Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Hermann Wiemer was born into a German winemaking family, studied oenology at the Geisenheim Institute, and in 1973 chose an abandoned soybean farm on the west side of Seneca Lake. Local experts told him European grapevines couldn't survive the winters. He planted Riesling anyway. The winery he officially founded in 1979 went on to place a Riesling in Wine Spectator's top 100 wines in the world and earn recognition as one of Wine & Spirits Magazine's top 100 estates. The nursery he built supplied vines to growers across the country. Go for the Riesling. Stay for the proof.