Uncork Summer Magic
From eager, curious and future oenophiles, to savvy sommeliers, or folks just enjoying a picnic in a picturesque setting, New York State’s Hudson Valley and Capital Region provide wine lovers a paradise of some of the finest vintages and distinctive flavors the state and country have to offer.
In the summer months, New York wine country also offers plenty of fun, from live music nights and festivals to wine and food pairings, vineyard tours and even yoga among the vines.
While most think of California’s Napa Valley, Santa Barbara wine country (highlighted in the 2004 film Sideways), Washington state and Oregon as some of the most notable areas for wine production in the United States, New York also is recognized as one of the nation’s top five wine-producing states.
The Empire State’s Hudson Valley and Capital Region are two big reasons why.
The Hudson Valley is one of the oldest and most historic wine regions in the country, with a wine-growing tradition dating back to the 17th century. It’s home to more than 40 wineries, many of which offer tours, tastings and seasonal events, especially in summertime — the heart of the growing season. Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, billed as “America’s Oldest Winery,” offers tasting flights, as well as guided tours of the 1839 property and vineyards.
Most of the vineyards provide stunning scenery. Nestled along the picturesque banks of the Hudson River, many of them are perched on rolling hills, offering panoramic scenes of the river, lush green landscapes and the Catskill Mountains.
“We have the most beautiful view of any winery in the area,” Kate Soldani, owner of Galway Rock Winery, boasts. “If you come to visit us, we have a magnificent patio in which you can see all the way to Vermont — Mt. Equinox. We’re a really relaxed place, not hoity-toity. We love wine, having a good time and really enjoy our customers. In New York state, we make higher-acid wines, so they go really well with food. They’re balanced and quite lovely.”
At Hummingbird Hills Winery, late spring and summer are times to celebrate with special events at the vineyard located within driving distance from Albany and New York City. “We host an Easter egg hunt with local kids searching the grounds for 1,000 eggs,” Hummingbird Hills owner and tasting director Kimm Schick says. “In May, we have a Mother’s Day Brunch. I’m a Jeep owner and belong to a wonderful club that will hold a Jeep event, Go Topless, in May. For the summertime, we usually do an aloha event and a summer barbecue event.”
Here’s a selection of some of the New York wine country’s notable wineries to explore this summer:
Altamont Vineyard & Winery
3001 Furbeck Road, Altamont
Altamont Vineyard & Winery, in the scenic foothills of the Helderberg Mountains in Altamont, offers a serene escape with its picturesque 13-acre estate. Visitors can enjoy seasonal vineyard tours that include a walk through the estate followed by wine tastings in the cozy tasting room, complemented by local cheeses, crackers and chocolates. The winery also hosts special events such as “VinYoga,” combining yoga sessions with wine tastings in the heart of New York’s wine-making region. Open weekends
Brotherhood Winery
100 Brotherhood Plaza, Washingtonville
Nestled in Washingtonville, Brotherhood Winery stands as America’s oldest continuously operating winery, with a history dating back to 1839. This historic winery offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, featuring hand-excavated cellars that house over 200 oak barrels of aging wine. Visitors can take guided tours through the subterranean vaults and listen to live music on the weekends, partake in wine tastings, and have a meal at the 1839 Restaurant. The winery also hosts seasonal events such as the popular Grape Stomp competition, where teams compete to extract the most juice in a timed challenge. Open seven days
Galway Rock Vineyard and Winery
998 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake
Highlighted by a light and airy tasting room and patio, Galway is noted for its Brunch Baskets and Mimosa Sundays. Each month the winery typically hosts four or five fun, public and private events — Girls Night Out, lobster dinners, baby and bridal showers and small weddings. “I started the winery [in 2014] in my parents’ garage in Galway,” owner Soldani reminisced. “I had worked in the wine industry before and worked my way up. I started with four tanks, and we sold our wine at farmers markets and other local liquor stores. As the business grew, we really outgrew the garage. We found a home for the winery and opened a tasting room in Ballston Lake. In 2018, we moved the whole operation to Ballston Lake. And that’s where we are today.” Open seven days
Hummingbird Hills Winery
1442 Burtonville Road, Fultonville
Hummingbird Hills Winery, a boutique winery operated by husband and wife Ken and Kimm Schick, provides a family-like atmosphere that offers a variety of unique, handcrafted wines (dandelion wines, which is a family recipe; two cooking wines, a garlic wine and tomato wine; fruit wines; a chocolate wine; and a honey wine, as well as grape wines) that satisfy the developing tastes of beginning connoisseurs, as well as the palettes of more experienced oenophiles. Produced from grapes grown or sourced locally, Hummingbird Hills is also committed to creating every bottle of its wine with minimal preservatives, highlighting the fruit’s natural flavors. “We will celebrate 15 years in August, and we absolutely love what we do,” Kimm Schick said. “And, it shows when you visit our winery. For anyone that has not been out to our area in Montgomery County, in the town of Charleston (mailing address Fultonville), we own a 200-acre farm and have the most gorgeous views. The country is just amazing with outdoor seating, and we always encourage people to bring a picnic lunch.” Open Saturdays and Sundays
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
26 Wing Road, Millbrook
Located 90 minutes from Albany and New York City, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is a jewel of the Hudson Valley, described by the New York Times as “Hudson Valley’s flagship winery.” The winery offers a variety of tastings, tours and picnics designed to create unforgettable year-round experiences and memories. Open Saturdays & Sundays and by appointment
The Vineyard at Windham
11 Mount View Estates Road, Windham
The Vineyard at Windham is a boutique vineyard and tasting room nestled in the Catskill Mountains. Within four acres, the vineyard produces and sources some of the best-rated wines in the Empire State while also celebrating the viticulture of planting, tending, harvesting and processing their grapes. Open Friday-Sunday
