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History

About the Owners   |   About the Vineyards   |   The Winemaking Facilities

About The Owners

It was during the late 60's that John and Josephine met on the first day of school at the University of Denver. The sun was shining, their hearts were fluttering and the wine was flowing.  From that glorious day onward, John and Josephine have enjoyed life and love - and wine.

John studied to be an English teacher at DU and graduated in 1971.  By this time, however, he was reading organic gardening magazines regularly and had been bitten by the "back to the earth" bug.  After marrying in June '71, John and Josephine went looking for their promised land.  Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon all received consideration but the two stargazers landed in John's backyard - Seneca Point, Naples, NY.  There they lived in a two-room cabin with no running water and a woodstove while they lovingly helped their neighbors in the grape harvest.  Something about chasing a wagon down a vineyard row, carrying a 40 lb. box of grapes which you had just finished hand-picking, struck the two budding oenophiles as "the good life."

Spring of '72 saw the Ingles plant twenty acres of grapes - including Chardonnay, Riesling and Seyval Blanc. They cleared the land, a tangle of poison ivy, and planted some 12,000 vines.  They pounded posts, strung wire and battled weeds and pests.  After some four years of nurturing their vineyards they were ready for harvest.  Unfortunately, at that time, New York State was experiencing an excess of grapes.  As a result, the Ingles could find little or no market for their crop.

To solve the problem, while inevitably creating several others, the Ingles built Heron Hill Winery on Keuka Lake. Being next door to Walter Taylor's Bully Hill Vineyards and Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars, two of the more prominent winemaking figures in the Finger Lakes, seemed like a good location, and it has been.  2002 marked the 25th vintage anniversary of Heron Hill.  There has been much learning, much fun and many people met on their odyssey through the winery-owner experience.  Yes, there have been ups and downs, but the future looks very bright.  Heron Hill has a superb winemaker, a dedicated team of helpers and a strong reputation for quality products.

Heron Hill is committed to producing wines of the highest quality.  John and Josephine will follow the ebb and flow of the seasons through the vineyards, and continue to spread the "good word" about the critically acclaimed wines being made in the Finger Lakes region.