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