History

After sitting dormant for several years and before being christened one of Keuka Lake's newest wineries, the vineyards of Rooster Hill underwent such a striking transformation in early 2000 that it made local residents shake their heads in disbelief.

Amy and David Hoffman moved to Keuka Lake in 1999 in order to simplify their lives. Or at least that's what they thought.

Amy, a former Marketing Executive for a Fortune 50 high-tech company and David, a Financial Planner and Tax Advisor with a private practice, decided to leave Southern California and move back closer to their hometowns of Akron and Clarence. They had discovered Keuka Lake in the early 90s, and agreed it was place where they would eventually like to spend more of their time other than just annual family vacations.

What started out as a hobby, quickly turned into an outright rescue effort. The parcel of land that housed a dilapidated vineyard and just happened to be located directly across the street from their newly built Victorian came up for sale, and it tugged at the heartstrings of Keuka Lake's newest residents. After inquiring about the property around town, it became very clear to Amy and Dave what a tremendous opportunity it would be to adopt the neglected vineyard and nurture it back to its original glory.

In early 2000, they traded their business suits and briefcases for jeans and work boots and have never looked back.

They planted the Savina Estate Vineyard in 2002 with Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Lemberger. Savina will yield its first fruit for winemaking in 2004. Named after Amy's great grandmother, who immigrated from Italy in the late 1800s, Rooster Hill's Savina vineyard faces west on a gentle slope and enjoys warm sun and cool breezes. In early 2003, they will undertake planting the Catherine Estate Vineyard. Named after Amy's great aunt, this vineyard is at a slightly higher elevation and will include Lemberger, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Guwerztraminer.

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