Atwater Estate Vineyards Claimed

Atwater Estate Vineyards is a family-owned winery located on eighty scenic acres on the eastern side of Seneca Lake. Our unique site boasts a microclimate ideal for grape production, and we are intimately connected to every vine we grow. This hands-on knowledge allows us to lovingly cultivate the grapes in our vineyards with precision, balance, and high quality control. As a result, the winemaking team can create thoughtful wines in a variety of styles with the use of neutral barrels, skin and stem inclusion, and sparkling offerings. Our vineyards, located on the southeastern hillsides of Seneca Lake, date back to the early 1900s when native varieties like Catawba and Concord dominated the region. In 1970, it was purchased by Minnesota newspaperman and wine entrepreneur Bill Moffett, creator of Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine as well as several prestigious commercial wine competitions and trade shows. He began planting French-American hybrids and vitis vinifera on the farm. Within a few years, Chardonnay, Marechal Foch, Seyval, Chancellor and Chelois took root and flourished. Later in 1999, local entrepreneur Ted Marks purchased the established vineyards and Atwater opened its doors for wine tastings and sales in September of 2000. With the help of his former son-in-law, Phil Hazlitt, whose winemaking expertise, vineyard knowledge and high standards helped establish our philosophy of creating consistent, clean and innovative wines, Atwater quickly gained reputation as one of the most exciting new wineries of the region.