Our Story
In 2007, the Owera Vineyards 57-acre farm was purchased at the north end of Cazenovia Lake. The vision was to create a legacy project that would bring community and families and together for casual gatherings and special occasions. Owera was conceived by and for family, and that feeling of family extends to every guest and each employee at Owera Vineyards. As with many start-up vineyards, their wine-making operation started with small beginnings. The first official crush was in 2010. In 2012, ground was broken on a tasting room and wine production facility as well as an event and promotional center to help promote the sale of their wines. That significant undertaking resulted in the Owera you see today, with recent additions of the barn and new barrel room. It’s been a long journey with many unexpected twists and turns along the way. Despite the challenges, every step of the journey has been worthwhile. The old friends and new faces we greet every day at Owera has created a legacy that goes well beyond the buildings, the grounds and the grapes. For us, the vineyard is about more than fine wine, great food and a spectacular setting; it’s about creating a place where people can gather, enjoy great company and make memories. At Owera Vineyards, wine is family.
Our vineyard is a combination of Minnesota cold hardy varietals, Frontenac Gris (think Riesling with pineapple overtones), LaCrescent (think apricot and citrus) and Frontenac (deep garnet color and blackberry flavor). We chose to plant these specific grapes in the summer of 2008 and in 2016 for one very important reason. Unlike our good friends in the Finger Lakes, we do not have the luxury of having deep lakes and the prevailing southeast wind of Lake Ontario to create an insulating microclimate. Cazenovia sits approximately 1,450 feet above sea level and the lake is very shallow (only 65 feet) in comparison to other nearby lakes. In other words, we planted grapes that are rated down to -40F to insulate ourselves from the cold evenings and frost.