Michael Chamberlain & Cynthia West-Chamberlain of Black Willow Winery, NYS SBDC Agricultural Entrepreneur of the Year
Black Willow joined the Niagara Wine Trail in January of 2011. This fulfilled a longtime dream for the owners. They converted a 35-year-old pole barn into their tasting room and production area. They hired a local winemaker as a consultant to ensure the quality of their wines. Black Willow is open seven days a week and currently offers nine wines. They have several new varieties in development. In addition, they have 500 peach trees and 30 cherry trees.
Black Willow has product in the SBDC Wine outlet in China. Cindy joined Jinshui Zhang of the NYS SBDC, and Empire State Development on a trade trip to China in the fall of 2012. She has shared what she has learned with others on the wine trail.
The Niagara SBDC (Maureen Henderson) helped the clients put together their loan package/business plan to obtain their start-up funding. Additional assistance included aiding the development of their marketing strategy including a comprehensive branding approach and helping them connect with many local resources.
Owners Cynthia West-Chamberlain and Michael D. Chamberlain have had a passion for good wine and food for many years. Black Willow Winery has fulfilled a dream of theirs to share this passion with family, friends and guests.
Black Willow Winery is located on the south shore of Lake Ontario, on West Lake Road in Burt, New York, conveniently in the heart of the Niagara Wine Trail, USA. The winery sits on 43 beautiful, country acres and has the best soil and drainage in the area suited to growing grapes. West Lake Road is a part of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, a major travel route for many summer tourists.
The tasting room offers many wine accessories, wine glasses, Riedel crystal stemware, wine-themed clothing, handcrafted goods, crackers and cheeses and sausage meats from local vendors for sale. Regional artists have their work on display at the winery and for sale. The facility can be reserved for weddings and other special events.
Black Willow has product in the SBDC Wine outlet in China. Cindy joined Jinshui Zhang of the NYS SBDC, and Empire State Development on a trade trip to China in the fall of 2012. She has shared what she has learned with others on the wine trail.
The Niagara SBDC (Maureen Henderson) helped the clients put together their loan package/business plan to obtain their start-up funding. Additional assistance included aiding the development of their marketing strategy including a comprehensive branding approach and helping them connect with many local resources.
Owners Cynthia West-Chamberlain and Michael D. Chamberlain have had a passion for good wine and food for many years. Black Willow Winery has fulfilled a dream of theirs to share this passion with family, friends and guests.
Black Willow Winery is located on the south shore of Lake Ontario, on West Lake Road in Burt, New York, conveniently in the heart of the Niagara Wine Trail, USA. The winery sits on 43 beautiful, country acres and has the best soil and drainage in the area suited to growing grapes. West Lake Road is a part of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, a major travel route for many summer tourists.
The tasting room offers many wine accessories, wine glasses, Riedel crystal stemware, wine-themed clothing, handcrafted goods, crackers and cheeses and sausage meats from local vendors for sale. Regional artists have their work on display at the winery and for sale. The facility can be reserved for weddings and other special events.
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