Eling Forest Winery

Eling Forest’s mentally agile and innovative founder (the late) Leslie Fritz celebrated his 80th birthday not long after he planted the first vines here in 1987. He celebrated his 88th birthday by expanding the vineyards, primarily with additional plantings of Hungarian varieties. He also developed a Cherry Port using spinning cone technology to produce various peach-based liqueurs, utilising second-class peach waste. In a major change of direction, winemaker Jeff Aston leased the winery and vineyard in '12, and produces wines under the Eling Forest label, and for other local producers. -JAMES HALLIDAY