❄️ While most visitors think of the vines in summer or harvest, winter here in Fair Haven, New York has its own special charm. Picture acres of gently rolling hillside and pristine shoreline resting under glistening snow bathed in the soft winter sunlight. It’s a time for reflection, restoration, and preparation. The lake effect from Lake Ontario blankets the vines with a moderating influence that helps protect them through the cold months, and the peace of the season reminds us how vital this winter rest is to future growth.
Arial Views of Winter at Colloca Estate Winery
photos with thanks to Mr. Kyle Meddaugh, OnePhoto Photography.
✂️ Vineyard Pruning — Setting the Stage for Spring
Winter pruning of young vines.
Behind every exceptional bottle of wine is thoughtful vineyard management, and winter brings one of the most essential tasks of the year: pruning. Our team soon will begin the daunting task of carefully trimming last year’s growth from the grapevines while they are dormant. Each vine, all 32,000 of them, will be touched by hand to prepare for this season’s growth. This process shapes the vine for optimal bud development, ensures good airflow, and helps direct the plant’s energy into producing healthy, balanced fruit later in the season. It’s both a physical and artistic expression of our commitment to quality in every vintage.
Colloca’s Lake Effect Vineyard is blanketed with two feet of snow.
More Winter Scenes
Mindy Colloca takes a spin on a friend’s snowmobile.
A pheasant finds left over frozen grapes to snack on. photo by Jennifer Bruce.
A Fisher is captured on webcam.
Winter Events at the Winery
From Valentine’s Celebration Galentines, Wine Pairing Dinner, and Wine & Chocolate events, to WinterFest and upcoming Spring happenings there’s always something happening at Colloca Estate Winery.
Colloca Estate Winery’s Annual WinterFest is Sat. Feb 21, 2026. Check out our full list of Events and Happenings at the Winery.