Warwick is a town in Orange County, New York, about 50 miles northwest of New York City. The town, about an hour north of the Montclair area, is known for its abundance of outdoor pursuits and beautiful nature, and many visitors venture to the area for activities like biking, hiking, golfing, swimming, boating, and horseback riding. While there are so many fun and relaxing ways to spend time in Warwick, two spots are ideal for a summer day: Warwick Valley Winery + Distillery and the Warwick Drive-In Theater (with a pit stop at an ice cream shop in between). Read on to get the low-down on how to spend a day at the winery + drive-in theater in Warwick, New York.
The Winery + Distillery | 114 Little York Road
Warwick Valley Winery + Distillery, located at 114 Little York Road, opened in 1990 as an apple tree farm and a few years later started serving Doc’s Cider, making it the oldest cidery in New York State. The owners quickly developed a passion for making wines and ciders, which led to the opening of the first distillery in the Hudson Valley since Prohibition. They believed they could turn the fruits from the fertile Hudson Valley into the finest fruit brandies and liqueurs. In 2001, they established New York’s first fruit micro-distillery, creating a range of fruit brandies and liqueurs called American Fruits, designed to capture the pure essence of fruit at its best.
Read More: 9 Team-Building Activities to Try in Northern New Jersey
Fast forward to 2012, and Black Dirt Distilling, LLC was formed. With the birth of Black Dirt Bourbon and Black Dirt Apple Jack at the Warwick Valley Winery + Distillery, they eventually moved to a 4,000-square-foot distillery equipped with a 60-foot column still. Nowadays, this well-known distillery churns out up to 50 barrels a week.
The winery spans 120 acres and has manicured grounds, gardens, and orchards open to guests. Its tasting room allows visitors to sample its selection of wines, ciders, brandies, and liqueurs, along with a tasting tent outdoors in the warmer months. The cafe uses locally sourced, farm-grown ingredients to cook delicious food like pizza, sandwiches, salads, and local cheese and meat boards. The connecting patio is a great place to enjoy some food and beverages while listening to live music on the weekends. There’s also apple picking in the fall months and a regular lineup of music festivals.
We recommend starting at the winery in the late afternoon on a summer day, as the live music kicks off at 2PM. Enjoy a tasting (or two), walk through the gardens and orchards, and grab an early dinner on the patio. We also suggest stocking up on any provisions at the shop to have some fancy snacks for the movie later.
The winery is open until 6PM, so there will be some time to kill before the drive-in opens at 7PM. For a sweet treat, head up the road to Bellvale Farms Creamery at 1390 NY-17A. The barn-style shop serves homemade ice cream, has been a Hudson Valley staple for over 200 years, and sits on top of a spectacular view of the surrounding area.
The Drive-In | 5 Warwick Turnpike
Drive-in movie theaters, a nostalgic pastime of our nation, are now rare, so there’s no experience quite like visiting the Warwick Drive-In, a long-standing drive-in of close to 75 years located at 5 Warwick Turnpike. With three screens playing double features every night during the summer, moviegoers have many options.
See More: A Guide to Drive-In Movie Theaters in New Jersey + Beyond
On weekends, patrons are encouraged to buy tickets ahead of time and arrive at the drive-in early. While the first movie won’t start until close to 9PM, visitors can arrive as early as 7PM to secure their parking spot. The atmosphere is one of shared anticipation and excitement, with people setting up their viewing spots in their trunks, the back of pickups, or on chairs and blankets. Many come equipped with food, with a Shoprite steps away as another great snack haul option or a concession stand serving all of the typical movie fares. Visitors can opt in for just one movie or night owls can choose to stay for the double feature.
