Welcome to Bright Leaf.

I’m delighted to introduce you to this month’s featured producer, Bright Leaf Vineyard. Located in King Ferry just twenty miles north of Ithaca and eight miles south of Aurora, it is one of the few wineries on the beautiful east side of Cayuga Lake.

Owned and operated by Donna and Mike Wilson, Bright Leaf is the culmination of a long-held dream to craft serious wines from their very own estate fruit.

They are inspired by the world’s great regions - Bordeaux, Cotes du Rhone, Napa, Sonoma, to name a few - and they seek to highlight our own unique sense of place through every wine.

Producing less than three thousand cases annually, winemaker Colleen Lukas focuses on the classic varietals: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. There’s also a small amount of Lemberger and Petit Verdot planted.

2016 represents only their first vintage, and Colleen joined in 2017. And while this is a relatively ‘young’ winery, the entire team is fastidious about both the vineyard practices and the winemaking approach, always looking towards the long term.

The undulating property gently descends towards Cayuga’s deep blue waters. From the upper vineyard to the lower, there can be a dramatic temperature variance of up to ten degrees - creating opportunities for structured and fruit-driven reds and crisp citrusy aromatic whites.

It is the first time in our wine club that we’re focusing on a winery’s reds, actually, and I’m excited for you to discover two different expressions.

On most Wednesdays, Bright Leaf turns itself into a super fun and casual experience highlighting local food and local music. There’s perhaps no better place to catch a dramatic sunset while tasting wine - and they are one of the rare wineries that actually stays open late enough to allow that!

My advice is to definitely go and see for yourself!

— Cheers, RP