Peter B. Saltonstall '75, is the co-owner of King Ferry Winery with his wife, Tacie Saltonstall. King Ferry Winery is a small vineyard and winery located on the east side of Cayuga Lake that produces fine wines using many time-honored European techniques. Delicate Vitis vinifera grapes are hand-tended and selectively picked to produce premium wines under the Treleaven label.

Saltonstall is a true leader in the New York State wine industry. He spent many years perfecting his craft of producing world-class wines and has accomplished this achievement. Their wines are highly respected within the industry and by their large customer base. In particular, Treleaven Chardonnay and Riesling are very sought-after vintages. Saltonstall had a “Triple Crown” win at the International Eastern Wine Competition with his 2005 Dry Riesling; it won Best in Class: Dry Riesling; Best Riesling in the Riesling Championship; and Best White Wine of the competition. There were more than 2,000 entries from 35 states and 12 countries.

King Ferry Winery releases limited quantities of their Treleaven wines. They believe that by avoiding mass production and mechanized cultivation and harvesting, the finest grapes are produced, which are the basis of a superior wine. The Saltonstalls sacrifice quantity for quality in the quest for fruit with intense varietal character. Every step in their winemaking is personally attended to—right through to the approval of each bottle and the hand labeling of each vintage. The winery now produces approximately 10,000 cases of wine per year. King Ferry owns 27 acres of vines near the winery and purchases another 10 acres’ worth of fruit from the North Folk Winery of Long Island.

Saltonstall also is a stalwart volunteer, working for the betterment of the New York State wine and grape industry. He is a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Wine and Grape Foundation, currently serving as chairman. Saltonstall has served as chairman of the Foundation’s Research Committee, which is involved with structuring budgets around industry priorities. He also is a longtime member of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Each year, Saltonstall and the staff at King Ferry Winery host numerous wine tastings for groups throughout the state and often are an integral part of fund-raising efforts by these organizations. Recently, he and Tacie have been involved with local and regional efforts to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

Since 1997, Saltonstall has helped plan the CALS annual Vinification and Brewing Lab Gala dinner and auction, which raises funds to support the lab at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. After the 2006 gala, Saltonstall initiated conversations with Dean Susan Henry on moving the gala to New York City to draw in greater participation from Long Island wineries and to expose New York alumni to New York State wines. Saltonstall secured auction donations of wine for the dinner from many of the wineries. The dinner was a huge success with over 200 alumni and guests attending and raised over $22,000 for Cornell’s enology and viticulture program.

Saltonstall initiated and continues as chair of the CALS-sponsored New York State wine tasting event held during Reunion Weekend. Nearly 500 alumni and friends taste wine from 12 to 15 New York State wineries at this event.

Saltonstall is a tremendous advocate for Cornell and the college. Since 2005 he has served on the Dean’s Advisory Council. Saltonstall is also a tremendous supporter of the college’s enology and viticulture programs. He frequently opens up his vineyard and winemaking facility to Cornell researchers and extension experts for collaborations addressing issues facing the state’s wine and grape industry. He serves as an adviser to both Dean Susan Henry and the director of the Geneva Experiment Station on enology and viticulture issues. He has also been a guest speaker at several CALS Alumni Association events.

Saltonstall has been a tireless advocate for New York State wines through his interactions with state and federal legislators, consumers, and fellow winery owners. This is most evident through his three-plus years of work to change national and state laws allowing for direct shipment of New York wines out of state. His efforts were not without risk to his own business. The alcohol distributors, who are a powerful lobby and a needed ally for the wine industry, were vehemently opposed to this legislation. This law has had huge impact on the profitability of New York State wineries by allowing direct shipment to thousands of tourists who visit the state’s wineries every year.

Saltonstall lives in King Ferry, N.Y. with his wife, Tacie.