The Thomas Family has been in the Finger Lakes since the 1970's.
Owners of Shalestone Wines.
Welcome to Shalestone Vineyards! Fine Dry Red Wine in the heart of the Finger Lakes!
VINEYARDS
Located in the hills below our tasting room, on the Eastern slope of Seneca Lake, we selectively plant on our 6.5 acres a mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Lemberger and Pinot Noir. The dynamic micro-climate created by the deep lake, mixed with a shallow, clay-rich soil and the long sun filled summers, create a fantastic environment in which to grow our grapes.
We produce approximately 1500 cases annually.
ABOUT OUR WINES
"RED IS ALL WE DO!"
We moved to the Finger Lakes area in the late 1970’s and began a life long journey into the world of wine. Purchasing 13 ½ acres on the eastside of Seneca Lake in the early 80’s. Clearing the land of native cedar trees we built our home and started planting our vineyards. Recognizing the grape concentrating potential in the shallow clay-rich soil and the unique niche for a small producer making RED WINE only, Shalestone Vineyards was born.
"Red is All We Do! We are unique in the Finger Lakes, red wine is all we produce. In a wine region mostly known for producing Reislings and other white wine varietals, we have made it our goal to produce fine dry red wines that rival other famous wine regions around the world, but also have and retain their own regional character. Red wine is our passion and it is what we produce. Shalestone Vineyards is the only winemaker making reds exclusively in the Finger Lakes.
OUR ROOTS
In 1998 Rob and Kate Thomas designed and built Shalestone's retail and production buildings on Rte 414 in Lodi, New York. The retail sales room is an elfin-like building based off the historic Queen's Castle of Fossenvue fame, designed by renowned architect Arthur Nash, with a wrap-around porch that uses the cedar trees from the vineyard property as posts.
Both the warehouse and the production building are nestled into the hillside using the earth to keep the temperature constant year round. The interior doors and trim are finished in black walnut, butternut and cedar wood all from trees cut from the vineyard property.
The pair have been doing most of the work themselves, from the vineyard to the wine cellar to the bottle and then into the glass for customers to taste.
Always focused on family and the future, it was in 2008 that their son Seth joined them as the Vineyard Manager and Assistant Winemaker. In 2016 he became the head winemaker. Daughter, Liana joined the team in 2016 to manage and run the tasting room and guest experiences.
A visit to the tasting room is a mellow and often enlightening experience. Occasionally there is discussion about the wines, but other life focus chats are more common. Our wine is a slice of our life that you can enjoy when you visit, but away from our premises, it still has soul.
Rob has over 35+ years of commercial vineyard and winemaking experience and is a consultant for several new wineries in the Finger Lakes region.
Shalestone’s goal is to make red wines that are uniquely different from the other leading wine regions of the world but just as complex. Shalestone Vineyards is not just a business, it is our creative outlet, an opportunity that allows us to create and control a life style of our own.
It is a joy to enhance the quality of life with our wine.
"EVERYTHING IN BALANCE!"
