Meadowdale Farm Winery was established in 2016 by Bernard Melewski and John Sheehan in Altamont, New York. Its mission is to produce high-quality wines that carry forward this region’s centuries-long traditions of winemaking excellence. We also enjoy creating new flavors we think will grow into local traditions.
We are known for our award-winning fine apple wines, red and white grape wines made from hybrids developed at Cornell University, and the revival of a little-known style of wine made from the sap of the white birch tree.
Meadowdale’s wines are well-rated by experts. Its Ice Cider (a boldly flavored apple wine that is often served after-dinner) has twice been awarded Gold Medals at the New York International Wine Competition in Manhattan. In 2018, and again in 2020, Meadowdale was named New York Ice Cider Winery of the Year.
Our dry apple wine, White Blossom, in 2021 won a silver medal in competition at the NY Wine Classic.
Birch wine is another Meadowdale specialty. It’s made from white birch sap. Meadowdale is the sole American producer, using a Capital District recipe dating to 1736. The Dutch barn that houses Meadowdale’s tasting room was built about the same time.
Birch wine was quite popular with the nation’s founders. Martha Washington made her own. Her Book of Sweetmeats (Philadelphia Historical Society) mentions that birch wine was good for the appetite and thought to be a cure for kidney stones.
Other Meadowdale products include grape wines Blackbird Corot Noir (red) and Great Egret traminette (white) and Curious Cardinal (red blend).
The tasting room is open Sat. and Sun. from 1 to 5, mid-May through October. The winery and tasting room are powered by solar and geothermal energy. All winery wastes are recycled on the farm.