NYS Wineries Expected to Double Profits in 5 Years

It’s a rapidly growing industry. In fact you might be surprised to hear the wine business is the fastest growing industry in the state’s economy. That’s why a special state commission set a new goal for New York this week: Doubling its wine profits in five years. But North Country winery owners say they can do even better than that.

“We just had to find the right variety of grapes that would grow at thirty five below zero,” said Steve Conaway, owner of the Thousand Islands Winery.

Once Steve Conaway found those grapes, he started building the Thousand Islands Winery. In six years production has grown from eleven hundreds gallons a year to thirty thousand gallons.

The growing popularity of wine has something to do with it. But a lot Conaway’s success has to do with his discovery of those cold weather grapes.

“Ten years ago those grape varieties weren’t out there and what they’re doing is allowing the northern tier to become a viable grape growing region,” Conaway said.

Thousand Islands is one of three wineries in Jefferson County. Experts say that number should jump to 15 or 20 in the next five to ten years. Jefferson County just has the makings of good wine country.

“We’ve got more shoreline in Jefferson County than any other county in the state so it really bodes well for the wine industry,” Conaway said.