Amaya Henry and Sara Dial Amaya Henry and Sara Dial | June 28, 2024 | Food & Drink, Feature, Guides,
With the summer season in full swing, it's time to get out of the city to visit New York's best wineries! Whether you prefer red or white wine, these wineries are sure to leave you whining for more.
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Multiple locations / Website
After tasting these delicious wines, you might just be waddling out of this vineyard! This vineyard encompasses 140 scenic acres that you don’t want to miss. At Duck Walk, they’re not afraid to incorporate ingredients outside of their winery, like their Blueberry Port which is crafted with wild Maine blueberries. By utilizing unique techniques, like freezing their grapes while they’re still on the vine, they create wines that are distinctive yet balanced.
100 Brotherhood Plaza Drive, Washingtonville / 845.946.3661 / Website
Sip on their Cabernet Sauvignon and learn about the origins of the country’s oldest winery! Yes, the oldest winery is right here in New York, just a little over an hour and a half away from NYC! Although John Jaques’ initially produced his wine for sacramental use at his church, once he got word of how smooth his wine was, he knew he was on to something great. At Brotherhood Winery, they have a remarkable collection of historical artifacts that have never even been seen outside of their hallowed halls.
156 Highland Ave., Marlboro / 845.236.4265 / Website
With a focus on hand-crafting wines that capture the essence of where they are sourced, you’re sure to enjoy the purposefully crafted wines of Benmarl Winery. The fact that it overlooks the Hudson River Valley is an added bonus. Head on up to Marlboro to enjoy a variety of fresh fruit sangrias.
139 Sagg Road, Sagaponack / 631.537.5106 / Website
At Wölffer Estate Winery, they use New York state apples from the Halsey Apple Orchard in combination with their grapes to produce their dry white and rosé ciders. Their Summer In A Bottle Rosé collection typically sells out each summer and is the “number one fastest-growing rosé in New York City.” But, their greatness doesn’t stop at rosé, their award-winning White Horse and Grapes of Roth wines are just as spectacular.
331 Mckinstry Road, Gardiner / 845.255.4613 / Website
Education and fine winery intertwine at the Whitecliff Vineyard. Founder Michael Migliore works closely with Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension which connects communities with research from Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Human Ecology, testing new grape varieties. For $23 per person, you can have a guided wine tour where you try six different wines. Their wine is so fine, you might leave with a bottle…or two.
172 Strawridge Road, Wallkill / 845.895.2767 / Website
The Magnaninis are a multifaceted family that dabble in both the food and wine industries. Similarly to their wines, the Italian creations, like gnocchi and agnolotti, are homemade and created on the premises. The Magnaninis have 10 wines consistently: four reds, four whites, and two rosés along with grappa, sangria, and other special wines! For bigger groups, on select days, they offer a six-course family-style dinner that includes wine tasting as well as live accordion music.
3962 Stever Hill Road, Branchport / 315.595.2230 / Website
Stever Hill Vineyards is favorably located just minutes from Branchport and Keuka Lake State Park. Their vineyard produces about 2,000 cases annually of 20 unique dry, semi-dry, and sweet Finger Lakes wines. Their renovated tasting rooms combine the original 1850s structure with a modern flare. They also have locally made artisan chocolate or cheese paired with wines from their tasting list.
1927 Scuttlehole Road, Bridgehampton / 631.527.7224 / Website
Channing Daughters Winery is a small, but mighty winery. Their 28-acre plot produces a wide array of fascinating grape varieties, making them the only winery on the East End growing and producing wines from many of these grapes. They have six separate vineyards that are sectioned into blocks with each block representing the development of the company. At Channing Daughters Winery, they believe that different occasions call for different wines, encouraging them to push the boundaries of the wine industry.
450 Hollow Road, Staatsburg / 845.266.0384 / Website
Your visit to the Milea Estate will be so good you’re going to want to stay the night. And at the Milea Estate, you can! The Spencer House, located just two minutes away, is a 2000-square-foot retreat that features two bedrooms with two full en suite bathrooms, a full kitchen with luxury appliances, well-adorned living spaces and even a pool. As for the vineyard, they pride themselves on using low-impact farm methods and have selected grape varieties based on their compatibility with our soils and climate to accomplish this goal.
40 Mountain Road, Marlboro / 845.236.3265 / Website
Looking for a quick day trip? Well, look no further! Quartz Rock Vineyard is just 90 minutes away from Brooklyn, tying into their slogan of “close to home but feels like a getaway.” In addition to being child and pet-friendly, they also have live music. While they don’t serve food themselves, they have pop-up vendors and allow patrons to bring their own. Quartz Rock is also home to Nightingale Farm, where they produce an assortment of fruits from grapes to peaches. It’s a winery, farm and concert all in one. What more could you want?
825 North Road, Greenport / 631.477.6977 / Website
Overlooking the Long Island Sound, Kontokosta Winery has all the views. As the Kontokosta family not only owns but manages the winery, it allows them to stay involved and guarantee consistent fruit quality and ripeness. Their wines have won prestigious awards, with their Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier both awarded gold in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
150 Bergen Ave., Mattituck / 631.298.0100 / Website
On the North Fork of Long Island, Macari Vineyards provides exceptional wine-centered experiences with the guidance of in-house educators. Guests can indulge in seasonal tastings, enjoy a private Rosé Suite Lunch, or explore the barrel cellar experience within the Tasting Room, which sits on the edge of a sprawling 500-acre vineyard and farm in Mattituck. The venue boasts scenic grounds, making it the ideal serene escape for those seeking tranquility and exceptional wine.
These wineries will make leaving the city behind a worthwhile choice.
Photography by: Neil Rasmus/BFA.com