Courtesy Fossil Stone Vineyards & Winery
Fossil Stone Vineyards & Winery is a new operation at 331 Grange Road in Greenfield Center.
A Sept. 1 ribbon cutting event marked the opening of one of the only combined vineyards and winery in the area.
At the event, Fossil Stone Vineyards & Winery debuted its Amish-built, timber frame barn, a 720- square foot facility that sits on the 140-acre farm, including seven acres of vineyards and a large horse farm on the property that dates back to 1802.
The winery and vineyard will have a limited calendar of hours this fall and will hold a Harvest Party that is open to the public on Sept. 23.
The event will feature grape harvesting starting at 10 a.m., followed by evening of food from Mama Mia’s of Saratoga, a cash bar and music from the Greenfield band Nymbis. The business will host a variety of other private parties throughout the year. Starting next spring, the winery will be open for business and tours with more regular hours. For more information or to book, contact 417-849-6692. The new business joins the already-established Fossil Stone Farm, an equestrian operation that opened in 2016.
“It is a dream of ours to combine locally grown wine with our history of horses to make a special place and event venue that warms the heart and calms the soul,” said Mike Spiak, who co-owns the business with his wife, Kelly. They have been working on the idea since 2009.
Spiak, who was a member of the Air National Guard branch of the U.S. Air Force for 26 years, spent many years as a flight engineer on C130s, flying in the Polar regions for scientific research. He said many stops in New Zealand inspired his love and interest for vineyards, wine, and the grape to glass process, eventually opening his mind to having his own vineyards.
Kelly Spiak also spent more than 20 years in the Air National Guard and also is a full-time dental hygienist. The couple has two teenage daughters.
In 2014, the team received its license and produced its first commercial vintage.
Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch said the town “is pleased to add the kind of a business that captures the heart and soul of what Greenfield is about. The rural charm of a business like this is sure to be a success.”
The vineyard features three major types of grapes that are hybrids meant to withstand winter climates that originally came from the Midwest. The variety of grapes include Marquette, La Crescent and Petite Pearl.
The winery produces Rose (blush), La Crescent (a semisweet white), Marquette (a red semi-dry), Oak-aged Marquette (semi-dry, medium-bodied red wine) and Amber (a creamy, buttery white). The bottles range in price from $13-$20.
The property features beautiful farm scenery, vineyards and the new barn with many rustic trimmings such as wine barrel chandeliers, tractor seat stools and more. Visitors can experience the rural ambiance and also get a behind the scenes view of the wine-making process during harvest, with its stainless-steel tanks, crusher/destemming equipment, barrels and more.
Fossil Stone Vineyards & Winery consists of a team of six. The property received a conservation easement from Saratoga PLAN in 2005 to protect the property from development.
Originally, a historic horse farm built by Elihu Wing, the Spiaks chose to preserve and highlight the history and authenticity of the farm by adding an equestrian operation, known as Fossil Stone Farms, featuring wooden stables, boarding and lessons for more than 20 horses at a time, with each paddock featuring its own run-in shelter, stable and nine paddock areas, ranging from 1-5 acres each.
The farm has six equestrian and hiking trails totaling three miles. The equestrian operation opened in 2016 and is managed by Born to Run Performance Horses owner Alicia Davis.
The company website is www.fossilstonefarms.com. Its phone number is 417-849-6662.