Brotherhood Wine Company Records

The Brotherhood winery was established by a European emigre, John Jaques, who produced the first commercial vintage in 1839 under the label "Blooming Grove Winery". Brotherhood has been in continuous operation since that time. In 1858 the property and winery was deeded to Mr. Jaques' three sons, John Jr, Oren, and Charles, and renamed "Jacques Brothers' Winery". In 1886, Charles, the last surviving brother, sold the winery to a father and son, Jesse M. and Edward R. Emerson. They renamed the winery Brotherhood. Jesse Emerson and his son expanded the facility, adding the "landmark" stone building with additional underground cellars that are the largest in the country. Edward, who was author of "The Story of the Vine", was in control of the winery in 1919 when prohibition was enacted. Having survived prohibition by the sale of sacramental wine, the winery again changed ownership around 1921. Louis Farrell and his son Louis L. Jr acquired a controlling interest in the Brotherhood Winery and ran it until 1947 when Louis Farrell Sr. died. His son died shortly thereafter, and the Winery was then managed by three Farrell cousins, one of whom, Francis Farrell, led the Winery into the post-WWII era. The winery underwent dramatic changes - major expansion, the beginning of a visitor tour operation and the creation of a broad range of award-winning wines. Brotherhood remained a "family business" until a change of ownership in January of 1987. Brotherhood Winery is listed in the New York State Register of Historic Places and is listed as a National Historic Landmark and uses the slogan "America's Oldest Winery".