History

  In 1993, while searching for a vineyard in the Finger Lakes, Melvin and Dorothee found their vineyard in a March snow storm. Snowbound for two days, they discovered hospitality and generosity at the Park Inn in Hammondsport. The combination of welcoming communities, gravelly, well-drained soils on affordable land, forthcoming farmers and vintners in the area and very high quality wines was clearly inviting. It didn't take long to realize that the Finger Lakes and Keuka Lake in particular were capable of producing world class Riesling. So Melvin and Dorothee moved up in 1997 and began to plant mostly Riesling in 1998. With the help of Cornell Cooperative Extension and not so bashful grape growers, they planted and nurtured Riesling and other Vinifera and French-American hybrids. With the advice of an excellent winemaker in the area, Melvin learned to make a variety of unique wines.

Now

  Today you can test the first fruits of this endeavor. Each glass tells a story of grapes whose roots dig deeply in the glacial soils overlooking the 180 foot deep Keuka Lake, and whose canes spread along the trellises, producing leaves that breathe the fresh air, soak up the sun, wind, rain and snow through the seasons. Once the grapes reach the right maturity,they are carefully hand-harvested, inoculated with yeast, fermented and stored in stainless steel tanks or for reds in high quality European oak barrels in conditions and at temperatures that allow for magic to bring out the flavors unique to the Finger Lakes and the particular soils of KLV.

There are still a few bottles of 2005 vintage wines available in the tasting room. They have aged and mellowed in the bottle for over a year. The 2006 vintage wines have recently been released and are available for tasting and purchase in the winery. KLV has produced a larger variety of wine from the 2007 vintage. We intend to release the 2007 semi dry Delaware by early May and Vignoles and Riesling, a Keuka Lake Estate White, a Leon Millot and Pinot Noir at various times during the summer and fall.

KLV is fortunate that Staci Nugent an experienced and talented winemaker has joined KLV. Staci has had winemaking experience in California, down under, and in two of the finest Finger Lakes wineries, Lamoroux Landing Wine Cellars and Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars.

The KLV tasting room will be open from May 1, 2008 on Fridays and Saturdays from 10-5 and Sunday 12-5. KLV will remain open on holiday Mondays as well.