Hunt Country Vineyards

Hunt Country Vineyards
4021 Italy Hill Road
Branchport, New York
USA 14418
Phone: 800.946.3289
http://www.huntwines.com/

Contact: Art & Joyce Hunt
Email: [email protected]

Art and Joyce Hunt, owners of Hunt Country Vineyards, first met in high school in Corning, New York. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1971, Joyce began her career as a social worker. Art received his BS in Management from Virginia Tech the same year. He started selling insurance, but was "saved" by the flood of 1972: HUD needed people to help victims get settled in temporary housing.

In 1973, Art and Joyce moved to the 170-acre Hunt family farm, whose Keuka Lake location and soil were extremely promising for growing superior wine grapes. They planted about 60 acres of premium varieties for eventual sale to wine producers. It took a few years for the vines to mature and yield wine-quality fruit. Then Coca-Cola Company purchased Taylor/Great Western Wine Company and moved all operations to California. The market for wine grapes collapsed, bankrupting many growers. Art and Joyce evaluated the idea of a small farm winery and in 1981 launched Finger Lakes Wine Cellars, which they guided from a small proprietorship to incorporation in 1985. In the fall of 1987, they formed Hunt Country Vineyards, combining Joyce’s love of horses with the Hunt family name.

Hunt Country first achieved national attention in the 1990s for Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. Since then, the winery has increased production to about 30,000 gallons and expanded to 20 wine varieties, from traditional dry vinifera (European) and French-American varietals, to complex and intense late harvest, sherry and port wines.


Art handles regulatory, fiscal and legal issues for the business, and maintains an active schedule in front of the public at festivals and tastings. He enjoys working with his hands, and around the farm, there is never a lack of things to fix! He is an active member of the Branchport–Keuka Park Volunteer Fire Department, and though rarely has the time, loves to sail with family and friends.

Winemaker: Jonathan Hunt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/huntwines

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hunt-Country-Vineyards-on-Keuka-Lake-in-the-Finger-Lakes/58190196598

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