Come visit us - 1593 Hamlin Parma Townline Rd, Hilton, NY 14468
Lake Ontario Winery History
Tenney Farm History
Delos P. Tenney was the original developer of the present site of the Lake Ontario Winery and Vineyards on Parma- Hamlin Town Line Road. Mr. Tenney was born in Parma in 1812 and planted the first apple tree in Western New York, on Collamer Road. This first apple tree was the forerunner of the great apple orchards that brought fame to New York State.
Delos Tenney bought this land in 1868 and developed extensive apple orchards. He also grew pears, grapes, plums, peaches and cherries. His fruit and those from other farms in the area created a prosperous local industry which picked, packed and transported fruit from the Hilton Railroad Depot all across the country. Delos Tenney received a bronze medal for Northern Spy apples at the 1900 Exposition in Paris, France, in 1904, and a similar medal from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. At the time of his death in 1924, his orchards were considered among the best in Western New York.
