Philosophy

Freedom Run Winery & Vineyards is committed to celebrating wine as a true form of art. Inspired by the beauty and history of our vineyard on the bench of the Niagara Escarpment, the Manning Family and staff believe that the sites, sounds and flavors of this area should be enjoyed by all who visit looking for wines with a sense of place.

Our love of art and freedom of expression fuels our passionate dedication to making artisan wines that reflect our belief that everything we do affects wine quality. The winery has developed a reputation for producing world class wines. Its success is built on quality, consistency and characteristics of the Niagara Escarpment. A visit to the winery is a feast for the eyes as well the palette. We pick in small lots and maintain the identity of those lots through destemming/crushing, fermentations, and aging. These distinct lots provide the winemaking team with a rich palette from which to construct each blend. When using oak, we prefer used French oak barrels over new barrels. This helps us preserve the integrity and flavors of the fruit.

We invite you to visit our tasting room. Our knowledgeable and friendly wine educators look forward to introducing you to our renowned wines and historic winery.

Winery

Nestled on the bench of the Niagara Escarpment, our winery combines a spacious modern wine production facility with a thoughtful, one of a kind, eye-catching tasting room. The design of the winery was focused on giving our winemakers the freedom and space to work without restrictions in an environment that is both functional and inspirational.

In addition to this, we thought it necessary to make sure visitors could see this production area where 100% of our wines are made. Visitors are able to see our barrels, tanks, press and other equipment from the tasting room, and if we are hard at work on next year’s vintage, that’ll be visible and open to our guests as well.

The design of our tasting room was intended to showcase the family’s appreciation and dedication to celebrating wine as a true form of art. From the intricate stonework on the walls to the hand blown glass art on the bar, every square foot has been designed to open up your senses to art. In addition to the family’s own unique touch, there is also some permanent and rotating artwork from their private collection of modern artists like Chuck Boux and Peter King.

When you combine these attractions with the site of the original house and barn that date back to the 1820’s, our winery becomes a truly distinctive place. We hope our winery symbolizes that past, present and future of this treasure we call the Niagara Escarpment.

Vineyards

Located in the heart of the USA’s Niagara Escarpment AVA, we currently have just over twelve acres of grapes planted in four vineyard blocks here on the bench of the escarpment. Planted in spring of 2005, these vines are just beginning to reveal their personalities.

Pinot Noir is certainly our most planted grape variety thanks to the area’s similarities to Burgundy, by this we mean, a cool climate two hundred day growing season and heavy clay over limestone sloped soils where pinot noir can show concentrated flavors and an unmistakable minerality. We included this variety in each of the three vineyard blocks, and in the best vintages, we will feature single vineyard wines that truly express each soil and mesoclimate.

We also grow the Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It will be in the blends of these grapes that we will show our passion for the blend, creating wines that show the best qualities of each vintage.

Our whites varieties include Riesling and Chardonnay. These grapes reveal a distinctive minerality in our calcareous soils combined with a depth and concentration that cannot be achieved in lighter more vigorous soils.

We have also included Champagne clone selections of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with plans of producing elegant sparkling wines in future vintages.

Visual Tour

Wines

Upcoming Events

Niagara Wine Trail 2012 Events

January: Wine about Winter!
February 10-12: Be Mine with Wine
April 13-15: Taste of the Trail
May 11-13: Wine Trail Blossoms
June 15-17: Wine and Cheese
July 28 & 29: 4th Annual Wine and Culinary Festival
September 7-9: Harvest Fest
October 19-21: Hallowine
November: Share the Bounty
December 1-2 and 7-9: Holiday Happening

News

Freedom Run Winery Receives Spectatular Wine Spectator Scores

We are proud to announce that our Estate Cabernet 2007 is now ties with a hand full of wines to be the highest rated red wine from New York State by Wine Spectator. Our 2007 Estate Artisan Series Pinot Noir also ties for the highest rated Pinot Noir in the state as well. These scores are huge and we could not be more proud of our winemaking team and vineyard manager. Here are the reviews:

2007 Estate Cabernet
There's solid aromas and flavors of pencil lead, black currant, olive and mineral in this medium-bodied red, which is ripe and juicy, with a long aftertaste met by a grip of dusty tannins. This could easily be mistaken for a Chinon. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2012. 65 cases made. -JM 90 points

2007 Estate Artisan Series Pinot Noir
A rich, cherry-tinged red, with a supple texture and a fresh, vibrant structure. Smoke and spice accents add interest, and this lingers on the finish. Drink now through 2015. 90 cases made. –JM 88 points

Freedom Run Reviewed on Wine Library TV

Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV is one of the most exciting personalities in the wine industry these days. His video podcast has been extremely popular and his reviews are the most colorful in the business. He recently dedicated a whole episode to our 2007 Estate Pinot Noir and gave it a pretty darn good review. Check it out here.

