Our Farm

Grapes have been grown at Bully Hill since 1880, however, it was in 1958 that Walter S. Taylor and his father Greyton H. Taylor began to rethink and replant the family vineyard; taking out old Native American vines and replacing them with the then-unknown French American Hybrids. Both men were convinced that the future of viticulture on the East Coast lay with hybrid grape varieties. Greyton had done extensive research into which vines were best suitable for our cold region. He liked not only the cold-heartedness of the vine but that they were more disease-resistant and vigorous than their European counterparts.

By 1970 the entire vineyard had mostly been replanted giving the winery a distinct counterpoint to the then-Labrusca heavy wine production in the region. Many said it wasn’t going to work and looked at Bully Hill as an experiment as others solely focused on vinifera.

Time has borne out the legacy of our hybrid vineyard and Bully Hill has shown to the world that hybrid grapes not only make incredible wine but they are more economically and ecologically pragmatic from vine to bottle.

Bully Hill has also found another ally in our excitement about hybrid grapes, Cornell University. Founded in 1880, their extensive grape breeding and agriculture work has become world renown. Cornell Agritech maintains an incredibly active and vital role in our industry, making us one of the most forward-leaning wineries in the country. Cornell-developed grapes have become mainstays in Bully Hill’s portfolio; wine grapes like Traminette, Cayuga White, Noiret, and Geneva Red. With a contiguous vineyard of almost 90 acres, our commitment to using all hybrids is unwavering.

estate grown grape varieties

Red

BACO NOIR

A red hybrid with notes of cracked black pepper, and black currants.

Baco Noir is a red hybrid grape variety named after French teacher and grape breeder, Francois Baco (1865-1947). Baco Noir is a highly vigorous, cold-hardy variety fairly resistant to fungal diseases.

15.39 Acres

CHANCELLOR NOIR

Notes of plum, bramble, and cedar

A cold-hardy red hybrid grape variety developed by viticulturist Albert Seibel. Seibel developed this grape in French in the mid-19th century. An excellent grape that produces a fruit forward red wine.

8.96 Acres

chelois

Makes a delicate red wine with notes of cranberry, blackberry, and violet.

Another Albert Seibel hybrid grape developed in France. Resistant to phylloxera and highly productive, this varietal produces a red wine that is medium bodies and notes of dark fruit.

3.00 Acres

LEON MILLOT

Small berries produce fruity red wines with cherry and raspeberry notes.

A hybrid grape developed by French viticulturist Eugene Kuhlman. Resistant to fungal diseases and early ripening this grape is a favorite of our wine-maker.

4.02 Acres

COLOBEL

It produces dark-colored red wines, which are primarily used as teinturier (dye grape) due to their color strength.

An Albert Seibel developed grape. This red grape is prized for its heavily pigmented wine that it produces.

6.23 Acres

MARéCHAL FOCH

Produces fruity red with raspberry and cherry notes, low in tannins and medium bodied.

This varietal is named in after the Supreme Allied Commander during the First World War, Marshall Ferdinand Foch. Developed by Eugene Kuhlman in France, it ripens early, cold-hardy, and has great resistants to fungal diseases.

1.23 Acres

st. croix

A distinct red variety that has flavors of smoked paprika, blackberrry, and leather.

An American hybrid grape variety developed at the University of Minnesota by Elmer Swenson. The varietal produces a red wine with great color and soft tannins.

4.91 Acres

geneva red

Flavors of strawberry, cherry, and plum with well-balanced tannins.

An American hybrid grape variety developed at Cornell University at their Geneva NY agriculture center. This grape varietal is disease resistant and cold hardy making a well suited for the Finger Lakes. As a hybrid of Baco Noir it makes a wine similar to that.

1.25 Acres

WHITE

CAYUGA WHITE

An aromatic white with pleasing yellow pear and honeysuckle flavors.

A very important white hybrid grape released by Cornell University in the early 1970s. It is as popular in the vineyard as it is in the cellar, with great disease resistance, highly productive, it makes a wine with a wonderful aroma and fruit profile.

5.80 Acres

RAVAT 51 (VIGNOLES)

A brightly acidic wine that showcases intense pineapple and mango notes.

A hybrid grape variety developed by French viticulturist J.F. Ravat. Produces a wine with a unique flavor profile of pineapple and tropical fruit.

1.90 Acres

SEYVAL BLANC

Makes a classic white wine with notes of green apple and lemon.

Seyval Blanc is a white hybrid grape variety originally released in France in 1921, where it was known as Seyve-Villard, named after its creators Bertille Seyve and his son-in-law Villard. Seyval ripens early in the season, making it suitable for cool climates.

30.92 Acres

VIDAL BLANC

Enticing notes of lemons and honeydew melon.

Developed in the 1930s by French viticulturist Jean Louis Vidal. This grape is a hybrid of the Vinifera variety Trebbiano. This variety is cold-hardy and produces a white wine that is fruity with notes of pear and grapefruit.

2.93 Acres

Aurore

Produces a wine similar to a light Muscat, with lemon and papaya.

Created by Albert Seibel, the French viticulturist. Named after the Roman goddess of the dawn. This grape produces a lovely wine that is highly capable and versatile.

2.75 Acres

Pinot grigio

A classic wine variety with a nice balance of white peach and lemon flavors.

Grown at our Middle Road vineyard location. This and Riesling are the only Vinifera grapes that we grow.

1.00 Acres

RIESLING

Classic Germanic grape that creates a spicy and fragrant wine with notes of apricot, ginger, nectarine, and honey.

Grown at our Middle Road vineyard location. This and Pinot Grigio are the only Vinifera grapes that we grow.

9.00 Acres