The Geneva Historical Society Tour of Homes

Vincent and Kim Aliperti’s Farmhouse - House #2
4760 Route 14 South

As part of the fascinating real estate transaction in August of 2007 which made Kim and Vincent (“Vinny”) Aliperti the owners of Billsboro Winery, the couple swapped their Hillcrest Avenue home in Geneva in order to live in this 1860’s farmhouse overlooking Seneca Lake.
The house, part of 27 acres of rolling hills, vineyards and forest plus a half-acre pond, features wide plank flooring and floor-to-ceiling windows and pocket doors. The home suffered a fire in 2005; as a result the southern portion is larger and recently rebuilt.

One of the highlights of the large kitchen is the novel use of poured concrete countertops; there is also a built-in industrial lab bench. Visitors will also note prominent use of the woodburning stoves as an effective way to use widely available firewood to help heat the five-bedroom 3,000 square foot house.

Art enthusiasts will enjoy the numerous paintings which adorn the walls around the house. Some purchased at previous Plein Air Art Festivals depict life in the Finger Lakes wine country. Note also the varied treatments given to ceilings, windows, and doors. Finally, enjoy the practicality and reinvention of the days of yore: the school bus hut down behind the Billsboro Winery sign on Route 14, appreciated by the three Aliperti children on inclement school days, was once an earlier family’s outhouse behind the farmhouse.

Farmhouse Living Room

Farmhouse Front View

Billsboro Winery - House #2
4760 Route 14 South

The Billsboro Winery was established in the spring of 2000 by distinguished viticulturalist Dr. Robert Pool of Cornell University, as Geneva’s first winery. The winery was purchased in 2007 from Dr. Pool and his wife Jennifer Morris by Vincent and Kim Aliperti, who continue the Pool-Morris vision of a small, friendly family-run vinifera winery. Vincent, who is also head winemaker for Atwater Estate Vineyards in Burdett, NY makes all of the Billsboro wines at Atwater. At Billsboro, Vinny concentrates solely on dry wines. Billsboro currently produces 2000 cases of 10 different viniferous wines and one iced, dessert wine.

The imposing barn, which was erected in the early 1890’s, was restored in 2000. Almost every supporting beam is original. The massive planks upon which wine is served and tasted were harvested from among the huge black walnut trees which shade the property. The doors on the west side/back of the building are open so that visitors can better observe the size of the barn. Just to the south is the often appreciated brick pizza oven.

Billsboro Winery will host its third annual Plein Air Art Festival on August 13-15. Up to twenty five artists will participate in the painting competition in the greater Geneva area. These paintings plus others by the artists will be offered at a silent auction and public art show that weekend at the winery.

The winery is being used increasingly to host Geneva area events. The tent down on the lower lawn is ready for a wedding that begins at 6:00 pm today.
For more info: www.billsborowinery.com

Billsboro Winery Entrance

Tasting Room

Good friends, good wine	A tempting prospect!
Good wine, good company, great view!	Welcome to Billsboro Winery!