Subscribe to Our Blog

10/06/2010 12:45 PM

2010 Pinot Noir Harvest

Mother nature has been more than generous this year as the 2010 growing season has given us more sun and more heat than we've seen in a long time. With conditions like these the grapes ripen well ahead of their...

05/19/2010 12:06 PM

As the 2010 growing Season Begins, We Roll Out 08 and 09 Wines

The 2010 growing season here at Freedom Run got off to an early start this year with budbreak at least a week earlier than normal. April’s warmth got things going and so far we’ve escaped any frost damage from May’s...

02/26/2010 10:24 AM

Creating Our 2008 Reds Barrel by Barrel

Barrel samples for bench trials. There are a couple times a year when we get to really geek out on our wine. Obviously harvest lets us get down and dirty with our vines and crushing the grapes, but this time...

01/19/2010 03:39 PM

Buffalo Spree Compliments Our Wines

At the winery, we’ve put our heart and soul into every wine we’ve made. We haven’t spent much on marketing or advertising since we opened in February of 2007 and our main goal has been to make the best wines...

08/22/2009 12:22 PM

Veraison is well underway!

The last few weeks of hot dry weather has been exactly what the doctor ordered here in our estate vineyards. By the looks of our pinot noir, veraison is moving full steam ahead. Veraison is defined as "change of color...

03/16/2009 03:22 PM

"What does Freedom mean to you? essay contest winner

We have a recent winner of our “What does Freedom mean to you?” essay contest. Sue Borodzik earned herself a free bottle of wine with an elegant essay. Details of the contest can be read at our website.

01/21/2009 02:19 PM

New York Post pays us some compliments

David Landsel of the New York Post stopped by our winery last week during his trip to the area. He had been working on a travel story focusing on Lewiston, Niagara Falls and the Niagara area wineries. His objective was...

09/19/2008 10:14 AM

Harvesting for our Blanc de Noir Champagne

Last week, we kicked off the harvest season by hand harvesting the champagne clone pinot noir for our first estate grown bubbly. The two main grapes used for champagne wines are usually chardonnay and pinot noir, with pinot meunier also...

08/29/2008 12:50 PM

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Harvest

Yesterday one of the guys from the vineyard brought in a couple handfuls of grapes, and at first we didn’t know if we were being handed plastic grapes from our events table setup or the real thing – they looked...

08/15/2008 02:52 PM

August Update

Summer is a busy time here at the winery. Not only is the tasting room bustling on the weekends, but seasonal visitors are keeping us on our toes on Thursdays and Fridays as well. The vineyards have been extremely productive,...

Barrel Club

With Freedom Run Winery’s exclusive Barrel Club Program, winemaking just got personal. Our Barrel Club members have unprecedented access to our winery – and enjoy a hands-on winemaking experience, from harvest through the bottling process. Members can purchase as much as an entire barrel (which makes 300 bottles of wine) or as little as one-eighth. From families and groups to individual wine enthusiasts, we’ve got everyone covered.

What’s unique about Freedom Run’s Barrel Club is that it allows members to take part in every step of the winemaking process, from harvest, crush and press to racking, filtering and bottling, Members even have the choice of whether to age in French Oak or stainless steel – or whether to create a blend from different barrels and grape varietals. What remains constant: our winemaker and his staff will be there every step of the way, providing expert advise and thoughtful suggestions to make sure you end up with the wine of your dreams.

But while our Barrel Club Program encourages a fully hands-on experience, each member’s individual participation is totally decided by he or she. We understand your schedule may ultimately prevent you from taking part in every step. In that case, our winemaking staff will be here to follow your requests in making your wine. The program also includes special events exclusive to members; you will be able to taste barrel samples to check the progress of your wine, but you’ll also be able to taste Freedom Run wines long before they are available to the public.

