History
About the Owners | About the Vineyards | The Winemaking Facilities
The Wine Making Facilities
Heron Hill's winemaking facilities were designed for the express purpose of making and storing quality wines.Housing almost 80,000 gallons of stainless steel tanks and 10,000 gallons of oak barrels, the production facility was built into the side of the western hill overlooking Keuka Lake. Not only does the design afford one of the most breathtaking views in the Finger Lakes region, it also allows the Heron Hill team to treat their wines with the utmost care by gravity feeding them instead of pumping whenever possible.
Complementing the facility's design is Heron Hill's state-of-the-art winemaking equipment.
Most recently, the winery became owner to a brand new 6-ton Bucher RFP 30 press. The Bucher press is known for being the most gentle and delicate press available for crushing the grapes, which leads to a finer quality wine.
The production line also enjoys the benefits of a GAI 1513 bottling system. This system helps to ensure quality by lowering the amount of oxygen exposure during bottling. At the same time, it increases production efficiency by being able to process 1000 gallons per day - filling, corking and labeling the bottles.
In the main cellar, stainless steel tanks with refrigeration jackets allow for temperature controlled fermentation and aging. Nearby, in the barrel room, cooperage can be found from around the world. Along with American and Hungarian oak, Heron Hill uses barrels made from the French districts of Troncais, Allier, Nevers and Chagny.With its unique facility and state-of-the-art equipment, the winemaking team at Heron Hill is committed to quality. They are proud to be an intricate part of the grapes journey that ultimately leads to an award-winning wine in your glass. Cheers!
