Lincoln Peak Vineyard's New Owners Welcome Harvest Help

After making wine all over the world, Nichole Bambacigno and Kevin Bednar have taken over the New Haven winery. Community volunteers are helping them harvest.

The new owners of Lincoln Peak Vineyard aren't selling cars, but it might seem that way to passersby on Route 7: The wiggling white arms of a giant inflatable tube man flail over the vines.

Marshmallow Man, as rookie vineyard owners Kevin Bednar and Nichole Bambacigno call him, is for the birds. Or, rather, for keeping them away. The jury's still out on how effective he is at his job.

On one of the last days of mid-September's stunning stretch of weather, under Marshmallow Man's sort-of-watchful eye, a group of 10 grape harvesters got to work in the lower block of the New Haven vineyard. The all-volunteer group clipped bunch after golden bunch of la crescent, careful not to leave anything for those pesky birds.

Bednar and Bambacigno supplied them with pruners, gloves, lunch and — of course — wine.

When the married couple put out a call for harvesting help on their website and social media, "We didn't think anyone would show up," Bednar said. They've worked plenty of harvests in their winemaking careers, usually with hired staff. For their first season making wine in Vermont, and at their own vineyard, things are more DIY.

But volunteers have shown up every day to help bring in the grapes. Some are family — including Bednar's parents — or family friends, glad to have the couple in Vermont after they honed their skills around the world. Others, like a visiting sommelier, are just there for the experience.

Bambacigno, 33, and Bednar, 32, bought Lincoln Peak in the spring and welcomed their second daughter a few weeks later. The couple met at mammoth E. & J. Gallo Winery in Bambacigno's hometown of Modesto, Calif. — about as far from tiny Lincoln Peak as it gets — and traveled the world learning the trade in New Zealand, Australia and Austria. Before returning to Bednar's native Vermont this year, they were head winemakers at competing wineries in New Jersey.

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A crop of Vermont restaurants are blooming soon

Spring is in the air, and with it comes foraged foods, from ramps and fiddleheads. It also brings newness, including new restaurants. Seven Daysfood editor Melissa Pasanen joined Vermont Edition to talk about the new restaurants and bars she’s tried recently, as well as meals you can make with fresh, local ingredients this spring.

Here are some of the places she mentioned:

Fancy's, Burlington
Minifactory, Bristol
Frankie's, Burlington
Windfall Orchard, Cornwall
Rogue Rabbit, Burlington
Deep City, Burlington
Starry Night, Ferrisburgh
Lot 6 Brewing, Jeffersonville
Lincoln Peak, New Haven
Switchback, Burlington
Gallus, Waterbury
Original SkiffFish + Oyster, Burlington

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New owners take over local vineyard

NEW HAVEN — Spring is a season associated with new beginnings, and that’s certainly been the case this year at Lincoln Peak Vineyard, where new owners Nichole Bambacigno and Kevin Bednar are settling in and readying to welcome wine enthusiasts from far and wide.

The pair purchased the New Haven vineyard, winery and tasting room from Shelburne Vineyard last month and bring to the business over a decade’s worth of experience at vineyards across the globe.

The seasoned winemakers said they’re excited about this next chapter and seeing what opportunities lie in store for Lincoln Peak.

“We’re winemakers and viticulturists first, so we’re really excited to get a season under our belts and see how this vineyard presents itself and to see the sorts of wines that this vineyard wants to make,” Bambacigno said.

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New Owners at Lincoln Peak Vineyard in New Haven

Lincoln Peak Vineyard, a long-standing winery in New Haven, has new owners. Kevin Bednar and Nichole Bambacigno will retain the business' name, bring production back to the winery and revive several of its popular wines, including the Ragtime line — all with a "fresh, younger energy," Bednar said.

Chris Granstrom founded Lincoln Peak as a vine nursery specializing in hybrid grapes in 2001, and its first wines hit the market in 2007. The vineyard has been owned and operated by Shelburne Vineyard since 2021.

Bednar and Bambacigno, both 32, met at E. & J. Gallo Winery in Bambacigno's hometown of Modesto, Calif. Bambacigno said they left that business — one of the largest wineries in the world — to "get our hands dirty" and "harvest hop" in New Zealand, Australia and Austria before taking jobs as head winemakers at competing wineries in New Jersey.

