Brotherhood Winery

Brotherhood Winery is a historic winery in Washingtonville, in New York's Hudson River Valley, roughly 50 miles northwest of New York City. Founded in 1816 by French immigrant Jean Jacques, the operation produced its first commercial vintage in 1839 and is commonly described as the oldest operating winery in the United States. Its long history is closely associated with the development of New York wine and with the continued production of wine through periods when many American wineries closed or changed their activities. The winery began as Jean Jacques's agricultural and winemaking enterprise. In 1858, Jacques deeded the property to his three sons, John Jr., Oren, and Charles. The business subsequently became known as Jaques Brothers' Winery. In 1886, James M. Emerson and his son, Edward R. Emerson, acquired the property from Charles, the last surviving Jacques brother. The Emersons adopted the name Brotherhood and expanded the site, incorporating the surviving original building while adding substantial underground winemaking facilities. Edward R. Emerson also wrote The Story of the Vine, a historical and practical work associated with his period of ownership. Brotherhood survived Prohibition by producing sacramental wine for the Catholic Church. In 1921, Louis Farrell and his son, Louis Jr., acquired the winery. Their ownership continued until both men died in 1947, after which control passed to three Farrell cousins. Francis Farrell managed the vineyard during the World War II era. Under the Farrell family, the property developed visitor-oriented facilities and gained recognition in regional wine competitions, helping establish the site as both a production winery and a destination for wine tourism. Cesar Baeza purchased Brotherhood in 1987, marking the winery's most recent documented change of ownership in the principal historical account. During the 1990s, Baeza established vineyards on Long Island, expanding the geographic base of the winery's grape sourcing. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from those plantings became notable offerings in the winery's sales portfolio. Brotherhood's product identity spans traditional New York wine styles, French hybrid grapes, European Vitis vinifera varieties, and specialty or flavored wines. Earlier in its history, the winery was particularly associated with wines made from native North American Vitis labrusca grapes, including products flavored with herbs and spices according to older formulas. Its spiced Holiday wine became a longstanding bestseller. The portfolio has also included strawberry-flavored May wine, ginseng wine, a mead-like wildflower honey wine, and Sheba Te'j Honey Wine, an Ethiopian-style honey wine. From the 1970s onward, the winery expanded its use of French hybrid varieties and later added wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Zinfandel, including white Zinfandel. The property was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Today, Brotherhood combines wine production, historic-site interpretation, tasting and visitor experiences, and a broad portfolio that reflects both regional New York winemaking and the winery's unusually long operating history.

Brotherhood Winery traces its origins to 1816, when Jean Jacques, a French immigrant, established the winery in Washingtonville, New York. The enterprise made its first commercial vintage in 1839. Its location in the Hudson River Valley placed it within one of the historic centers of American viticulture outside California, and the winery's continued operation gave it a distinctive place in the history of New York wine. In 1858, Jean Jacques transferred the property to his three sons, John Jr., Oren, and Charles. During their tenure, the business was known as Jaques Brothers' Winery. In 1886, James M. Emerson and his son, Edward R. Emerson, purchased the operation from Charles, the last surviving Jacques brother. The Emersons renamed it Brotherhood and enlarged the facilities. The property retained the original winery building that still survived at the time, while new underground winemaking spaces expanded production capacity. Edward R. Emerson later authored The Story of the Vine, published during the period associated with his ownership. Brotherhood's survival during Prohibition was supported by the production of sacramental wine for the Catholic Church. In 1921, the winery changed hands again when Louis Farrell and his son, Louis Jr., became owners. Their ownership lasted until both died in 1947. Control then passed to three Farrell cousins, with Francis Farrell managing the vineyard during the World War II period. The Farrell era included expansion of visitor facilities and growing recognition in regional wine competitions, reinforcing the winery's role as both an agricultural producer and a public destination. Cesar Baeza acquired Brotherhood in 1987. During the 1990s, he established vineyards on Long Island. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from those vineyards became prominent products in the winery's commercial portfolio and broadened the geographic foundation of its wine production. The winery's historical product range developed from wines made with Vitis labrusca, or native North American grapes. Some products used herbs and spices based on nineteenth-century formulas, and the spiced Holiday wine became a long-running bestseller. Brotherhood also produced specialty wines, including a ginseng wine, a sweet strawberry-flavored May wine, a wildflower-honey wine resembling mead, and Sheba Te'j Honey Wine, modeled on Ethiopian tej. Beginning in the 1970s, Brotherhood added wines made from French hybrid grapes. Later, under Baeza's ownership, the winery expanded its use of European Vitis vinifera varieties. Its documented varietal range included Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Zinfandel, with Zinfandel also used to make white Zinfandel. This combination of native, hybrid, European, and specialty wines became a defining feature of the brand. In 2000, the winery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation recognized the importance of the property and its long association with American winemaking. Brotherhood's continuing identity rests on this heritage, its surviving historic facilities, its visitor operations, and its broad New York-focused wine portfolio.

