Apollo's Praise

Apollo's Praise was established in 2023 by the winemaking couple Kelby James Russell and Julia Rose Hoyle. Based in the Finger Lakes region of New York, the winery represents the culmination of the pair's extensive careers as head winemakers at Red Newt Cellars and Hosmer Winery, respectively. The project transitioned into an estate winery in April 2023 when they purchased the Lahoma Vineyard from longtime grower Ken Fulkerson. The name of the estate refers to the song Glorious Apollo, which Russell performed during his time with the Harvard Glee Club as an undergraduate.

The primary vineyard holdings are located on the western shores of Seneca Lake within the Lahoma Vineyard. This terroir is distinguished by its sandstone soils, which are less common than the shale and limestone deposits found elsewhere in the Finger Lakes. The vineyard layout includes four distinct rolling hills that facilitate natural water and cold air drainage, resulting in different wine profiles from the same property. Winemaking practices emphasize site specific expression, frequently utilizing wild fermentations and extended skin contact for certain white varieties. While much of the production is estate grown, the owners also maintain long term relationships with partner sites to source specific fruit, such as Cabernet Franc from northwest Seneca Lake.

The winery is widely recognized for its dry Riesling, particularly the single vineyard bottling from a specific hill known as The Knoll. This site earned a significant reputation and high critical scores under Russell's direction during his previous tenure at Red Newt Cellars and now serves as the flagship of the Apollo's Praise portfolio. Beyond Riesling, the estate produces Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Grüner Veltliner, and it contains the first commercial plantings of the Scheurebe variety in New York State.