Demarest Hill Vineyard, Winery, & Distillery

Neslted in the bucolic hills of Warwick Valley lies the vineyard of Francesco Ciummo. As a young man, Francesco tended the family vineyards in Molise, Italy, learning the intricate skill of wine making from his father. He toiled long and hard in these humble surroundings, and he set out to build his dream. After tears of backbreaking labor in countries all over the world, Francesco finally settled in America. Here he used his hard-earned money to purchase a large tract of land in Warwick, New York, where his vision began to take shape.

Francesco carefully selected and assembled the equipment that would allow him to demonstrate his wine making expertise. At first he only made a few barrels of wine, but as the years went by, his production began to increase. He continued to perfect his winery’s quality, and in 1994, the first varietal, as well as blended wines were created: Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Chenin Blanc. Francesco was now ready to share his creation with the world.

Approval from the State of New York soon followed, and the winery increased production to 400 cases of varietal and blended wines. Now, Francesco has expanded his vineyard on a sun-drenched hillside, due to the ever-increasing demand for Demarest Hill wines. When asked why he makes wine, Francesco responds: “It’s the people. When they take a sip of my wine and smile, that’s my reward. If they didn’t smile, I don’t think I would make wine anymore.