For our Westchester readers always looking for a new place to visit for a date night, or a day trip to unwind, let us recommend City Winery Hudson Valley, located in Montgomery, Orange County, about an hour drive from most of Westchester. Our recent visit provided us with an ideal destination, complete with great food, wine, music and the outdoors.
City Winery was founded in New York City in 2008 by Michael Dorf to deliver a unique combined culinary and cultural experience to urban wine enthusiasts. Today, City Winery has 8 locations, with the Hudson Valley location opening in 2020, during COVID.
Now, two years later, this hidden gem is ready for your visit. Set on 22 acres, at the site of a former grist mill and yarn factory, City Winery Hudson Valley has been converted into a restaurant with private dining spaces for your wedding or special occasion, a bar with on tap wines, outdoor patio spaces, vineyards and scenic views and music spaces.
Our visit began with a brunch-lunch that included a bottomless brunch option, salads, sandwiches, and more creative delicacies, like a poke bowl, avocado toast, red skinned home fries, and the mushroom, goat cheese risotto balls.
Several sample flights of wines are available to taste. We enjoyed the classic winery flight, and purchased a growler of Sauvignon Blanc. Recent releases of wines include the 2020 “Montgomery Mills” Riesling; 2021 Rose is a Rose is a Rose and a 2020 “Harmony Drops” Chardonnay.
After our meal and wine, a brief tour around the inside main building found several private spaces, including a Boiler Room bar downstairs which reminded us of a speakeasy, and several other larger rooms upstairs to accommodate any size group.
A relaxing walk around the grounds included the outdoor concert space, which is a second part of City Winery Hudson Valley’s experience. Guests are given a lawn chair and on this day, we all shared a perfect weather day with the music of Railroad Earth. Several VIP tents are available if you have a large group or special occasion. Wines and foods are available during the concert.
If you are able to combine these two experiences, a meal with wine inside, with a concert outside, it will be an unforgettable experience that will guarantee your return. My wife told me that she wants to celebrate her birthday here next year.
We found many couples, and groups, enjoying their experience. There are many options to expand on your experience including tours, wine tasting, and an overnight stay at The Barn, in one of three suites. Plans are in the works for a small boutique hotel with pool and spa to be built.
The staff at City Winery are welcoming and await your visit. We had a great time and are looking forward to our trip back.
Visit https://citywinery.com/hudsonvalley/ for more information.
