Scott Uncorked: Teaching an Old Nurse New Tricks

Hi, Scott here. 👋

I’ve been an ICU nurse at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for over 25 years. It’s demanding, rewarding work, and it’s defined a big part of my life. But a couple of years ago, I started getting the itch to try something different.

I’ve always loved wine. Back in college, I worked at a wine shop in Rochester, learned a ton, and got hooked. I’ve also always liked making things—woodworking, bread, kombucha, you name it. If it involves tools, timing, and troubleshooting, I’m probably into it.

At some point, it clicked: winemaking checks all those boxes. Science? Check. Creativity? Check. Power tools and fermentation? Double check.

So in 2022, I decided to go back to school. I enrolled in the Viticulture and Enology program at Finger Lakes Community College while still working full-time at the hospital. Because, why make things easy?

Over the next two years, I learned how grapes grow, how fermentation works, and how winemakers turn juice into something people actually want to drink. I interned at Boundary Breaks in the vineyard, worked two harvests at Silver Thread, and got to see firsthand how the pros do it.

In 2024, I finally gave it a go myself. I bought Riesling juice from Fulkerson Winery, fermented it at the lake house, aged it back in Pittsford, and bottled it in the basement. Just under 100 bottles, and not one explosion. I’m calling it a success!

This spring, I entered two bottles in the amateur wine competition at the New York State Fair. Why? Mostly curiosity. And because it felt like the right way to close the loop on this whole experiment: make something from scratch and put it out into the world.

Interested in learning more about my winemaking journey? If so, you’re in luck! This is the first post in a new series where I’ll share more about the process: what I’ve learned, what I’d do differently, and what’s next. Thanks for reading.

And if you’d like to meet the other half of Boat Bar 42, check out this post.

And, before you leave, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog, and also check out our Facebook group, Finger Lakes Food and Wine Adventure.

Cheers from the lake!
—Scott