McGregor Vineyard
New York | Finger Lakes | Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Location
Address: 5503 Dutch St, Dundee, NY 14837
Phone: (800) 272-0192
Website: www.mcgregorwinery.com
Email: customerservice@mcgregorwinery.com
State: New York Wineries
Wine Region: Finger Lakes Wineries
American Viticultural Area: Finger Lakes AVA
Wine Trail: Keuka Lake Wine Trail
About McGregor Vineyard
Make sure to add McGregor Vineyard to your itinerary when exploring Keuka Lake. With a rich history, outstanding wines, and breathtaking Keuka views, it's a must-visit destination. They offer wine tasting flights accompanied by small plates of cheese, pesto, and chocolate. In warmer months, enjoy seating both indoors and outdoors, offering the perfect setting to savor tastings or wine by the glass while taking in the spectacular lake view. Plus, they are a dog-friendly winery for you to enjoy with your four-legged friend.
Renowned for their quality and longevity, McGregor's vinifera grapevines are among the oldest in the Finger Lakes, yielding wines of exceptional wine. Of particular pride to McGregor Vineyard is their Saperavi, a grape variety they championed as early adopters in the region. Initially marketed as "Black Russian Red," McGregor's Saperavi garnered widespread acclaim, drawing wine enthusiasts to their vineyard to sample this unique offering. In recent years, McGregor Vineyard has rebranded it simply as "Saperavi," cementing its status as a standout varietal in the Finger Lakes.
Fuelled by their passion for Saperavi, McGregor Vineyard hosts educational events like "Saperavi Stories, History, and Wine," in collaboration with Saperica. Through these events, guests can explore McGregor's Saperavi wines alongside Georgian counterparts, accompanied by tantalizing Georgian cuisine and captivating tales of wine tradition. McGregor Vineyard's dedication to promoting Saperavi and Georgian culture exemplifies their ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in winemaking.
Bob and Marge McGregor embarked on their vinicultural journey in 1971, when they purchased about 70 acres of land on the east side of Keuka Lake. Living near Rochester, NY, Bob was a physicist working for Kodak. Bob was part of a group of local home winemakers and eventually decided to turn his hobby into his career by bringing his family to the Finger Lakes. This marked a moment in the history of New York's winemaking. Joining the ranks of esteemed pioneers like Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery and Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, they dared to challenge convention by planting vinifera grapes in the Finger Lakes region. Despite skepticism from others who doubted the feasibility of growing European vinifera in the area's cool climate, the McGregors pressed on with determination.
Their early plantings included Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer. In 1980, their vision culminated in the founding of McGregor Vineyard, and their inaugural vintage. To the surprise of many, the first vintage was a success. Even the esteemed Leon D. Adams, author of The Wines of America, proclaimed that McGregor Vineyard produced some of the finest wines in the Finger Lakes. "This is Pinot Noir, from New York?!" he wrote. This helped McGregory Vineyard gain a reputation as one of the best Finger Lakes wineries on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. Since then, McGregor Vineyard has remained commitment to crafting estate-grown vinifera wines, a tradition upheld by their son, John McGregor, the second generation stewarding the family legacy.
Wine to Try: Saperavi and Rkatsiteli, it is one of the few wineries in the Finger Lakes where you can try both of these Georgian wines
Grapes and Wine Styles:
Wines: Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Vignoles, Rkatsiteli
Red Wines: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Saperavi
Other Styles: Rosé, Sparkling
More New York Wineries
Finger Lakes Wine Travel Guide
