New York Wine, Cayuga Lake

About Raphael Winery and Vineyard

Sheldrake Point Vineyard, lying within a cool climate region, enjoys a superb vineyard location, a site comprised of well drained, east facing slopes that descend gently to the shore of Cayuga Lake. Our aspiration is for our wines to express the unique personality of our advantageous site within the Finger Lakes. Our passion is wines that are vibrant, harmonious, complex and elegant and that add pleasure to a dining experience.

The team at Sheldrake Point Vineyard includes Winegrower, Vineyard Manager and Winemakers. Our winegrowing philosophy is that wines of personality are created from the bones of vineyard soil, climate and inspired craftsmanship in the vineyard and in the winery.

In the vineyard we seek a balanced vine that fully ripens the grapes it bears, with all of the expressive character possible. This entails developing an understanding of each of our varietal blocks and matching with the appropriate viticultural practices such as Vertical Shoot Positioning and Scott - Henry trellising and related pruning and yields. At Sheldrake Point we specialize in the classic European grape varietals.

In the winery we seek a balanced wine that illuminates the personality of our site and is true to our cool climate region. A wine that exhibits appropriate structural components such as fruit flavor, acid, tannin, sweetness and the deft use of oak barrels such that the nature of our grapes is clearly expressed - all providing pleasing flavors and textures. Clarity of fruit, complexity and a high "yummy" quality are sought after with every vintage.

For the most part, and depending on variety and vintage, Sheldrake's wines will be suitable for consumption over a period of one to five years. This reflects the youth of our vineyards, and the typical intensity and structure of Finger Lakes grapes. Our site may be eons old. However, our vineyard is young and our wisdom and ability to express the personality of Sheldrake Point will accumulate with the vintages.

Our commitment to winegrowing at Sheldrake Point Vineyard is to strive for reflection of site personality in our wines, and to provide quality, pleasure and value.