Tradition & Innovation
Standing Stone Vineyards is a historic winery nestled on the southeast side of Seneca Lake where sun and slope aspects greatly impact grape growing in the Finger Lakes. It’s here where grapevines are oriented in north-south rows atop the gentle drumlins along the shore, catching the reflected light and warmth off the lake from midday to sunset, allowing for desired ripening.
In 2017, Fred and Maressa Merwarth and Oskar Bynke of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard purchased Standing Stone Vineyards from the Macinskis and began charting a new course with innovation in the winery and biodynamic farming in the vineyards all while building and embracing the historic past. Since 2018, SSV has eliminated synthetic inputs and herbicides in the fields, planting cover crops, and moving towards bio-intensive farming for a diverse ecosystem thus leading the industry in sustainability. The revered vineyards Standing Stone were founded on fifty years ago and can still be experienced today in our Timeline Dry Riesling and vintage Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine which was originally planted by Fournier and Devaux in the 1970s for that very purpose. Innovation and modern winemaking are also apparent (and can be tasted) in our Sparkling Brut Rose of Saperavi, Farm White and Farm Red field blends, and some of the best Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon coming out of New York.
From this spectacular vantage point in our cozy tasting room overlooking historic vineyards and an expansive, picture-perfect view of Seneca Lake, we present exciting lineup of wines to please all palates.
Welcome to Standing Stone Vineyards!
Our History
Our vineyards were first planted in 1972 with four acres of Riesling by renowned winemakers Charles Fournier and Guy Devaux of the Gold Seal Vineyards and Urbana Wine Company. Both were explorers hailing from the Champagne region of France who scoured the Finger Lakes looking for the most ideal sites for planting European varieties. In 1974, they added eight acres of Chardonnay, blocks that would become the foundation of Standing Stone Vineyards in our Timeline and Treeline Vineyards. Their pioneering efforts brought us some of the first Vitis vinifera to Seneca Lake.
In 1991, the Standing Stone Vineyards brand was founded by Marti and Tom Macinski. Their first vintage, 1993, began with ten barrels and one tank producing 800 cases which, as legend has it, quickly sold out in a mere twelve weeks!
Then with vines procured from Dr. Konstantin Frank to create an experimental block, the Macinskis planted Saperavi, a unique red grape from the oldest wine-producing country in the world (the Republic of Georgia) that really took root here.
Further, they were the lead in lobbying the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for the use of Saperavi as an approved vinifera name. In addition, they were also instrumental in putting Gewürztraminer on the map.
With its favored location on the lake due to the warmth found in these vineyards, even though this noble Alsatian grape is not as cold-hardy as Riesling, it really thrives here. Year in and year out, Marti and Tom consistently produced great Gewürztraminers, making Standing Stone synonymous with this important variety.
In the summer of 2017, the owners of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, on the west side of Seneca Lake, purchased Standing Stone Vineyards from Marti and Tom Macinski. Their goal is continue the stewardship of this historic vineyard site.
Staff
Co-owners
Fred & Maressa Merwarth, Oskar Bynke
As of June 2017, Fred and Maressa Merwarth and Oskar Bynke purchased Standing Stone Vineyards to continue exploring this prized site. With a commitment to viticulture thought leadership and experimentation, they bring their knowledge gained from over 15 years at the helm of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard to Standing Stone Vineyards and are exploring what these historic vineyards have to offer.
Winemaking Team
Fred Merwarth, Dillon Buckley, & Bryanna Cramer
This trio is behind the wines at both Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Standing Stone Vineyards. Fred Merwarth leads the team as Head Winemaker and Co-Owner. Winemaker Dillon Buckley began at Wiemer in 2013 and over the last decade has become an integral member of the leadership team and voice behind the winemaking style. Bryanna Cramer joined as a harvest intern in 2018 and is an essential winemaking team member in her role as Assistant Winemaker.
Tasting Room Team
Our tasting room team is led by Retail & Tasting Room Manager Gabriella Larosa who joined our management team in 2020. She is supported by a group of knowledgeable and friendly Wine Educators, including Julian Millilo, Laurie Kimball, Christine Wesselhoff, Sandy Smith, and our dear Ann Ormiston, who has been a fundamental presence in the Standing Stone Tasting Room for over a decade. We always look forward to welcoming visitors with a glass and a smile!
TEAM WIEMER & STANDING STONE
Standing Stone Vineyards shares a leadership team with Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard. To meet those behind our marketing, sales, operations, and vineyards see here!
Our Partner Winery
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, founded in 1979, is located on the western slopes of Seneca Lake. In 2007, Hermann sold the winery to Fred and Maressa Merwarth, and Oskar Bynke. A decade later, in 2017, they purchased Standing Stone Vineyards. The two brands share both ownership and leadership teams. To learn more about Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, click the link below.