The Brotherhood Winery dates back to 1839 and is the oldest winery in the United States. The buildings are mostly the winery's original buildings; the vast and cavernous cellars are almost as old, and the cellar conglomerate is in fact the largest in the country. The winery, as a whole, is a National Historic Landmark, so a visit yields a historic as well as a sensual experience. There are guided wine tasting tours every day of the week, from April-December, and on the weekends during the rest of the year. The winery is located in Washingtonville, east on State Road 94 from I-87.
As for the wines themselves, Brotherhood Winery's stock includes everything from sweet to dry wines, and from dessert to table wines. Try their Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux-style varietal, barrel-aged, naturally, with complex aromas and flavors of dark berries, mint, and earth. You can also opt for their Chardonnay, which brings forth a slight hint of oak, and is medium-bodied and well-balanced.
Winemaking is an ancient and honored art, and nowhere is this more evident than at Brotherhood, America's Oldest winery, located in the picturesque village of Washingtonville, NY. The winery was established by a European emigre, John Jaques, who produced the first commercial vintage in 1839.
Brotherhood has been in continuous operation since that time - making the winery the oldest in the United States!