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History

Tuller Vineyards is located on Seneca Lake in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region in New York State.  Our vineyard, just south of Anthony Road Winery, overlooks the lake at its widest point from the West side.  Seneca Lake, the deepest of the Finger Lakes (~600 ft), moderates the temperature during our harsh winters and helps prolong hang time in the fall to provide conditions for optimal ripening in our cool climate grape growing region.  Soil types include well drained Honeoye Silt Loam and Lima Silt Loam with underlying shale.

Tuller Vineyards was established in 1976 by John and Sandy Tuller.  Original plantings, provided by Herman Amberg, included Chardonnay, Riesling and 25 vines of GW 3, now called Cayuga.  These early plantings totaled about 5 acres.  (2.5 acres of Riesling and 2.5 acres of Chardonnay and the little bit of Cayuga)  In the mid-90’s they expanded the Riesling block from 2.5 to 5 acres, and planted 1.5 acres of Cabernet Franc and 1 acre of Pinot Noir.  Chardonnay acreage remains at 2.5.

John and Sandy Tuller’s interest in planting Riesling came about through their awareness of pioneers in the region such as Konstantin Frank, Bob McGregor, among many others.  Outside the region, influences included Arnie Esterer of Markko Vineyards in Ohio, and the Moorheads of Presque Isle Wine Cellars in Pennsylvania.

Riesling grapes, picked at McGregor Vineyard on Keuka Lake, and the resulting wine (pictured above), provided plenty of inspiration to plant vinifera vines in the Finger Lakes.

Notice Riesling was misspelled three times in the photo’s caption.  Thankfully Finger Lakes Riesling has come a long way since 1975.