The Upper Hudson Wine Trail has been gaining more and more notice. And I've been following a number of the wineries up there. One of the ones I've been most curious about but have not been able to get to, was Fossil Stone Vineyard.
Michael and Kelly Spiak own Fossil Stone Vineyards. Fossil Stone has been making wines for a while now they’re on the Upper Hudson wine trail. I went there sometime last year curious about what they were doing. The Fossil Stone Vineyards is located on an historic farm est. circa 1802 just 5 miles North of Saratoga Springs, in Greenfield Center, NY. They grow LaCrescent, Marquette, and Traminette.
The author with Michael Spiak
In 1802, Eliju Wing settled a 150-acre farm in Greenfield NY raising horses. Today, this historic farm, The Fossil Stone Vineyards, still stands as evidence of the hard work and persistence of our courageous forefathers. In the spirit of preservation, its current owners, Michael and Kelly...still farm those very fields. Although horses still remain, a new crop has risen from the loamy soil, GRAPES! After years of traveling and visiting vineyards all over the world, Michael has discovered a passion for growing grapes. The inspiration for our name comes from stone turned from the fields containing fossils left behind by Blue Green Algae.
The impressive thing about Fossil Stone is this: they are small and all the wines are handcrafted and they are all about quality. Micheal and Kelly had a hard time getting out of the gate with building issues for their tasting room. But 2020 despite the pandemic should be their breakout year.
The two wines I tasted while I were there were excellent examples of quality wines. My understanding is that their new rose is also of that type.
The Fossil Stone Marquette 2017 was an impressive first step for this winery. A big with of blueberry cobbler wife’s out of the glass on first meeting the wine. There's also blackberry and bramble berry, as well as slight hints of mineral notes and leather. A lovely finish of plum and vanilla lasts on the palate. A very, very impressive wine! Really good!
The Fossil Stone LaCrescent 2016 explodes with notes of oranges and lemons, apricot, pineapple, and hints of muscat. This is a big beautiful white wine. Tremendous!
Since I tasted there, Fossil Stone has also released a Fossil Stone Rose. Dying to try it!
Fossil Stone is a very impressive small quality producer. All done by hand. They are the real deal. Like the garagista vibe? This is your place. Absolutely loved it!