CEREGHINO SMITH

After a year of searching, we fell in love with and purchased an old stone Huguenot house in Ulster County built in 1784. It came complete with a couple of acres and a circa 1860 barn with a dirt floor. Just in time for the 2004 crush, the barn was renovated and transformed into our winery. Although the winery was ready, the harsh winters of 2003 and 2004 devastated most of New York’s grape crop (other wineries were calling us for grapes), leaving us no choice but to contract for out-of-state fruit. So in the tradition of Italian winemakers in Brooklyn, our first Bloomington vintage used only California grapes.

We carried on with California fruit until 2008 when we used New York Cabernet Franc for the first time. We were delighted with the wine’s bright acidity, crisp notes of red orchard fruits and the resulting low alcohol. The bi-coastal nature of Cereghino Smith was born. Being that Paula grew up in Seattle and Fred was born in Manhattan, it all seemed to make sense. West Coast meeting East Coast seemed to be rather balanced and symbiotic.

Fred’s background in wine mainly comes from touring Europe as a musician, gaining exposure to fine wines from generous promoters and wine-savvy English roadies. With a degree in Art and Philosophy, Paula subsequently found herself in retail and wholesale. Her time at Sherry Lehmann Wine Merchants and Le Du’s Wines proved to be a true education and inspiration.

Paula Cereghino and Fred Smith wear all hats as owners, winemakers, label designers and sales staff.

Our “Beardeaux” blend has been included on restaurant wines lists at the Culinary Institute of America. The label features the work of William Beard 1825–1900. Our friend Bernie Mooney said, “you’ll get eaten by bears” when we moved Upstate, hence the name.

Our ‘Super Tuscan’ blend. The label features our friends Tish and Snooky Bellomo…sisters, singers and creators of Manic Panic.

References the white wines of Bordeaux and the Rhone, a winemaker’s blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.

Inspired by the Spanish wines of Jumilla & Monsant.