nice ambiance and decor with what looked like a copper top ceiling, a main bar, a few raised tables and 2 cozy leather chairs that made me think of enjoying a nice after dinner bourbon in the study of an late 19th to early 20th century study of a business tycoon or politician from that time period.. The bar tender, Noah, was impressive and friendly in that he knew his liquor stock very well, and could explain the flavor intricacies of the various types of bourbon, vodka, and gins. They also offer some non,-alcoholic beverages for the "designated driver" of the group too. We watched Noah make everything from regular and "dirty martinis" with fresh ingredients, as well as one drink where he used a butane lighter and some tiny cedar chips in a straining tool above the drink to give it a fresh, authentic smoky look and flavor. Noah knows his stuff!!!!! The patrons were friendly, diverse, and easy to socialize with if you chose to do so. The establishment is pet friendly for "socialized pets" with a water bowl outside the establishment and some free Milkbone treats inside. Keep in mind that this establishment is a "tasting room" with the majority of products from the New Scotland Distillery, but there are other options. Just don't expect to get a Bud Light Draft or food here. The only downside is that parking in the Lark Steet and State Street location is difficult to obtain without some effort, but we managed to park our vehicles 2 blocks away. This is not a direct criticism of the establishment because the experience is well worth this minor potential inconvenience. We would definitely go back there again, especially for the specialty drinks or the flights and half flights of their bourbon and vodka products. Thank you once again, Noah, for a pleasant and educational evening!!!

This place is very nice -- welcoming, artsy, comfortable, small but personable. We live across the…read morestreet, and my husband and I wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, it was not a great experience. The bartender served our drinks with no napkins and no lime. Details are key in a place like this. It was also loud, and it looked like a birthday party was happening. If that was the case, maybe the place should have closed to the public to accommodate that celebration. People were loud and drunk, and the birthday boy was saying vulgar things. We will not be coming back.

Amazing Winery! We were in town visiting family and decided to give this place a try! It is family…read moreowned and we were greeted by the wife of the couple that owned the place when we walked in. During our time here, the husband came by and greeted up. It made the experience very fun! The staff here is very friendly and knowledgeable. We were limited to two tastings which was perfect to get a taste of their wines. We ended up buying a bottle when we left! Overall atmosphere was very nice and updated. The owner said during the warmer months, he would bring some old school cars and have them parked near the vineyard! Which is very cool!

Very cute vineyard and they have a collection of antique cars here too. We ordered two flights of…read morewine so we could try all the different flavors . Very cool atmosphere. Staff is friendly and prices are fair.

The mead here is amazing. Go and enjoy some of Ray's hard work! It's seriously delicious. The Hades…read morewas my favorite (pleasantly zippy), but the blackberry, and Midas would have been great as a full pour too. I will for sure be back the next time I'm in Albany.

Cool spot! We sampled a variety of meads. They have traditional meads as well as some more…read moreinventive ones including a jalapeño mead and a winter spices mead (my fav). Nice ambience too and excellent service. Our bartender was very knowledgeable about the various meads and attentive. Small place but when we visited on a Saturday afternoon it was not busy. They have a book exchange and board games. Free popcorn! I would definitely come back here. I was considering bringing home some meads but I thought their bottle prices were a bit steep at between $25 and $35. Meads in our local area (MA and RI) are more in the $20 bottle range from local spots. Don't miss the cool mural in the back!

We had the most wonderful experience here last night! We were trying to find something to do near…read moreGhent and my friend found this vineyard that offered wine tasting, an activity none of us have ever done before and thought it would be a relaxing way to spend the evening. We were hosted by the most knowledgeable and gracious couple (Lisa and Francis) who were welcoming and made our first experience a memorable one. We learned about the history behind the vineyard, the amazing artwork that decorates it (inside and out) and left feeling more well versed with wine. I am normally not a Chardonnay fan but since their Chardonnay is made in a steel barrel, it doesn't have the same buttery taste that an oak barrel would.. and I LOVED IT! (if y'all read this review, I hope that's correct). I also was surprised that I really liked their Sherry, which is one of the highest proofs spirits that they serve. It was strong but it was something enjoyable to sip on! (Def went home with a bottle of each) We happened to arrive in a night where us wasn't busy so if you arrive and it looks quiet, do not leave! We ended up receiving VIP one-on-one service that may have been different if the place was packed (which they mentioned it was the night before) The couple who spent time with us were so friendly, and after noticing a gift basket assembly on the table, even let me purchase it since I live in the city and wouldn't be back up this way for a while. Our only regret was not getting there earlier in the day so that we could enjoy the outdoor experience of the venue, since the property is covered in beautiful grassy fields and sculptures that are even on some of the bottle labels. This is a highly recommended place! Ask about their cute gift baskets and make sure to go before the middle of December before they close for winter. They will reopen in April... and I will def be back!

Sabba Vineyard is absolutely charming. The owner, Abby, is passionate about this wonderful winery…read morehe's created. The vineyard, located in Old Chatham is gorgeous and adorned by pieces of Abby's own metal art sculptures. Recently visited on a Saturday when they have live music as delightful background for sipping wine and enjoying a cheeseboard. Great to have another beautiful winery in the Capital District.

