Airy Acres Vineyard is owned by Fred and Pam Bassette, the 3rd generation in the family to own the farm. The vineyard is operated by them with differing amounts of help from their four adult offspring, one son-in-law and 3 grandchildren. Fred inherited the farm from his mom in 2014. It is the farm he grew up on, as well as his mother, Betty. Both Fred’s parents ancestors lived in the Interlaken area since the early 1800’s, as farmers and business leaders. Betty’s family moved there (from the farm house next door) in 1913, at age 5. Betty’s dad, Fred Freestone, was very involved in agricultural needs of the community, a member and director of the Wheeler National Bank of Interlaken, a Past Master of New York State Grange, and on numerous statewide committees serving the greater public. Fred’s dad, Myron W. Bassette Jr., grew up in Interlaken, the great-great grandson of Lemuel Bassette who moved to the Interlaken area from Connecticut in 1810. Fred’s grandfather, Myron W. Bassette Sr. served the Wheeler National Bank from 1910 until his death in 1961. He was also involved in the Chamber of Commerce and the War efforts for both WWI and WWII. He assisted in the formation of the Interlaken Historical Society, as well as other community organizations.
Fred and Pam starting planting vines in 2015. That first planting of 3 acres of Riesling and Gewurztraminer has grown to 21 acres that includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, Chardonnay, Saperavi and Rkateseli. The vineyard is located close to the west shore of Cayuga Lake, and about 1 mile north of the village of Interlaken NY, which is midway between Geneva and Ithaca, New York. It is named after a functional vintage grass airstrip on the property, that Fred’s dad built in 1957.
Since planting our first vines in 2015, Airy Acres has been a well-known and celebrated vineyard producing high-quality fruit that is sold to local wineries in the Finger Lakes Region. We strive to provide high-quality fruit, always harvested at optimum ripeness, and enjoy showing the public how our passion for viticulture led to the creation of beautiful, dry wines. In the 2023 NY Wine Classic Competition we earned 1 Gold, 2 Silvers and 3 bronze.
The other family members involved in the vineyard are:
- Son Noah is the Tasting Room Manager and Sales/Marketing Director
- Son-in-law Nate Lubansky became the Vineyard Manager Jan. 1, 2024. He and Fred & Pam’s daughter Adele currently live right next to the vineyard. Adele helps in the tasting room, and she and the children help in the vineyard in various ways. Their 3 children particularly enjoy helping at harvest time!
- Son Dan, a self-employed computer consultant, does all the website work.
- Son Joshua, who teaches at Rochester School of the Arts, enjoys helping in the vineyard during the summer months.
Renovation is underway converting a 1840’s farmhouse next to the vineyard into the tasting room and cased wine storage facility, with plans to be open to guests in the spring of 2024. Until then, we have an interim tasting venue using a portion of the vineyard barn. We have a variety of wines, including dry and semi-dry Rieslings, a Gewurztraminer, a Gewurztraminer/Riesling blend, a Cabernet Franc Rose, a Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, a Lemberger/Cabernet Franc blend. Also, a Chardonnay sparkling wine is in the early phases of a multi-year aging process.
Check out the rest at airyacresvineyard.com, and our social media, for more information, as well as access to our online store. You can add your email to our mailing list for updates on future releases, where our wines are available to purchase, and updates on the construction of our tasting room and wine storage facility. Follow along on this new and exciting chapter of Airy Acres—we can’t wait to get to know you!
Contact Us
8011 Footes Corners Rd
Interlaken, NY 14847
office@airyacresvineyard.com
noah.bassette@airyacresvineyard.com