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Winemaking

From the Cellar

I'm in a New York State of Wine

Wine maker Tim Benedict and his crew continue the careful stewardship of the grapes as they come in from the vineyards at harvest. Tim's philosophy reflects the passion of the Hazlitt family for making great wines and not cutting corners. Our philosophy is that great wines can only come from great grapes. Our wine growing begins with constant, meticulous, and sustainable care in the vineyard in order to maximize ripeness and flavor development of the resulting fruit. Once in the hands of the wine making team, we make every effort to gently bring these flavors along into the finished wines.

Classic Vinifera

The focus of our vinifera varietal program is single vineyard wines from sites we feel are distinctive in their terroir. All vinefera are estate grown right here on the Hazlitt Farm. This area of the Finger Lakes is often referred to as the “Banana Belt” because of its gentle microclimate, thought by some to be the best wine growing area in the East. We strive to create intensely flavored wines that reflect the specific personality of each block of our vineyards on the East side of Seneca Lake.

Blending to Produce Richness and Complexity

In traditional European fashion, we blend some our Vinifera and French American hybrid varieties to produce wines that are more complex, better balanced, and richer than if they stood alone. Each component of the blend adds its own characteristics. Just as you wouldn't normally cook with just one ingredient, we believe that having a multitude of flavors allows our wines to pair happily with a wide range of food, and to be enjoyable all by themselves.

Get Your Party Started!

Sometimes it's best not to take things too seriously and we are prepared for just such an occasion with wines that are made to preserve the character of traditional American Labrusca varieties. Our friendships with a growing band of local growers have enabled us to make these wines some of the most popular in the area. Fresh and fruity with just the right sweetness, they are the perfect choice for relaxing on the beach or in the hot tub.

Making wine, like living well, is a balance of art and science. All of our wines are crafted with Finger Lakes grapes. We craft our wines with traditional wine making principles, while utilizing modern techniques and technology. Our ultimate goal is to make wines that are food friendly, elegantly balanced, and fun!