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| Ravines Wine Cellars | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ravines Wine Cellars |
| Location | Geneva, New York, United States |
| Appellation | Finger Lakes |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Michael and Marta Rafanelli |
| Acres | 70 |
| Signature wine | Dry Riesling, Cabernet Franc |
| Distribution | Regional, national |
Ravines Wine Cellars
Ravines Wine Cellars is a boutique winery in the Finger Lakes region of New York founded in 2000 by Michael and Marta Rafanelli. The winery is known for dry-style Riesling and cool-climate Vitis vinifera varietals and positions itself within the narrative of New World producers adapting Old World techniques in North America. Its operations intersect with regional institutions such as the Finger Lakes (region), professional organizations like the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and tourism networks centered on Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake, and Cayuga Lake.
Ravines Wine Cellars was established in Geneva, New York, near Seneca Lake, amid a late-20th-century expansion of wineries across the Finger Lakes (region), a trend contemporaneous with developments in the Napa Valley AVA, Willamette Valley, and Okanagan Valley. Founders Michael and Marta Rafanelli drew on internships and influences from producers in Burgundy, Alsace, and the Mosel to develop a philosophy emphasizing site expression and dry styles. The winery’s trajectory involved participation in regional events such as the New York Wine Classic and collaborations with institutions like the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia and the Cornell University Viticulture program. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s Ravines navigated changing state regulations tied to the New York State Liquor Authority while expanding distribution into markets served by entities like the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and national retailers.
Vineyards are sited on slopes above Seneca Lake and in adjacent Finger Lakes sub-appellations, reflecting microclimates shaped by glacial geology similar to formations studied at Notre Dame (university) geology collections and regional mapping by the United States Geological Survey. Soils include shale, clay loam, and outwash gravels comparable to deposits documented in Ontario (Canada) and in European vineyards such as Champagne and Burgundy. Ravines cultivates cool-climate varieties including Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, and Seyval Blanc, employing clonal selections and rootstocks informed by research from Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and experimental work associated with the Finger Lakes Community College extension. Vineyard management reflects canopy protocols used by practitioners in Burgundy and Loire Valley appellations, and practices are adjusted for cold-hardiness concerns documented in northern growing regions like Michigan and Vermont.
Winemaking at the winery emphasizes minimal intervention, temperature-controlled fermentation, and neutral oak use analogous to approaches at wineries in Alsace, Rheingau, and Willamette Valley. The cellar employs stainless steel tanks, large-format neutral barrels, and small-lot fermenters similar to those used by producers in Bordeaux and Tuscany, with fermentations managed by selected strains of Saccharomyces as cataloged in collections at University of California, Davis. Malolactic conversion is applied selectively, and lees management and bâtonnage are used for specific bottlings following traditions from Burgundy and modern practices in California. The winery also experiments with extended lees aging and sur lie techniques championed by estates in Loire Valley and Jura to achieve textural complexity.
Ravines releases a portfolio that highlights dry Riesling, single-vineyard expressions, and varietal bottlings of Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir, alongside aromatic whites such as Gewürztraminer and traditional method sparkling wines influenced by techniques from Champagne. Labels emphasize provenance and vintage, aligning with trends seen at artisan producers in Napa Valley and boutique estates across Oregon and Alsace. Limited-production series draw attention from collectors familiar with bottlings from Burgundy and comparative tasting panels organized by groups like the Society of Wine Educators.
The winery has adopted sustainability measures reflecting regional initiatives promoted by the New York Farm Brewery and Winery Association and benchmarks similar to programs run by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand model. Practices include integrated pest management, cover cropping, and energy-efficient cellar equipment comparable to upgrades documented at estates in Sonoma County and Marlborough (wine region). While not universally certified under programs such as Vineyards for Change or Organic Certification, the winery engages with local conservation efforts and participates in dialogues with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and water-quality monitoring related to the Finger Lakes watershed.
Ravines has received recognition in regional and national competitions, appearing in tasting reviews published by outlets like Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and the New York Times wine column, and winning medals in competitions such as the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and the New York Wine Classic. Critics who have reviewed Ravines bottlings include contributors to Robert Parker (wine critic)-style publications and commentators affiliated with institutions like the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the Society of Wine Educators. The winery’s dry Rieslings are often compared in tastings to counterparts from Alsace, Mosel, and cool-climate producers in New Zealand.
Located near Geneva, the tasting room participates in Finger Lakes tasting trails and collaborates with regional tourism partners such as the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, local bed-and-breakfasts, and culinary events sponsored by Taste of the Finger Lakes and area chambers of commerce. Visitors encounter curated flights, educational seminars akin to those offered by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and special events timed with regional festivals like the Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival and seasonal harvest celebrations. The winery’s public-facing activities reflect tourism models adopted by destinations including Napa Valley and Willamette Valley.
Category:Wineries in the Finger Lakes