In 1975, we began planting our vineyard for the purpose of supplying home winemakers with a variety of locally grown, fresh grapes for winemaking. We now raise 21 varieties including Vinifera, French hybrids, New York and Minnesota hybrids and the traditional American varieties, Niagara and Concord. 

In 1980, we added a cooler and press so that we are now able to provide fresh, lightly pressed juice that has settled and been chilled to retard fermentation. Our grapes are all hand picked and mostly grown on our own farm. Those that we buy are grown locally. We cluster, thin and open the ripening grapes to full sun by combing out the individual shoots. In order to assure the best quality grapes, we comb and remove excess leaves. Our grapes are hand picked, crushed, pressed and immediately chilled to 35 degrees. This Cold stabilization process acts as a natural filter and removes much of the sediment.

Crop Outlook for 2009

This year Taylor Ridge has experienced no serious frosts. Consequently we have good crops in most varieties. We have had a cool July but we have been blessed with a warming August. The harvest will commence on about the same schedule as last year. Early grapes like Reliance, Foch and Millot will probably begin September 10th to 15th. The mid season grapes should start September 21st to 26th, later grapes from September 26th to October 15th. We may have small amounts of Marquette. We are expecting good crops of Seyvel, Lacrosse, and Dechaunac, while Noiret and Landot 4511 are somewhat smaller than last year. Cayuga White is also in good supply.

We have constructed another deer fence so that 2/3 of our vineyard is now protected. New plantings this year include more Marquette, Valvin Muscat, Lemberger and Frontenac Gris.