Apollo’s Praise

Apollo’s Praise Winery is the passionate endeavor of celebrated Finger Lakes winemakers Kelby James Russell and Julia Rose Hoyle. They share a vision to one day be the shepherds of their own piece of terroir in the region Kelby was born and raised and Julia has now called home for many years.

In April 2023 they purchased the Lahoma Vineyard, an almost 20-acre site on the west side of Seneca Lake from grower Ken Fulkerson. This is the site that Kelby gained a stellar reputation and numerous accolades making wines at Red Newt Cellars since 2012, most famously “The Knoll” Riesling from one of the rolling hills on the property.

Kelby and Julia’s story began at Fox Run Winery on Seneca Lake. Kelby, born and raised in the Finger Lakes, was returning to his roots and Julia had just finished her studies in the region. They both worked their way from the tasting room into production. This led to Kelby and Julia’s breakout roles as assistant winemakers turned head winemakers for Red Newt Cellars and Hosmer Vineyards respectively where they both honed their abilities not just as winemakers but as ambassadors of Finger Lakes wines.

The name, Apollo’s Praise, is a reference to the iconic song called Glorious Apollo that Kelby performed with the Harvard Glee Club as an undergraduate studying Orchestra Management. The name encapsulates his passion for music, wine, and the Finger Lakes region where he was raised.

Production at Apollo’s Praise Winery will be focused on Riesling and Cabernet Franc with exciting additions of Chardonnay as well as the first planting of Scheurebe in New York! Together Kelby and Julia are creating dynamic and praise-worthy expressions of single-vineyard and site-specific wines from Seneca Lake that are poised to continue their legacy in the Finger Lakes.