| Winemaking
is an ancient
and honored
art, and nowhere
is this more
evident than
at Brotherhood,
America's Oldest
winery, located
in the picturesque
village of Washingtonville,
NY. The winery
was established
by a European
emigre, John
Jaques, who
produced the
first commercial
vintage in 1839.
Brotherhood
has been in
continuous operation
since that time
- making the
winery the oldest
in the United
States! Brotherhood
Winery is listed
in the New York
State Register
of Historic
Places and has
been nominated
for the National
Register of
Historic Places.
Premium
Varietal Wines...
Dramatic
improvements
in the planting
and cultivating
of vinifera
stock and
hybrids at
many New York
State vineyards
have resulted
in premium
top quality
New York wines
that are competitive
in the international
and domestic
market. New
ownership
and a winemaster
skilled in
the art and
technology
of creating
the finest
of wines have
thrust Brotherhood
to the forefront
of this New
York wine
renaissance.
The
New Era of
Brotherhood
In 1987,
new owners
arrived at
Brotherhood.
Cesar Baeza
(pictured),
an internationally
prominent
winemaker
and viticulturist,
began the
process of
converting
Brotherhood
into the premier
winery of
New York State.
Winemaster
Baeza's first
premium varietals
were produced
at the winery
in the fall
of 1987.
Our winemaster
can often
be found walking
the vineyards,
working closely
with the numerous
winegrowers
who supply
Brotherhood's
grapes. Their
proper selection
is the first
step in the
creation of
great wines.
The specially
selected grapes
arrive at
the winery
to be crushed,
with the juice
carefully
handled as
the fermentation
process begins.
What follows
is the blending,
the true test
of the winemaster's
art. Here,
Mr. Baeza's
expertise
comes to the
fore as he
carefully
blends the
fermented
wine to achieve
the perfect,
consistent
balance.
The end of
the process
is accomplished
in our cellars,
lined with
"limousin"
and "nevers"
oak barrels.
Here our varietals
are aged and
periodically
tasted until
the moment
arrives for
bottling.
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