Dundee vineyard purchases Standing Stone

Jun 13, 2017 at 10:12 pm by Observer-Review


Dundee vineyard purchases Standing Stone ADVERTISEMENT

Dundee vineyard purchases Standing Stone

SENECA LAKE--Fred Merwarth and Oskar Bynke, the owners of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, have been named as the successors of Standing Stone Vineyards by the founders Tom and Marti Macinski.
"Marti and Tom have been trailblazers in the Finger Lakes wine industry, helping to advance our region's vinifera, pushing our wines forward and into their rightful spot on the world stage," said Bynke. "It is with great admiration and respect that we continue the work of this iconic estate."
Standing Stone Vineyards began in 1991 when the Macinskis purchased the historic vineyards originally planted by Charles Fournier and Guy DeVeaux of Gold Seal Vineyards on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. Standing Stone maintains the most significant sites of Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Saperavi in the Finger Lakes region, and is also known for its line of acclaimed ice-style wines.
"It's never an easy decision to begin to pull back from something you love, something that's consumed you for over 25 years," admitted Marti, who, with her husband Tom, believes the winemaking process starts deep in the soil of the vineyards. "At the end of the day, you're a farmer. Each crop depends on mother nature, and each vintage on what the grapes tell you."
Bynke said his group is very excited about the opportunity to work with Standing Stone and to apply some of their methods and also to learn about their best practices.
Bynke said, "The quality of the wines in the Finger Lakes continues to improve and that will only enhance our products for demand nationwide."
Bynke stated he also sees more investors will be attracted to the Finger Lakes wine region. He added, "I think we will also see more first generation area wineries become associated or transfer ownership as people look at retirement."
The management transition begins this month, although the Macinskis plan on keeping an active role at Standing Stone over the next few years. On the surface, nothing changes, with both wineries continuing to produce wines unique to their estates and maintaining their own identity. "There is a special legacy here that we will continue to honor and preserve, just like we've done at Wiemer," says Bynke.

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