Grab a Shawangunk Wine Trail Passport, on sale through July 31 and good through August, and pick yourself an enticing spot for your first complimentary tasting flight.
The art, science, and history of quality beverage production are a Hudson Valley specialty. You could try something new and different every week and not run out of fresh ideas for a long, long time. We’re proud of the craft beverage wave that’s carried Hudson Valley vintners, cider makers, distillers, and brewers to national acclaim. Through the lens of getting to know our beverage makers, you can learn a whole lot of Hudson Valley history, geography, and agriculture—and most of all, experience the hospitable spirit we’ve been perfecting in these parts for centuries. Each of our indie beverage operations is somebody’s dream come to life, and they’d love to have you come over and taste the results.
The best way to organize your exploration, the Shawangunk Wine Trail, has been going strong for about three decades, all through the craft beverage revolution. These days, they’ve added some cideries and distilleries to the mix. Why not make this the summer you become a connoisseur? Grab a Shawangunk Wine Trail Passport, on sale through July 31 and good through August, and pick yourself an enticing spot for your first complimentary tasting flight.
No matter where you land, the hospitality and scenery will be splendid. If you want to make a day of it and visit three or four, they’ve got transportation companies who’ll provide you a designated driver. There’s even a blank page in the Passport so you can note down your favorites for future reference.
BEVERAGE DESTINATIONS
ANGRY ORCHARD has built a national brand from its unique Cider House in Walden, where you’ll find exceptional hospitality and fun, inclusive, educational experiences. Cider-making traditions are honored and celebrated through captivating storytelling; there’s a Tree House to discover and an in-house kitchen, and this year you can sample their brand-new line of fruit-based canned cocktails. angryorchard.com, 800-362-7110
APPLEWOOD WINERY in Warwick makes tasty International Red, Riesling, Chardonnay, blackberry wine, and much more, including their Naked Flock Cider. (We hear the new Lemon Ginger Cider tastes like summertime in a can.) At the Pavilion Bar and the Cafe, you can pair your selection with a charcuterie board, a wood-fired pizza, or some empanadas. applewoodwinery.com, 845-988-9292
BENMARL WINERY in Marlboro, proud producers of small-batch deliciousness, is home to the oldest vineyard in America and holds New York Farm Winery License #1. They’re hosting a Seafood and Wine Fest June 22, Sangria Festivals in July and August, an “Off the Vine” comedy series that promises “palette-busting” laughs, and grape stomping in September. benmarl.com, 845-236-4265
BROOKLYN CIDER HOUSE/TWIN STAR ORCHARDS in New Paltz got its start when renowned wine buyer and connoisseur Peter Yi tasted natural Basque cider straight from the barrel, came home, and told his sister Susan he knew what they needed to do next. Nowadays, cider from their Twin Star Orchards wins awards; come visit the cidery, tasting room, farm store, and pond-side pavilion, munch on a wood-fired pizza, and watch the dream coming true before your eyes.brooklynciderhouse.com, 845-633-8657
BROTHERHOOD WINERY in Washingtonville is a beverage epic. Its first commercial vintage was released in 1839, it survived Prohibition by producing wine for medicinal and sacramental purposes, and artfully made wines still age in huge oaken casks in dimly lit cellars. They’d love to have you come by for a tour and a taste and some “tall tales of folly and tragedy” while you learn how it’s done; follow up your tour with some creative American cuisine at the 1839 Restaurant and Bar. brotherhood-winery.com, 845-496-3661
CITY WINERY HUDSON VALLEYin Montgomery is what happens when a venue-maker with a love of wine and music sees the possibilities in a 130-year-old mill: a fully functioning hydro-powered winery, tasting room and restaurant, wedding venue, private event space, and indoor / outdoor concert venue. Come by for world-class wines, Mediterranean-inspired small plates, and an adventure; the calendar is always packed with live music, stand-up comics, podcast recordings, and more.citywinery.com, 845-633-8657
MAGNANINI FARM WINERY in Wallkill loves hosting big, six-course, family-style dinners: there’s one for Father’s Day on June 16, a Pesto Pasta Party on July 14, a Cheesy Ravioli Party on August 11, and the Val Taro Accordion Extravaganza on August 25. The Magnaninis bottled their first 1,000 gallons 40 years ago, and they just keep getting better. There are eight different wines grown, harvested, fermented, and bottled on-site and exclusively available here, and house-made gnocchi, ravioli, cappelletti, salami, coppa, and prosciutto to go with. magwine.com, 845-895-2767
QUARTZ ROCK VINEYARD AND BEDROCK CIDERY in Marlboro is kid- and pet-friendly, and you’re welcome to bring your own food and have a picnic. There’s live music happening every weekend (check their calendar for comedy and food fests) and all of it pairs beautifully with their selection of exceptional wines and ciders; a Wine Associate will bring a flight right to your outdoor table for a uniquely relaxed tasting experience. quartzrockvineyard.com, 845-633-8657
ROBIBERO WINERY in New Paltz is a passion project for Harry and Carole Robibero, who purchased these 42 acres in 2003. There was a winery there, and Harry was fascinated: his grandfather had made outstanding wines, and when that winery relocated, Robibero was born in its place. Come by for a taste of the artisanal results, and check the calendar to see what special celebrations might be coming up. robiberofamilyvineyards.com, 845-255-9463
STOUTRIDGE DISTILLERY & WINERY in Marlboro has been crafting small-batch spirits and natural wines from local ingredients since 2000, tucked away beside a grand limestone ridge, on land where grapes have been grown since the late 1700s. Making all-natural wines with a gravity-flow process, they’re also one of only eight distilleries in America doing their own malting and the only one to use a traditional Scottish malting floor—come experience, learn, and taste the results for yourself. stoutridge.com, 845-236-7620
WARWICK VALLEY WINERY & DISTILLERY in Warwick is the oldest cidery in New York State; they’ve been making cider from real fruit since long before it trended, creating their Doc’s Cider brand in 1994, adding a locally sourced, scratch-made cafe back in 1998 and launching their American Fruits line of brandies, liquors, and cordials in 2001, when they became the first craft distillery in New York since Prohibition. Since 2012 they’ve run Black Dirt Distillery, the largest craft distillery on the East Coast. Come, enjoy—there’s live music at the natural amphitheater every weekend. wvwinery.com, 845-258-4858
WHITECLIFF VINEYARD is a 30-year passion project created by a couple deeply dedicated to sustainability, environmentalism, and great vegan wines. Both of Michael Migliore’s grandfathers made wine; he’s a graduate-level organic chemist who works closely with Cornell Cooperative Extension on pushing the grape-growing envelope with ever-evolving results. His wife, Yancey Stanforth-Migliore, has absorbed extensive knowledge of the field that she’ll gladly share when you visit their lovely tasting room, which often hosts a variety of pop-up events. whitecliffwine.com, 845-255-4613
