Top Finger Lakes winemaker Kelby James Russell will be visiting our mezzanine for an epic class introducing his new project, Apollo's Praise, and examining the fascinating terroirs of this great New York region.

Kelby is a native of the Finger Lakes of New York, where he was convinced he would never return following graduating from Harvard with a focus on Orchestra Management. A love for winemaking took him to harvests around the world, however, and in 2012 he found himself right back home and as winemaker at Red Newt Cellars. His desire to push the boundaries of what could be done in the Finger Lakes led to a reputation for world class, powerful Rieslings; crunchy, joyful red wines; and an experimental wine program that stretched from Sekts to Sherries. In particular, his work with the iconic Lahoma Vineyards on Seneca Lake led to eventually purchasing it in 2023 with his spouse, winemaker Julia Hoyle, at which point they founded Apollo's Praise.

Apollo’s Praise is a winery committed to expressing the world class, and artistic, nature of Finger Lakes wines. Based primarily around fruit from their Lahoma Vineyard site on Southwest Seneca Lake, the portfolio stretches from powerful, dry Rieslings to Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Cabernet Franc, and surprises yet to come.  Weaving in their love for music, art, and their home region, Apollo’s Praise is a winery for wine lovers.


Russell has been honored as a Wine Enthusiast “40 Under 40 Tastemaker,” has received numerous record-setting reviews for Finger Lakes wines, and in 2023 was honored by his peers in the New York Wine and Grape Foundation with the “Phyllis Feder Unity Award.” The proudest moment of his career comes in co-chairing the “FLXcursion” International Riesling Conferences, which have showcased this region to the world in 2019, 2021, and 2023. More dubiously, Kelby also helped organize — and was a model for — “FLXposure 2021,” a pin-up calendar of Finger Lakes winemakers that raised over $30,000 for Upstate New York Food Banks.

He has also been described as the “Willy Wonka of the Finger Lakes,” an honorific to which he can only hope to aspire.


Seating is very limited for this exclusive seminar. The cost of this seminar is $30 and a $20 credit at the store will be extended to each guest for a future purchase. We hope you can join us on Tuesday, September 10 at 6pm on our mezzanine for this very special event.