Stanley Wagner (winemaker)
Encyclopedia
Stanley Arthur "Bill" Wagner (April 10, 1927 – June 26, 2010) was an American
winemaker
who, in the 1970s, became one of the earliest winemakers to establish a vineyard in the Finger Lakes
region of Upstate New York
, in an area that would eventually become the Seneca Lake AVA
. In addition to his award-winning wines, Wagner also established a microbrewery
that produced pilsner, lager
, ale
and stout
.
. Both his parents and grandparents had been grape farmers, and he grew up in Lodi, New York
, only one-half mile from where he established his vineyards. Wagner dropped out of high to join the United States Navy
during World War II
, but the war ended before he could see combat.
He became a dairy farmer after completing his military service, but by the mid-1950s he had returned to the family tradition of growing grapes. In the 1970s, Wagner lobbied on behalf of the New York Farm Winery Act of 1976
that fostered the creation of wineries in New York State. Wagner Vineyards was established in 1979, at a time when there were barely a dozen wineries in the Finger Lakes region. The winery took three years to construct, as most of the work was done by Wagner and his family. Wagner's first vintage was in 1978, and its initial varieties were white wines, such as chardonnay
, gewürztraminer
and riesling
. A 1981 review of a chardonnay in The New York Times
called the wine "a rich and creamy white, full in body", with the characteristics of "some of the great white Burgundies of France".
Later, Wagner Vineyards became known for its red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon
, Merlot
and Pinot noir
. In addition to a restaurant, Wagner opened the Wagner Valley Brewing Company in 1997, producing a range of beers including pilsner, lager, ale and stout. He opened branch locations in New York City
, Syracuse, New York
and the Thousand Islands
, once state law had been revised to allow such operations. In the 1990s, Wagner had worked on a study with researchers from Cornell University
measuring the levels of resveratrol
in the wine and printed on neck tags to let buyers know about the positives of consuming the wine and its antioxidants, but federal authorities revoked the winery's ability to identify possible health benefits.
A resident of Lodi, New York
, Wagner died at his home there at age 83 on June 26, 2010, after what was described as a "brief illness". Wagner credited his longevity to his consumption of a glass of his own Pinot Noir every night at dinner, continuing to note that "I exercise and eat right, too. But the wine helps, no question." He was survived by a daughter, two sons and six grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
winemaker
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
who, in the 1970s, became one of the earliest winemakers to establish a vineyard in the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region of Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
, in an area that would eventually become the Seneca Lake AVA
Seneca Lake AVA
The Seneca Lake AVA is an American Viticultural Area around Seneca Lake in Upstate New York. The wine appellation is entirely contained within the larger Finger Lakes AVA, and includes portions of Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, and Yates counties. Seneca Lake is a glacial lake about long and up to ...
. In addition to his award-winning wines, Wagner also established a microbrewery
Microbrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
that produced pilsner, lager
Lager
Lager is a type of beer made from malted barley that is brewed and stored at low temperatures. There are many types of lager; pale lager is the most widely-consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world; Pilsner, Bock, Dortmunder Export and Märzen are all styles of lager...
, ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
and stout
Stout
Stout is a dark beer made using roasted malt or barley, hops, water and yeast. Stouts were traditionally the generic term for the strongest or stoutest porters, typically 7% or 8%, produced by a brewery....
.
Biography
Wagner was born on April 10, 1927, in Elmira, New YorkElmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
. Both his parents and grandparents had been grape farmers, and he grew up in Lodi, New York
Lodi, New York
Lodi, New York may refer to:* Lodi , New York* Lodi , New York...
, only one-half mile from where he established his vineyards. Wagner dropped out of high to join the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but the war ended before he could see combat.
He became a dairy farmer after completing his military service, but by the mid-1950s he had returned to the family tradition of growing grapes. In the 1970s, Wagner lobbied on behalf of the New York Farm Winery Act of 1976
New York Farm Winery Act of 1976
The New York Farm Winery Act of 1976 is a law that allows grape growers in New York to establish wineries and sell directly to the public, subject to a maximum of annually....
that fostered the creation of wineries in New York State. Wagner Vineyards was established in 1979, at a time when there were barely a dozen wineries in the Finger Lakes region. The winery took three years to construct, as most of the work was done by Wagner and his family. Wagner's first vintage was in 1978, and its initial varieties were white wines, such as chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates. It is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz, and in French it is written '...
and riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
. A 1981 review of a chardonnay in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called the wine "a rich and creamy white, full in body", with the characteristics of "some of the great white Burgundies of France".
Later, Wagner Vineyards became known for its red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
, Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
and Pinot noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
. In addition to a restaurant, Wagner opened the Wagner Valley Brewing Company in 1997, producing a range of beers including pilsner, lager, ale and stout. He opened branch locations in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and the Thousand Islands
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
, once state law had been revised to allow such operations. In the 1990s, Wagner had worked on a study with researchers from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
measuring the levels of resveratrol
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi....
in the wine and printed on neck tags to let buyers know about the positives of consuming the wine and its antioxidants, but federal authorities revoked the winery's ability to identify possible health benefits.
A resident of Lodi, New York
Lodi (town), New York
Lodi is a town in Seneca County, New York, USA. The population was 1,476 at the 2000 census.The Town of Lodi is in the southwest part of the county and is northwest of Ithaca, New York. There is a village called Lodi in the town...
, Wagner died at his home there at age 83 on June 26, 2010, after what was described as a "brief illness". Wagner credited his longevity to his consumption of a glass of his own Pinot Noir every night at dinner, continuing to note that "I exercise and eat right, too. But the wine helps, no question." He was survived by a daughter, two sons and six grandchildren.