Matt & Sandy Downey, Owners / Wine Lovers

We believe our story at Magnus Ridge began on a fateful day in 1989, at the wedding of our founders, Matt and Sandy Downey. Despite having little interest in wine (as Matt was infamous in college for always drinking his ‘homework beer’), the Priest leaned into the couple to ominously whisper: “You two will never run out of wine.”

It wasn’t until the 1990s, when the couple moved to Syracuse, NY, that they discovered their real passion for the craft. Several years after the two starry-eyed engineers joined a winemaking club to meet new colleagues and friends, they decided to take the leap and start their own project in the heart of the Finger Lakes: Magnus Ridge Winery.

Magnus Ridge Winery was formally established in 2007, with its inaugural vintage. With just over 10 planted acres, Magnus Ridge Winery is home to a loving crop of Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Lemberger, Traminette, and Noiret vines.

Our tasting room, located on Seneca Lake at 6148 NYS Route 14, opened on July 3, 2011, and has hosted thousands of wine lovers from across the world, from China to Germany, and Seattle to Scranton. You’ll often find either Sandy or Matt bustling about the tasting room, either greeting guests as they walk in the French Doors or working on new projects to continually enhance and revitalize the guest experience.

Known across the Finger Lakes for the Original Wine & Cheese Pairing experience, each wine tasting here at Magnus Ridge guides you through an engaging, relaxing, and sensorially stimulating journey. Serving only the creamiest and explosively tasteful New York State cheeses with our wines guarantees each experience here at Magnus Ridge will be as unique as our lovely home, Seneca Lake.