Millbrook Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1981 by John S Dyson, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in New York City, as well as former New York State Commissioner of Commerce and Agriculture. Dyson started growing grapes by planting an experimental acre of vinifera grapes at his family farm in Millbrook. Those initial plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvingnon were quite successful. Pleased with those results, Dyson decided to expand his commitment to the production of high-quality New York wines. In 1979, he purchased a 130-acre former dairy farm and converted the 1940's era barn into an efficiently designed modern winery.
