Hudson Valley Wineries & Distilleries Worth Visiting

The Hudson Valley holds a remarkable distinction: it is the oldest wine-producing region in the United States. Grape cultivation began here in the 1600s with French Huguenot settlers, and commercial winemaking has continued uninterrupted for centuries. Today, the region is home to over 80 wineries, and a new generation of winemakers is elevating Hudson Valley wines to a level of quality that is turning heads nationally.

But wine is only part of the story. The craft spirits revolution has arrived in full force, with small-batch distilleries producing exceptional whiskeys, vodkas, gins, and liqueurs using locally grown grains and botanicals. Add in a thriving hard cider scene powered by the region's heritage apple orchards, and you have one of the most diverse and exciting craft beverage destinations on the East Coast.

From Birchwood in Accord, NY, you are ideally positioned to explore the best tasting rooms the region has to offer. Most of our recommended wineries and distilleries are within 20-40 minutes, making it easy to visit two or three in an afternoon and be back at the estate in time for a sunset swim.

This guide covers our favorite stops, organized by category, plus practical tips for planning your tasting tour. For brewery and cidery recommendations closer to New Paltz, see our New Paltz guide.

The Hudson Valley wine scene has matured significantly in recent years. While the region has historically been known for fruit wines and sweeter varieties, today's leading wineries are producing sophisticated dry wines from both classic European varieties and cold-hardy hybrids that thrive in the local climate.

Our recommended wineries:

• Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery (Gardiner) — one of the region's most respected producers, with a beautiful tasting room overlooking the Shawangunk Ridge. Their Cabernet Franc and Gamay Noir are consistently excellent. About 20 minutes from Birchwood.
• Robibero Family Vineyards (New Paltz) — a welcoming family-run winery with a warm tasting room and a diverse portfolio. Their reds are particularly noteworthy. Great views and a friendly atmosphere.
• Benmarl Winery (Marlboro) — the oldest vineyard in America, established in 1957 on a site that has grown grapes since the colonial era. The tasting room has stunning views of the Hudson River.
• Fjord Vineyards (Accord) — right in Accord, this small-production winery focuses on minimal-intervention wines from estate-grown grapes. Their natural wines have developed a devoted following.
• Nostrano Vineyards (Milton) — Italian-inspired wines with a focus on food-friendly styles. The tasting room atmosphere is warm and inviting.

Most tasting rooms charge a small fee ($10-20) that is often waived with a bottle purchase. Weekday visits tend to be more relaxed and allow for more one-on-one time with the winemakers.

The Hudson Valley craft spirits scene has exploded in the last decade, with artisan distillers using locally sourced grains, fruits, and botanicals to produce spirits that rival anything coming out of established spirits regions. New York's farm distillery license has fueled this growth, requiring that at least 75% of ingredients be grown in the state.

Our recommended distilleries:

• Tuthilltown Spirits (Gardiner) — the trailblazer that put Hudson Valley spirits on the map. Makers of the famous Hudson Baby Bourbon, the first legally distilled pot-distilled whiskey in New York since Prohibition. Their tasting room is a must-visit, with tours available on weekends. About 20 minutes from Birchwood.
• Denning's Point Distillery (Beacon) — producers of exceptional gin and vodka in a beautifully converted warehouse. Their botanical gin is one of the best in the state.
• Arrowood Farms (Accord) — a grain-to-glass brewery and distillery right in Accord, minutes from Birchwood. They grow their own grains and create outstanding beers and spirits on the farm.
• Hillrock Estate Distillery (Ancram) — a field-to-glass operation producing exceptional single malt whiskey, bourbon, and rye from estate-grown grain. The property is gorgeous and tours are highly recommended.
• Dutch's Spirits (Pine Plains) — distilling on the site of a Prohibition-era bootlegging operation with a fascinating history. Their bourbon and sugar wash moonshine are excellent.

Many distilleries offer tours that explain the production process from grain to bottle. These are fascinating even if you are not a spirits enthusiast — the craftsmanship and local sourcing make the Hudson Valley spirits story a compelling one.

The Hudson Valley's apple heritage runs deep, and a new generation of cider makers is turning that heritage into world-class hard cider. The region's heirloom orchards provide a diversity of apple varieties that commercial cider makers elsewhere can only dream of, resulting in complex, terroir-driven ciders that are increasingly recognized by critics and enthusiasts.

Cideries worth visiting:

• Twin Star Orchards (New Paltz) — a stunning orchard and tasting room with ciders made from their own heirloom apples. The setting is beautiful and the ciders are exceptional. Live music on weekends in season.
• Angry Orchard Innovation Cider House (Walden) — the well-known brand's experimentation facility, with unique small-batch ciders not available elsewhere. The barrel room and gardens are impressive.
• Kettleborough Cider House (New Paltz area) — craft ciders with a focus on traditional methods and local fruit. A smaller operation with big flavor.
• Brooklyn Cider House (New Paltz) — started in Brooklyn, expanded to a beautiful New Paltz taproom with raw, unfiltered ciders and a food menu.

Beyond cider, the region also has excellent meaderies (honey wine), sake producers, and non-alcoholic craft beverage makers. The diversity of what is being produced in the Hudson Valley is remarkable and growing every year.

For craft beer recommendations, see our New Paltz guide, which covers the best breweries in the area. Many Birchwood guests plan a full day combining wineries, distilleries, and cideries for a comprehensive Hudson Valley tasting tour.

A well-planned tasting tour is one of the highlights of a Hudson Valley vacation. Here are our practical recommendations for getting the most out of your day, based on years of feedback from Birchwood guests.

Tour planning tips:

• Limit to 3-4 stops per day — any more and your palate (and your driver) will thank you for stopping. Quality over quantity.
• Start with wine, end with spirits — lighter flavors first, bolder flavors later. This preserves your palate for the full range of tastings.
• Eat a solid lunch midway — many tasting rooms do not serve food. Plan a restaurant stop between your second and third visit.
• Designate a driver — the back roads between tasting rooms are beautiful but winding. Safety is paramount. Consider booking a wine tour service that provides transportation.
• Visit on weekdays if possible — tasting rooms are quieter, staff have more time, and you may meet the actual winemaker or distiller.
• Check hours and reservations — many smaller operations are only open on weekends or require advance booking for tastings and tours.

Sample route from Birchwood: Start at Arrowood Farms in Accord (minutes away), then head to Tuthilltown Spirits in Gardiner, break for lunch in New Paltz, visit Whitecliff Vineyard, and finish at Twin Star Orchards for cider and sunset views. This route keeps driving time between stops under 20 minutes.

After a day of tasting the best the Hudson Valley has to offer, you want to come home to a place that matches the quality of the experience. Birchwood in Accord, NY is ideally located for wine and spirits touring — central to the best tasting rooms and set in the kind of landscape that makes you understand why this region produces such exceptional beverages.

An evening at Birchwood after a tasting tour is a special thing. Open a bottle you picked up during the day, prepare appetizers in the gourmet kitchen using ingredients from a local farm stand, and gather around the fire pit as the sun sets over the Catskills. It is the kind of evening that becomes a core memory.

• Central to tasting rooms — most of our recommended wineries, distilleries, and cideries are within 20-40 minutes
• Arrowood Farms is in Accord — literally minutes from Birchwood for a first or last stop
• Gourmet kitchen — perfect for preparing wine-paired meals using local ingredients
• Fire pit and outdoor spaces — ideal for evening wine tasting with your group
• Luxury recovery — heated pool and hot tub for the morning after

Book your stay at Birchwood and plan a tasting tour that you will be talking about for years. Check our area guide for even more local beverage recommendations from the Birchwood team.