Brotherhood Winery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Brotherhood Winery
|
|
Sign painted on wine barrel at Brotherhood Winery
|
|
| Location | Washingtonville, NY |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Built | 1838 |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000345 |
| Added to NRHP | 2000 |
The Brotherhood Winery is a historic place in Washingtonville, New York. It is known as the oldest operating winery in the United States. The winery started making products to sell in 1839. In 2000, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. The winery's slogan is "America's Oldest Winery".
Contents
History of Brotherhood Winery
Brotherhood Winery was first started by a person named John Jaques. In 1858, he gave the winery to his three sons. Their names were John Jr., Oren, and Charles. They later changed the name to "Jaques Brothers' Winery".
In 1886, James M. Emerson and his son, Edward R., bought the winery. They bought it from Charles, who was the last of the Jaques brothers still involved. The Emersons renamed the business "Brotherhood". They also made the winery bigger. They added large underground areas for making products. Edward Emerson even wrote a book called The Story of the Vine while he owned Brotherhood.
Operating During Prohibition
The winery kept working even during the time of Prohibition. This was a period when making and selling alcohol was mostly against the law. Brotherhood Winery was allowed to stay open because it made special products. These products were used for religious ceremonies by the Catholic Church.
New owners took over in 1921. They were Louis Farrell and his son, Louis Jr. The Farrell family owned the winery until 1947. Both the father and son passed away around the same time. Control of the winery then went to three of their cousins. Francis Farrell was one of these cousins. He managed the winery through the World War II era. During this time, the winery added places for visitors to take tours. It also became known for its award-winning products in competitions.
Recent Ownership Changes
The most recent change in ownership happened in 1987. Cesar Baeza bought the winery then. In the 1990s, Baeza started growing grapes on Long Island. The grapes grown there include cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Products made from these grapes are very popular.
Products of Brotherhood Winery
Before Cesar Baeza owned the winery, it was known for products made from Vitis labrusca grapes. Some of these were flavored with fresh herbs and spices. These recipes came from the 1800s. A spiced "holiday" product has been a top seller for many years.
The winery also makes special products. One is flavored with ginseng. Another is a "May" product with sweet strawberry flavors. The winery also makes a type of product similar to mead. This is made from wildflower honey. They also make an Ethiopian-style honey product (Tej) called "Sheba Te'j Honey Wine".
In the 1970s, the winery began making products from French hybrid grapes. They still sell these today. Under Cesar Baeza's ownership, the winery has started creating products from Vitis vinifera grapes. These include products made from cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot, chardonnay, riesling, and white zinfandel grapes.
