Dave is Co-Owner and President of Swedish Hill Winery. The winery’s operations include the Swedish Hill, Goose Watch and Penguin Bay brands; they also custom produce wine for more than 25 other wineries. 

After graduating from Cornell, Dave went on to receive a M.S. from the University of Tennessee, and a Ph.D. in Viticulture from Pennsylvania State University. He has worked as an Assistant Professor of Viticulture at Missouri State University, and as an Extension Specialist in Viticulture from 1989-1996 for Cornell University, prior to joining the family wine business in 1996. Since Dave joined the winery, production has increased approximately four-fold and the Goose Watch and Penguin Bay wineries were started from the ground up. The vision for Goose Watch is to walk the path less travelled. This includes lesser-known European varietals like Viognier and Lemberger, as well as the Cornell University developed varietals: Traminette, Melody, Aromella, Valvin Muscat and Noiret.

The wineries have received many honors and much international recognition, including: Governor’s Cup Winner (3 times), New York Winery of the Year and Best New York State Winery (3 times), Best New York Red Wine, Best New York White Wine, Best New York Sparkling Wine, Winemaker of the Year (San Francisco International Wine Competition), and Winery of the Year (Riverside International Wine Competition). 

Dave has been a non-stop champion of Finger Lakes wines and has served as President of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, and both the Cayuga Lake and the Seneca Lake Wine Trails. He has spoken at numerous industry conferences throughout the country, and has judged at national wine competitions in New York, California and the Midwest. 

Dave and his wife Jean reside in their home along the shores of Cayuga Lake, and their daughter Amanda is also involved in the business.