ConsciousWine is joining forces with Chef Lesley Sutter (of the late, great Flying Pig) to present six harvest wine dinners this fall. The meals take place on local farms and spotlight organic, biodynamic American wineries. “Eating dinner on a farm, you really appreciate where your food comes from,” says Sutter, a pioneer in the farm-to-table eating trend. “Pair that with a sustainable winery and the circle is unbroken.”      

The inspiration for the dinners comes from ConsciousWine co-founder Vinny Liscio, of Somers. “I was in Oregon visiting some of our wineries and I saw what they were doing there with ‘on the farm’ wining and dining,” says Liscio. “I had to bring a taste of that here.” After visiting such local farms as Hilltop Hanover and Amawalk Farm to successfully pitch his idea, Liscio met Sutter through a mutual friend and found an enthusiastic partner.   

What makes these farm-based dinners unique, says Liscio, is the wine. “ConsciousWine celebrates small-scale winemakers who produce incredible wines through organic, sometimes biodynamic, growing practices,” he explains. “The wine is delicious, first and foremost, and the winemakers’ commitment to the soil is amazing. These dinners are a great way for folks to make that connection.”   

Sutter adds that she and Liscio have attended farm dinners in which the wine served didn’t match the consciousness of the meal. “Oftentimes, all this attention is paid to the food and farmers, which is great, but if the wine is loaded with chemicals and additives, you’ve missed a chance,” she says. “I’m working hard to make some great meals on these farms, so I love that equal attention is being paid to the wine.”   

The first harvest wine dinner took place in September at Hilltop Hanover farm in Yorktown. The series continues at Amawalk Farm in Katonah on October 6, Sugar Hill Farm in Bedford on October 13, and John Jay Homestead in Katonah on October 20. Future meals take place at the Greenwich Audubon in November and the Lasdon Arboretum in December.   

Ticket prices range from $135 to $155, based on menu, winery, and location, and they can be purchased at ConsciousWine.com. The website is also a great resource for videos, blogs and information about the 58 wineries in Oregon and California that meet ConsciousWine’s four principles of organics, sustainability, vitality, and great taste.

For more information visit ConsciousWine.com or call 914.248.5339.