Nichole Bambacigno and Kevin Bednar recently bought Lincoln Peak Vineyards marking a new chapter for the Middlebury, VT vineyard, winery and tasting room. It was recently run by Shelburne Vineyard | Eden Ciders, but founded by Chris & Michaela Granstrom.
Lincoln Peak Vineyard has renewed the production and aging of wines at the onsite winery. “Nichole and I have dreamt of moving back home and making wine in Vermont for a long time,” said Bednar. “It’s really been the singular goal throughout our career in the wine industry.”
After growing up in Essex, VT, Bednar moved west to learn how to make wine, where he met Bambacigno, an aspiring winemaker herself. The couple married in 2021 after traveling and making wine for a number of years in California, Australia, New Zealand, and Austria. Most recently they lead the winemaking teams at two benchmark producers in the burgeoning Outer Coastal Plain AVA of New Jersey. “
“We feel so fortunate and absolutely thrilled to work with this beautiful vineyard, learn from the wonderful Vermont winegrowing community, and guide this iconic local business into the future.”
"We are incredibly glad to welcome Nichole & Kevin as the new stewards of Lincoln Peak Vineyard," said Eleanor Leger, CEO of Shelburne Vineyard, which bought the winery in 2021. Leger proved to be an excellent keeper of the label's quality and history.
The new owners will retain the longstanding Lincoln Peak name and brand, and plan to revive a number of wines from the original Lincoln Peak portfolio, offering customers a taste of the vineyard's rich history alongside.
Lincoln Peak Starlight Rose’ 2024 is a hand picked and whole-cluster pressed. The wine was settled and racked. Fermentation included 6-months of native primary fermentation followed by a full malolactic ferment. The wine is 100% stainless. Coarse filtered for clarity prior to bottling. The wine was super flavorful. Big notes of fresh fruit, Strawberry, cranberry, bramble and a lovely note of white tea. Refreshing and delicious!
Lincoln Peak Limestone 2024 is a dry white wine. It is a co-ferment of Louise Swenson and Prairie Star, with a little La Crescent blended in. The resulting white is an aromatic smorgasbord, with tropical notes, green apple, with massive citrus notes. There were also notes of lime zest, cut grass and a certain minerality. Refreshing and with a flavor that lasts and lasts, this wine was exceptional.
Both these wines were excellent. Really looking forward to Nichole's and Kevin's reviving one of New England's great wine making heritages brands.