Times Herald-Record Raves ABout Vinum at Brotherhood Winery

Vinum Cafe scores with sweet cuisine
French and Chilean mixes well in Washingtonville
By Kelly Kingman
For the Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 05/13/11
Last updated: 3:43 PM - 05/13/11

The clusters of buildings on the grounds of Brotherhood Winery gave the atmosphere of being a little village. There was the Victorian mansion, built by the founder of the original winery back in the early 1800s, and there were the modern winemaking facilities. There were picnic tables scattered in between, no doubt a lovely place to enjoy a glass of wine on a late-spring or summer evening.

Vinum Cafe occupies the low-slung brick building that housed the original winery around 1839. According to the website, Vinum Cafe encompasses a formal dining room and a more casual cafe area surrounding the bar itself.

We arrived on a Friday evening; the dining room was not very full, but the strains of a jazz trio entertained a robust bar crowd. After a few awkward minutes we were greeted by a dapper gentleman whom I thought at first was our maitre d' but became our server for the remainder of our evening. One other staff member, a young woman, was on the floor as well, but she seemed to be in training.

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Cuisine: Eclectic
Where: 84 Brotherhood Plaza Drive, Washingtonville
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Wed.-Sun.
Call: 496-9001
Visit: www.vinumcafe.com

Ratings (out of five stars)
Food: 4 stars
Service: 2 stars
Ambience: 3.5 stars

Brotherhood enjoys the distinction of being the oldest operating winery in America, and it has seen many owners over its long history. Now the operation is run by a partnership of Chilean winemaking families, which is why the wine list consists of Brotherhood vintages and a series of wines described only as "Chilean." Vinum is operated independently of the winery by a French chef.

Read the whole review at:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110513/ENTERTAIN/105130343