ABOUT US
VENTOSA VINEYARDS HAS BEEN VOTED A TOP DESTINATION WINERY IN THE FINGER LAKES. NOTED FOR DRY, OLD WORLD-STYLE WINES, ENTIRELY ESTATE GROWN FRUIT, MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE, BREATHTAKING SUNSETS AND VIEWS OF THE EASTERN SHORE OF SENECA LAKE.
- Ventosa Vineyards specializes in older vintage, dry red wines.
- 100% hand-picked estate vinifera grapes, including Tocai Friulano and Sangiovese, two Italian varieties.
- Mediterranean inspired dishes served daily in our Café Toscana.
- Stunning views and sunsets can be enjoyed from our expansive terrace overlooking our vineyards and Seneca Lake.
- Lasting memories are created during special events in our Tuscan style La Vista e Bella ballroom.
Enjoy the following interview with our owner, Lenny Cecere and former winemaker, Jenna LaVita.
“Our mission is excellence,” says Lenny Cecere, proprietor of Ventosa Vineyards— and he means it. With the modus operandi of a devout perfectionist, Lenny is putting this winery on the map, one happy wine-drinker at a time. “Ventosa” translates to windy in Italian, and the name sets the stage for the winery’s Italian-inspired ambiance. The Mediterranean roots of the vineyard date back to Lenny’s grandfather who came to Geneva, New York, from Italy. Beer, wine and spirits were hard to come by when Prohibition and the Great Depression brought about hard times. As a tavern owner, Lenny’s grandfather learned to make his own wine as a means of survival. Driven by enthusiasm, Lenny pursued his own calling with the help of his wife, Meg. After years of careful planning, they opened the 65-acre Ventosa Vineyards in 2005. Lenny moved from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a general contractor to pursue a goal that he, his father and grandfather shared.
Every year, Lenny and Meg return to Italy and have modeled the winery in Tuscan fashion to reflect their trips. The amber-yellow and terracotta interior of the tasting room offers an equally Mediterranean feel to the alfresco dining option on the terrace. Sitting on the northeast shore, views of Seneca Lake and the cool westerly winds keep diners company as they feast on Tuscan-inspired fare from Cafe Toscana: paninis, pizza, homemade soups, antipasti and biscotti with cappuccinos.
We hired consultants, which were paramount in establishing Ventosa, both in the initial set-up and consulting with Ventosa’s first winemaker, Eric Shatt. This team, armed with RJ Passalacqua as the general manager, aims for 100% in all that they do. Excellence in the fields equates to excellence in the bottle, making any necessary sacrifice to obtain this. Giving up volume for the sake of precision, Ventosa has set a bar that it intends to keep—a sure fire way to keep each visitor pleased. Grapes that lack perfection are pruned off and discarded. This results in a lower production volume, but higher quality fruit. Our average yield is 2.5-3 tons per acre=60-66 tons, that equates to 4,200-4,700 cases per year.
The vineyards at Ventosa consist of 23 acres of vinifera grapes. These premium grapes include Pinot Noir, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay. Additionally, Ventosa grows Sangiovese and Tocai Friulano, Italian grapes not typically found in the Finger Lakes Region. Several of these bringing home dozens of gold, silver and bronze medals including international, world-wide gold medals at tasting competitions. The 2007 Pinot Gris won the prestigious Cum Laude award at the 2008 Wine Literary competition held in San Francisco. The 2011 Estate Grown Lemberger was selected as the winner of the prestigious 2015 Governor’s Cup trophy, marking it the best wine in NY. This was the first and only red wine to win this award. The wines were judged by a panel of experts from California, New York, Paris and London (among others) and included prominent wine writers, restaurant owners, and industry education specialists. For Italian vino-lovers however, the tocai fruilano, a smooth, well-rounded northern white from Venice with notes of ruby-red grapefruit and honeydew. The highly sought-after Saggio “wisdom” to Italian-speakers—is a Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Pronounced in the wine, flavors of black cherry, vanilla and tobacco compliment wild game, sharp cheeses and dark chocolate. An everyday favorite is the white blend, Vino Bianco, maintaining the body of a Chardonnay with the acidity of Vidal and Riesling. The winery goes to great lengths to perfect the wines and make certain they are enjoyed by guests. It is mandatory that all red wines stay in the bottle for 1 year before they are released for public sale. A lot of our wines are kept in barrels for up to 4 years.
Ventosa Vineyards offers one of the most unique venues for wedding receptions—La Vista è Bella room. Inside, hand-painted murals, elaborate chandeliers and wall sconces help create a European setting for the perfect day. Access to the expansive terrace allows for a stunning view of the vineyards and sunsets over Seneca Lake. Geneva’s landscape and close attention to detail bring the venue to life, attracting couples from around the country—and from around the globe. With excellence in wine, food and service, Ventosa Vineyards brings the ambiance of Tuscany to the Finger Lakes. Ventosa has received highly-esteemed awards year-after-year based on the outstanding experience they provided to newlyweds. They are one of the top wedding venues in Geneva on top wedding sites including Wedding Wire & The Knot. Ventosa Vineyard’s mission is “Excellence” and this award proves that they stay true to this mission. Every soup, dressing, and sauce is made the day of the special event. No matter the type of occasion, Ventosa serves the freshest food and offers extraordinary service.
SUMMER HOURS
(MAY 13-OCT 29)
WINERY
Mon-Sat - 10am-6pm (on-site bottle consumption ends at close) Wednesday (Live Music) 10am-5pm (BOGO Happy Hour 5pm-6pm, music 6-9pm) Sunday CLOSED
CAFÉ TOSCANA
Mon-Sat - 11am-5pm Wednesday (Live Music): 11am-8pm Sunday CLOSED
WINTER HOURS
(OCT 30-MAY12)
WINERY
Mon-Sat - 10am-5pm Wed (Live Music) open later to 8pm (BOGO Happy Hour 4:30pm-5:30pm, music 5-8pm) Sunday CLOSED
CAFÉ TOSCANA
Mon-Sat - 11am-5pm Wednesday (Live Music)open later to 7pm Sun CLOSED
