WASHINGTONVILLE — Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery, and a member of the Shawangunk Wine Trail, has been awarded a 2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor for outstanding work in wine tourism.

The award places Brotherhood among the top-performing 10 percent of all businesses worldwide on the TripAdvisor website.

"We are honored to receive this Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor," said Colleen Hughes, spokeswoman for Brotherhood. "We work hard to make sure that every guest at Brotherhood has a wonderful, memorable experience, and this award reflects that effort."

TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence Award honors hospitality excellence and is given to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria includes the volume of reviews received.

Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery, in Washingtonville, has the distinction of being home to the oldest wine cellars in the United States, excavated by hand from 1839 through the late 1880s, which are still in use today. Brotherhood survived the Prohibition era by producing sacramental wine, nationwide, for churches. When Prohibition was repealed, it went on to pioneer "wine tourism" and became a premier destination, known for its history and premium New York varietal wines.

Most recently, Brotherhood's new board of directors has embarked on a massive restoration and renovation project at the winery, which includes equipment upgrades, the planting of new vines, the addition of a restaurant on the property and an expansive event space, Grand Monarque Hall, to host weddings and large-scale events.