WARWICK VALLEY WINERY & DISTILLERY

OUR STORY BEGINS IN THE ORCHARD. In 1989, we purchased the orchard and began to learn how to cultivate fruit. Local apple growers and extension agents taught us the basics and contributed to our early success. Our first product, in fact our entire business, started as a result of an abundant apple crop that lead us to experiment with hard cider. We were soon hooked and we received our farm winery and cider producer licenses in 1993. Our doors opened to the public in the Fall of 1994.

In the early days, we had three wines and one cider, all of which were a bit unrefined. Our inexperience was as evident as our enthusiasm and we persevered to create higher quality wines and cider. Every vintage improved as we honed our skills and continued to learn the art and science of wine and cider making. Eventually, hard work paid off, leading us to the development of our acclaimed Doc's Draft Hard Apple Cider. The success of our Doc's Draft Hard cider is due to our insistence in using the finest fruit available.

The passion for creating wines and ciders soon evolved into an idea to begin distilling and to open the first distillery in the Hudson Valley since prohibition. It was our belief that the fruits grown in the fertile Hudson Valley could be made into the highest quality fruit brandies and liqueurs. In 2001, we received a grant to develop New York's first fruit micro-distillery. Using the same principle that had brought success to the wine and cider, we created a line of fruit brandies and liqueurs - American Fruits - made to capture and preserve the essence of fruit at its peak ripeness.

Our post and beam tasting room provides visitors a unique environment to explore many offerings of wines, ciders, brandies and liqueurs. Renovated from an old apple packing house and overlooking a goose pond and the orchards, its bucolic setting is perfect for enjoying some great wine, music and food from our own Pané Café. A delicious bistro menu of fresh bread, pizzas, sandwiches and salads from Pané Café is served all weekend long.

Our mission since our inception has been to create fruit-based alcoholic beverages that are as unique as the fruits themselves. It's the magical combination of wine, music and food that makes any visit to Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery so enjoyable.

In 2001,Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery became the Hudson Valley's first licensed distillery since prohibition. We are currently the state's leading producer of fruit brandies (eau de vies) and all natural fruit liqueurs. The process begins by crushing whole, ripe fruit and then fermenting the mash in stainless steel tanks. The next step is to transfer the fermented mash into our copper pot still. Once there, the fermented fruit is gently heated by steam, as opposed to direct flame, to slowly boil off the alcohol without compromising the delicate fruit aromas.

Beginning in 2009, Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery will be expanding the distillery to produce artisan gins and whiskeys.