The Winery

The history of the Johnson Estate Winery begins with  Frederick Johnson (1877-1960) who in 1908 purchased the family home (built in 1822) and farm along the banks of Freelings Creek.  The farm consisted of several orchards of apples, cherries and peaches along with a number of vineyards, predominately Concord, which Mr. Johnson marketed through the Sunnyslope Fruit Farm.  Johnson family lore credits Mr. Johnson with the unofficial start of the winery during Prohibition, when he made wine from his homegrown grapes.  His son, Frederick Spencer Johnson (1921-1998), grew up on the farm and later graduated from Cornell University in 1946 after distinguished military service as a naval aviator.  In 1960, he returned home and began planting French-American hybrid grapes; the winery was officially founded in 1961.  Mr. Johnson's children have added Vinifera vineyards and Icewines and are proud to continue the farming and winemaking tradition of their family.