GALLERY: A visit to Bully Hill Vineyards, Greyton H. Taylor Memorial Drive, Hammondsport, NY
Story and Photos By Janie L. Ferguson,
As you travel through Hammondsport, “The Coolest Little Town in America,” and head up the hill on Pulteney Street, the road transitions into Greyton Taylor Memorial Drive. Climbing well over 1,000 feet above Keuka Lake, you will arrive at the lovely Bully Hill Vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Upon entering the property, visitors can see the prominent Bully Hill Vineyards sign. Many guests stop here to get a photo. To reach the restaurant, gift shop, wine museum, and tasting room, guests can either climb the main stairs or utilize the driving paths for a convenient drop-off, which provides easier access for those who don’t care to use the steps.
I spoke with Greg & Lillian Taylor and Nicole Furey-Mendoker as I entered the restaurant for a meal. Nicole has always welcomed us with warmth, and kindness, and is such a gracious host as an employee there. Our family has been coming here for many, many years now, and she always makes us feel very welcome.
Lillian referred me to William King, director of the Finger Lakes Wine Museum, to find out more about the history there. She contacted him to come over, and we met, and I later went over to the museum to talk with Will, as he was referred to.
Bully Hill Vineyards is owned and operated by the Taylor Family. It was founded by the Late Walter S. Taylor, Lillian’s husband Walter
King said, “BHV as a winery was officially incorporated in 1970. The roots of the winery go back a little bit farther. The first Bully Hill wine that Walter Taylor bottled was in 1967. Walter’s grandfather was the founder of the Taylor Wine Company, which also existed here on what is commonly known as Bully Hill in 1880. So, the Taylor family has been up here on this hillside growing grapes and making wine since 1880.
Will continued,
“What we offer here at Bully Hill is a campus-like experience. We have our wine shop where you come and taste the wines, a restaurant overlooking the lovely Keuka Lake, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch in a relaxed atmosphere, and a glass of wine if you so desire. You may eat either outside on the open-air porch, or inside the air-conditioned restaurant.”
You may eat in a relaxed atmosphere either on the open-air porch, overlooking Keuka Lake or inside the air-conditioned restaurant.
There is a large two-story gift shop with a lot of items for sale where you may purchase wine bottles, clothing, posters, books, greeting cards, postcards, coffee cups, wine glasses, and more.
Up on a hill, between the restaurant and wine tasting building is the Finger Lakes Wine Museum. It has Walter Taylor’s interesting gallery, and a showroom for local artists, as well. Not only is the history of the Finger Lakes wine making, grape growing, barrel making, but you may also get to enjoy Walter’s artwork because it is essential to the character of the Finger Lakes. He designed and drew all his art labels. You may view some of them here, too.
The Keuka Lake view here is marvelous. It can be seen from every building. As Will and I stood just outside the museum together he said, “I’ve always thought this would make a great spot for an overlook.”
Many people like to get their picture taken here with the lake in the background. I met the Toth & Williams families in the parking lot when I first got there, as I offered to get a photo of them together. They were originally from Dryden, NY but currently make their home in Gainesville, FL.
Walking down the steps from the back vineyard I stopped to talk with young ladies who were part of a bachelorette party that were celebrating the soon to be bride Carli Richardson. She will be getting married in Brockport at the beginning of October. Along with Carli are Hailey Coffta, Ella Christon, Ally & Christa Richardson. I was told this was only part of the wedding party, and friends. Later on you could view all of the ladies, as their burgundy gowns blew in the wind walking along the vineyards, as they enjoyed their visit here.
Will took me over to the wine tasting room as I had asked if Walter had painted any photos of the vineyards. We proceeded over there, and he showed me two that he painted that were displayed there. I find it interesting that Walter was a winemaker, and an artist, as well. There were many people there chatting away and enjoying their day. As we went out front on the porch I was told that the area just below us was new, and it was set up with tables, chairs, and umbrella’s where people could relax on this beautiful sunny day. They at times also have live music for all to enjoy.
While visiting the wine tasting room I met three couples who were in the area celebrating their University reunion. As I joined in taking pictures, Dan O’Brien says, “Now, just because she has a bigger lens, you can still look at me.” As we all started laughing together. Bruce & Mary Kemmerer were the couple that were posing by the goat in the room. Wanting to get Keuka Lake in the background we headed outside for a photo of them together. It was Dan & Cherie O’Brien from Pittsburg, PA; Molly Bonfarine & Jude Hoffman from St. Mary, PA; and Bruce & Mary Kemmerer from Lenhartsville, PA. They were all having a grand time visiting today.
King continues, We are an interesting vineyard because we primarily grow French/American hybrid grapes which are perfect for the Finger Lakes region of NY, because it can get very very cold in the winter, and gets very hot in the summer. Some of the European varieties aren’t going to do very well in the very high elevation in our climate. This vineyard was very strategically planted with French/American hybrid grapes. Which are basically the marrying of two different species vinifera which are European and lambrusco which are American. It’s a little more complicated than that, but essentially, they cross pollinate them, and a new variety is created. When we replanted Bully Hill Vineyards in the late 1950, 60’s and 70’s. We replanted with these hybrid varieties because we knew we would get the best fruit out of them. So, we have grape varieties that are kind of rare in the wine world, along with others as well.
King, pictured, grew up just ten miles from here in Wheeler. Of course he had wine training, but he comes by the knowledge of grape growing very naturally as he grew up in the grape vineyards as a child. His father was a grape grower. He grew up amongst the grape vines. He says, when you grow up in the grape vines really young, you know how they smell, you know how they feel, you also know how much work it is, and you have respect for it. It’s not an abstract concept for me being that I grew up around it. He spoke with ease about his knowledge of the vineyards.
“The Wine Museum is important and is a good reminder of a few different things in our world. Our mission statement is to preserve the history of Finger Lakes wine making, and grape growing. The other thing is for us to promote the region. They go hand in hand. The first go around when things began here they didn’t have electricity, and they used tractors. They didn’t have anything that we have nowadays. Things were much different. For example we mow our vineyards to keep the weeds down. That takes time, fuel and labor, but it’s pretty efficient. Very carefully. It’s not easy on these slopes. Back then they would plow with horse and plow, and someone behind holding the plow. They had to do that a couple of times a year to keep the weeds down. If they didn’t it would become like a jungle. They had to do everything different, and they had to wake up a little bit earlier. Hats off to all of the hard work, but also we’ve had different areas cater to different tastes as to what is fashionable at the time. What was fashionable in 1860, wasn’t fashionable in 1960, and it’s not going to be what’s in vogue in 2060. I think we all need to be reminded of that from time to time. The era we are in now is a result of what’s behind it and what’s coming before it, and I think it’s a healthy thing to remember the past especially when you’re in an industry. “
We are a really interesting winery because the Taylor Wine Company used to be the iconic NY state wine brand. That was the wine back in the day. It was Taylors. Not only in NY but they were a national brand as was Great Western and Gold Seal Widmer, and a lot of the wines that the Canandaigua Wine Co. made.
Another book could be written about the Taylor Wine Company and the Taylor family as well, but this is just a bit of information about them, and what they have brought to the Finger Lakes region of NY, for many years now. A great place to visit with a variety of things to enjoy up here on the hillside. Come on out and visit, you will be glad you did, and you’ll go away thinking, “I just have to come back here again, very soon!”
For more about this iconic Finger Lakes destination visit BullyHillVineyards.com
