Ball Vineyard
High Elevation. Lake Influence. Honest Wine.
Perched on the hills above Cayuga Lake, Ball Vineyards sits where elevation meets water – one of the Finger Lakes most distinctive growing environments. Our vines rise from high ground and look down toward the lake, capturing the cooling winds, moderating temperatures, and extended growing season that define great cool-climate viticulture.
At just 11 ½ acres, we are intentionally small. Every decision – how we farm, how we steward the soil, how we grow and harvest fruit – is personal, deliberate, and transparent from soil to glass.
Our Terroir
Between the Heights and the Lake
Ball Vineyards occupies a rare position in the Finger Lakes; nestled between some of the region’s highest vineyard elevations and the stabilizing influence of Cayuga Lake itself. This natural balance creates slower ripening, vibrant acidity, and layered aromatics – hallmarks of expressive cool-climate wines.
Our site is not manufactured. It’s earned – through elevation, exposure, biodiversity, and decades of intimate knowledge of this land.
Farming Philosophy
Eco-Committed. Soil-Drive. Transparent.
We farm with deep respect for the ecosystem that sustains us.
- Sustainable, eco-friendly farming practices
- Hand-harvested fruit only
- Minimal spray program
- No restricted pesticides
- No synthetic fertilizers
- Organic-based farming approach
- On-farm, blended compost created by us
- Focused on building and protecting microbiology
- Biodiverse vineyard systems
Healthy soils produce resilient vines. Resilient vines produce honest fruit. Honest fruit makes credible wine.
Our commitment is not a label – it’s a practice. We farm for long-term vitality, not short-term yield, creating wines with integrity for the environmentally conscious consumer.
From Soil to Glass
Education & Transparency
Ball Vineyards is built on openness. We believe wine should be understood, not mystified. From compost creation to clone selection, from pruning decisions to harvest timing, we are transparent about how our wines are grown.
Education is part of our mission – because informed drinkers make better connections to the land, the wine, and the people behind it.
The Vineyard
Varieties & Plantings
Our vineyard is planted entirely to cool-climate varieties suited to our elevation and lake-influenced site. Many vines were grown from our own nursery stock and grafted by hand.
- Leon – 4 acres (Boordy & Foster clones)
- Riesling – 1 acre (clones #90 & #110)
- Chardonnay – 1 ½ acres (clones #95 & 589)
- Marquette – 1 acre
- Cayuga White – 1 ½ acres
- Cabernet France – 1 acre (clone #115)
- Traminette – ½ acre
- Pinor Noir – 0.3 (Jackson clone #29)
Each block is farmed individually, respecting its specific soils, exposures, and microclimates.
Our Roots
Six Generations on Finger Lakes Soil
Farming is not new to us – it’s inherited.
Our family has farmed in the Finger Lakes for six generations. The vineyard grows on the same land where George was raised as a dairy farmer. From 1994 to 2006, he built and operated a nearby fruit farm planting over 5,000 peach and cherry trees, deepening his understanding of perennial crops, soil health, and long-term land stewardship.
We began planting grapes in 2007, applying decades of farming experience to viticuilture – grounded in observation, patience, and respect for place.
Our Promise
Wine with Credibility
Ball Vineyards produces wine with purpose and accountability. Every bottle reflects:
- Environmental responsibility
- Deep agricultural knowledge
- Cool-climate precision
- A true Finger Lakes sense of place
This is wine grown thoughtfully, farmed responsibly, and shared honestly.