The vision of Red Tail Ridge is to make beautiful, terroir-driven & varietally appropriate wines in a precise and responsible manner. Responsibility to us means taking care of the environment, benefiting the people here in the Finger Lakes, and operating the business using long-term vision. There is consistent focus on supporting the local economy whenever possible, ensuring sustainable practices are implemented throughout the organization, and thoughtful progression in the development of the winery and tasting spaces. Precision in everything from where the vines are planted & our viticulture program to picking choices & decisions throughout the wine-making process. Our vision is displayed daily through the practices here at Red Tail Ridge
Nancy Ireland & Michael Schnelle are the owners-operators of Red Tail Ridge. They are partners in life and in business. Nancy brings a wealth of wine-making knowledge. Michael brings a bevy of financial and practical knowledge needed to bring the Red Tail Ridge vision to life. Together they have a passion for precision and are the force behind Red Tail Ridge.
Making the Decision
In 2002, Nancy & Michael made the decision to leap into their own winery. A bet between them ended with Michael coming to Seneca Lake with the goal of identifying and purchasing their vineyard site. It took over a year, but in Fall, 2003 they purchased what would be the Red Tail Ridge Estate.Af
First Vines Planted
After a year of clearing and preparing the soils for planting, in 2005 the first vines of Pinot Noir were planted. Followed by Riesling, Chardonnay & Dornfelder the following year.
Winery Construction
After using a neighboring winery for production for the first two years, in 2009 the winery was constructed. Geothermal was chosen as the power source for heating and cooling the facility. That combined with other environmentally conscious design elements led to the winery receiving a Gold LEED Certification in 2011.
The Main Tasting Room
A 2-year construction project that is finally coming to completion. Begun in 2022, the newest expansion of the winery facility is modular in design for future expansion and has an elegant-industrial vibe. Opened in July 2023, construction is just being completed now, in early Summer 2024.
With three levels of subscription clubs to join, generous bottle discounts, and flat rate shipping for orders of 6 or 12 bottles, we make it easy to continuously enjoy Red Tail Ridge wines throughout the year.