Warm Lake Closed

The last 3 times I tried to go there to buy some Pinot, nobody was home. I know several WLDGers visited there during our NiagaraCOOL winery tasting tours. Ed Draves, who set up these tours, posted the following link on Facebeek and I thought I'd re-post it here. Very sad.
Living With the Ghost of Warm Lake Estate Vineyard & Winery.

That is a shame - I hope someone snaps up those vineyards before any damage is done.

I was a bit worried about von Heckler's business plan, but I assumed he was selling everything he made. Personally, I didn't think his wines were worth the price (although they weren't bad), and he didn't have any backup wines (e.g. $10 cash flow bottles for the passing trade). Maybe a bold mistake, but they may have catalyzed some good things in that region.

Sorry to hear this. I liked the one bottle of WL I ever tried (a PN that Howie sent me).

[Robin Garr]

Sorry to hear this. I liked the one bottle of WL I ever tried (a PN that Howie sent me).

Yeah, I was gonna say. I enjoyed the wines very much when we went there on Ed's Niagara County tour, and was impressed by the facilities. I did think the pricing betrayed a possible excess of self-confidence, but like you, Dale, I figured if he could sell it all at those prices he'd surely be in the black.

[James Roscoe]

I was there just two years ago. WOW! How sad. The economy really did him in. He gave us one of the best tours ever. I will never forget it. This is very sad.

it is a very sad thing indeed. Mike was an awesome host and deserves some credit for the expolsion of quality of the Niagara Escarpment.

it is a very sad thing indeed. Mike was an awesome host and deserves some credit for the expolsion of quality of the Niagara Escarpment.

Do you know if the vineyards and winery are for sale?

[James Roscoe]

Hopefully somebody with some money and vision will buy up the property. If I was Warren Buffet rich I would buy it and hire Howie to be in charge. Of course I would let Howie tear up the PN and put in CF, Riesling and Chardonnay where appropriate. Ed would be in charge of marketing. All with hefty raises I might add. I would live on an island in the Caribbean and come up and admire the place. Warm Lakes has great potential.

Thanks James, and I'd gladly sell the wine.

Howie, a sign from God to drain the 401k??

This is sad news. The pricing was a bit aggressive in a new wine region, sometimes a bit too much oak used, but interesting wines nonetheless. Was distribution a problem? I've never seen his wines around Syracuse-Ithaca-Rochester.

Was distribution a problem? I've never seen his wines around Syracuse-Ithaca-Rochester.

Well, in what I took to be an indication of how the market reacted to Warm Lake's pricing, I noted an increasing availability in Canandaigua, NY, over time. At first I never saw their wines in stores. The story was that all the Warm Lake wine was sold by subscription, and that only the von Heckler-labeled wines were sold at retail. Then some 2004 Warm Lake Pinot Noir showed up in a Canandaigua wine shop, which I figured was maybe a reflection of the vintage. However, a larger amount of 2005 showed up the next year. I think some may still be in one of the shops there.

It's too bad, I think it was a good thing he did with the AVA. I do think he put himself in a difficult spot with how he positioned Warm Lake in the market.

[James Roscoe]

I never understood his philosophy. He needed to grow Riesling to make cash. I suspect that site would produce some awesome Riesling and Pinot Gris for that matter.