This year, Billsboro Winery celebrates its 20th anniversary under the ownership of Kim and Vinny Aliperti, marking two decades of producing small-batch, dry wines in the Finger Lakes.

After leaving Long Island’s wine country to move to the Finger Lakes in 2000, the Alipertis began the next chapter of their winemaking careers, first at Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and later at Atwater Estate Vineyards. In 2006, the opportunity to start their own venture finally became a reality.

Jennifer Morris and Dr. Bob Pool, a Cornell viticultural researcher, founded the original Billsboro Winery in 1999—Geneva’s very first bonded winery—and were looking to pass the baton.

What began as a small operation producing 1,000 cases has grown steadily over the past two decades. Today, production has more than quadrupled. Unlike many wineries, Billsboro’s model has always relied entirely on purchasing locally grown grapes.

Over the years, the winery has developed strong partnerships with some of the region’s top vineyards while continuing to cultivate new relationships to diversify its grape sourcing.

From the beginning, Billsboro focused on producing relatively small batches of dry wines, many bottled from single-vineyard sources. That vision continues today, though the winery now works with a larger network of growers and offers a broader range of wines.

A note from Kim: “We are keenly aware of our responsibility to steward the land and the watershed. We want to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities we were fortunate to receive.”