Exceptional Grapes – Sustainable Practices
Sawmill Creek Vineyards
Hector, NY
Leidenfrost Vineyards
Hector, NY
Atwater Estate Vineyards
Burdett, NY
Six generations of Hazlitts have loved and cared for this farm. Once covered with fruit trees and native grapes, the land was converted to vinifera varieties in the early to mid 1980s. Success with these early plantings of Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir didn’t stop Jim from experimenting with other varieties, including Sangiovese, Syrah, and Sauvignon blanc, all having resulted in some great wines!
*Soils on Sawmill Creek Vineyards include Aurora channery silt loam over calcareous shale with 15%-20% slopes and between 500ft-850ft elevations.
Sawmill Creek Vineyards proudly utilizes sustainable winegrowing practices protect the soil, air and water – elements that breathe life, and ultimately flavor, into their grapes and wineries wines.
*Billsboro sources Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah from Sawmill Creek.
Since 1947, the Leidenfrost family has raised grapes and produced wine on a picturesque lakeside farm in Hector, New York. Located on the east side of Seneca Lake, Leidenfrost Vineyards is considered one of the finest growing sites for premium wine grapes in the Finger Lakes.
*Leidenfrost Vineyards soils include Lordstown channery silt loam over shale with 15%-20% slopes at 750ft elevation.
In 1984, the present proprietor, John Leidenfrost Jr., has planted European Vinifera varieties. His love of quality red wines prompted some of the earliest plantings of Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc in the Finger Lakes, complementing the already well established Baco Noir variety on the farm.
*Billsboro sources Pinot Noir and Riesling grapes from Liedenfrost Vineyards.
Atwater Vineyards in Burdett, NY is located along the southeast corner of Seneca Lake, in a stretch of sloping vineyards many refer to as the “banana belt” of the Finger Lakes. We thank Ted, Chris, Patrick and Mike for their dedication and passion.
*Atwater Estate Vineyards consists of Lansing gravelly silt loam over shale and limestone with 15% – 25% slopes at 550ft elevation.
Currently planted with sixteen different varieties of grapes, Atwater continue to expand and experiment with other varieties such as Syrah and Grüner Veltliner.
*Billsboro sources Chardonnay and Vignoles grapes from Atwater Vineyards.
Billsboro is eternally grateful to our grower partners for their steadfast dedication to producing ultra-premium wine grapes. Their west facing vineyards are located just miles apart from each other in the heart of the so-called ‘banana belt’ microclimate along the southeast slope of Seneca Lake, an area that consistently records the most growing degree days in the Finger Lakes region. The steep-sided topography of these sites and proximity to the deep waters of Seneca Lake are ideal for growing high quality classic European varieties.
-Vinny Aliperti
