Writing our 2023 update about a year ago, I wrote “2023 has been the busiest year for us since starting ‘the vineyard adventure’ in 2014.” Well, 2024 moved the bar even higher, as renovating the 1840’s farm house into the new tasting room required more of Fred’s time than expected. More on that below. For sure, Fred is slowly but surely working to have 2025 be much less busy.

Family news first. We and all our extended family have been blessed with good health this year. We continue to greatly enjoy daughter Adele and family living right next door to us, and thus being able to see Adele, Nate and grand kids Peter, Lydia and George quite often. Attending their sports events and concerts is a great joy! Also, sons Noah, Josh and Dan are no more than an hour’s drive away, so we see them often.

Sure, we’re another year older, have a few more minor aches, and not quite as much energy. And yet as you’ll read below, we’re still able to keep productively busy.

(Note – click on images to view larger)

Left to right:
Front row: George, Pam, Adele, Lydia, Katie (Noah’s wife; see below)
Back row: Peter, Nate, Fred, Dan, Bryan (Josh’s friend), Josh, Noah

For those not inclined to slog thru what always becomes a longer letter than expected, here’s the synopsis of significant events, with more detail below:

• Son-in-law Nate Lubansky started 1/1/24 as the vineyard manager.

• Son Noah started as full time (previously part time) tasting room manager (and more) in April

• Pam & Fred enjoyed their annual trip to Sight & Sound, with friends Tom & Priscilla March, to see the musical production of the Bible’s book of Daniel

• Son Noah married his sweetheart Katie O’Toole on June 18. Pictures below.

• On June 29 Pam and Fred attended the 50th wedding anniversary celebration for one of Pam’s high school best friends

• Tasting room met all those code and other requirements and officially opened July 4.

• Around this time grandson Peter got his driver’s license

• Fred celebrated his 70th on July 14, with several family and friends, at a ‘surprise’ party in the new Tasting Room

• July 20 was the official tasting room grand opening, well attended by family, friends, local officials and more

• In August a bee hive was set up on the farm by some wine club members with a honey business, and we now sell honey made from that hive!

• We had a great grape harvest, up about 25% in quantity over last year, with the growing season having much promise to be a one that makes great wine

• And business in the tasting room is slowly but steadily growing

Dan continues living in Honeoye Falls, as a self-employed computer consultant. He services individuals, small businesses (including our business website), and some local government offices. He’s active in his church, Calvary Chapel Southside. As Honeoye Falls is about 1 hr. drive away, we see him often – he and son Joshua drive down together.

Having Adele and family living next door continues to be a big blessing. Adele continues to home school their 3 children. A nearby Christian school allows home schooled children to participate in team sports as long as they take one class at the school.  Peter is now 17, has a real driver’s license. Lydia continues her harp lessons, in Ithaca. As in the 2023-2024 school sports season, they’re both playing basketball now, and probably volleyball later. We love going to as many of their home games as we can.  George, now 13, also enjoys music, taking piano lessons. He has a very inquisitive mind and loves to learn about everything, and shares his father’s love of all things animal and plant life!  And of course Nate is now the Vineyard Manager, relieving Fred of much effort there.

Above: Lubansky family: George, Nate, Adele, Lydia, Peter

Next is son Joshua. In 2024 he continued teaching 8th grade math at School of the Arts in Rochester. It’s part of the Rochester public school system, with special  programs for music, drama and fine arts.  He continues to sing in various Rochester area choirs. And continues his 2 hour classical music program on WXXI radio from 1-3PM on Sundays.

Noah’s big news for 2024 was marrying Katie O’Toole on June 18. The ceremony was held at one corner of the vineyard (to get some shade on a very hot and sunny day), and the reception in the nearly finished tasting room. About 50 family and friends attend.
Noah continued working 3 days/week at Damiani Wine Cellars thru March, and also 3 days/week at our ‘interim tasting venue at the vineyard. Starting in April he’s became full time for Airy Acres, staffing regular 11-6 hours at Airy Acres on Thursday, Friday and Saturday thru June, and then Thursday-Monday after that. Other days he reached out to area restaurants and stores for them to try our wine, and did various tasks getting us ready to open in the new tasting room.

