The Vineyard
Glacier Ridge Vineyards is a small, perfectly manicured vineyard located roughly one mile north of Red Newt on the south east side of Seneca Lake. The steep pitch of the property, coupled with only six inches of ‘arnot’ topsoil before bedrock, results in a classic ‘Banana Belt’ vineyard: Warm, sunny afternoons and evenings throughout the growing season, all work in the vineyard done by hand, and reduced yields from the smaller vines. It is a vineyard that is, without question, a labor of love for owner and grower Tony Damiani, but the results are obvious in the glass. Especially for our Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, the concentration, fruit intensity, and smokiness of this site come through regardless of the vintage.
Lower Block:
The lower block of Glacier Ridge has the steepest slope of all the vineyards Red Newt works with. The 1999 planting of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir has long been utilized at the winery. The lower block, with its mature vines, is excellent at providing the structure and depth needed to be expressed as single vineyard wines. The plantings of Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Syrah, which were planted in 2005, have been accessible to Red Newt from 2016.
Upper Block:
Planted in 2014, the Upper Block has shown to retain the unique smokey character that Glacier Ridge lends to the red varietals grown there. The block was planted with a mix of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The soil is similar to the lower block in that there is very little topsoil before the bedrock begins, thus keeping vines vigor in check and allowing for smaller crop loads with increased concentration and ripening potential,
Vineyard Details:
Grower: Toni Damiani
Established In: 1999
Lower Block: Reds planted in 1999, Whites planted in 2005.
Upper Block: Planted in 2014.
Grapes Planted:
Lower Block: Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, and Riesling
Upper Block: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot.
Training Method: VSP – Vertical Shoot Positioning
Soil:
Lower Block: Lordstown channery silt loam
Upper Block: Arnot channery silt loam
Slope:
Lower Block: 10-15%
Upper Block: 6%
Exposure: West South West
Elevation: Lower Block : 600-680 ft, Upper Block: 760-780 ft
The Wines
Wine Characteristics: Smoke, Black Pepper, structured and demanding of bottle age.
Wines from Glacier Ridge Vineyards – Vineyard Designate:
Glacier Ridge Vineyard Merlot: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010-2018
Glacier Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Franc: 2007, 2008, 2010-2019
Glacier Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir: 2012, 2016-2019
Glacier Ridge Vineyard Syrah: 2017-2019
Glacier Ridge Vineyard Riesling: 2016-2019
Glacier Ridge Vineyard Pinot Gris: 2016-2019
Additional Wines from Glacier Ridge Vineyard:
Red Newt Pinot Noir: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015
Red Newt Cabernet Franc: 2017, 2018
Red Newt Merlot: 2012-2014, 2016-2017
Vintage ‘Port’ of Cabernet Sauvignon: 2012, 2013
