Wild Brute Winery

Blazing a New Trail

When it came time to pursue his dream of opening a winery, Justin Recktenwald took the road less traveled and opened Wild Brute Winery in the rolling hills of Arkport, about a half-hour drive from Hammondsport and the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.

That choice seems to be a reflection of Justin's personality in several ways: from a willingness to work hard to an interest in collaborating with neighbors, from a desire to pay quiet tribute to family to an unyielding respect for and return to the land where he grew up.

Don't let the location fool you, though. Justin is serious about making great wines. After completing his education in viticulture and interning under sparkling winemaker Matt Bowman at Chateau Frank, Justin is determined to make the best wines he can produce.

Although he makes a Riesling which is the wine the Finger Lakes region is probably best known for, Justin is especially focused on making some unexpected wines, like an unfiltered Cabernet Franc which is already getting him some attention.

Stop by Wild Brute to see for yourself why Jason Jordan of The Evening Tribune wrote "if wine is your thing, you'd be crazy not to give Wild Brute a try."

Of course, Justin may have put extra pressure on himself by creating something that he says is "kind of in the middle of nowhere," but his dedication to making small quantities of quality wines has people making the trek. One-by-one, they're learning that Wild Brute is really in the middle of somewhere special.