Brotherhood Winery

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Brotherhood winery label listing itself as America's oldest winery

Brotherhood Winery is commonly acknowledged as the oldest winery in the United States. The winery is located in Washingtonville, New York started by a European immigrant named John Jaques. The wineries first commercial vintage was produced in 1839. Brotherhood Winery was listed in the New York State Register of Historic Places in 2000.^[1] It is listed as a National Historic Landmark^[2] and uses the slogan "America's Oldest Winery."

1 History
2 Wines
3 See Also
4 Further Reading
5 Notes
6 Works Cited

[edit] History

In 1858 the winery was deeded to John Jaques' three sons, John Jr, Oren, and Charles, who renamed the winery "Jacques Brothers' Winery." In 1886 ownership of Brotherhood Winery came under the father and son ownership of James M Emerson and Edward R Emerson, when the last surviving brother Charles sold them the winery. The Emerson's renamed the winery Brotherhood. Under Emerson's ownership the winery expanded it's facilities to include the single remaining original building on the wineries property. Underground facilities were added to the winery that are the largest in the country. Edward wrote the book "The Story of the Vine" while in ownership of Brotherhood.^[3]

The winery remained in operation during Prohibition as it produced Sacramental wine for the Catholic Church. New ownership came in 1921 with Louis Farrell and his son Louis L. Jr. They owed the winery until 1947 when father Louis Farrell died and his son Louis Jr. died soon after. The winery then went to three Farrell cousins. Francis Farrell was the cousin that ran the vineyard through the World War II era. An expansion included visitor tour facilities and recognition for award-wining wines in regional wine competitions.^[4]

The most recent change of ownership occurred in 1987 when Cesar Baeza purchased the winery.^[5] Baeza established vineyards on Long Island during the 1990's. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot planted here and produced into wine are noted as standouts on their sales list.^[6]

[edit] Wines

Prior to the Ownership of Cesar Baeza the winery was known for it's Vitis Labrusca based wines with some seasoned with fresh herbs and spices based on 19th century formulas.^[7] The spiced wine known as Holiday wine has been a winery best seller for many years. The winery also produces various "specialty wines" flavored with ginseng, May wine with sweet strawberry flavors as well as a version of wine similar to Mead made from wildflower honey and an Ethiopian style honey wine named Sheba Te'j Honey Wine.^[8]

In the 1970's the winery began producing wines made from French hybrid grapes which the winery still sells.^[9]

Under the ownership of Cesar Baeza the winery has begun creating wines from Vitis Vinifera grapes. Wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and a White Zinfandel.^[10]

[edit] Further Reading

Emerson, Edward R., The Story of the Vine. New York and London:G. P. Putnam's sons, 1902

Not in copyright, digital edition can be found at http://www.archive.org/details/storyofvine00emerrich

[edit] Notes

^ National Register of Historical Place, "NEW YORK - Orange County"
^ National Historic Landmarks Program,(2004) "Lists of National Historic Landmarks"
^ Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library. "Guide to the Brotherhood Wine Company Records,1822-2006 Collection Number: 6701"
^ Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library. "Guide to the Brotherhood Wine Company Records,1822-2006 Collection Number: 6701"
^ Brotherhood Winery, "History"
^ Brotherhood Winery, "History"
^ Bruce Case and Jancis Robinson, 78-79
^ Brotherhood Winery, "Shop"
^ Bruce Case and Jancis Robinson, 78-79
^ Brotherhood Winery, "Shop"

[edit] Works Cited

Brotherhood Winery, "History", Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://www.brotherhoodwinery.net/pages/history.asp
Brotherhood Winery, "Shop", Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://www.brotherhoodwinery.net/pages/shop.asp
Bruce Cass and Jancis Robinson, ed., The Oxford Companion to the Wine of North America, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library. (2006) "Guide to the Brotherhood Wine Company Records,1822-2006 Collection Number: 6701" Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM06701.html
National Historic Landmarks Program,(2004) "Lists of National Historic Landmarks". Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/designations/listsofNHLs.htm
National Register of Historical Place, "NEW YORK - Orange County". Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NY/Orange/state.html