Red Tail Ridge Winery, is owned and operated by Mike Schnelle and winemaker Nancy Irelan, a husband and wife team who came to Seneca Lake from California, where Mike worked in the financial services business and Nancy was an executive in charge of viticulture and oenology R&D at a large winery. They developed their vineyard from scratch, are farming in a sustainable manner and were the first LEED certified winery in New York. The focus of their production is Riesling, but they've also planted several clones of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as small experimental plots of Teroldego and Dornfelder. They plan to remain a limited production winery crafting premium dry wines that faithfully reflect their origins. The winery attracted attention for its early releases with some very positive press and several Gold and Silver medals in competitions on the East and West coasts. Wine Business Monthly named Red Tail Ridge one of its Hot Small Brands of 2008.