Red Tail Ridge & Reinventing Finger Lakes Sparkling: A Conversation with Nancy Irelan

 In this episode of the Vint Wine Podcast, hosts Billy Galanko and Brady Weller sit down with Nancy Irelan, the powerhouse behind Red Tail Ridge Winery in New York’s Finger Lakes. From her early days as a PhD student at UC Davis to leading R&D at E. & J. Gallo, Nancy brings unmatched technical depth to her boutique, cool-climate winery.

She shares:

🍇 How her science-driven background shapes minimalist winemaking today
🥂 Why sparkling wine is the future of the Finger Lakes—and how Red Tail Ridge is leading the charge
🌱 What makes Pinot Noir, Blaufränkisch, and Riesling thrive in her vineyard’s unique soils
⚗️ Insider stories from her time solving production issues across Gallo’s global operations
🏔 Her vision of the Finger Lakes as a world-class wine and travel destination

This is a deep dive into the intersection of science, terroir, and tradition, and an inspiring listen for any wine enthusiast curious about cool-climate winemaking in the U.S.

📍 Explore more at vintmarketplace.com
📧 Connect with Brady (brady@vint.co) or Billy (billy@vintmarketplace.com)

Cheers!

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!