Millbrook Vineyards & Winery has appointed Ian Bearup as head winemaker to succeed John Graziano, whose career spans the winery’s history.
Graziano served as the head winemaker since 1983, arriving a year after the winery’s establishment. He led the development of the large variety of grapes grown and wines created on-site, making the winery the first in the Hudson River region dedicated exclusively to the production of vinifera grapes. Graziano has long shared his knowledge and love of wine with others, including incoming head winemaker Bearup, whose appointment comes at a moment when the winery seeks to expand its portfolio and enhance its reputation as one of the premier, award-winning wineries in New York state.
“I cannot express enough our deepest gratitude to John for his years of dedication and invaluable contributions to Millbrook Winery,” said David Bova, its general manager and vice president. “Ian’s passion for the art of winemaking, dedication to the craft and expertise in the process perfectly align with our values as a winery. We have full confidence and are excited for him to continue to produce exceptional wines that showcase the unique range of winemaking in the Hudson Valley and build on the foundation laid by John.”
Born in Northern California and raised in upstate New York, Bearup has had a career in professional winemaking for nearly two decades, getting his start at wineries across California, Oregon and New Zealand. In these roles, he has had firsthand experience at every step of the winemaking process, including harvesting grapes for wine varieties like Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel; sampling; and overseeing ripening, lab analyses and nutrient additions to barrels, all leading to the blending trials and the crafted bottles. He received his bachelor’s degree from Elon University in North Carolina and a winemaking certification from the University of California, Davis.
The Dutchess County resident will lead the production of more than 12,000 cases of Millbrook wine annually and oversees the 30 acres of vines on the property, including plantings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Tocai Friulano, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Gamay Noir and Traminette.
