Owner & Winemaker

Morten is a native of Copenhagen, Denmark. He grew up on Domaine de Castel Roubine, a 250 acre estate in Cotes de Provence producing about 40,000 cases annually. After working on a PhD in Theoretical Astrophysics in the U.S., he returned to France in 1993. He completed his Diplome Nationale d’Oenologue at the Ecole Nationale Superieure d’Agronomie in Montpellier. After an internship at Chateau Cos d’Estournel in St. Estephe and winemaking positions for Cordier Estates in Ft. Stockton, TX and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, he held the position of chief winemaker at Dr. Frank’s for six years before concentrating on Ravines Wine Cellars. Together with his wife Lisa, Morten founded Ravines in 2002 as perhaps the first winery in the Finger Lakes to focus on traditional dry wines. Currently, Ravines farms about 125 acres of vineyards and produces about 25,000 cases annually. His wines have consistently gained accolades and have contributed to bringing more recognition to the wines of the Finger Lakes.