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Lincoln Peak Vineyard Changes Hands

Shelburne Vineyard is pleased to announce the sale of Lincoln Peak Vineyard to Nichole Bambacigno and Kevin Bednar, marking a new chapter for the Middlebury, VT vineyard, winery and tasting room. Having operated Lincoln Peak since purchasing the business from its founders Chris & Michaela Granstrom in 2021, Shelburne Vineyard is thrilled to pass the torch to Bambacigno and Bednar, who are deeply committed to honoring and continuing the legacy of Lincoln Peak Vineyard.

Under the new ownership, Lincoln Peak Vineyard will renew the production and aging of wines at the onsite winery. Bambacigno and Bednar, who plan to reside in the local area, bring a wealth of passion and expertise to their new venture. “Nichole and I have dreamt of moving back home and making wine in Vermont for a long time,” said Bednar. “It’s really been the singular goal throughout our career in the wine industry.” After growing up in Essex, VT, Bednar moved west to learn how to make wine, where he met Bambacigno, an aspiring winemaker herself. The couple married in 2021 after traveling and making wine for a number of years in California, Australia, New Zealand, and Austria. Most recently they lead the winemaking teams at two benchmark producers in the burgeoning Outer Coastal Plain AVA of New Jersey. “We feel so fortunate and absolutely thrilled to work with this beautiful vineyard, learn from the wonderful Vermont winegrowing community, and guide this iconic local business into the future.”

"We are incredibly glad to welcome Nichole & Kevin as the new stewards of Lincoln Peak Vineyard," said Eleanor Leger, CEO of Shelburne Vineyard. "When we took over Lincoln Peak, we were fully invested in continuing what the Granstroms had established. This commitment never wavered, but the challenges of managing a vineyard and second tasting room remotely from our main location in Shelburne became increasingly evident. Nichole & Kevin’s dedication to preserving the heritage of this beloved vineyard and their commitment to crafting exceptional wines make them the perfect fit for this role. We are confident that under their leadership, Lincoln Peak will thrive and continue to be a destination for Vermont wine enthusiasts."

The new owners will retain the longstanding Lincoln Peak name and brand, and plan to revive a number of wines from the original Lincoln Peak portfolio, offering customers a taste of the vineyard's rich history alongside new creations. The Tasting Room will reopen on Saturday May 4th, and will be open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 12-6pm for wine tastings, wine by the glass, and light bites including cheese & charcuterie boards.

"We are honored to take the reins at Lincoln Peak Vineyard and build upon the foundation laid by both Shelburne Vineyard and the Granstroms," said Bambacigno. "Our goal is to continue the responsible farming of this vineyard site and producing delicious wines, while fostering a sense of community and celebrating the unique heritage of this special place. We look forward to welcoming both loyal friends of the vineyard and new visitors to experience the magic of Lincoln Peak."

For more information about Lincoln Peak Vineyard and its current offerings, please visit www.lincolnpeakvineyard.com

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ABOUT SHELBURNE VINEYARD

Since their first plantings took root in 1998, Shelburne Vineyard has been committed to elevating Vermont’s wine region. We craft both classic and modern wines for people who want to connect with their winegrower, support agricultural preservation in Vermont, and appreciate a taste of place never before imagined. We primarily grow cold-hardy Minnesota hybrid grapes on 16 acres of grapevines planted on our vineyard sites in the Champlain Valley, and make about 50,000 bottles of wine each year. For more information, visit www.shelburnevineyard.com

ABOUT LINCOLN PEAK VINEYARD

In 1981, Chris & Michaela Granstrom started an apple tree nursery just outside of Middlebury, VT, and then quickly transitioned to growing strawberries. In 2001, after 20 years of success with their strawberry enterprise, Chris turned his attention to planting the newly-released cold-climate grapes from the University of Minnesota. A few years later, their first vintage was released. Over more than a decade, Lincoln Peak grew to making about 25,000 bottles of wine each year – all strictly from grapes grown on their estate. In 2021, the vineyard was purchased by Shelburne Vineyard, who continued to produce the single-vineyard Lincoln Peak Marquette and Farnsworth wines and offer these wines and more at the Lincoln Peak Tasting Room. As of May 2024, Lincoln Peak is owned and operated by Nichole Bambacigno & Kevin Bednar. To learn more about Nichole & Kevin and the vineyard’s current offerings, visit www.lincolnpeakvineyard.com