Uncork Autumn! Friday, 9/27

"Of autumn’s wine now drink your fill; 
the frost’s on the pumpkin, the snow’s on the hill."

Harvest Buffet, Wine Tasting, Wine Pull, and Raffle
Friday, September 27 ~ 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

• $30 Buffet & Tasting 
• $20 per pull 
• $5 Raffle Tickets

Celebrate the bounty of the harvest and support the University Club Foundation with dinner, a wine pull, or both!

The University Club Foundation will host Uncork Autumn! on Friday, September 27 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Mark Brogna of Capital Wine & Spirits on Lark Street in Albany is lining up a Tasting featuring wines that were recently added to the U. Club's Fall & Winter Wine List. The tasting is included in the price of the Harvest Buffet.

• At the Wine Pull station, everyone’s a winner – for a $20 ticket, guests will pull a bottle valued between $20 and $100.
• Raffle tickets will also be available during the evening for $5 each, and guests may enter drawings for collectible wines and other seasonal prizes.

Uncork Autumn! is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, and one need not be a member of the Club to attend. The cost for the Buffet and Tasting is $30 and includes tax and gratuity, beverages are additional. The Tasting will be held from 5:30 – 6:30, the Buffet from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., and the Wine Pull and Raffle will take place at 8:30 p.m.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151. You may also purchase your tickets and wine pull chances online using PayPal. Don't have a PayPal account? You can use a credit card or bank card when you log in as "Guest."

A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation. The Foundation was formed in 2009 to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the National Register-listed University Club building, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901.

Time Flies When You're Having RUM - 8/16

At the University Club’s first Pinkster Celebration on June 13, 2011, Justin DiVirgilio read from an article he wrote titled “Rum Punch and Cultural Revolution.” He detailed the archeological dig that took place prior to construction of the Quackenbush Square Parking Facility where discoveries included a 17th century brickyard and brickmaker’s house and an 18th century rum distillery.

On Friday, August 16, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., the University Club Foundation will host a tasting of spirits from the Albany Distilling Company at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street.

The Albany Distilling Company is a modest operation, producing craft spirits one small batch at a time. Its headquarters are located in downtown Albany, not far from the site of the city’s original 18th century distillery. Owners John Curtin and Matthew Jager are proud to be a part of New York State’s rich heritage of spirit production.

Photo by Don Rittner

In addition to the tasting, Justin DiVirgilio, President of Hartgen Archeological Associates, will give a presentation about the archeology and history of the 18th-century distillery through its half-century long operation. He was a member of the team that excavated the original Quackenbush Distillery in 2001. Guests may also enter a raffle to win a copy of Beneath the City: An Archaeological Perspective of Albany by Charles L. Fisher, published by the New York State Museum, which features information on the rum vats that are now on display in the museum’s West Hall.

“Our Original Albany rum pays homage to Albany’s first distillery,” said Matthew Jager, who co-owns the company with John Curtin. “The Quackenbush Still House produced an unaged rum from Caribbean molasses and Hudson River water, fermented with wild yeasts in huge, open wooden vessels. We use modern equipment, better yeast, and a more suitable water supply, but we follow the same recipe and use the methods of our predecessors.”

Bright tropical notes shine through the rich, earthy flavor of the Caribbean cane, giving way to a long, creamy, butterscotch finish. Original Albany rum is excellent neat or on the rocks, but also brings an exciting layer of character to cocktails. Original Albany rum will be featured in the signature cocktail for the event, U. Club Rum Punch.

There is no cost for the tasting, hosted by the Club’s Food & Beverage Committee, but reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or by emailing ellen@universityclubalbany.com . Guests are invited to stay and order dinner from the new menu.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. One need not be a member of the University Club to attend. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.