For much of our region's history that has been the story of Finger Lakes grapes: excellent growing conditions leading to high-quality grapes that become world-class wines that are enjoyed near and far. But now a new chapter is being written in the vineyards. A local New York company, Finger Lakes Grape Seed Oil, is turning grape seeds, a by-product of wine production, into the first regional Finger Lakes grape seed oil, a healthful and natural local product whose time has come. When wineries squeeze grapes to make wine, the solid material left over ­ stems, skins and seeds ­ is called pomace. Grape seeds and pomace are plentiful throughout the Finger Lakes region. We ­ Finger Lakes Grape Seed Oil ­ have developed a unique process to separate the grape seeds from the pomace and to dry the seeds in preparation for production of grape seed oil and its seed extracts. We cold press the seeds and lightly filter varieties of grape seed oils for retail bottling and distribution. Cold-pressed extra virgin grape seed oil is made by using low heat, which preserves the oil's natural flavor, color and nutritional value.

Grape seed oil is also used as a healthy ingredient to make cosmetics such as massage oil, hair products, sunburn lotion, lip balm and hand creams, among other products. The oil and seed extracts are common ingredients in nutraceutical capsules which promote healthy lifestyles. Its growing popularity in the natural health care and cosmetics industries is a testimony to the truly unique properties of grape seed oil. And our grape seed oil is a purely local product ­ born and raised in the Finger Lakes through the synergy of local wineries and our company. We bring a closed-loop, all-local philosophy of processing the waste stream from many wineries ­ pomace ­ thereby producing this healthy all-local product ­ Finger Lakes Grape Seed Oil.