Our Tasting Room Team

MaryKay & Tom Barrett

Both MaryKay and Tom are retired teachers whose 
parents owned lakefront property and spent summers
here on Keuka Lake. They visited wineries often and
loved the atmosphere and the wines at Keuka Spring.
They both love meeting all the customers from various
locations, and sharing great wines with others.

Favorite wines: Miller's Cove Red (Tom) & Clara's Red
(MaryKay)

Favorite KSV wine pairings: Miller's Cove Red with 
steak and fries, and Clara's Red with pizza, wings,
cheese, and crackers

Tom Binnert

Tom chose to come to Keuka Lake from San Francisco.
His former career was in the corporate world, and loyal
friends first brought him to Keuka Spring. He enjoys the
family atmosphere here, as well as the charm of the
tasting room and experiences.

Favorite wines: Classic Riesling & Miller's Cove Red

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Riesling and chicken

Monica Cleveland

Monica spent 40 years as a flight attendant, serving on
private jets and is also a pilot. Ask her for stories about
the celebrities she's met! She came back to the area
she grew up in after spending 45 years away. She lovesmeeting people and having them enjoy our wines. Monica coordinates much of the food for our events.

Favorite wines: Miller's Cove Red & Grüner Veltliner

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Grüner Vetliner with Linguine and white clam sauce

Kristen Courtney

Kristen formerly worked for over 30 years in the Silicon Valley selling semi-conductor electronics. With all of her in-laws here, she decided to retire to Keuka Lake to enjoy time with family. She first came across Keuka Spring many years ago when she met her in-laws, and it's been her favorite winery stop every visit. She loves meeting new people in the tasting room.

Favorite wine: Miller's Cove Red

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Grüner Veltliner
and Brie cheese

Gail Furst

Having lived in the area for over 20 years, Gail is a professional dog trainer specializing in animal-assisted interventions and private consults. A former manager and trainer for Ontario ARC's Pet Connections program, Gail is the current owner of K9 Healers dog training and mediation. She's pictured with her own dog Willow, whom she loves to camp with. Networking is her favorite part of working at KSV.

Favorite wines: Humphreys Vineyard Riesling, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner & Blaufränkisch

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Clara's Red with cheese and fruit

Bruce Inglis

Jim Koester

Bill Laffin

Bill spent his working years as a manufacturing and supply chain manager for a large vertically integrated global company. This gave him the opportunity to travel and live throughout the world. In the late '80's Bill and his wife Mary Ellen came to Keuka Lake to visit friends. Ironically, their friends' neighbors were Len and Judy. Thus started a long-term love of lighlty oaked and toasted Chardonnay and Miller's Cove Red. Soon afterwards, Bill and Mary Ellen bought a cottage 1/2 mile from KSV and later built a year-round home. In his spare time, Bil is dedicated to working to protect Keuka Lake's water quality. He loves meeting people from all over the world. It's truly a small world, and introducting people to Finger Lakes wines and KSV wines in particular is a great pleasure for him.

Favorite wine: Chardonnay.--Stacks up with any Chardonnay I've tasted around the world, & Miller's Cove Red

Favorite KSV wine pairings: Chardonnay with chicken on the grill or crusted salmon, and make sure you bring out the beef with Miller's Cove Red!

Sheri Landahl

Sheri retired in the area after being a court reporter for the state. Keuka Spring is one of her favorite wineries, carrying many of her favorite wines. She loves talking to people in the tasting room.

Favorite wine: Dynamite Gewürztraminer

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Epic Reserve and 
steak

Steve Matteson

A Penn Yan native and US Navy Veteran, Steve has worked as a retail store manager and as an office manager in the funeral service. His favorite part of the job here is meeting new visitors to the Finger Lakes and Keuka Spring. 

Favorite wines: Blaufränkisch & Crooked Lake Red

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Blaufränkisch (Lemberger) and strip steak, medium rare, over charcoal

Jim McIntosh

Jim and his family have been enjoying Keuka Spring wine since the winery began! He previously owned a pallet manufacturing business. His family has had property on Keuka Lake for over 36 years. He loves meeting new people when he's pouring tastings.

