Hailed as “one of the valley’s most ambitious wineries,” Whitecliff takes pride in being part of a vanguard of innovators who have added European wine grapes, high-quality new hybrids, and complex, European-style wines to the Valley’s traditional focus on fruit wines and sweet wines. Their 30+ years of experimenting in both the vineyard and the wine cellar have shaped a winery with deep roots in the region’s traditions, producing wines that offer variety, depth, and serious fun.
After 20 years of running a tasting room that features close to 40 different wines—all fermented, blended, and bottled at Whitecliff, many from their own estate-grown grapes—Whitecliff has learned that taste is thoroughly personal, and that the quality of their hospitality is almost as important to your experience as the quality of their wine. Over the years, Whitecliff has brought many new wines into production to satisfy the broad-ranging tastes of their visitors, and they love to hear people exclaim, “Wow, I like them all!” They are especially proud of their lively, intelligent staff, well-trained in wine, but friendly and welcoming by nature. All of this has led to Whitecliff being hailed by the local press recently as the “Best Winery in the Hudson Valley”.
Judges awarded Whitecliff “Best Winery in the Hudson Valley” at the 2022 Hudson Valley Wine Competition, along with “Best Sparkling,” “Best Hudson Valley Wine” for their Cabernet Franc, and a “Double Gold” award for their Vidal Blanc.
The truest measure of wine quality at Whitecliff is the fact that they were able to bring a truly prestigious award home to the Hudson Valley from the San Francisco International Wine Competition, where their Riesling won “Best White Wine in Show”. That means they beat 1,290 wines from 27 countries and 28 states, in a blind judging by 45 respected judges. This was a victory not only for Whitecliff, but for the whole region, as it closes the discussion as to whether the Hudson Valley’s local wines can compete on the world stage!
Regional, authentic, and artisanal, Whitecliff reflects everything that is unique about the beautiful Hudson Valley.
While Whitecliff technically started planting in 1979, they opened commercially in 1999, making 2024 their official 25th anniversary!
The owners invite you to celebrate with them: “After a quarter century we’ve learned and changed quite a bit, and would love to invite you in to see all we’ve accomplished. Come celebrate 25 years with unique tastings highlighting our wines over the years!”
Mon–Fri, Sun:
12-5:30pm
Sat: 12–7pm
Mon–Thurs, Sun: 1–6pm
Fri–Sat: 12–7pm
New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day
Husband and wife team Michael Migliore and Yancey Stanforth-Migliore have created Whitecliff over the past 30 years, doing much of the work with their own hands.
As executive winemaker and vineyard manager, and with a Masters in Chemistry from SUNY New Paltz, Michael Migliore applied his background in science to teaching himself the chemistry and art of winemaking. He works closely with Cornell Cooperative Extension and also serves as president of the Hudson Valley Wine and Grape Growers Association. Yancey Stanforth-Migliore oversees sales and marketing, taking inspiration from her previous work as fundraiser for Scenic Hudson.
Brad Martz joined Whitecliff as a volunteer on the 2010 harvest, and brought so much focus, energy, and intelligence to the cellar work that they are now proud to have him as their full-time winemaker. His work brings international awards, and interesting new wines to Whitecliff with every vintage.