Ten years ago this month, Sasha and Michael Pardy opened a winery on Canada Street. It was a unique endeavor, wine production sandwiched between souvenir shops and video arcades without a vineyard in sight. The seasonal nature of business in the Lake George Village of 2008 made success seem improbable. This weekend, April 13 – 15, The Adirondack Winery celebrates a decade in business with special wine-infused events in their tasting rooms (yes, there is now more than one) and at the Fort William Henry Hotel.
Their first year in business, with the help of three part-time staffers, the Pardys produced 1,000 cases of wine in the back of their shop. The front third of the store served as a tasting room with standing room for 15 people to sample their products. Today the shop at 285 Canada Street is a year-round bustling hub of activity. Adirondack Winery now produces about 17,000 cases of wine annually. They have garnered more than 180 metals at international wine competitions. Throughout New York State, 400 stores and restaurants carry Adirondack Winery wines, and their e-commerce business sells in 35 states. Last summer, the Winery opened a second tasting room in Bolton Landing.
“When we opened Adirondack Winery in our late twenties,” says Sasha, “neither of us had come from families that owned businesses and did not have entrepreneurial backgrounds – we’d never done this before, so we were simply going from what we’d learned in our workplaces, by teaching ourselves and from college.”
Sasha was a business/marketing major who worked in retail commercial real estate and Mike is an engineer. Their original vision was of a chain of stores to sell their wines, “But then we got into the day to day of running and growing our business, and bit by bit your aspirations change, especially as you adjust in accordance with what your family needs and your bank account can afford!”
The work/family balance has been their greatest challenge, says Sasha, “As a small business owner, the work never ends. There’s no clocking out, ever.” However, over the past ten years, they’ve built a staff that allows them the time they need for their children while growing the business. They now have 11 full-time staff members and will add about 30 part-timers this summer.
Milestones for Adirondack Winery include the 2011 Canada Street Tasting Room expansion and the move of wine production to Queensbury. A total rebranding in 2014 included a new logo, new wine labels and an upgraded website.
In 2015, the Adirondack Winery presented its first Adirondack Wine & Food Festival held at the Festival Commons in Wood Park. Last year, nearly 6,000 attended the Festival, which has become a major Lake George Area event. The 2018 Adirondack Wine & Food Festival is scheduled for June 23 – 24.
As the business grew, the Pardys added events to their tasting room schedule, including holiday-themed weekends, wine appreciation classes and Uncork & Craft workshops, which combine craft projects with an evening of wine sampling. Each April, they celebrate their anniversary, and this year, being the 10th, they have a full schedule of events planned.
Adirondack Winery 10th Anniversary Celebration events
April 13 – 15:
Tasting Room Celebrations
285 Canada Street, Lake George & 4971 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing
Friday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
10th Anniversary Wine Tasting Package for two is $35 and includes:
- 7 Wine Samples each
- 1 Dessert Wine Sample each
- Seasonal Mulled Wine Cocktail
- Seasonal Chilled Wine Cocktail
- Locavore Slate Plate to share featuring artisan, gourmet food from our favorite local vendors
- Limited Edition Tenth Anniversary Wine Glass each
The celebration includes games, prizes, a raffle and discounts.
Friday, April 13:
Welcome Pizza & Wine Reception
Tankard Tavern at the Fort William Henry Hotel
6 – 9 p.m.
Featuring Shrimp Scampi white pizza, Margherita Pizza and Meat Lovers Pizza.
Saturday, April 14:
Uncork & Craft: Wine Glass Candle Making
Tasting Room at 4971 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sip wine, enjoy a snack and create a pair of candles with a limited edition 10th Anniversary wine glasses and your choice of wax colors and scents. Uncork & Craft events tend to sell out. Purchase your tickets ($35 per person) online at the Adirondack Winery website.
Five-Course, Wine-Infused Dinner
The Fort William Henry Hotel
6 – 9 p.m.
Welcome reception, guest appearance and food demonstration by Chef William Creations, a five-course seated meal with wine pairings, games, prizes, a raffle and sampling of a newly released limited edition wine are included in the $75 ticket price. The Wine – Infused dinner is held in the elegant White Lion Room overlooking Lake George. As of this writing, there are still a couple dozen tickets left. They may be purchased online at the Adirondack Winery website.
Sunday, April 15:
Cheers to the Years Wine-infused Breakfast Buffet
Fort William Henry Hotel
7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Breakfast favorites infused with Adirondack Winery wines include Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Blue Twilight Compote, Double Stuffed French Toast with Orchard Blossom-Infused Apple Chutney and Eggs Benedict with Chardonnay-Spiked Hollandaise. The buffet is $16 per person.
“Unwined” Yoga
Fort William Henry Hotel lawn (in the event of rain, yoga will be held in the Albany Room of the Fort William Henry Conference Center.)
10 – 11 a.m.
An hour of yoga led by Nicole Woodcock. Bring your own mat. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased online here.
Discover more from The Lake George Examiner
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.