Edible Vermont: Lincoln Peak Vineyard

Carrying on a Tradition of Excellence

What in the world would entice two experienced winemakers and viticulturists to leave temperate California and buy a vineyard in Vermont? For Kevin Bednar, it meant the opportunity to re-establish roots—in all senses—in his native Green Mountains. Nichole Bambacigno, however, was skeptical—until the couple completed their harvest in the fall of 2024 and tasted their first vintage. “Seeing the wines this fruit could make electrified me,” she admits.

Nichole and Kevin took the helm at Lincoln Peak Vineyard in New Haven, preserving the heritage of the winery established by Chris and Michaela Granstrom in 2001 and later stewarded by Shelburne Vineyard. The couple met in 2014 and fell in love while working at Gallo Winery in Modesto, California. Their friendship blossomed into marriage and a business partnership. To deepen their knowledge and gain hands-on experience, they worked at vineyards and wineries in Australia, New Zealand, and Austria.

Read on at Edible Vermont