Stanley Wagner

Stanley Arthur "Bill" Wagner (April 10, 1927 – June 26, 2010) was an American winemaker who, in the 1970s, became one of the earliest winemakers to establish a vineyard in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, in an area that would eventually become the Seneca Lake AVA. In addition to his award-winning wines, Wagner also established a microbrewery that produced pilsner, lager, ale and stout.

Biography Wagner was born on April 10, 1927, in Elmira, New York. Both his parents and grandparents had been grape farmers, and he grew up in Lodi, New York, only one-half mile from where he established his vineyards. Wagner dropped out of high school to join the United States Navy during World War II, but the war ended before he could see combat.

He became a dairy farmer after completing his military service, but by the mid-1950s he had returned to the family tradition of growing grapes. Wagner Vineyards was established in 1979, at a time when there were barely a dozen wineries in the Finger Lakes region.

A resident of Lodi, New York, Wagner died at his home there at age 83 on June 26, 2010, after what was described as a "brief illness". He was survived by a daughter, two sons and six grandchildren.