Greenfield resident Michael Spiak is one of many who remember that Greenfield was always a great place to grow up. Life on the working farms that seemed to connect the town like large squares sewn closely together on a patchwork quilt was full of good memories. Now that he is a family man himself, he is representative of many who would like to see that way of life preserved. Spiak and his wife Kelly, who are the parents of young children, have been working on weekends and in the evenings to be a part of reinvigorating the community's agricultural heritage with a creative twist that is bound to generate universal appeal. With the help of family, childhood friend, Andrew Conant, and co-worker Jerry Schmidt, Spiak has been actively attempting to develop vineyards of "tester" cold hardy grape varieties that will hopefully prove suitable for developing fine red and white wines after a painstaking process of research and problem solving.
"This farm became a passion; we can't help but see increasing sprawl
coming toward Greenfield; we felt it was important to keep this land
agricultural," says Spiak.
Conant remembers the prior owner inviting neighbors during his youth for large dinners and celebrations on the same farm that grew hay and livestock. The farm itself is under land trust protection through Saratoga PLAN, the organization that helps protect the quality of life locally by conserving open spaces and special places for present and future generations. Saratoga PLAN protects land in the Saratoga region through purchases and donations of land and conservation easements, to preserve important natural resources and open spaces, which is what occurred on this property. It is one of over 3,115 acres of farmland, forestland, natural areas, trail corridors, and historic sites in the Saratoga region that have been protected.
Spiak is the current owner and steward of the property. He was initially involved in the renovation of the post and beam constructed center hall colonial farmhouse on the site, which is tucked away on an obscure 146-acre farm on Grange Road. Originally known as the Elihu Wing House, the last owner who wishes to remain anonymous, named the farm "A Place Just Right," after a one-verse song called Simple Gifts, written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine in 1848.
The piece was performed during President Obama's inaugural address ceremonies this past January, seems ideally descriptive of the farm and vineyards.
Finding time for tending the vineyards has worked out during the evenings and on weekends; Mike and co-worker Jerry Schmidt are both flight engineers for the 109th Airlift Wing NY Air National Guard, based in Scotia. Kelly Spiak is a dental hygienist in Queensbury, as well as serving as a dental technician for the 109th. Conant's family is actively involved in Baroque Music events in Greenfield.
Spiak credits Extension Associate Kevin Iungerman of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Northeastern New York Commercial Fruit Program as his most significant source of mentoring and scientific input on the project. Spiak chose to begin experimenting by trying to grow La Crescent grapes, used to make semi-sweet and dessert-style wines similar to Riesling but with apricot and honey tones to their flavor, and Marquette red hybrid wine grapes. Marquettes can have many nuances, including cherry and black currant essences. Spiak is also trying to grow another variety of grapes developed by Cornell called Noiret, a dark berry destined to become a peppery wine.
Lungerman covers five counties in New York State, including Saratoga, Albany, Washington, Essex and Clinton. He has visited the Kayaderosseras Vineyard several times in the past four years since its inception; he and Spiak participate in an experimental planting in Willsboro, New York, close to Lake Champlain. There Spiak has gained hands-on experience with grape cultivating, and the multitude of environmental and weather issues such as soil, wind current, sunshine and rain that factor into a successful attempt at growing grapes. "The winters are milder and there has been more volatility in the spring," says Iungerman. "Plants are budding sooner, and the window for frost is longer these days, increasing the risk of injury to the plants."
Another co-worker and friend, flight engineer Hugo Mascolo, will join the effort later on in the process when it comes time to create wine out of the grapes grown at the vineyard, but that part of the plan is not in the immediate future; Spiak and friends anticipate the first pressing will occur in 2013.
Spiak and friends look forward to sharing their love for the natural beauty that still lives on the farms in Greenfield, and with a little bit of cooperation from Mother Nature, they will soon be toasting to the successful outcome of their labors at the Kayaderaseross Vineyard with some fine wines unique to Greenfield and the Saratoga region.
Conant remembers the prior owner inviting neighbors during his youth for large dinners and celebrations on the same farm that grew hay and livestock. The farm itself is under land trust protection through Saratoga PLAN, the organization that helps protect the quality of life locally by conserving open spaces and special places for present and future generations. Saratoga PLAN protects land in the Saratoga region through purchases and donations of land and conservation easements, to preserve important natural resources and open spaces, which is what occurred on this property. It is one of over 3,115 acres of farmland, forestland, natural areas, trail corridors, and historic sites in the Saratoga region that have been protected.
Spiak is the current owner and steward of the property. He was initially involved in the renovation of the post and beam constructed center hall colonial farmhouse on the site, which is tucked away on an obscure 146-acre farm on Grange Road. Originally known as the Elihu Wing House, the last owner who wishes to remain anonymous, named the farm "A Place Just Right," after a one-verse song called Simple Gifts, written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine in 1848.
The piece was performed during President Obama's inaugural address ceremonies this past January, seems ideally descriptive of the farm and vineyards.
Finding time for tending the vineyards has worked out during the evenings and on weekends; Mike and co-worker Jerry Schmidt are both flight engineers for the 109th Airlift Wing NY Air National Guard, based in Scotia. Kelly Spiak is a dental hygienist in Queensbury, as well as serving as a dental technician for the 109th. Conant's family is actively involved in Baroque Music events in Greenfield.
Spiak credits Extension Associate Kevin Iungerman of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Northeastern New York Commercial Fruit Program as his most significant source of mentoring and scientific input on the project. Spiak chose to begin experimenting by trying to grow La Crescent grapes, used to make semi-sweet and dessert-style wines similar to Riesling but with apricot and honey tones to their flavor, and Marquette red hybrid wine grapes. Marquettes can have many nuances, including cherry and black currant essences. Spiak is also trying to grow another variety of grapes developed by Cornell called Noiret, a dark berry destined to become a peppery wine.
Lungerman covers five counties in New York State, including Saratoga, Albany, Washington, Essex and Clinton. He has visited the Kayaderosseras Vineyard several times in the past four years since its inception; he and Spiak participate in an experimental planting in Willsboro, New York, close to Lake Champlain. There Spiak has gained hands-on experience with grape cultivating, and the multitude of environmental and weather issues such as soil, wind current, sunshine and rain that factor into a successful attempt at growing grapes. "The winters are milder and there has been more volatility in the spring," says Iungerman. "Plants are budding sooner, and the window for frost is longer these days, increasing the risk of injury to the plants."
Another co-worker and friend, flight engineer Hugo Mascolo, will join the effort later on in the process when it comes time to create wine out of the grapes grown at the vineyard, but that part of the plan is not in the immediate future; Spiak and friends anticipate the first pressing will occur in 2013.
Spiak and friends look forward to sharing their love for the natural beauty that still lives on the farms in Greenfield, and with a little bit of cooperation from Mother Nature, they will soon be toasting to the successful outcome of their labors at the Kayaderaseross Vineyard with some fine wines unique to Greenfield and the Saratoga region.
Main Menu
Leave a comment