New York Wineries: The Oldest in the States
Some of the oldest vineyard in the United States can be found in the Hudson Valley, New York wineries. In fact, the French planted wines in the area as early as 1677, approximately 100 years before any were planted in California. For the most part, these early New York wineries were family owned and grown just for the consumption of the family. It wasn’t until 1827, when Quaker Robert Underhill established a community in the area, that wines were purposely grow in New York for the purpose of selling to the general public. Over the years, Underhill cross-bred native and European vines until he discovered the perfect grape variety with a delicious flavor and the ability to survive in the New York climate.
The climate surrounding the Hudson Valley, New York wineries is similar to that found in southern France, northern Spain, and central Italy. The area is, however, more humid than these other regions and tends to remain cooler and with more precipitation. The river helps to moderate the climate, which can be very unpredictable. As a result, the hybrid varieties are still the preferred choice of most the twenty New York wineries found in this area.
Long Island, New York Wineries
The Long Island region has a total of 60 wineries in operation, ranging from very small 2½ acre plots to 500 acre farms. Varietals grown in this region include dolcetto, chenic blanc, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, chardonnay, pinot gris, pinot blanc, pinot noir, riesling, petit verdot, merlot, lemberger, gewürztraminer, malbec, sangiovese, semillon, sauvignon blanc, syrah, viognier, and tocai friulano.
The Long Island area also have a multitude of additional attractions for those visiting the area, including beautiful beaches and several different golf clubs. In addition, the East End Seaport Museum, the Southold Indian Museum, and many other museums can be found in the area.
Western New York Wineries
Western New York is one of the leading wine-growing areas in the country. This area includes the Finger Lakes and the Great Lakes. In western New York, the largest grape growing county next to California, Yates County, can be found. Here, guests can enjoy a variety of wine tours and other grape attractions, including Chautauqua County vineyards, where grape jellies, juices, and other products 'in addition to wine' are created.
A variety of museums, including a children’s museum, can be explored in this area. In addition, a multitude of Nature Preserves, Botanical Gardens, and Parks can be found here as well.