On a late-summer evening in Hudson, 150 members of the Chronogram community—a collection of readers, advertisers, supporters, contributors, and staff members—came together at Klocke Estate to celebrate the release of the September issue, which featured the city of Hudson. The launch party, sponsored by Corcoran Country Living and free and open to the public, unfolded against one of the Hudson Valley’s most striking backdrops: a hilltop estate ringed by vineyards and fruit orchards, with sweeping western views of the Catskills. Guests mingled over cocktails crafted from Klocke’s spirits while watching the sun dip behind the mountains, turning the fields gold and the sky into a canvas of deepening colors.
Klocke Estate, the event’s host, is a relative newcomer to the region’s craft beverage scene but one steeped in tradition. Founded by John Frishkopf, the Claverack distillery is dedicated to reviving Old World brandy-making techniques while highlighting Hudson Valley terroir. On the property, grapes, apples, and pears are grown for distillation, part of Frishkopf’s vision to create a true estate distillery. Their offerings include not only small-batch brandies but also a line of ready-to-drink cocktails, part of their efforts to expand accessibility and appeal to a wider audience. Klocke Estate also recently launched expanded distillery tours, inviting visitors to learn about the process from vine to glass while soaking in the property’s commanding views.
The site itself carries a deep sense of place. Perched on elevated ground in Claverack, the estate reflects the Hudson Valley’s long agricultural history while signaling its ongoing reinvention through artisanal food and drink. Hosting the September issue launch at such a venue underscored the region’s interwoven narrative of heritage and innovation.
For Chronogram, the event marked another chapter in a long tradition of bringing readers together beyond the printed page. Over its three-decade history, the magazine has hosted countless gatherings—launch parties, awards shows, art exhibitions, panel discussions, block parties, and festivals—that provide spaces for connection. These events are rooted in the same ethos that drives Chronogram’s coverage: a belief that the Hudson Valley is not just a place to live, but a community of people invested in art, culture, and the quality of life that defines the region.
At Klocke Estate, that ethos was palpable. Strangers became acquaintances over shared drinks, old friends caught up against the glow of sunset, and conversations meandered from local art shows to favorite new restaurants to the harvest season just beginning in the fields below. The evening offered more than a celebration of a new issue—it was a reminder of the importance of coming together in person, of fostering connections that sustain a regional culture.
As the September issue makes its way into readers’ hands across the Hudson Valley, the night at Klocke Estate lingers as a testament to Chronogram’s ongoing commitment to community. Just as the magazine chronicles the life of the region, its gatherings keep that life vibrant, weaving people, places, and stories into the shared fabric of the Valley.
