A Cayuga Lake winery is expanding its winemaking team, bringing in new talent as it prepares for the next growing season and future vintages.
Hosmer Winery in Ovid announced it has hired Taylor Stember as a winemaker, where she will work alongside longtime winemaker Julia Hoyle in crafting the estate’s wines.
Stember joins the Finger Lakes winery with a background that spans multiple wine regions. A graduate of the University of California, Davis with a degree in viticulture, she has worked at wineries in California and Australia before relocating to the Finger Lakes in 2020.
“I am so excited to join the Hosmer team and work alongside a family that has helped shape the history of wine in the Finger Lakes,” Stember said in the announcement. “Their passion for high-quality grapes and thoughtful wines is evident in everything they do.”
Winery leadership said the addition strengthens the operation as it looks ahead to upcoming vintages. Vineyard Manager Tim Hosmer said Stember’s experience and approach to winemaking made her a strong fit for the team.
“Her background and the wines that have come from her hand, along with her passion for winemaking, check all of the boxes,” he said.
Hoyle, who has been with Hosmer since 2017, will remain in her role but plans to dedicate additional time to her own project, Apollo’s Praise Winery, which she operates with her spouse, Kelby Russell. She said the arrangement benefits both the winery and her own work.
“This is a win-win for everyone involved,” Hoyle said. “We’ll have two creative winemakers working together, and I’ll have more time to focus on my own project.”
Hosmer Winery General Manager Brooke Hosmer said the expanded team brings new energy to the cellar ahead of the 2026 vintage.
“With new energy in the cellar, I can’t wait to see what comes out of this team,” she said.
Hosmer Winery is located on the west side of Cayuga Lake and produces estate-grown wines.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].