Hunt Country Vineyards
Encyclopedia
Hunt Country Vineyards is a vineyard
and winery
located near Keuka Lake
in the Finger Lakes
region of New York State, USA.
.
. The soils are glacially deposited gravelly loam, with a 5-7% slope. The slope of the land, the qualities of the soil and climate, and the North-South orientation of the rows of grapes together create ideal conditions for growing European and French-American varieties.
The Hunts enrich the soil with natural compost
made from the grape pommace (seeds and skins) left after pressing the grapes, mixed with manure from a neighboring farm.
varieties. In 2008, 50 acres (20.2 ha) of grapes were harvested.
Between 1984 and 1988, the Hunts collaborated with Cornell Cooperative Extension Grape Specialist Dr. Tom Zabadal to convert undesirable grape varieties to more promising wine varieties by the use of field grafting
in cold climate vineyards. These experiments represented the first successful practical field grafting undertaken in the Northeastern United States. Under normal conditions, it takes seven years to convert a vineyard to a new variety. This includes removing old vines, planting other crops to replenish the soil and remove all traces of the old root stock, replanting new vines and allowing them to grow to maturity. The field grafting process reduced the time to two years.
The vineyard produces several French-American varieties, including Seyval Blanc
, Vignoles
, Vidal Blanc
, and DeChaunac, as well as three Cornell varieties: Cayuga White
, Horizon
and Valvin Muscat
. Two viniferas are also produced: Riesling
and Cabernet Franc
, and three native varieties: Concord, Niagara and Delaware grape. The vines yield an average of 4-6 tons of grapes per acre.
SARE
program, planted under and between rows of grapes to reduce the need for herbicides and mowing), biodiesel
from waste grease (to power tractors), along with a small wind turbine for producing electricity, and bat houses to encourage natural insect predators.
, which is a dessert wine produced in colder wine regions when grapes are left on the vine late into the winter. The grapes are hand picked and pressed frozen, leaving the water behind as ice. The concentrated juice is then fermented to produce this intensely sweet dessert wine
.
The vidal ice wine was featured on NBC's Today Show in 2006.
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
and winery
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
located near Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
in the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region of New York State, USA.
History
Hunt Country Vineyards was founded in 1981 by Arthur C. Hunt and Joyce H. Hunt. The property was first purchased by Arthur Hunt's great great grandfather, Ambrose Hunt (b.1803) in 1852 and has been farmed continuously by his descendants until the present day. The oldest grapevines on the vineyard were planted in 1904 and are of the concord and Niagara varietiesNew York wine
New York wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of New York. New York ranks third in grape production by volume after California and Washington. Eighty-three percent of New York's grape area is Vitis labrusca varieties...
.
Geographical features
The farm is located 1 miles (1.6 km) west of Branchport, New YorkBranchport, New York
Branchport is a hamlet in the town of Jerusalem in Yates County, New York, United States. It is a "crossroads community" which contains about 85 dwellings, six stores, two churches, a library and a firehouse....
. The soils are glacially deposited gravelly loam, with a 5-7% slope. The slope of the land, the qualities of the soil and climate, and the North-South orientation of the rows of grapes together create ideal conditions for growing European and French-American varieties.
The Hunts enrich the soil with natural compost
Compost
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. At its most essential, the process of composting requires simply piling up waste outdoors and waiting for the materials to break down from anywhere...
made from the grape pommace (seeds and skins) left after pressing the grapes, mixed with manure from a neighboring farm.
Viticulture
When the current generation of Hunts took over the farm in 1973, there were 18 acres (7.3 ha) of oncord] grape] and niagara grapeNiagara grape
Niagara grapes are a variety of the North American grape species Vitis labrusca and are used as table grapes and for wines, as well as jams and juice. Niagara is the leading green grape grown in the United States. The Niagara grape was created in Niagara County, New York, in 1868 when C. L. Hoag...
varieties. In 2008, 50 acres (20.2 ha) of grapes were harvested.