Home Range Winery is a gem in the heart of the Berkshires! The wines surprised me in the best way…read more-- they have some that sounded experimental that turned out to be yummy, tart, vibrant, and absolutely delicious. The setting is just as memorable, with a beautiful tasting garden, a music stage, and wide-open grounds that make you want to stay awhile. On my visit, a food truck was serving fresh oysters (Scott shucks!) that paired perfectly with the wine and lovely folk-Indie music. I also stayed overnight through Harvest Hosts (on their farmland in my camper trailer), and waking up on their farmland was picturesque and peaceful!

First time here and ordered a flight tasting for $15. Wines were weren't as sweet compared to other…read morewineries. The seasonal raspberry and blueberry wines were really good Very laid back with a country band playing. The winery is located on the homestead, so you will see various livestock including goats, pigs, ducks and chickens. Indoor and outdoor seating either on the deck or in the grass with picnic tables. Bring your own food, but they have small bags of various bar snacks (chips, pretzels, donuts) There is an *eclectic* single bathroom, which isn't your typical bathroom.

Super cute spot. We stopped as we headed back from Vermont and enjoyed our cheese board and wine…read moresampler. The ladies working were so nice too at the counter. We would love to stop by again during summer.

Had my 60th birthday party here. I was VERY nervous about the party. But the staff knew how to calm…read moreme and helped create a perfect event: 1. I was given a glass of Blanc de Blanc (highly recommended) and 2. They know events; them to do their ji. It was a BEAUTIFUL, fun, fantastic party (all my guests said so!). I would recommend for every type of event. It's beautiful, the wine is good, and the staff are GREAT!!!

Jessica was absolutely amazing to work with for our daughter's wedding. Helping us out with NYS…read morewines, to offering amazing ciders and cocktails for the wedding. The day of the wedding their customer service was top notched. I highly recommend them for any special event you may want to have.

What a beautiful, CLEAN, friendly, and inviting venue!…read more Aside from incredible cider at more than fair prices (try the classic, the Mule cider, and the Imperial (if you want more bang in your cider)), Nine Pin is absolutely SPOTLESS inside - so impressed with how clean this place is. Also impressive are their Bavarian pretzels with Cider Cheese, the ambient music, the selection of games to play, and their robust calendar of events. The team members working there are super friendly and knowledgeable. One of the highlights of this visit was watching a couple at a nearby table order a cider flight, and it comes as an impressive display of nine tap offerings framed in a nine-pin bowling pin diamond - WOW!!! Though I am not in Albany often, I do have a few friends in the area and rest assured the next time I am in this city, Nine Pin will be where I ask to meet up with all of my friends. I'm excited for another trip here. Well done Nine Pin!

Amazing winery and location in Hudson Valley, New York, incredible scenery and wine tasting for all…read moreyou Wine Enthusiasts

4.25 Did not expect this place to be the place to hang out,…read morebut it definitely seemed that way. The property isn't huge, but there are several gathering areas: in front, inside the tasting room, and a smaller section on the other side. The tasting room is clean and chic, and the staff were all smiles--engaging in light conversation and explaining the wines and offerings well. Whether you like dry or sweet white wine, they've got you covered. The Hortencia is a nice, crisp white, while the Traminette is sweet and smooth. The great thing is that you can even combine the two, and you've got the perfect summer white wine blend.

This small cider/winery is an excellent stop on your tour through the Berkshires. They have some…read moreinventive ciders and wines that don't follow the "rules" of flavor profiles. Using grapes shipped from CA and mixing with apples crown on site, this small batch operation is a delightful stop. Specifically, I want to shout out our wine guide who took us through several of their wines. She made our experience there memorable with her amazing personality, charm, and humor. The space is small but offers a variety of options to hang out and enjoy their wines and ciders - inside by the fireplace, outside on the screen porch, or outdoors on the patio. We loved our time at Hilltop and hope to return.

Sara is the best! She is friendly and very knowledgeable about all of the wines. We loved the…read moreunique flavors and the story behind them all. Once we had tasted a bunch and decided on a glass she suggested that we take a walk through the Orchard up to the top of the hill, which was so peaceful and scenic. Of course we got a few bottles to go and the delicious donuts. We would love to come back.

This Vineyard has beautiful grounds and a sizeable wine tasting area. Our group of six was quickly…read moreable to secure a table on a Sunday evening and enjoyed some wines and a tasting. A couple members of our group did not want to drink alcohol, but the staff was still very friendly and accommodating and brought them water at no additional charge. We were attended to by several folks and they were all very kind and the service was relaxed. There was no pressure to turn over the table, and we appreciated this as we are all old friends looking to catch up. We also brought in our food from Casa Reyes down the street, and they had no problem with this and even kindly disposed of our trash from the meals. Several folks at our table had the sangria and wine pours and I did the tasting. I was not particularly impressed with the wines and was not interested in buying them, but they were all drinkable and I was grateful to try them. The only major detracting factor of our visit was that there were a lot of fruit flies in the tasting area, which was rather unpleasant. I hope this was a one off and that they can control this in the future, because we would definitely return here.

We had a great time here for a bachelorette wine tasting. They have a large tent with seating…read moreoutside. We tried several of their wines and ended up buying a few bottles to take back with us. The tasting glasses no longer come with the tasting but available for purchase for a small fee. They also offered snack plates where I discovered the most delicious soft cheese. The only downside is that there are no restrooms, only a porta potty. The porta potty is a 'fancier' one that flushes and has a sink where you can wash your hands - they do keep it very clean. Overall worth a trip to sit right next to the vineyards and enjoy some delicious wine.