Bashakill Vineyards, Wurtsboro

We visited Bashakill the Saturday before Labor Day and had a brilliant time. The weather was perfect, a band played music at 2pm, the staff couldn’t have been nicer, kids and dogs are welcome, and there are plenty of seating areas. We walked in and did a quick tasting before purchasing our wines (to take home). Inside there are different cheeses, spreads, meats, crackers for purchase. They supply the board and you can enjoy your cheese or charcuterie outside with your wine or cocktails. The cocktails were delicious and they use Prohibition Distillery spirits - so good! The bar is outside and they take a $2 deposit for glasses, which you can take home or return for your $2. A few things to note: there is a bathroom inside and two “outdoor” ones. We arrived at 12:30 and grabbed seats outside at 1pm. By 2:30 it was pretty busy, but we never waited more than a few minutes for the restroom or drinks. The outdoor food menu changes seasonally, and there are no single use plastic or paper products. Love that! Get ice cream. It’s ridiculously good and you must get a cone because no cups/spoons. Everything is organic and sourced locally. Bring your kids and/or dogs (leashed). I wish there were more places like this - it’s remarkable.

This is our favorite winery in the area. The wines are always superb. You can tell that the owners and management put a lot of effort into making sure this is a great stop for a relaxing afternoon. There has been live music every time we have come by, and I appreciate that they have beers on tap for those of us who would rather go for a pint. Make sure to spend some time at the wildlife refuge across the street to top off the perfect afternoon!