Ultimate  Challenge

Producer Profile: Wagner Vineyards

The Wagner family has been growing grapes on the glacial soils of Seneca Lake in New York for five generations. John Wagner, co-owner and general manager, is proud of his legacy: “This heritage has provided us with an intimate connection to the land. Since 1978, we have carried this same passion into our estate bottled wines.” As long standing producers of quality wine from this area, they have had decades to figure out which grapes work best with the land and their house style.  


“During the last 40 years our varietal mix has changed from an emphasis on French American hybrids to our current focus on riesling and other vinifera varieties,” shares John. Over the last 20 years they have become the largest riesling grower in the Finger Lakes, with a significant portion of their 225 acres under vine dedicated to the noble grape that has helped shape the region.  


Among the submissions to 2017’s UWC was Chairman’s Trophy winner Wagner Vineyards Dry Riesling 2015 Finger Lakes with 95 Points. Heady aromas of pineapple stalk, juicy green apple, passion fruit, and honeysuckle fill the nose. A dense mineral core is the backbone of this wine, with bright lemon zest, salty pineapple, and clementine adding freshness and lift. Textbook dry Riesling.  


They are rigorous in every step of the viticulture to ensure that they have the highest possible quality fruit when it comes time to vinify. As harvest approaches they sample
each block numerous times “to really get a good feel for not only fruit chemistries, but also flavors, seed color, canopy condition, and berry condition,” says John. Only after careful consideration and consulting of their 44 vineyard blocks do the vineyard and winery teams make the call to harvest. Similar processes that rely on multiple palates and points of view are repeated throughout the winemaking process, resulting in top quality.  


They are currently expanding their winery to be able to ramp up production flexibility, as well as upgrading older vineyards to increase quantity on some of their most popular releases, including their Dry Rose Of Cabernet Franc. With distribution in over 20 states already, they are focused on reaching a wider audience through expanded distribution.


Leave a Comment

Additional Blog Posts

Filter by
Past Posts