HILLICK & HOBBS Estate Vineyard: Grand Opening Today

There is something about a wine tour in the Finger Lakes that just feels like going home. Well, I grew up in Buffalo, New York…so that may have something to do with it, but it is more than that. I’ve explored the vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Burgundy and Bordeaux, and loved them all. The Finger Lakes radiates an energy, you cannot quite put your finger on, but you know it is there. It has a rustic elegance, you won’t find anywhere else.

Sneak Peek at Seneca Lakes New Hot Spot

Yesterday, I was fortunate to have spent the afternoon at what is sure to be the Seneca Lakes new hot spot for Riesling, Hillick & Hobbs. The estate vineyard to the public today and I jumped at the chance to get one of the first looks at the property and meet the team behind the project built on passion.

This family-owned state-of-the-art hospitality center, is lead by world-renowned vintner, Paul Hobbs. Here he will showcase Hillick & Hobbs’ exceptional estate Riesling and it is positioned to become one of the premier wine destinations in the Finger Lakes. 

Named after his parents who first met while attending nearby Cornell University, Joan Hillick and Edward Hobbs, Paul founded the winery with the vision to create Riesling that rivals its European brethren by pushing the boundaries of modern viticulture in the Finger Lakes.

Beautiful Setting

My drive to the vineyard was lovely. I drove in on NY-414 S and as Seneca Lake came into view, the sun hit is just right. Beautiful. Wineries and breweries are peppered throughout the highway, with an opportunity to stop and sip, five minutes or less, from one place to the next. I took a sharp left turn onto Middle Road and the winery was a quarter mile up on the left. A gravel road, lead to me to the newly renovated facility and the view from the property is breathtaking.

Mix and Mingle

The pre-launce event kicked off at 4 P.M. and we were welcomed by the Hillick & Hobbs team and a glass of a 2017 PAUL HOBBS Blanc De Noirs, Russian River Valley sparking wine. Absolutely delightful! I highly recommend. Bite-sized hors d’oeuvres were passed and folks toured the facility, both inside and out. The final walkthrough was completed a week prior and it features cypress walls, furniture crafted from materials sourced from the estate  and other sustainably made furnishings. Hobbs entrusted the planning and design of the  estate to international designer Tom Johnson. Based in the Finger Lakes, Johnson has worked in Japan and other areas of Asia and has designed custom residences and wineries in upstate New York. 

To the Vineyard…

After a brief welcome from Paul, the group headed to the vineyard to explore the vines and learn more about the magic behind their Riesling. All great wines have one thing in common, how hard the vines have to work to produce their fruit. If ever there was a challenge for the plants…this is it. The ground is layers of slate. Minimal to no soil. Vineyard manager Samuel Pulis, led the tour and shared with us, the many challenges they have experienced. From digging the holes to plant the vines, to filling them year after year with enough soil to have something to hold on to, to plants slipping through the cracks…completely disappearing into the slate abyss. 

“The Finger Lakes is a compelling region for growing world-class Riesling. Its well-drained, slate soils trap the radiant heat, and the moderating effect of Seneca Lake creates the  airflow crucial for keeping the canopies healthy,” said Hobbs. “After an exhaustive two-year search for the ideal site to grow Riesling that could rival the best of the Old World, aided by my brother David, we finally found the property just south of Hector Falls that was  reminiscent of the Mosel.”

The estate vineyard is currently planted to 21-acres of high-density Riesling on steep slate soils that run with the slope, akin to Germany’s famed Mosel region. The Hillick & Hobbs estate is one of the first in the region to plant in this style with a focus on crafting site specific estate Riesling under the supervision of winemaker Lynne Fahy and vineyard manager Samuel Pulis.

It’s All Worth It

The evening ended with an intimate dinner and tasting. The host gifted attendees with a autographed bottle of wine, and goodie bag filled with local products. In the end, the near decade of hard work, trial and error and dedication to their craft has paid off. Hillick & Hobbs is celebrating their first vintage, of what will be many Rieslings to come. 

We wish them the best of luck today and we will be continuing to cover this story, so stay tuned!

To learn more or attend the grand opening visit hillickandhobbs.com.