OUR STORY

For 36 years, we’ve put down deep roots in the Finger Lakes at Fox Run Vineyards, growing and crafting wines with purpose. We farm with our planet in mind, because great wine starts with healthy soil, clean water, and a long view of the future. 

We don’t subscribe to the pretentious rules that say wine has to look, taste, or feel a certain way. We believe there’s a glass for everyone — and that wine should be welcoming, not intimidating. It belongs on busy weeknights, long Sunday lunches, and everything in between. 

Our wines are crisp, refreshing, delicious, and true to the Finger Lakes. They’re made to be opened often and poured generously, bringing people together around the simple joy of sharing a bottle. We live by one simple motto:
Drink wine, be happy. 

A HISTORIC PROPERTY

Long before the tasting room filled with travelers, wine lovers, and curious sippers, this land was home to cows, not corks. Fox Run operated as a dairy farm for more than a century, until the first vines were planted in 1984.

A few years later, founders Larry and Adele Wildrick gave the old Civil War-era barn new life, transforming it into a working winery in 1990. Then in 1994, Scott Osborn and his original business partner, Andy Hale, took the next step and purchased the winery—setting the stage for what Fox Run would become.

Today, with 50 acres of east-facing vineyards rooted in glacial soils, Fox Run produces a diverse range of estate-grown wines. It’s a place where history, hard work, and a deep connection to the land continue to shape every bottle.

historic photo of cows on old dairy farm on property
fox run vineyards winemaker next to wine barrels

THE WINEMAKING

Scott has always believed great wine is a team effort. He spent 27 years working side by side with former winemaker Peter Bell, and today he continues that collaborative spirit with winemaker Craig Hosbach.

Craig leans into the science of winemaking—but never loses sight of the fun part: letting each grape shine. Together with the winemaking team, he’s helped build a diverse portfolio of wines that highlight the unique character of the Finger Lakes. The focus is simple—craft wines that are vibrant, refreshing, and naturally food-friendly, the kind you want to come back to again and again.

And it all starts in the vineyard, where John Kaiser has been getting his hands dirty since the first planting in 1984. His deep connection to the land and decades of experience help ensure every vintage begins with exceptional fruit—something that continues to shine through in our award-winning wines.

MEET THE TEAM
Fox Run Winery family ownership

FAMILY-OWNED

In 2012, Scott and Ruth Osborn teamed up with Ruth’s sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Albert Zafonte, to make Fox Run Vineyards exclusively family-owned. This set the course for an exciting new chapter.

If you’ve ever been to Fox Run, you’ve probably met at least one family member. It’s not unusual to find Scott pouring wine behind the tasting bar or Ruth helping take orders in the café. Scott and Ruth’s daughter, Jessica, is the office manager and behind-the-scenes virtuoso. She handles everything from shipping orders to wine club and payroll. Kathy and Albert jump in and help with various events, like Grapes, Griddles and Wine Club Pick-Up Weekend events.

THE GATE

The memorable marker that you’ve arrived at Fox Run is our welcoming gate. Standing 20 feet tall with a wingspan of over 70 feet wide, it boasts 13 foxes and trees standing over 12 feet tall. It was created by local artist Sam Castner of Ironvine Studios, who has been sculpting since the early 1990s.

Castner’s work has made a splash around the Finger Lakes region with hundreds of public projects, from the Seneca Lake sculpture at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center in Geneva to the waterfall at Glenora Wine Cellars.

Metal fabrication is Castner’s main medium. It offers instant gratification while forming, is structurally very strong, and has the longevity to hold up in the outdoor elements. He also enjoys working with reused or recycled industrial scraps when possible.

Fox Run gate entrance sculpture of metal foxes
SAMCASTNER.ORG
solar panels on property

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

As business owners, our family is keenly aware of the impact we have on the community and the environment. Our mission at Fox Run Vineyards is to reduce our environmental impact through meaningful and consistent changes to our business each year. In 2023, Fox Run was named a certified sustainable vineyard by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

Learn more

OUR TEAM

  • Scott & Ruth Osborn

    Owners

  • Albert & Kathleen Zafonte

    Owners

  • Craig Hosbach

    Winemaker - 4 years at Fox Run

  • Angelica Lawler

    Assistant Winemaker - 3 years at Fox Run

  • John Kaiser

    Vineyard Manager - 41 years at Fox Run

  • Brud Holland

    Chef - 12 years at Fox Run

  • Pete Howe

    Crush Operations & Inventory - 31 years at Fox Run

  • Jessica Worden

    Office Manager - 13 years at Fox Run

  • Susan Eisenhart

    Sales Representative - 9 years at Fox Run

  • Kelly Ashford

    National Sales Director

  • Tori Quartaro

    WSET3, Tasting Room Manager - 8 years at Fox Run

  • Garrison Kuhl

    Marketing Director - 7 years at Fox Run

  • Rachel Joyce Dillon

    Assistant Tasting Room Manager - 3 years at Fox Run

  • Maddie Hobbs

    Cafe Manager - 7 years at Fox Run

  • Salvador Mendoza-Castro

    Vineyard Team - 8 years at Fox Run

  • Bethany Graham

    Gardener - 3 years at Fox Run

  • fox run vineyards winemaker

    Mike Gollob

    Cellar Master

  • fox run vineyards wines at a table

    Kayla Olsen

    Wine Educator

  • In Loving Memory of Delfino Ortiz

Here at Fox Run Vineyards, we strive to cultivate an environment that consistently welcomes and supports diversity. Whether you are an employee or are just coming to visit us we want each and every individual associated with our business to feel accepted. No matter who you are or where you come from you are welcome to be a part of the Fox Run Family!

three smiling employees holding up Fox Run wine bottles at the entrance

Join Our Team

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