Our estate vineyards guide everything we do and ultimately determine the path each grape will take in becoming wine. With over 132 acres of vineyards, we take our role as stewards very seriously. Our holdings encompass 10 different varietals, planted on 5 unique farms, that are separated into more than 50 distinct vineyard blocks managed to yield only the finest lots of dynamic cool-climate fruit.

Soil, microclimate, variety, clone and rootstock are the major factors that drive our detailed farming practices. Every planting decision is carefully made to accentuate the signature character of each varietal. All of our vines are dry farmed- forcing them to send roots deep into the soil to obtain water and nutrients. The vines benefit from a vertically split trellis system that maximizes the photosynthetic leaf surface and optimizes foliage in the fruiting zone to promote airflow and just the right amount of sun exposure for each varietal.

Large diurnal temperature shifts during the growing season further accentuate phenolic ripeness during the day while helping to preserve acidity at night. Leaves are pulled on the east side of the trellis to assist in drying out the clusters quickly from the morning dew, while leaves are managed on the west side of the trellis to provide shelter from the warmer afternoon sun. Our Pinot Noir and Bordeaux varietals generally benefit from a closer proximity to the lake and are given the full advantage of the warm afternoon sun on our steep western facing hillsides. Each vine is individually cane pruned by hand every year to promote balance and provide the best foundation for growing fruit.

We were certified in 2022 by the New York Sustainable Winegrowing Program. Click here to learn more about our Sustainable Approach and Certification.

Nestled into the hills surrounding the winery, many of our vineyards are named in tribute to the local families that once farmed the land where our vines now grow. Our Passmore Farm, the site on which the winery stands, comprises the Passmore Vineyards below the winery and Yellow Dog Vineyards above the winery. Moving south along the lake from the winery, our estate continues with our Williams Farm, home of the Red Oak and Round Rock Vineyards and our Home Farm consisting of Lida’s Walk, Black Pheasant and Block 137 Vineyards. Our most recently planted vines reside on the Clawson Farm, while our oldest vines grow on our southernmost Freese Farm. While we have over 30 named soils represented across the estate, we have chosen to focus on the well-drained limestone and shale-based gravelly loam that predominates.