A Seneca Lake landmark is changing hands for the first time.
Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee has been sold to FLX Family Winery, LLC, a sister company to Lilly Brothers Brewing, the owner of Horseheads Brewing. The sale officially closed on Monday.
The sale marks a major moment for a winery that helped put the Finger Lakes on the map. After New York passed the Farm Winery Act of 1976, local grape growers Gene Pierce, Eastman Beers, and Edward Dalrymple teamed up with businessman Howard Kimball to open Glenora Wine Cellars.
Founded in 1977 and opened in May 1978, Glenora became the first winery on Seneca Lake. Its debut vintage — about 5,000 cases — quickly earned praise, taking home medals at the New York State Fair and drawing attention from Wine Spectator, which named Glenora one of the world’s top wineries.
Over the years, Glenora expanded its offerings and reputation. In 1987, the owners added The Wine Garden Café, the first winery restaurant on Seneca Lake’s west side. In 2000, they built The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars and Veraisons Restaurant, now known for its lakeside views and farm-to-table dining.
Longtime owners Gene Pierce and Scott Welliver, who first met at a sailboat race in the early 1970s, guided Glenora’s growth from a small farm winery to one of the region’s best-known destinations.
The property — which had been listed for several years — included 64 acres of vineyards, the inn, and the restaurant, all on the winery’s lakeside campus in the Town of Starkey. The original listing price in May of 2022 was $10.8 million, according to Kimball Realty in Dundee.
The new owners have not announced any major changes yet, but Glenora’s name and legacy remain firmly rooted on Seneca Lake — a lasting symbol of the Finger Lakes wine region’s rise to international acclaim.
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