Fox Run

For more than a century Fox Run was a dairy farm. The first grapes were planted in 1984 and the Civil War-era dairy barn was converted to a winemaking facility in 1990– three years before Scott Osborn took over the helm. Working closely with winemaker Peter Bell and vineyard manager John Kaiser, the Osborn’s are dedicated to a program of minimal intervention winemaking. With sustainable practices in both vineyard and cellar, Fox Run adheres to a low impact agricultural philosophy - protecting the diverse ecosystem present on its land and the pristine waters of Seneca Lake.

In 1996, a new wine facility was completed with state-of-the-art capabilities and views of Seneca Lake that remain unrivaled. In 2001, architects Jim Durfee and Scott Hemenway redesigned the original dairy barn, creating a new wine center and tasting room that maintains the original rustic character, while taking further advantage of the dramatic panoramic views of Seneca Lake. The original barrel room remains at the heart of the 2001 design, retaining the dramatic timber frame character and soaring space.

Pine plank floors and timber detailing extend the "Finger Lakes" style and an expansive stone terrace extends behind the building. The impressive wine center also features a market and café where visitors can stock up on specialty items from the Empire State, or sit down to flights of signature Fox Run wines, well-matched to selections of local farmstead cheeses and farm-to-table specials.

In 2012, Fox Run Vineyards became exclusively family-owned. Scott and Ruth Osborn, together with Kathleen and Albert Zafonte, Ruth Osborn’s sister and brother in-law are setting the course for an exciting new chapter. “We are redefining our legacy”, says Scott Osborn. “The team is tight here. Our acclaimed senior winemaker, Peter Bell, has overseen 18 estate vintages and John Kaiser, our vineyard manager, began developing the vineyards in 1984 – even before I set eyes on this magnificent property. We are all excited about the future here and our focus will center on the signature wines of the estate.”

Producing 15,000 cases annually, Fox Run Vineyards plantings include: Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir.

Under the dynamic, forward-looking ownership of Scott Osborn, Fox Run is poised to become one of the handful of truly great producers in the Finger Lakes. Scott Osborn is a strong advocate of the place of wine in a healthy life-style, and he appreciates the health benefits of garlic as well. On a culinary level, as the Fox Run Garlic Festival demonstrates, the pairing of good wine and well-prepared flavorful garlic is nothing short of sublime.

Native grape varieties put the Finger Lakes on the map a century and half ago, and French-American hybrids, bred for cold resistance, still have an important niche in the region. But Osborn is convinced that non-hybrid European Vinifera grapes can yield wine excellent enough to put the Finger Lakes in the ranks of the world’s top fine wine producers.