For anyone privileged enough to live near a Hudson Valley winery, you’ll know the feeling of never wondering where to spend a lazy afternoon. For me, Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, NY is my new local favorite.

The winery boasts about their long enduring history, the first in fact as it’s slogan reveals, along with a rich past. The grounds, historical architecture and location all have a story to tell, but although I am a lover of all local history, on the day I arrived it was too hot to be concerned.

It was one of those unusually steamy days after a chilly and stormy 2 weeks of simply put, really crummy weather. The temps that day reached the low 90’s and the humidity was as brazen as ever. So although the opportunity to tour the naturally cooler wine cellars was tempting and highly popular, I decided to brave the heat outdoors in the shady courtyard.

It was a simple enough decision – tables with umbrellas, chilled wine, and live music all tucked in between walls covered with ivy makes for a perfect afternoon invitation. Along with my favorite weekender companion, the hubby, we settled into a spacious table in the center courtyard. Aware that he knows my taste, “surprise me” I said, before he headed to the bartender. I couldn’t help but notice all of the little details that added to the atmosphere. Families with their picnic bags, coolers and baskets, girls wearing frilly floral summer dresses, a toddler or two feeling the thrill to run a few feet in any direction – it was as any warm Hudson Valley day should be; beautiful and carefree.

The most delightful sight of all now became my requested surprise; a perfectly chilled and glass of Moscato. A slow drinker by nature, I broke my own records by unknowingly drinking it faster than I planned. Its refreshing nature was the perfect pairing to the outdoors. I couldn’t recall when the last time I ordered two drinks, but as I sent hubby for another one I told myself to drink slow and enjoy it.

It was about now that I was consciously catching up to the music as well. “Wow, he’s good” we both had to acknowledge, speaking of our singer and guitar player in the shady far corner. He poured heart and soul into hit after hit. Some songs were timeless oldies, others were modern. Whatever the selection it was hard not find more than a few softly singing along or moving to the rhythm. Hour after hour he played for one and all, not missing any of the comings and goings as he sporadically engaged with the crowd.

Perhaps his favorite fans of the day was a family celebrating their grandmother’s 91st birthday. Much applause and well wishes were granted her and her numerous family members. They came prepared to celebrate with wrapped gifts and a enough good eats to fill a long picnic table. There they were all gathered together, several generations under a trellis of age old vines of ivy. It was impossible not to imagine their matriarch’s long colorful life and all of the ups and downs she no doubt has experienced decade after decade. But as she sat comfortably in her wheel chair with a soft smile on her face, hands folded and gazing at the buzzing family she helped to create, it appeared she couldn’t me more content and no doubt today was going to be one of those very good days.

Tour groups paraded past the courtyard every hour, and the group size seemed to get larger and larger even as the day continued to heat up. No group went unnoticed by (performer) too who cheered them on as they piled out of the wine shop meeting place and wished them a good time. It did seem that there was a big part of the Brotherhood experience I was missing out on, but as my eyes sporadically wandered around the courtyard, I realized that this is very much a neighborhood winery, a place you visit not once but often.

A table away was a new couple with jittery butterflies dancing around them; a first date perhaps or at the very least a few dates in. They hadn’t quite struck their stride yet, probably still silently assessing their potential. But the open and laid back courtyard made them more and more at ease and they both seemed to agree it was good choice who’s ever idea it was.

Yet another table away was family affair, again several generations strong. They knew this winery well as they came to kick back, catch up on each other’s lives and give their summer coolers a day well spent. At some point an over sized wooden blocks set appeared and was slowly built up high enough to tower over their young bubbly toddler. Moms took their time chatting and enjoying a well deserved glass of wine, and the boys of all generations exchanged laughs and light hearted puns. Maybe they get together often and know how to make having a good time easy, or maybe they don’t get together enough and this was an overdue break from the ordinary. Either way, the winery brought this family together effortlessly.

Several hours had slipped by before realizing that it was now 5pm and we were promised one or maybe two songs more. A new family had arrived celebrating a birthday, although the age of the birthday girl was for those in the know only. All the same, she was given two dedication songs and applauded by the courtyard. With the last song of day being sang, dads danced with their daughters, grandmothers with pep in their step danced with this one or that one, and the birthday girls of 91 and of some other age soaked up the good cheer.

We would end the day at Cafe Vino, a restaurant on the winery grounds offering a French seafood menu. After so many hours in the natural beauty of Brotherhood Winery, why eat anywhere else? Our meals were cooked to perfection and some gracious exchanges with the chef was a nice surprise. One surprise more, the newly paired couple seen earlier had the same idea only this time the energy between them seemed to have evolve. Seated only two tables away, there was an evident bond that had formed. Maybe it was the hours of live music, the refreshing wine or the fragrant winery soil, but whatever it was love was in the air.

And on that note, the air hot as it was, carried a lively and festive spirit that celebrated the joy of being alive and being in love, on a beautiful day surrounded by good land, beautiful nature and of course excellent wine. It doesn’t get much better than that!