Vinny Aliperti, Winemaker
Vinny Aliperti started his wine journey making homemade wine as a teenager with his relatives, never considering it would one day become his profession. After graduating college with a liberal arts degree and a stint in the Peace Corps, an opportunity to pursue commercial winemaking on his native Long Island was presented and he never looked back. For three vintages ('97 - '99) Vinny apprenticed under winemaker Roman Roth at Wolffer Estate, learning traditional techniques in a state-of-the-art facility.
In early 2000 Vinny and his new family moved to the Finger Lakes and was hired as an Assistant Winemaker at the legendary Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard on Seneca Lake where he was first exposed to Riesling production. Just a year later, he was lured over to the east side of Seneca Lake to a new startup, Atwater Estate Vineyards.
Since 2003, Vinny has been head winemaker at our 8000 case facility producing dynamic wines from over a dozen varieties, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.
With Atwater's blessing, Vinny and his wife started their own label, Billsboro Winery, in Geneva, NY in 2007. Sourcing grapes from Sawmill Creek Vineyards on Seneca Lake, Billsboro specializes in producing small lots dry vinifera wines. Vinny’s winemaking style is often described as crisp and fruit-driven with a focus on creating intense but balanced wines. His dynamic approach has earned him praise both locally and nationally, including several write-ups in The Wine Spectator and New York Cork Report. Vinny is the winner of the 2016 winner of the NY Wine & Food Classic Governor's Cup for his 2015 Syrah for Billsboro.