Wine With a Purpose
Wine With a Purpose
Comerford Irish Boxer Wine a gift for many; available at the Winery of Ellicottville
Photos / John Comerford
There is a lot of history in the hills of Ellicottville, but did you know that there are grapes as well? There is a family that grows their own grapes and produces a wine you’ll only be able to find at the Winery of Ellicottville. Isn’t that interesting? We thought so.
Sam Sheehy, owner of the Winery of Ellicottville, connected us with John Comerford, owner of said grapes, and he filled us in on how this all came about. “I started this project about six years ago,” he said. “My wife, Hope, and I have five kids. I have a busy family and law practice. Unfortunately, most of my clients die from cancer caused by asbestos exposure, mesothelioma. My goal was to create a project in my life that provided me with a healthy distraction from the terrible loss of my clients. The regular grind and responsibilities of the farm provide me with an escape from the daily obligations of life and work.”
John continued, “After bottling, which is usually around Saint Patrick’s Day, I enjoy giving my wine away to my struggling clients and friends in hard times. I rarely call beforehand. I just show up at their homes with a gift and stories of the farm. I am beyond humbled that I can spend time with clients in the final chapter of their lives,” he explained.
“Our mission statement has always been: FAMILY, SACRIFICE & RESILIENCE,” said John. “Comerford’s Irish Boxer Winery is a testament to our ancestors. We stand on the shoulders of immense sacrifice and our winery reflects the Comerford tradition. Our family farm is in Ellicottville, New York which is well known for its heavy snowfalls and cold temperature, so we needed to select a resilient grape that would endure harsh winters. We selected Itasca which is the newest cold-hardy release out of the University of Minnesota Breeding program.”
After much trial, error and a lot of hard work, the Comerfords now have over 800+ grapevines on their property, along with 40+ raspberry and blueberry bushes, 20+ fruit trees, a duck pond and birdhouses.
So what exactly is an Itasca grape? John stated, “Itasca is a grape that produces a dry white wine that is light yellow to straw in color and has aromas of pear, melon, and subtle honey notes. To enhance the experience, we blended in both Riesling and Niagara creating a smooth taste. Niagara is a native grape which evokes floral jasmine.”
John was more than happy to share that none of this would be possible without his partner, Hope Concannon. “Like our wine, we blended two resilient families together,” he said. “We hope our five kids take over the vineyard one day and continue to honor our past.”
Sam from The Winery of Ellicottville comes in to help John produce the wine, which he does not sell himself. John explained, “To be clear, I don’t sell my wine. I give it out to my clients. Sam from the Winery of Ellicottville helps me make my wine and Sam keeps some of my wine every year after the Saint Patrick’s Day bottling. I’m happy to allow him to sell it under his name, as I started this out as a way to bring my family together and bring some joy to both my clients and myself.”
“My goal is simple,” John said. “I hope this project unites my kids in a project that will go on for generations. We stand on the shoulders of immense sacrifice and this project honors those who came before us.”
If you are interested in having a taste of local history, visit the Winery of Ellicottville and pick up a bottle or two of the Irish Boxer Wine. Your tastebuds will thank you. For hours of operation and information on the Winery of Ellicottville, please visit their Facebook page or their website at wineryofellicottville.com.
