Meet the Johnson Estate Team

For Fred Johnson Jr., the woods and vineyards of Johnson Estate were the backdrop of his youth. As a third-generation Cornellian, Fred left the family farm to earn his BS in Agriculture and an MBA from Cornell in 1976. He embarked on a 35-year career in consulting and finance during which he managed international food companies in Australia, Canada, Panama, Mexico as well as in Oregon, California, and Ohio. This corporate chapter provided him with beneficial experiences in the global agriculture, food, and beverage industries and then provided unique perspectives in understanding the intricacies of the wine industry. But the home and the vineyards near Lake Erie always beckoned.

In 2013, Fred and his wife, Jennifer, who he met while they are both MBA graduate students at Cornell, returned to the Estate as the family business’ sole owners. Jennifer, a Virginia military-brat and francophile, brought her southern upbringing and her own professional journey to the winery, with experience in the finance industry, a masters degree from the University of Sydney (Restoration/Conservation), and a deep-seated passion for the “sense of place” created from historical architecture and the landscape around it.
Together, Fred and Jennifer rejuvenated the winery and the grounds of the Estate and in 2018, obtained a Century Farm designation from the NY Agricultural Society. While Fred applies his corporate experience to optimizing and growing the vineyards and winery, Jennifer has become the “chief of hospitality”, assuring that the Estate is a welcoming destination that leverages its historical authenticity with elegant aesthetics. Their leadership is defined by a shared philosophy to build upon the traditions of Fred’s father and grandfather, while ensuring that Johnson Estate remains an ever-improving cornerstone of the local community here in WNY.