Johnson Estate is, first and always, a working farm. More than 300 acres stretch along Freelings Creek, shaped by meadows, vineyards, woodlands, and the steady influence of nearby Lake Erie.
Wine begins here — in the land itself — and our family has cared for this place for over a century with one simple goal: to leave it better than we found it.
Thirteen grape varieties grow across 115 acres of estate vineyards, all within about 3000 feet of the winery. From heritage American grapes to French-American hybrids and classic vinifera like Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, every vineyard block is chosen for its fit with our Lake Erie climate — and for the kind of wine it can become.
This region has long been known as one of the great grape-growing areas of the world. Lake Erie moderates our seasons, extending summer sunlight and helping protect vines through winter. Combined with well-drained soils of sand, gravel, and shale, it creates conditions often compared to Germany’s Rhine and Mosel valleys — ideal for bright, balanced, expressive wines.
At Johnson Estate, stewardship isn’t a trend. It’s how we farm.
We build soil health through cover crops and mulching, return grape by-products back to the vineyard, and focus on practices that support long-term vine and ecosystem vitality. Every season is an opportunity to strengthen the land that sustains us.
We’re fortunate to operate in a region powered largely by hydropower from Niagara Falls, and our facilities are designed for energy efficiency. In partnership with Penn State, we’ve learned that the estate functions as a net carbon sink — thanks to healthy vineyard biomass and recovering woodlots that naturally sequester carbon year after year.
This is what it means to farm with purpose: caring for the land, so it can continue to care for the wines — and the people who gather here.
Ice Wine: Winter’s Gift from the Vineyard
Some wines can only be made in places where winter truly arrives. At Johnson Estate, our ice wines are harvested in the heart of winter, when grapes freeze naturally on the vine and become intensely concentrated.
Since 1995, we’ve been producing authentic ice wine the traditional way — a rare Lake Erie expression with remarkable sweetness, balance, and complexity.
8419 West Main Rd. (Route 20)
Westfield, NY 14787
Map & Directions
March – October
10am-6pm Daily
November – February
10am-5pm Sunday-Thursday
10am-6pm Friday & Saturday
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter
