The Hudson Valley is home to endless orchards and fruit varieties that defines what the summer and autumn season means to us. Each year thousand descend on local orchards to pick blueberries, cherries, pears and apples to name just a few. You can very likely tell what time of year it is by looking at a friends kitchen counter! But how do you make the sweet, cool and crisp tastes of summer and autumn last for more than a few weeks at a time? Thankfully, Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery has our cravings covered for anytime of year!

On a rare recent occasion, the lovely ladies in my family decided to spend some much needed girl time away from the usual. After our rendezvous in Rockland County, we reached the Warwick Valley Winery in Warwick, NY in just under an hour. Although the word winery is in the name, Warwick Valley Winery is so much more than your usual New York vineyard. They have vast acres of pear and apple orchards open for seasonal picking, and it’s from their rich spoil that they’ve learned to be inventive. Becoming New York State’s fist fruit distillery, they have turned their inventiveness into award winning acclaim.

Having enjoyed many a wine tastings, the girls and I decided to opt for a Doc’s Draft Hard Cider tasting instead. We were each met with surprise that each offering was in perfect balance of refreshment and taste. On the menu was several original varieties: their signature Apple Cider which was cool and crisp, award winning Pear Cider that was light and refreshing, Dry Hopped Cider with a small kick, a semi-sweet Peach Cider and a rich and fruity Raspberry Cider. Our tasting was moving at a quicker pace than we would have liked as we tried to savor each variety and imagine how we might pair them.

Some differences in each flavor were subtle, others were more bold. What all of Doc’s Draft Hard Ciders do have in common is that they are all made from 100% fruit. It was also of interest to learn each cider has at least a 51% apple content. I discovered separately that this is not the case for cider from other locations in the world which may have a lower apple content requirement. The commitment of keeping the apple content so high in Doc’s ciders definitely influences the final product in terms of quality and taste and I could not say that any one variety fell short of another.

Amongst ourselves we deliberated over which flavors we would go home with. Pear Cider seemed to be one of our favorites which we imagined would be a great pairing with brunch or dinner. Peach Cider was also a hit with it’s subtle sweetness making it a great evening drink and perfect for the summer. I decided on the Pear Cider for myself as there were several other items I had my eyes on. With our complimentary glasses in hand, we headed to the outdoor cafe to catch up.

While planning our trip, there was more than cider that I had to hoped to bring home with me from the winery. About 1 month back while attending the Hudson Valley Wine & Chocolate Festival in Patterson, NY, my husband was wowed by an American Fruits brand Sour Cherry Cordial he sampled. After having sampled several wines and spirits that day, I was surprised that this was among a small selection of purchases and was the only alcoholic drink he parted with. Upon pouring out the last drop that he savored as an after dinner drink week after week, he noticed the rear label for the first time which proudly read Warwick Valley Winery.

Well by now a replacement was in order, and although we could order online, is there anything more enjoyable than to get out of town and head to a lush Hudson Valley Winery? Always a lover for the nostalgia of buying something from its source, Warwick Valley Winery was the perfect way to spend the day with the girls. We all headed home with something we fell for.

I opted to purchase two never before tried American Fruits flavors; Black Current Cordial and Bartlett Pear Liquor. I couldn’t resist the Doc’s Draft Cider in Pear either and know this will be a hit with any unexpected guests. Happily, in the marketplace I also found some other made in the Hudson Valley foods which are sometimes hard to find in New York City, so I picked those up as well. Part of me feels like I could have walked away with the entire store!

I can already tell that a return trip is not far off, and after all, apple and pear picking season is just around the corner! I can already smell the fire wood in the air and see the soft colors of autumn saturating the country landscape. Happily, apples and pears will become more than a seasonal treat in my household thanks to the hard work from those at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery. I find it thrilling that they are passionate about the local fruits we are all proud to have cultivated in the Hudson Valley. They have proven that the bounty this region is known for should be celebrated, and they are doing this with sophistication and praise every day, one bottle at a time!

In additional to their on location marketplace, products from Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery can be found for sale throughout the tri-state area or can be ordered directly from their website at wvwinery.com