Adirondack Winery, a staple in the wine industry for 16 years, has made a historic move by introducing its first female winemaker. Courtney Rankin, who started at the winery in June, is taking on her first harvest this fall.
Courtney Rankin is stepping into her role as head vintner at a busy time of year. She will oversee the production of 35 to 40 types of wine and six seasonal ciders. Rankin is enthusiastic about her new position, saying, “This is my crunch time right now. We’ll be getting in all our varieties, taking the grapes, and starting the fermentation process.”
At 29 years old, Rankin is already making an impact. She notes, “I like to interact with the customers and hear them say they’ve never seen a female or younger winemaker before. I think I’m bringing more modern ideas to the industry.”
The harvest season is just one part of Rankin’s year-round duties. She explains, “In the wintertime, we’re still doing lab testing to make sure everything is going well while the wines are aging. We are constantly moving wine from vessel to vessel. If we put something in one vessel, it doesn’t necessarily stay there for its entire aging process.”
To give customers an inside look at the winemaking process, Adirondack Winery is launching a series of “Wine Wednesdays” featuring Rankin on their social media channels. “Coming from a film background, I do love the marketing side of things,” Rankin says. “I think it’s awesome to show people the winemaking process.”
Rankin is excited about the growing wine industry in her home state. “New York State, with Long Island and the Finger Lakes being super popular for winemaking, is opening up more wineries. It’s exciting to see my hometown become a key player in this field,” she adds.
With Rankin at the helm, Adirondack Winery is poised to offer a new, vibrant perspective on winemaking, celebrating both innovation and tradition.
