Apollo's Praise - Finger Lakes, NY, USA
RAISING THE BAR IN THE FINGER LAKES.
Debuting in 2023, Apollo’s Praise is the highly anticipated project of powerhouse winemaking couple Kelby James Russell and Julia Rose Hoyle, who together bring more than 30 years of combined experience in the Finger Lakes. At the heart of everything they do is their 55-acre Lahoma Vineyard, set on the western shore of Seneca Lake.
Lahoma is a hillside site defined by rolling topography, cold-air drainage, and sandstone-rich soils. The vineyard is planted across a series of distinct hills, each forming its own microclimate, most clearly expressed in their Riesling, where subtle shifts in exposure and soil translate into very different parcel-by-parcel expressions. The sandstone is a key feature: rare in the region, it delivers excellent drainage and drives a style of Riesling with notable weight, breadth and opulence.
In the cellar, Kelby and Julia take a thoughtful, low-intervention approach, aiming to guide rather than manipulate, allowing the grapes to express their true character through spontaneous fermentations, neutral vessels, and minimal fining and filtration. Their cold soak method for whites adds aromatic lift, structure and palate weight, a relatively uncommon approach in the Finger Lakes that has become a signature of their style. The result is a range of dynamic, site-driven, single-vineyard wines that speak clearly of Lahoma.
GET THE WINES:
Apollo’s Praise, Dry Riesling - 2023
Apollo's Praise, Dry Riesling - 2025
Apollo's Praise, Pentecostal Dry Riesling - 2024
Apollo’s Praise, Chardonnay - 2023
Apollo's Praise, Chardonnay - 2024
Apollo's Praise, Cabernet Franc Picardie - 2025