Breathtaking Views and Brandy Await at Klocke Estate, New Luxury Destination in Hudson Valley

Published on July 17, 2024

Klocke Estate, a 160-acre sustainable farm, brandy distillery, and restaurant, opens today in the Hudson Valley. This luxurious destination offers guests a unique experience of brandy from soil to glass, emphasizing a deep connection to the land and the craft of fine brandy.

Experience the Beauty and Bounty of the Hudson Valley

Klocke Estate allows visitors to immerse themselves in the Hudson Valley’s beauty, local agriculture, and the tradition of brandy-making. Guests can enjoy luxurious dining, learn about brandy and vermouth, and take in breathtaking views of the Catskill Mountains, the Hudson Valley, and the estate’s vineyards and apple orchards.

“The ways we grow our apples and grapes, care for our land, distill and age our spirits, and apply our craft create a cycle of enrichment, sustainability, respect, and quality,” said John Frishkopf, Founder and CEO. “It is my hope that Klocke Estate will not only define a new category of American Brandy in the Hudson Valley but also create an experiential destination and a legacy of excellence to transcend generations, positioning Klocke as a leader in the world of extraordinary spirits and elevated hospitality.”

The Estate and Distillery

Klocke Estate is dedicated to sustainable and organic farming methods. Of its 160 acres, 60 have been cultivated using regenerative farming techniques. The estate promotes biodiversity by planting beneficial plants that support pollinator habitats and create a balanced ecosystem.

The distillery will offer limited releases of unaged brandy, but primarily focuses on maturing its eau de vie in French Limousin oak barrels, with the goal of producing brandies that evoke the local terroir and an American style. Additionally, Klocke has developed red and white vermouths for its launch, available exclusively at the distillery until broader distribution begins.

The Restaurant

Designed by Ken Fulk, Klocke Estate’s hospitality venue features a full bar, lounge, dining room, and bar seating area adjacent to the distillery. The second floor offers private dining and entertaining rooms with their own bar and cook’s kitchen, views of the copper alembic Charentais still from France, and floor-to-ceiling windows with expansive views of the estate, Hudson Valley, and Catskills.

Kristine Danks, Klocke’s General Manager of Hospitality, brings her extensive experience from New York City restaurants and bars to the estate. She has assembled a team of top mixologists, beverage experts, servers, and emerging chef Becky Kempter.

“We are thrilled to offer an elevated dining experience without an air of pretense,” said Danks. “Together with Klocke Estate’s founder, we have developed an exceptional and wide-ranging brandy program, spanning a variety of fruits, aging, and geographies, including France, Spain, and the U.S.”

Tours and Experiences

Klocke Estate will start its pilot program of tours on Saturday, August 3rd. Initially, tours will be led by Klocke’s founders and company leaders, including special tastings. Tours will be offered on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1 pm and 3 pm. Limited to 8 people, Klocke’s “Estate and Distillery Tour” will cover the estate’s history, agriculture, and the brandy, vermouth, and eau-de-vie-making processes.

About Klocke Estate

Located on 160 acres in Claverack, NY (a 10-minute drive from Hudson), Klocke Estate offers an immersive distillery experience coupled with exceptional earth-to-glass brandy and terroir-driven menu offerings. Led by a team of entrepreneurs, farmers, and craft beverage leaders, Klocke Estate honors Cognac and Calvados while remaining authentic to its locale. The estate transformed a once-abandoned farm into new vineyards and apple orchards, applying principles of regenerative agriculture and land stewardship.