Looking to get a group out of the office but still close to home? Tania Dougherty operates the Little Wine Bus, which transports groups for half-day or daylong excursions to Hudson Valley wineries for tastings and vineyard and cellar tours, giving guests a chance to experience local wines and learn about winemaking. Along the ride to the valley, about an hour and 20 minutes from the city, Dougherty works in entertainment such as wine-based informational videos and trivia games, and also includes a variety of desserts she creates herself, crafted from wines or liqueurs from a selection of area producers.
In addition to tastings and tours, outings include lunch and desserts at one of the wineries before moving on to another vineyard. On the ride back, movies and more homemade desserts are offered. The tours are ideal for groups of as many as 100, and pricing starts at $150 per person. An offshoot operation, the Little Beer Bus, will gear up this spring for outings to Hudson Valley area breweries. Private pickup from locations within the metro area are possible.