Favorite wines: Saperavi & Epic Reserve

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Any wine with friends!

Jan Rosequist

Jan taught animal and plant science for 32 years in New England. She now lives in the cottage her parents bought on Keuka Lake in 1964. She remembers tasting wine in the original Keuka Spring tasting room in the barn. She enjoys working with such nice people here at KSV, and meeting all the interesting guests who come in.

Favorite wines: Classic Gewürztraminer, Miller's Cove Red, & Crooked Lake Red

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Crooked Lake Red with pizza

Jill Rank

As a former mortgage sales manager for a local bank, 
Jill vacationed in the Keuka Lake area and first visited
Keuka Spring on a wine tour. She then went from being
a  loyal Vista Wine Club member to working in the tasting room.

Favorite wines: Dry Riesling & Epic Reserve

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Blaufränkisch with smoked gouda cheese. Mmm!

Daniel Schubmehl

A native of the Finger Lakes Region, Daniel returned after 20 years in NYC as a performing musician. He is honored to be nearer to his family again in the natural peace and beauty of Western NY. He learned of Keuka Spring through online research before moving back last summer. He felt at home the moment he met the management, owners, and tasting room team. His favorite part of the job is the daily interactions with local and distant visitors in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Favorite wines: Humphreys Vineyard Riesling & Cabernet Franc

Favorite KSV wine pairings: Grüner Veltliner and any Rieslings with different cheeses

Jim Toomey

Jim worked for many years as an electrical engineer. 
You may see him helping out with various projects
on the property in addition to serving wine in the
tasting room, where he loves to recommend wines.

Favorite wines: Classic Gewürztraminer, 
Chardonnay, Dry Riesling, Dry Rosé, Grüner
Veltliner, Cabernet Franc, and Epic Reserve

Favorite KSV wine pairings: Gewürztraminer
with grilled salmon or chinese food, Dry Rosé
or Bubbly Vignoles with pizza, wings, or burgers,
Cabernet Franc or Epic Reserve with pasta or
steak

Allen Vaala

Allen was a Director of Worldwide Technology Research & Development at a well-known Rochester company. Friends first brought him to Keuka Lake where he bought a cottage in 1987. He came to Keuka Spring based on recommendations and visits. Meeting people and helping them enjoy KSV wines is part of what he loves about working here.

Favorite wines: Blaufränkisch & Dry Riesling

Favorite KSV wine pairings: Chardonnay with fish, dry reds with beef, and dry reds with dark chocolate

Amy Van Dyke

Amy has lived in Penn Yan her whole life. She worked with her husband (below) in his business. At one point she was looking for a part time job, thought the Keuka Spring tasting room would be a nice place to work, was lucky enough to get hired, and has been here for many wonderful years (her own words). She loves meeting and serving people and the great wine!

Favorite wines: Dry Rosé & Gewürztraminer

Favorite KSV wine pairings: Crooked Lake White with chicken and fish dishes, Gewürztraminer with cheeses and Thanksgiving dinner, and a bottle of red wine in the evening by the fire with her husband Bill.

Bill Van Dyke

Bill was born and raised in the Keuka Lake area, and formerly owned an insurance brokerage. After his wife Amy started working here, he decided to do the same. His favorite part of working here is the people he serves and the people he works with.

Favorite wines: "They're all good! I lean towards reds."

Favorite KSV wine pairing: "I let Amy do that!"

John Wiltberger

After a career in musical performance and tourism marketing, John moved to the area from New York City. He is one of Len Wiltberger's brothers. He loves connecting with guests when they visit the tasting room.

Favorite wines: Chardonnay & Celebrate

Favorite KSV wine pairing: Any occasion, shared with friends and family!

Rose Marie Youngs

Rose was formerly an admissions counselor in a nursing rehabilitation facility. Her husband was born and raised here. When she lived on Long Island, she belonged to the wine club, and shared KSV wine with family for the holidays and gifts. She loves talking to guests and learing about wines, and working with the staff here.

Favorite wines: Cabernet Franc & Merlot