Currently our Barrel Club Members have the choice of six estate grown grapes from which to make wine. Our reds include our pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot. Our whites include riesling, which can be made sweet or dry in style, and chardonnay, which can be aged in oak or aged in stainless steel.

Some discounts may apply based on quantity. Please call for details.

Private Label

Personalized Custom Wine – A Tasteful Gift For All Occasions.

Are you looking for a special way to say thanks? Celebrate a special occasion? Send Get Well wishes? Or congratulations?

Our exquisitely tasteful, one-of-a-kind custom Private Label Wine Gifts let you express yourself with a personal touch that makes a lasting impression and shows you truly care.

Birthdays, Weddings & Anniversaries, Get Well & Sympathy, Holidays, Thank You, Congratulations, Graduation, Retirement. You can commemorate almost any special event or season, and convey almost any message you wish. Businesses can also take advantage of this high impact means of thanking employees, customers, and suppliers for their support, while building their brand and goodwill. With your corporate logo and motto on one of our premiere wines, along with the message of your choice, your gift will say more and mean more, and help your company stand out from the competition.

Organizations have also found that our Private Label Wines provide an excellent fund-raising tool, while helping to spread the word about their missions and accomplishments.

Please contact us directly if you would like to place an order for private label wine. We will design a label for you or we can provide templates so you can create your own design.

Rentals

The combination of our spacious winery, barn and charming scenery makes Freedom Run Winery the perfect location of your next private or corporate function, intimate wedding, party, social gathering and special event. Our facilities are available all year round.

Freedom Run Winery is conveniently located close to many Niagara region attractions, accommodations and historic sites. The wine trail itself provides multiple days of fine wine tasting for your guests. Hotel accommodations are available in nearby Lewiston, Lockport and Buffalo.

Whether you choose our modern tasting room and winery, the rustic charm of our historic barn or the grounds alongside our lower vineyards, we have the right setting for you. Guest numbers are dependent on selected site. Outside catering is preferred. Please contact us @ 716.433.4136 for details or complete the Event Inquiry Form and we will contact you with the appropriate information regarding your event.

Event Inquiry Form

 

 

 

Weddings and Events

5138 Lower Mountain Road
Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 433-4136
www.FREEDOMRUNWINERY.com

 

Thank you for considering Freedom Run Winery and Vineyards for your event.   Our beautiful grounds and facilities are perfect for your special event:  whether it’s a wedding, rehearsal dinner or a corporate meeting in a memorable location.

This Brochure outlines basic pricing for events at Freedom Run, including property rental, beverage packages and other incidental fees. Prices are subject to change until a contract is signed for your event. Please contact us if you have any questions about any of this information.

Property Rental:

Historic Barn: Our Barn, which was built in 1826 with stone from the Erie Canal, is a wonderful place for a warm weather event. Its clean and rustic interior offers an unusual shelter for any event.  It seats about 250 people in row seating and around 110 for sit down dinners depending on your style.  Barn Rental : $200/ Hour
*As our barn does not have Bathroom facilities renters may consider renting portable restrooms or renting the Winery bathrooms for $300, which includes one staff person to be present in the tasting room.

The Winery Grounds:  Designated areas of our one hundred acre farm boast beautiful views of the Niagara escarpment and surrounding vineyards. Perfect for event tents of any size and beautiful days outside.  $200/hour

The Winery:  Our winery includes the use of two adjoining rooms: our tasting room, which is decorated in a modern style, with a light wood motif and ceramic and blown glass accents, and our “Barrel” or Processing Room, where polished steel tanks and classic oak barrels are the main décor. The winery provides a great location for receptions and seats up to 180 people for a sit down dinner.
* Events in this venue must be after our retail hours which end at 6pm $250/hour

Additional staff members: $25/per hour, per staff member. The number of additional staff is negotiated dependent on the needs of the client, caterer, and Freedom Run Winery.