• 2000

  National Register of Historic Places listing

  [1]Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery property was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.

• 1987

  Cesar Baeza acquisition

  [1]Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Cesar Baeza purchased Brotherhood Winery and later expanded its vineyard base to Long Island.

• 1921

  Farrell ownership begins

  [1]Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Louis Farrell and his son Louis Jr. became owners of the winery.

• 1886

  Emerson acquisition and renaming

  [1]Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  James M. Emerson and Edward R. Emerson acquired the winery, renamed it Brotherhood, and expanded its facilities.

• 1858

  Property transferred to the Jacques sons

  [1]Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Jean Jacques deeded the winery to his sons John Jr., Oren, and Charles.

• 1839

  First commercial vintage

  [1]Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery produced its first documented commercial vintage.

• 1816

  Winery established

  [1]Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  French immigrant Jean Jacques established the winery in Washingtonville, New York.

Brotherhood Winery is positioned around historical authenticity, continuity, Hudson Valley and New York winemaking, and an unusually diverse portfolio. Its identity combines a heritage winery and visitor destination with conventional varietal wines, traditional hybrid-grape products, and distinctive specialty wines such as spiced, fruit-flavored, ginseng, and honey-based offerings.

• Spiced wine

  Holiday

  A spiced wine associated with older winery formulas and identified in historical accounts as one of Brotherhood's longstanding best-selling products. Its profile reflects the winery's tradition of producing flavored and seasonally oriented wines alongside more conventional table wines.

• Honey wine

  Sheba Te'j Honey Wine

  An Ethiopian-style honey wine modeled on tej. It represents Brotherhood's specialty-wine tradition and extends the portfolio beyond grape-based wine into fermented honey beverages.

• Wine

  Native grape wines

  Historically important wines made from Vitis labrusca, or native North American grapes. These wines formed an important part of Brotherhood's earlier identity before the winery broadened its use of French hybrid and European Vitis vinifera varieties.

• Wine · 1970

  French hybrid wines

  Wines made from French hybrid grape varieties, which Brotherhood began producing in the 1970s. The range reflects the importance of hybrid grapes in the development of wine production in New York's climate.

• Wine

  European varietal wines

  A later group of wines based on Vitis vinifera grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Zinfandel. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Long Island plantings became notable offerings after Cesar Baeza's acquisition.

• Specialty wine

  Specialty flavored and honey wines

  Brotherhood's specialty portfolio has included ginseng wine, sweet strawberry-flavored May wine, and a wildflower-honey wine resembling mead. These products distinguish the winery from producers focused solely on standard grape varietals.

• 1987

  Cesar Baeza acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Brotherhood had remained under Farrell family control for decades before another ownership transition.

  Action taken

  Cesar Baeza purchased the winery and subsequently developed Long Island vineyards.

  Aftermath

  The winery broadened its grape sources and increased its emphasis on European varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Long Island plantings.

  Source

• 1921

  Transfer to the Farrell familyM&A

  Background

  Following the winery's Prohibition-era operation producing sacramental wine, new ownership was established in the early 1920s.

  Action taken

  Louis Farrell and his son Louis Jr. acquired Brotherhood Winery.

  Aftermath

  Farrell family control continued until 1947, with later Farrell cousins managing the winery and expanding visitor facilities.

  Source

• 1886

  Rebranding as Brotherhood and expanding the facilitiesStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring the winery from the last surviving Jacques brother, James M. Emerson and Edward R. Emerson took control of an operation with an established local history.

  Action taken

  The Emersons renamed the business Brotherhood and added expanded underground winemaking facilities while retaining the surviving original building.

  Aftermath

  The Brotherhood name became the enduring identity of the winery, while the expanded facilities supported its continued production.

  Source

1. 1Brotherhood Wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Brotherhood Winery official websitebrotherhoodwinery.com