Between 1984 and 1988, the Hunts collaborated with Cornell Cooperative Extension Grape Specialist Dr. Tom Zabadal to convert undesirable grape varieties to more promising wine varieties by the use of field grafting
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, Ontario County, New York State, is an integral part of the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. It is a mission-oriented experiment station with a strong emphasis on applied research...
in cold climate vineyards. These experiments represented the first successful practical field grafting undertaken in the Northeastern United States. Under normal conditions, it takes seven years to convert a vineyard to a new variety. This includes removing old vines, planting other crops to replenish the soil and remove all traces of the old root stock, replanting new vines and allowing them to grow to maturity. The field grafting process reduced the time to two years.
The vineyard produces several French-American varieties, including Seyval Blanc
Seyval Blanc
Seyval Blanc is a hybrid wine grape variety used to make white wines. Its vines ripen early, are productive and are suited to fairly cool climates.Seyval Blanc is grown mainly in England, and the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, as well as to a lesser extent in Canada...
, Vignoles
Vignoles
Vignoles can refer to* Étienne de Vignolles, French soldier of the Hundred Years' War* Charles Vignoles, an early railway engineer.* Vignoles rail, a kind of railway rail.* Vignoles...
, Vidal Blanc
Vidal Blanc
Vidal Blanc is an inter-specific hybrid variety of white wine grape, a cross of Ugni Blanc and Rayon d'Or . It manages to produce high sugar levels in cold climates while maintaining good acid levels....
, and DeChaunac, as well as three Cornell varieties: Cayuga White
Cayuga White
Cayuga White is a wine grape was developed from crosses of the hybrids Schuyler and Seyval Blanc done at Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York. It is a hardy vine with some bunch-rot disease resistance. It should be picked at low sugars to avoid...
, Horizon
Horizon
The horizon is the apparent line that separates earth from sky, the line that divides all visible directions into two categories: those that intersect the Earth's surface, and those that do not. At many locations, the true horizon is obscured by trees, buildings, mountains, etc., and the resulting...
and Valvin Muscat
Valvin muscat
Valvin muscat is a hybrid grape variety for use in white wine production. It was developed by grape breeder Bruce Reisch at the Cornell University New York State Agricultural Experiment Station and released on July 7, 2006....
. Two viniferas are also produced: Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
and Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
, and three native varieties: Concord, Niagara and Delaware grape. The vines yield an average of 4-6 tons of grapes per acre.
Experimental and sustainable practices
Hunt Country Vineyards current experimental agricultural techniques includeL English ground ivy (partly funded by the USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
SARE
Sustainable agriculture research and education
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education or is a part of the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. SARE is a granting organization that tries to promote environmentally friendly agriculture and help small farmers become more profitable. Having profitable small...
program, planted under and between rows of grapes to reduce the need for herbicides and mowing), biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
from waste grease (to power tractors), along with a small wind turbine for producing electricity, and bat houses to encourage natural insect predators.
Wine production and distribution
Hunt Country Vineyards produces an average of 12,000 cases per year of 21 different wines, and has a production capacity of 70,000 gallons. The winery is perhaps best known for its Vidal Ice WineIce wine
Ice wine is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, allowing a more concentrated grape must to be pressed from the frozen grapes, resulting in a smaller amount of more...
, which is a dessert wine produced in colder wine regions when grapes are left on the vine late into the winter. The grapes are hand picked and pressed frozen, leaving the water behind as ice. The concentrated juice is then fermented to produce this intensely sweet dessert wine
Dessert wine
Dessert wines are sweet wines typically served with dessert.There is no simple definition of a dessert wine. In the UK, a dessert wine is considered to be any sweet wine drunk with a meal, as opposed to the white fortified wines drunk before the meal, and the red fortified wines drunk after it...
.
The vidal ice wine was featured on NBC's Today Show in 2006.