Freedom Run Winery events
Bar Packages
All packages include two Draft Beers, House Wines, Pop, and Juices

Premium Package
Top Shelf Liquor

These include selections such as: Absolut, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Bacardi Superior, Jack Daniels,
Jim Beam, Seagram’s Seven, Jose Cuervo, Disaronno

Hours	Cost Per Person
1	$10.00
2	$15.00
3	$20.00
4	$25.00

*each additional hour will be another $5/hour per person
** all guests under 21-- $6.00/ per hour

Quality Package
Well Liquors

This package includes two Draft Beers, House Wines, Vodka, Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Bourbon, Scotch, Liquors and Mixers, Pop, and Juices

Hours	Cost Per Person
1	$9.00
2	$13.00
3	$17.00
4	$21.00

*each additional hour will be another $5/hour per person
** all guests under 21-- $6.00/ per hour

Basic Package
This package includes two Draft Beers, House Wines, Pop, and Juices

Hours	Cost Per Person
1	$8.00
2	$11.00
3	$14.00
4	$17.00

*each additional hour will be another $5/hour per person
** all guests under 21-- $6.00/ per hour

 

Event Terms of Agreement

1. A deposit of $500 is required to secure the date of your event. When more than one party request same date, the first party to provide the deposit will be given the requested date. The deposit will be applied to your final bill. Deposits are non-transferable and non-refundable.
2. Final payments must be made on or before the date of the event unless prior arrangements have been made in writing.
3. Payments will be accepted in the forms of cash, credit card, money order, certified check or personal check (with proper ID).
4. Price quotes are subject to increase to meet increased cost of beverages, labor costs, taxes, etc. Quotations cannot be guaranteed until 30 days prior to the function.
5. The final head count must be received 30 days prior to the event. This is a guaranteed amount for which you will be charged, even if fewer people attend.
6. Sales tax will be added on all event functions. A customary fee of 18%, which includes gratuity and administrative costs, will be added to the final bill.
7. All persons served alcohol must be 21 years of age. We maintain the right to refuse service of alcohol to anyone who cannot present valid identification as determined by the staff on sight and to anyone who may jeopardize his or her safety and the safety of others. No alcohol may be brought into any of our facilities without written and signed agreement with management and adhering to our food and liquor license limitations.
8. Shots are not included in bar service fees. This will be an extra charge set up with management prior to event and included in billing.
9. Deliveries (flowers, cake, equipment, etc) must be pre- scheduled with the winery at least a week before your event. All items brought by clients and/or vendors must be removed the night of your event unless prior arrangements have been made.
10. Decorations are the responsibility of the client and/or individual vendors. Some assistance may be available upon request for an additional fee. No confetti allowed.
11. We are not responsible for any merchandise, articles or otherwise left on the property during or after your event.

Visit

Freedom Run Winery & Vineyards is located in the heart of the Niagara Escarpment and is a member of The Niagara Wine Trail. Within an hour drive from Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Rochester and Ontario we are centrally located.

Tour:
The best way to introduce you to Freedom Run Winery is a personal tour of the winery. We’re open throughout the year, Thursday thru Sunday, and we invite you to drop by for a tour of our one of a kind facility. We will guide you through the process from grape to glass in our stunning production facility.

Taste:
As all of our wines are handcrafted and limited in production, we do charge a small tasting fee for most of our offerings. Currently a $5 tasting includes 5 samples of anything on our wine list. An additional $2 fee to taste our Ice Wine is optional. Of course, your tasting fees will always be waived when you purchase six bottles or more.

Shop:
Our tasting room doubles as our wine shop that includes select wines only available here. In addition to various wine accessories, we feature exclusive culinary selections of jellies jams and sauces. What really sets our shop from the rest has to be our original hand thrown clay pieces by co-owner and artist R. Sean Manning and original glass art by Chuck Boux.

Hour of Operation are:
Thursday – Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday - Wednesday: 12pm – 6pm

Contact

Since we are a boutique winery with a small but dedicated staff, we do encourage parties of 10 or more to call ahead or email us so we are prepared to give you the time to fully appreciate everything our winery has to offer. Short tours are also available by contacting us ahead of time as well.

Ph.716.433.4136
Fx.716.433.7124
manningmanor@freedomrunwinery.com

Inquires on web sales or any consumer sales questions may be reached at:

sales@freedomrunwinery.com

Any and all inquiries regarding press, press kits, wholesale accounts, distribution, Case & Barrel Club offerings can be reached at:

wines@freedomrunwinery.com

Inquiries regarding party and event rentals please email: events@freedomrunwinery.com .

Online Store