Introducing the ESO Series
This wine is part of our ESO series, a collection of Estate-grown wines that explores the intriguing facets of an ESOteric selection of grape varieties. A descendant of Pinot Noir and native to Burgundy, France, Aligoté is experiencing a modern-day renaissance. Once a quiet understudy, it’s now gaining global attention for its vibrant acidity, citrus-driven elegance, and versatility at the table. We’re proud to be the first winery in New York to cultivate, craft, and release a wine from this storied grape.
Vineyard Notes
At Heart & Hands, our greatest desire is to craft the purest, terroir-driven wines from our vineyard on Cayuga Lake. In 2007, this journey began with a quest: to find the optimal potential vineyard site on land rich with limestone bedrock. We discovered a narrow thread of Onondaga Limestone along the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. Today, this limestone runs beneath our vineyard, providing the perfect foundation for great vinifera wines. The soils provide nutrient accessibility to the vines during the growing season, while the west-facing slope provides optimal late-day sun intensity.
The Aligoté is planted on the lower hillside of our northern-most vineyard block. The limestone provides the perfect foundation for great Aligoté, as it is similar to the terroir of Burgundy, France – the place where this esoteric grape originated.
Farming Practices
Out of love and respect for the environment, this certified sustainable vineyard is farmed without the use of herbicides or insecticides.
