Estate Vineyard
Heart & Hands Wine company is committed to making distinctive, terroir-driven wines, and believes that great wine begins in the vineyard. We own and manage our Estate vineyard, located on limestone-rich soils on the East side of Cayuga Lake. In our earlier years, we partnered with several premier winegrowers in the Finger Lakes, but today, around 95 percent of our wines are crafted grapes grown on our estate.
OUR QUEST FOR FINGER LAKES LIMESTONE
Because of the importance of site selection, we invested significant time and energy determining where we should, quite literally, plant our roots. Tom studied county soil surveys, scouted fields, and immersed himself in the region’s geology to identify the most promising location for Pinot Noir. Inspired by his internship at Calera in California and by the great wines of Burgundy, he understood that limestone soils were a critical part of what allows Pinot Noir to thrive in France, where it has been cultivated for nearly 2,000 years.
Limestone, however, is exceedingly rare in the Finger Lakes. As the geological map shows, only a few narrow bands of limestone (shown on the map in red) cut through the region. Tom focused his search on land above the Onondaga formation and ultimately found the site that is now our Estate Vineyard. This ancient bedrock plays a vital role in shaping our wines. It naturally moderates soil pH to a neutral or slightly alkaline level, helping vines more efficiently absorb nutrients and ultimately contributing to the balance, structure, and mineral-driven character of our Pinot Noir.
THE ESTATE VINEYARD – A DREAM REALIZED
Our Estate Vineyard is located adjacent to the winery, on the east side of Cayuga Lake. Cayuga Lake is the longest of the lakes, at 38 miles, and is 435 feet deep at its deepest point. Our vineyard is located about 650 feet from the Cayuga Lake shoreline on Carr’s Cove. Proximity to Cayuga Lake, as well as the influence of Lake Ontario provides winter protection for the vines and moderates the temperature throughout the year.
The vineyard is situated on the Onondaga formation, which features limestones and dolostones from the middle Devonian age. The vineyard was planted in two stages, in 2010 and 2019. The original 2010 vines were exclusively Pinot Noir and Riesling and are planted in 3 blocks. The lower block is predominantly a sandy, well-drained soil. The middle and upper blocks are clay-based, with a significant amount of dolomite in the middle block. The 2019 vineyard was planted to our timeless classics, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay, as well as our exotic esoterics, Aligoté, Arvine, Auxerrois, and Lagrein. This section of the vineyard features a gentle slope, but also has several different soil types. The presence of limestone is beneath the entire vineyard and assists the vines with nutrient uptake and provides a solid foundation, so to speak, for our Estate-grown vines.
ROOTED IN SUSTAINABILITY FROM THE BEGINNING
Our Estate Vineyard is certified by the New York Sustainable Winegrowing program, which recognizes wineries that meet rigorous standards across every aspect of sustainability. The program evaluates soil health, water protection, input reduction, energy conservation, waste management, ecosystem vitality, climate resiliency, and continuous improvement.
At Heart & Hands, these practices have always been at the core of our farming. We plant cover crops to restore nutrients and protect against erosion, avoid the use of herbicides and insecticides, and design our vineyard layouts to slow water flow and reduce runoff. We continually research and experiment with new materials and techniques to minimize our environmental impact while enhancing vine and soil health.
We believe that great wine begins in the vineyard — and that we have a responsibility to care for the land, air, and water that sustain it. Farming sustainably allows us to craft wines of purity and character, while ensuring that this place will continue to thrive for generations to come.
VINEYARD CARE AND TENDING
Early in the growing season, the emerging buds on the vine are shoot thinned to ensure proper fruit set. Sustainable viticultural methods are practiced throughout the year, creating a greater balance for the vine and surrounding ecosystem.
At veraison, leaf pulling is performed to expose the clusters to the sunlight, maximizing the potential for proper ripening. Additionally, unripe clusters are removed to enable the vines to redirect energy to the primary fruit zone.
Once the fruit has achieved proper intensity, the individual grape clusters are hand picked to ensure gentle handling. After hand picking, the grapes are transferred to the winemaking team, who begin the tasks necessary to preserve the pure essence of the fruit.