Last Updated: May 2026
We were on our way to Vermont and stopped in Newburgh, New York for a few days. We didn’t expect much from the area — and then we ended up at the oldest winery in America, a legendary custom motorcycle shop, and a second winery that turned out to be growing their own grapes and doing very well. Not a bad detour.
Orange County Choppers
OCC was not far from our campground. It was entertaining watching them on the Discovery Channel for so many years — the artistry, the constant family drama, and the craftsmanship were one of a kind. We were there on a Sunday so no factory tours, but it was great to see some of their display bikes up close. Most of the people from the show have moved on and are hopefully doing well with their new ventures.
In addition to their cafe, OCC has an indoor stage for live music, a game room, and a bowling alley.
Brotherhood Winery
Their claim to fame is being America’s oldest winery — a distinction they owe largely to Prohibition and the church. Prohibition began in 1920 and lasted nearly 14 years, forbidding the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol — unless for use by a church. Sacramental wine was exempt. Some wineries like Brotherhood survived by selling wine to religious institutions. The law also didn’t ban private ownership or consumption. The Volstead Act allowed individuals to make up to 200 gallons of low-alcohol wine at home, which opened the door for home winemakers. Many California wineries didn’t survive, but their grape growers did — selling grapes, concentrates, and juice to home producers, sometimes with labels that cautioned buyers not to add yeast or sugar to the juice or leave it in a cupboard for 20 days, as it “might ferment and turn into wine.”
Prohibition didn’t just damage the wine industry — it changed what Americans wanted to drink. Before Prohibition, dry wines outsold sweet wines. After, Americans had developed a taste for cheap, sweet jug wine. By 1935, the majority of California wines being produced were sweet. The industry eventually bounced back — dramatically so. In 1976, American Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon beat French wines in a blind Paris tasting judged entirely by the French.
We took their wine cave tour and got a thorough history lesson. Their Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot face an uphill battle compared to West Coast versions due to New York’s climate, but we enjoyed them and bought their stunning Cabernet 1839 — later discovered the grapes were from Lake County, California. We viewed their old wine cellar, which was locked. All we saw through the bars was a collection of empty bottles. Someone had a very good time.
Benmarl Winery
We took their winery tour, which included an informative history and a walk through their storage room and bottling area. Benmarl is close to where we stayed in Newburgh. Their wines were good — they grow their own grapes, are planting new varietals, and appear to be doing well. We bought their Proprietor’s Reserve.
Newburgh KOA
We needed a base for a couple of nights on our way to Vermont. The park wasn’t full even on a weekend. Big rig sites are on a gravel parking lot with no privacy between them. Power, water, and sewer were solid. Cable was grainy but usable. Wifi was fine for basic browsing, not streaming. Verizon had one to two bars. The best part was conversations with other travelers.
Visitor Information
Orange County Choppers is in Newburgh, NY — factory tours run weekdays only; the showroom and cafe are open daily. Brotherhood Winery is in Washingtonville, NY, about 12 miles west of Newburgh; tours and tastings available daily. Benmarl Winery is in Marlboro, NY on the Hudson River — their hilltop patio has excellent valley views and is worth the visit for the scenery alone.
Practical Tips
The Hudson Valley wine region is genuinely underrated. Don’t go in expecting Napa — the wines are lighter and more European in style, and best appreciated as food-friendly table wines. Both Brotherhood and Benmarl offer tours that go well beyond the tasting room, so budget two hours per winery if you want the full experience. OCC is worth an hour on a weekday when you can see the factory floor in operation. If you’re heading to New England, Newburgh sits at a natural stopping point and the wineries alone justify an overnight stay.