Pam and her brothers Rod (left) and Brian (right)

Pam’s brother Rod Lockwood & wife Maureen, Katie, Noah, Pam, Fred, Rondee & Brian Lockwood (Pam’s brother)

Nate, Peter, George, Joshua, Lydia, Adele, Katie, Noah, Pam, Dan, Fred

Pam and Fred remain involved in much the same activities. Fred, in his ‘retirement,’ has been kept busy more than full time between helping Nate a little caring for the vines, coordinating the renovation of the farm house into the new tasting room facility, and helping Noah grow our wine business. He continues on our church (Seneca Community Church in Romulus) leadership board this year, ending a 3 year term at the end of December.  He also serves on the volunteer board for a Christian NYS lobbying organization (and more), New York Families, who seeks to influence NY legislators and legislation from a Christian perspective.  Also in September he started mentoring a Cornell senior living at the Chesterton House, a Christian residence (converted sorority building) adjacent to the Cornell campus. They meet 1:1 every other week.
Pam continues as Teaching Director of the Between the Lakes Community Bible Study class. It has about 50 participants from about 10 area churches engaged in both in-person and Zoom discussion groups. Pam provides overall leadership for the class, and prepares a weekly teaching given to all participants (recorded for the Zoom groups). This year’s 30 week study is Matthew. Fred leads one discussion group, he and Pam another co-ed group, and he helps with computer/tech support and as the class treasurer.

Now, the vineyard and wine business update.

The big news for 2024 was completing the renovation of the 1840’s farm house into a new wine tasting room and case wine storage space.  Fred was in essence the General Contractor, which meant finding, evaluating, selecting, hiring and then keeping at least one step ahead of two architectural/engineering firms and around 31 contractors and material suppliers – most of it over about a 9 month period leading up to July, 2024. Plus coordinating with various county agencies so the new building (a ‘public’/commercial facility, not a residence) meets all appropriate codes. And thru all that I want to do a big ‘shout out’ to two contractors. Barry Garman, who loves house renovation projects, and who was the ‘anchor throughout the storm’ in terms of doing his work so well, helping me find other good contractors, and just providing great practical advice on renovating a nearly 200 year old house. Also Warren Zimmerman and Sons, whose clear expertise is building pole barns, but also did a great job with the new siding and deck. It was Barry & Warren’s integrated effort (most likely enhanced since Warren is Barry’s father-in-law) that got things done so that our son Noah’s wedding in the vineyard and reception in the new tasting room could happen on June 18 despite some unexpected construction delays that come along despite one’s best planning and efforts.

2024 was ‘big’ in other ways. About 2 1/2 years ago Fred told Nate and Noah that by the time he reached 70 he wanted to avoid being ‘married’ to the vineyard from May to October. That required two things. Nate and Noah being able to work full time to take care of the vineyard and tasting room. And creating the new tasting room so we had a quality facility to store and sell wine from.  Both of these goals became reality in 2024. Now we just need to keep increasing the wine sales to get the cash flow where it needs to be. One of the keys to this is simply getting new customers to ‘find’ us, being located a bit ‘off the beaten path’ of the Cayuga Wine Trail. Noah’s been great using social media for this. We have ads in various publication relevant to the FLX ‘wine world’. We have signs on the two adjacent major roads. We have a growing email list, including 173 wine club members! So if you like wine, stop by at Airy Acres (we love seeing friends, past and present) or just ‘pass the word’.
No new plantings in 2024, nor none planned for 2025. For now, 21 acres with 8 varieties (Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Cab. Sauvignon, Cab. Franc, Lemberger, Chardonnay, Saperavi and Rkatsiteli) provide enough grapes for our wines (made solely from our grapes) and to also sell about half the harvest to other area wineries.
In 2024 we did release some new wines – 2023 Betty’s Blend White (named after my mom), 2023 Rkatsiteli, 2023 Saperavi, and 2023 Betty’s Blend Red. There will be a couple more new ones in 2025!
The tasting room renovation was the ‘big deal’ for 2024. A couple of friends suggested we create a ‘photo book’ about it. Here’s a link to an online version of it. When viewing, in upper right corner click on the ‘view full screen’ words.
Below are a couple of ‘before and after’ pictures. There are plenty more in the photo book link.

Also, anyone reading this who owns an RV and belongs to Harvest Host, we are a Harvest Host site. Another excuse to visit!

In closing, for us Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and His subsequent years of earthly ministry culminating in His death, resurrection and return to heaven, from which He continues to share His love for us. Those receiving this update are a mixture of those who share in this joyful celebration and those who may not.  If you’re interested in learning more about Jesus, Pam (585-301-1812, pam@bassettes.com) or Fred (585-727-3328, fred@bassettes.com) would be honored to chat with you about any questions you might have. Perhaps Linus explained it well to Charlie Brown in 1965, a show that won a Peabody and Emmy for outstanding ‘children’s’ programming.

One of the joys of the tasting room is having friends and family, some of whom we’ve not seen in years, stop by to visit. We’d love to see you.

Blessings on you and yours,

Fred & Pam