Wine-tasting party raises funds for Pullman roof project

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Will Ouweleen of Eagle Crest Vineyards in Conesus pours a glass of wine during the second annual Pullman Pours wine-tasting at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.

About 150 people attended the event, which serves as a fund-raiser for the church that is working to replace its roof.

Ouweleen has been outspoken against fracking in the Finger Lakes. His winery sells a bottle of wine, “No Fracking Red.”

The stained-glass windows behind Ouweleen were designed by famed stained-glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. He was a friend of George Pullman, who had the church built as a tribute to his parents in Albion. The church has about 40 Tiffany stained-glass windows.

Chris Tee, a wine server from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina, pours a sample of wine for Kim Lawrence and Bruce Phillips. Other featured local wineries included Becker Farm’s Vizcarra Vineyards, Lake Ontario Winery & Vineyards, Schwenk Wine Cellars, and Seneca Lake’s Eagle Crest Vineyards.

Al Capurso and his son Dan provide bluegrass music during the event. Their band is called “Of The Bear.” Three different groups performed during the two-hour party that included five wineries and food tastings by The Pillars Estate, Della’s Chocolates, Kirby’s Farm Market, SNL Sweet Escapes, Shirt Factory Cafe and Watt Farms Country Market.

Jim Knight, a member of the Pullman church, is dressed as “Bacchus,” the Roman god of wine. Knight is pictured with his brother John Knight, Jim’s wife Betty, and John’s wife Melanie.

Jim and Betty Knight are key organizers of the Pullman wine-tasting event.

Ed Koban and the Ed Koban Group perform in front of a Tiffany-decorated Johnson pipe organ.

The Pullman church was built in 1894. It was included in the inaugural class last year in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.