Around the World in the Name of Wine: Meet Winemaker Vanessa Hoffman
With an impressive resume and recognized talents in winemaking, to say we’re honored to have Vanessa Hoffman here at Knapp Winery would be an understatement. Learn a bit about her story, her time here at Knapp with Hammie the dog, and her favorite haunt for a Negroni.
A Scientist’s Adventure
Hoffman received a degree in molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2009, soon after being struck with the reality of a post-recession battle against job hunting. With a desire to land at a winery as a scientist, she found an initial calling for lab work. She remained in California amongst thousands of wineries and vineyards, starting her career as an intern at Ridge Vineyards in Lytton Springs, a renowned winery with critical acclaim and one of the most respected in the United States by Europe.
She admired the work so much that she decided to continue to expand her education by taking on additional internships in New Zealand and Australia, where her work ranged from the cellar to the lab and everything in between. In 2014, she moved over to Groth Winery as an oenologist in the labs. It’s there that she heavily contributed to Groth’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, named Spectator’s Top 10 wines of the year. And that’s when Hoffman knew she wanted to make her official start as a winemaker, transitioning to that title at Decoy Wines.
After discovering this passion, Hoffman packed her suitcases and headed to Italy to obtain a Master's degree in Viniculture, the cultivation of grapevines for winemaking. Luckily for us, she came back to her home state of New York after her studies to plant her roots in the Finger Lakes Region at Knapp Winery.
“My favorite part of the job is blending, where you can turn a good wine into a great wine — one of the best tools in a winemaker’s toolbox.”
The Future at Knapp
Winemaking can often be a balance between experimentation and strategy. In 2024, Vanessa plans to focus less on experimenting and more on refining. At the top of her mind is the 2022 Knapp Winery reds, which are almost ready to be bottled in the Spring of 2024. While 2022 was a small yield for reds, it’s also a going to be a really beautiful vintage. Hoffman advises to enjoy them while you can!
In addition to the 2022 Reds, Vanessa is always excited for rosés. She specifically calls out Knapp Winery’s Dry Rosé as a testament to blending and a wine she’s really proud of–and for good reason. VinePair named it one of 2023’s best rosé wines and noted that it’s perfect for pairing with “asian food, drinking outside the lines, and pizza night.”
Vanessa’s Picks
When Vanessa and her partner aren’t working, they’re typically at home restoring the historic home house they recently purchased. It’s hard not to mention her partner without also mentioning that he’s in the business, too, working as the winemaker at Glenora Wine Cellars. The pair met during a harvest season in California at St. Francis, finding their way back to each other here in the Finger Lakes.
Her current favorite wines? Knapp’s Saignée 2022, a Saperavi blend using the saignée rosé method with an intense color and high acidity, Glenora’s Seyval Blanc Pét-Nat (Pétillant Naturel), and Groth Sauvignon Blanc–no biases, of course.
Outside of wine, Vanessa enjoys a classic Negroni at The Hog Wallow Tavern in Geneva, New York, touting that they make the best one around.
Familiar Faces
Next time you visit us on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, be sure to keep an eye out for Hamish (AKA Hammie), Vanessa’s beloved pup and Knapp Winery’s vineyard mascot! You’ll find him exploring the grounds and checking in with Mom as she runs the show.
