Rooted North is a North Fork vineyard and winery, owned by three families and shaped by the land, the people, and a story more than three decades in the making.
Our story has more than one beginning.
The vineyard on Oregon Road was established in 1992, when Lieb Cellars began with a 14-acre Pinot Blanc vineyard. Over the years, the vineyard grew, a tasting room was built, and Lieb became part of the growing story of North Fork wine.
Suhru Wines followed its own path, founded by Susan and Russell Hearn and growing alongside Lieb, with the two brands connected over the years through winemaking, the land, and a shared community.
In 2023, those paths came together when longtime friends and business partners John & Renée Fondacaro, Susan & Russell Hearn, and Shelby Hearn Ulrich & Brad Ulrich purchased Lieb Cellars and brought it together with Suhru Wines.
What followed was a natural coming together of two histories, two wine portfolios, and three families with a shared vision for what this vineyard could become.
Rooted North is the next chapter of that story.
A New Name, With Deep Roots
As Suhru and Lieb became one winery—sharing a vineyard and cellar, tasting room, team, and vision for the future—we wanted a name that felt equally connected to where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Rooted speaks to our connection to the vines, the land, the agricultural history of the North Fork, and the community around us.
North is both our home and our compass—a reminder to keep moving forward without losing sight of where we started.
Together, Rooted North represents something that has always mattered to us: growth without losing our roots.
It Starts in the Vineyard
At the center of every chapter has been the vineyard.
Today, we farm more than 50 acres of Certified Sustainable estate vineyards, including the largest contiguous planting of Pinot Blanc in the United States. Our oldest vines date to 1983, and alongside North Fork classics like Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, we grow less familiar varieties such as Lagrein and Teroldego.
Surrounded by water, the North Fork’s maritime climate gives our fruit a long growing season and helps preserve the freshness and acidity that have become hallmarks of our wines.
Every vintage is different, so there isn’t one formula in the vineyard or cellar. We pay attention to what each season gives us and make choices that allow the fruit to lead. The common thread is balance—wines with character that reflect where they’re grown and are, just as importantly, genuinely enjoyable to drink.
Made to Be Shared
There isn’t one person behind Rooted North.
Our ownership grew from both family and friendship, and that spirit of collaboration extends throughout our vineyard, cellar, and tasting room. From the people tending the vines and making the wine to those preparing food, pouring glasses, and welcoming guests, there are many hands behind every bottle and every visit.
And for all the work that goes into making wine, we’ve never believed enjoying it should feel complicated.
Our wines are made for the moments that actually fill our lives: celebrations and milestones, but also Sunday lunches, beach picnics, backyard dinners, quiet weeknights, and afternoons at the vineyard that somehow turn into evenings.
We want the experience here to feel the same way—warm, relaxed, and thoughtful without ever feeling formal. Come knowing exactly what you like or let us help you discover something new. Share something to eat, find a spot overlooking the vineyard, and stay longer than you planned.
Because often, the best memories aren’t really about the wine. They’re about the people around the table and the moments that happened while a bottle was being shared.
Rooted Here. Looking Ahead.
More than three decades after the first wines were made from these vines on Oregon Road, we still feel like there’s more to discover.
Rooted North brings those histories together, but it also belongs to the people shaping what comes next—our owners and team, our Wine Club members, our neighbors, and everyone who has pulled up a chair and shared a bottle with us over the years.
We’re continuing to learn from the land, explore what grows well here, care for our vineyards with the future in mind, and find new ways to share this place with the people who visit us.
That’s what being Rooted North means to us.
It’s not about leaving one story behind and starting another. It’s about carrying the best parts forward—the vineyard, the wines, the friendships, the families, and everything we’ve learned along the way.
Because being rooted doesn’t mean standing still.
It means knowing where you come from as you decide where to go next.
Welcome to Rooted North.
