Tug Hill Vineyards4051 Yancey Rd

Lowville, NY 13367

President: Susan Maring Vineyard Manager: Michael Maring Winemaker: Craig Hosbach Marketing & Sales: Richard Cole Events Coordinator: Theresa Sammon

History of the Establishment:

The Vineyards were established in 2007. Mike and Sure previously owned North Country Landscaping, and after selling the business, decided to start a vineyard and winery. I overheard Mike telling Craig, they were sitting at a bar having a few drinks, and chit chatting with the land owner, and that’s how the deal came about! At first, they ordered juice in to produce wine, until their vines were mature enough for production. They grow several varieties of hybrid grapes, including Marquette,

La Crescent, Brianna, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, King of the North, Swenson Red, Edelweiss, and Prairie Star.

What Tug Hill Does!:Tug Hill is an estate winery and a vineyard. They grow and harvest their own

grapes for producing their own wines to sell in their tasting room. They also offer brunch on Sundays, and dinners for special occasions, like weddings or showers. They are developing a “Taste and Tour” program for this summer, something new!

Wine Making Days Vineyard Days On days that I was working in the processing building, I was working with Craig. On days that we were bottling, I got to work with the whole crew (Craig, Sue, Dale, Mark, Mike B, & Theresa).

On days that I worked in the vineyard, I worked with Sue a lot in the beginning. Towards the end, I was working with Mike B, Dale, and Craig. Mike showed me how to do a bud count, and how to evaluate them. I worked with Pinot by my side most pruning days too.

A rough sketch of the bottling line. Bottling days were crazy busy so I didn’t get a picture ……

43° Lat Blush & Sparkling Marquette

Vs

- Bottling wine was probably my least favorite thing, and the thing

it seems like I did the most of. The process is the same, and there’s not much you can learn from it

after you do it a few times. Although, bottling sparkling wine was really interesting! It was a

totally different process, and we got to use dry ice!

- Learning all the pruning techniques was pretty interesting, but I think my favorite thing to do

was help make wine! If I were better at chemistry, I think I would have retained more, but when I

helped adjust wine, I feel like that’s the area I learned the most in. I

thought it was cool to see how wine can be manipulated and things

added and removed to make the best quality wine.

Wet socks and waterproof

boots!

Sunscreen was a MUST!

My internship really helped me gain a significant amount of hands on experience. I don’t think I would have been able to

learn so much just jumping into things, like I originally had “planned”. I was going to learn by the seat of my pants, and I’m

thankful Tug Hill allowed me to intern there, and learn by example. I can’t wait to get started in my own vineyard

someday!