Our Julia Vineyard represents a modern extension of the nursery program Hermann began in 1974. When Fred launched the Julia project in 2013, he set out to explore grape varieties that might offer new possibilities for the Finger Lakes. The questions guiding this work were practical but ambitious: Which varieties are cold-tolerant and late-budding? Which can better withstand disease pressure? Can they achieve the same level of quality here as they do in their native regions? And do they offer something distinct from the varieties we already grow?
From that process emerged a shortlist that included Pinot Blanc, Petite Arvine, Gouais Blanc, and Furmint. Pinot Blanc stood out for its versatility and relatively early ripening, making it a natural complement to the later-ripening white varieties already planted at Julia Vineyard. With one acre planted in 2020 our first small exploratory bottling was in 2023. This second release marks another step in evaluating the variety’s potential in the Finger Lakes and adds another delicious expression of cool climate wines.
