New York  

Red Tail Ridge Winery produces premium dry wines that represent the regional terrior. We are located on the western shor of Seneca Lake, in the heart of New York State's Finger Lakes Region. The hardwood forests that surround the winery are home to numerous Red-tailed hawks, and in addition to being our vineyard companions and inspiration, they are also our namesake.

Since we believe that premium wine begins in the vineyard, we dedicate much of our time and energy during the growing season to ensuring that our vines are healthy and well-balanced. Our wines, like our grapes, are carefully hand-crafted. We focus on the "little" details of wine-making to preserve, and enhance, the varietal characteristics that we generate in the vineyard. This attention to detail is what sets Red Tail Ridge wines apart from all the rest, and it is what has won us numerous accolades.

THE WINEMAKER
Dr. Nancy Irelan received her doctorate while in the Viticulture and Enology department at the University of California - Davis. She has been working in the wine industry for over twenty years and has participated in grape and wine projects all over the world. Nancy left her position as Vice President of Viticulture and Enology R&D at E&J Gallo Winery at the end of 2005 and relocated to the Finger Lakes to embark on a new challenge with her husband, Mike Schnelle. She recognized that the Finger Lakes had the potential to produce stylistically unique, cool-climate wines, and she wanted to participate in the growth and emergence of this region as a premium wine destination.

THE WINEGROWER
Mike Schnelle moved to Penn Yan, NY in 2004, after he and Nancy bought a 34-acre lot on Seneca Lake. The property was primarily woods and scrub trees, so Mike cleared the land and then began preparing it for vineyard development. Before this project, Mike managed the financial service center fo a national company that rents heavy equipment to consumers - an experience that ocntinues to be valuable. One visit to our estate vineyard and you'll see that Mike is a meticulous viticulturist devoted to sustainable practices and quality wine production. — Dr. Nancy Irelan & Mike Schnelle

Wines:

Red Tail Ridge Winery Chardonnay
Red Tail Ridge Winery Riesling
Red Tail Ridge Winery Lemberger