ABOUT THE VINEYARD
Since Six Mile Creek Vineyard first opened its doors to the public in 1987, Nancy and Roger Battistella have handled all aspects of the business as a family partnership, with additional support from a dedicated staff committed to making your visit enjoyable. The Battistellas have been lovers of wine for many years prior to opening Six Mile Creek Vineyard. When the land adjacent to their property went up for sale in 1980, Roger was already an accomplished amateur winemaker. His family roots are deeply implanted in Italy where wine is a passion, and with some encouragement from close friends, Roger and Nancy were soon talked into planting a fully functional vineyard.

When the location was first assessed, the Battistella’s were advised to grow blueberries due to an unfavorable microclimate. Because of our location in the town of Ithaca, the property does not benefit from the warming effects provided by the deep waters of Cayuga Lake. Determined to grow grapes, Roger began planting certain varieties around 1982 despite the recommendations. Today, nearly six acres of Chardonnay, Riesling, Cayuga White, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, and Vignoles thrive at Six Mile Creek Vineyard, accounting for the majority of our white wine production. Only white grapes are cultivated from the vineyard, which require a shorter growing season than most red varieties. Each year the grapes are harvested by hand from mid-September through early October. Our yields are kept small to preserve maximum fruit quality. All Six Mile Creek reds are vinified in our cellars from grapes grown on more favorable Finger Lakes and New York sites.

Perseverance and attention to detail are at the core of Six Mile Creek Vineyard’s winemaking philosophy. Average annual production is between eight and ten thousand gallons, which translates to about four thousand cases. More recently the winery has added an exclusive line of distilled specialties including a wine based Vodka (the first of its kind in the Finger Lakes), Limoncella, a popular Italian liqueur, and Grappa, which is distilled from the alcohol remaining on the grape skins.