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Sheldrake Effect

Sheldrake Point juts prominently from the western shore of Cayuga Lake and our vineyards stretch virtually to the beach. The combination of deep glacial soils and the moderating effects of Cayuga's waters provide superior conditions for growing fine quality vinifera wine grapes . . . in the world of winegrowing, it's called a 'mesoclimate' . . . we call it the 'Sheldrake Effect'.

Sheldrake Point is located right on the water's edge in the heart of the Cayuga Lake appellation, with over 400' depths just off our beach. Because deep water heats and cools more slowly than the surrounding land, the resulting hillside mesoclimate lengthens our growing season to 170 days, more than two weeks longer than surrounding counties. This mesoclimate has the ability to hinder bud breaks too early in the spring, lower daily swings in temperature, lengthen the growing season, and delay the onslaught of the first autumn frosts. Our east-facing slope warms up faster in the morning hours than west-facing slopes in the spring, and the deep gorges on both sides of our vineyards promote effective air drainage, inhibiting both frost and disease. The soils at Sheldrake are predominantly well-drained Howard gravelly loam, derived from shale, limestone and slate, and considered ideal for grape production.