The Evolution of Bloomer Creek

Like a glass of fine wine, a vineyard tells a story. Bloomer Creek Vineyard tells the story of two young people, Kim and Debra, who created something together – who bought a farm in the Finger Lakes and planted a vineyard in fields where sheep once grazed. Their farmhouse had many rooms with tall ornate windows looking out across cornfields and doors opening to a small orchard surrounded by Sugar Maples. Out back, Bloomer Creek warbled over a shallow shale bed. They came to this farmhouse by way of a love affair– a love affair with vines.

In 1978, as a young student on leave from Cornell University, Kim found himself pruning grapes on a vineyard overlooking Cayuga Lake.  The hard work, outside all day in frosty temperatures, suited him.  In the evening, standing by an outdoor grill with venison roasting and a glass of homemade wine in his hand, Kim realized he had found his life’s passion.  This passion would only intensify a year later, following an extended stay in the Alto Adige region of Northern Italy. Eat, drink, and be merry - Kim decided to become a vigneron.

After returning to Cornell to complete his studies (including a stint at CSUF in Fresno, CA for viticulture and enology not yet available at Cornell) Kim began to pursue his dream – buying land, planting grapes, and practicing the nuanced poetics needed to tend them. Bloomer Creek Vineyard was established in 1999 from 10 acres with two different vineyard designations – Auten Vineyard and Morehouse Road - planted on the west side of Cayuga Lake.  In 2012 a new vineyard was added to Bloomer Creek when Kim and Debra purchased an abandoned vineyard site on the east side of Seneca Lake, one mile from their production cellar in Hector.  The vineyard had been abandoned for over 30 years and needed to be cleared of brush, trees, posts and rusted trellis wire.  In spring of 2013, four acres of Riesling was planted. “Barrow Vineyard” - Old Norse for high, rocky hill and burial mound – links the past to the future.  One lone cedar tree was left in the field among the vines as a testament to all who have gone before and to all who will follow.

Debra’s life as artist/vigneronne has been defined by her connection to the natural world.  A graduate of Cornell University (BFA) and the University of Washington (MFA), Debra spent many years teaching painting as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Cornell University and Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. Her artistic career, which includes national and international solo and group exhibitions, began in 1978 and continues to this day.  From 1987 to 2013, Debra was represented by gallerist Bridget Moore/ DC Moore Gallery, New York, NY who placed her work in many private and public collections including; The Art Institute of Chicago; The Brooklyn Museum of Art; and Smith College Museum of Art.

 The James Beard Foundation published a promotional “Q. and A.” for “Sip and Savor the Finger Lakes “- the Bloomer Creek wine dinner held at the James Beard House in NYC - May 6, 2016. In response to their questions Debra answered:

#1 (what is your inspiration?) When we were young, Kim and I feel in love with the broad skies and open fields of the Finger Lakes and set out to become a part of it…The work required to become vignerons suited us, as we learned the poetics of cool climate viticulture and the nuance of each season.

#5 (what is your biggest inspiration?) Kim and I take inspiration from the Chinese poet Li Po who wrote:

 The Hermit lives on the mountain.  He is plain and joyful.  A handful of rice and water from the spring suffice him.  Still he has kept his wine cup.

#6 (what has been your best advice?) As winegrowers in a cool climate, our best advice came from a wilderness guide I knew long ago. Tap Tapley (guide and partner to Paul Petzold in the early days of NOLS ) said:  “I knew I could outlast the situation even if I had to walk. You need to plan on taking up where you left off – where you can’t do something any more. You have to keep inching along and you will finish. “ There have been many times in a season of growing grapes in the Finger Lakes where we just put “one foot in front of the other” until we are finished and wine is in the bottle.