Farmed without
compromise
Lake Road Vineyard sits on the east side of Cayuga Lake, where a gentle west-facing slope gathers the long, golden light of afternoon. We manage twelve acres of vinifera vines, including Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay Noir, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.
THE SITE
Planted in 2022 on a narrow strip of loamy glacial till overlooking Cayuga Lake in King Ferry, our vineyard sits on land farmed by our family for over 50 years. The site is shaped by intense late-summer sun, persistent westerly winds, and healthy soils with shallow depth to black shale.
The landscape here was carved by the retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet roughly 12,000–20,000 years ago during the last Ice Age, forming the deep Finger Lakes valleys and leaving behind the fractured glacial soils our vines grow in today. Fossils embedded throughout the shale serve as subtle reminders that this land was once covered by ancient inland seas, while arrowhead points and weathered horseshoes that turn up in the soil offer more recent traces of the people and agriculture that came long before the vineyard.
OUR FARMING
We believe, and have seen firsthand, that healthy soils produce healthier vines, more expressive fruit, and better wines. Our approach is sustainable, regenerative and low-input. No herbicides. No irrigation. No plastic netting, plastic tying materials or clips used. Cover crops protect and enrich the soil. Rotational sheep grazing cycles nutrients and naturally manages vegetation. We incorporate organic and biological materials to support healthy vines, clean fruit, and a safer work environment.
The goal is simple: build healthier soils year after year.
Lake Road Vineyard is certified through the New York Sustainable Winegrowing program and was among the first vineyards to complete the certification process.
The program is built around nearly 200 best practices for soil health, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship, with standards updated annually and verified through independent third-party audits every 3 years.