Food & Wine Professionals

Fast forward to modern day, when Nancy Irelan & Michael Schnelle made the momentous decision to leave California to come here to the Finger Lakes in 2002. Nancy had already become a highly respected member of the US wine community. At that time she was Gallo’s VP of Viticulture and Enology R&D, and collaborating on various projects with Cornell and USDA researchers here in the Finger Lakes. Michael was in a leadership position at a heavy equipment rental company, where he was utilizing his background in construction and his MBA in Finance.

When the choice was made to move forward with a FLX project, Nancy & Michael began searching for the best location for growing vinifera grapes. This process took a few years of site research and finally lead to the identification of this site. Two years, ample soil testing and topographic assessment of the property resulted in the 2004 purchase. The journey of converting the forested land into a vineyard began with the preparation of the soils. In 2005, Pinot Noir was planted, then Riesling, and seven other cool climate varietals over the course of 14 years.

The business has grown in a slow, thoughtful pace. In the early years, Nancy made her wine at neighboring wineries until RTR’s could be constructed. The original Tasting Room that opened in 2007 was a small & intimate space. The winery itself was constructed in 2009 and was certified as a LEED Gold green facility in 2011 for it’s environmental and energy conscious design.

Of paramount importance to Nancy & Michael is the respect and preservation of this environment, whose formation has evolved over eons of time. The vineyard is managed using sustainable practices that balance safety with environmental & economic responsibility. Permanent cover crops are used to preserve and replenish our soils while also helping to manage and control water retention in the clay soils. A field of native wildflowers sits in between our Riesling Block and Earl’s Place to encourage pollinators. Geothermal is used to heat and cool our winery, and recycling is a way of life throughout the business.