ELLISON ESTATE VINEYARD

Kendra Knapik and Rob Knapik founded Ellison Estate Vineyard in 2018, when they purchased an abandoned vineyard on a 50-acre farm in Grand Isle, Vermont. Along with their three young children, the Knapik family lives on the farm throughout the growing season. With a small team—including sheep, which play a vital role in the ecosystem—Kendra and Rob handle everything from vineyard work to marketing, while restoring the health of the land through organic and biodynamic practices, with a strong commitment to regenerative agriculture.

All wines are made with native yeasts and minimal intervention at the family estate winery in Stowe. Nothing is added or removed during winemaking: the wines are unfiltered and made without added sulfites, except occasionally 20–30 ppm at bottling. The wines of Ellison Estate Vineyard are crafted to achieve the purest possible expression of the Champlain Islands terroir.

Kendra’s family originates from the Champlain Islands, grounding their deep connection to the land. After nearly losing their third child due to pregnancy complications, Kendra and Rob reassessed what truly mattered to their family. They chose to commit fully to building an intergenerational project—one that would bring them closer to the land and bring joy to their community.

Kendra, a veterinary oncologist, and Rob, a particle physicist, draw on their strong scientific backgrounds and problem-solving skills—shaped by their unconventional paths—to guide the management of their farm and winery. They embrace the creative, chaotic, and sometimes unpredictable journey they have chosen, seeking balance in their lives, their vineyard, and their artisanal wines.