On the Rise: Winemaker Nate Moore

Not everyone knows what they are destined to be when they grow up, but for Nathaniel Moore, he was absolutely certain that he wanted to be a traveling businessman in pursuit of civil justice, financial success, and a higher truth. But as the son of a winemaker, many thought that the draw of family and the beauty and bounty of the Finger Lakes might call him back someday.

Finding Place

After studying business management at Fort Lewis College, Nate soon realized that he longed for the beautiful Finger Lakes as the place he was meant to be. He returned home, and enrolled in the Viticulture and Enology Program at Finger Lakes Community College in order to join his father, Tim Moore, in the family winemaking business at Inspire Moore Winery in Naples, New York.

Founded in 2007, with the first vintages a 2006 Riesling and Syrah, Inspire Moore produces more than 12 different wines, including Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Traminette, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and the recently award-winning ‘Best of NY state’ Blaufrankisch. Inspire Moore has recently introduced Zweigelt and Gruener Veltliner to their portfolio as these are cool climate varieties that held a particular interest to Tim Moore from his time spent studying winemaking in Austria.

The wines at Inspire Moore are named after positive ideals that its original owner, Tim Moore (above) wanted to inspire more of: Joy, Love, Peace, Truth, Wisdom and so on.

Beginning a New Path

In 2019, Moore graduated from FLCC with an incredible amount of excitement and energy to work alongside his father at Inspire Moore as an Assistant Winemaker. However, things took a turn for the worse in the summer of 2019 when his father passed away after a long battle with metastasized melanoma.

Suddenly, Nate became the head winemaker at Inspire Moore at only 21 years old, making him one of the youngest in the country.

Nate Moore leads a wine tasting while his mother, and owner of Inspire Moore Winery, Diane listens in.

Making His Mark

Since taking over as head winemaker, Nate has experimented with new types of wine, and has been working to develop his niche. To Nate, winemaking is the perfect embodiment of the two sides of his character and mind: scientific thought and creativity.

On March 15, 2020, Nate released Traminette, originally an experimental product. A well-balanced, floral white, with notes of honeysuckle and ripe tropical fruit with a beautiful light gold hue to match, Traminette is a middle ground to high quality dry vinifera. It marks the first release under the Nathaniel J. Moore name at Inspire Moore.

“I thought it was fantastic, well-balanced with mouthfeel and sugar, boldly aromatic and expressive of the Traminette terpenes (which also contribute to its varietal character), and something that even I, a picky dry drinker, could enjoy,” said Moore.

An Inspired Future

Traminette is an example of Moore’s desire to continue experimenting with new ideas, and demonstrative of the ethos of Inspire Moore. Now, with the continuous support and guidance of the Finger Lakes wine community of professionals, mentors, and the spirit of his father, Nate has found his place, and is optimistic for a bright future in the New York wine region.

High Praise

“Nate is inspiration for anyone, especially those involved with the FInger Lakes Community College viticulture program. His vision and passion for advancing the reputation of Finger Lakes wine offerings is commendable at such a young age.” - Angela MacAllister, Chair of the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail & Marketing Manager at Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery

“I first met Nate as an FLCC Viticulture student at FLCC. Having known and worked with his parents Tim and Diane, Nate brings Tim’s thirst for knowledge, Diane’s creativity and both of their passion to wine making.” - Eric Frarey, Former Chair of the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail & Managing Partner at Heron Hill Winery