New York's Shawangunk Wine Trail

Wine Tasting and Bed and Breakfasts in the Hudson Valley, New York

Oct 7, 2008 Craig Sanders

The Hudson Valley offers fantastic wineries in a beautiful wooded setting, all within an hour or two from New York City.

The Shawangunk Wine Trail snakes its way North between the majestic Hudson River and the breathtaking Catskill Mountains. Generally following the flood plains of the nearby Wallkill River, this land is incredibly fertile, perfect for winemaking. The Shawangunk Wine Trail is perfect for wine tasters from New York City looking for a unique time.

Below is a potential itinerary for travelers looking to enjoy the wine trail. Over three days you can linger at each winery, as well as enjoy many of the other local attractions the Hudson Valley has to offer.

Warwick Valley Winery

Begin your trip at the Warwick Valley Winery, located on the western outskirts of Warwick. A distillery as well as a winery, Warwick Valley is well known for their apple and pear brandies as well as other fruit liqueurs. They also make an excellent hard apple cider known as Doc’s Draft.

Warwick Valley also has a cafe on its premises named Pané. Many of the café’s chefs are graduates of the nearby Culinary Institute of America. Visitors could have a light snack before traveling to their next stop. The winery is open from 11AM-6PM.

Applewood Winery

From Warwick travel on rt 13 North to Applewood Winery. Applewood possesses an orchard where fruit picking is available in season. Over a dozen wines are available for tasting ranging from Reds to Whites to Ciders and Dessert Wines. Most wines are in very high demand due to being produced in limited quantities, and can only be found at the winery or online. Open from 11AM-5PM.

On your way to the next winery, stop in the quaint crafts villiage of Sugarloaf. Sugarloaf is a community of artists and craftsmen founded in 1749. One can find all sorts of lost treasures browsing the unique shops along King’s Highway. Sugarloaf is directly along the path to your next stop.

Brotherhood Winery

Travel North on rt 13, then West on rt 94 into Washingtonville, and you will reach America’s oldest winery. Founded in 1839, Brotherhood has been producing wines for almost 200 years. Brotherhood has a newly renovated tasting room, and an expansive cellar with guided tours available. Brotherhood sells 29 different varieties of wine, included several interesting specialty wines such as two made with ginseng root.

Bed and Breakfasts in the Hudson Valley, New York

By now you are probably exhausted, but hopefully not inebriated. Either way, now would a good time to settle down for the evening. There are several generic hotels in the area, such as a Hampton Inn and a Courtyard by Mariott. However, if one is looking for something more romantic, there are several good Bed and Breakfasts in the area.

  • Anton’s on the Lake--Warwick

Anton’s is right on the edge of beautiful Greenwood Lake and surrounded by state parks. A dip in the whirlpool and falling into their king sized feather beds is a perfect way to end the day. Or one can catch a movie at the Warwick Drive In, one of the last drive in movies in the region.

  • Brass Rose Inn--Warwick

Brass Rose is very convenient, located right in the middle of downtown Warwick. Brass Rose is also considerably less expensive than most Bed and Breakfasts, although it has less amenities than others. Still, its location gives one a chance to see everything that the Warwick Valley has to offer.

  • Cromwell Manor Inn--Cornwall

This Inn has a manor house dating to 1820 and a cottage from 1764, resting among seven acres of dazzling views of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands. Luxuries such as golfing and a spa are available. Nearby is Storm King Art Center, which is a day trip in itself.

The copyright of the article New York's Shawangunk Wine Trail in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Craig Sanders. Permission to republish New York's Shawangunk Wine Trail in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Oct 7, 2008 7:08 PM
Guest :
Brought back some memories of my youth.

Larry Sanders
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