Chelsea Market | Six Eighty Cellars Takeover with David Pittard & Ian Barry

Please join Corkbuzz in welcoming Dave Pittard and Ian Barry from Six Eighty Cellars in the Finger Lakes!

When: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 5-7 pm

Where: 75 9th Ave. New York, NY 10011

What: Featured Flights and Wines by the Glass from Six Eighty Cellars

Six Eighty Cellars is a boutique winery producing small-batch, earthenware-aged wines in unexpected styles. Sourced exclusively from Certified Sustainable grapes, we strive to create wines using a wide array of techniques, from the ancient to the avant-garde, while preserving the purest expression of the grape and a unique sense of place. Established in 2020 in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, Six Eighty Cellars is committed to sustainable farming practices and a minimal intervention approach to winemaking.

Meet Melissa and Dave Pittard, the dynamic duo behind Six Eighty Cellars, a boutique winery nestled in the Finger Lakes Region of New York that specializes in unique earthenware-aged wines. Both originally from Skaneateles, NY, Melissa and Dave share deep roots in the Finger Lakes. Dave's early exposure to agriculture at Beak & Skiff Apple Farm in Lafayette, NY, a family-owned orchard dating back to 1911, ignited his passion for the land and winemaking. Working with apple-based wines, vodka, and cider, Dave's journey led him to Cornell College of Agriculture. Despite life taking them away from the region temporarily, the Pittards always harbored a dream of returning to Upstate New York to pursue their shared love for wine and agriculture. In 2014, their dream materialized with the acquisition of Buttonwood Grove Winery, marking the beginning of their winemaking adventure. Their dedication and innovation in winemaking were recognized in 2017 when their 2016 Riesling secured the prestigious Governor's Cup, crowning it the Best Wine in New York State. The acquisition of a neighboring vineyard presented a new opportunity for the Pittards. Intrigued by the well- established vines, they envisioned creating something distinctive yet deeply rooted in the Finger Lakes' unique terroir. With the purchase in 2020, they welcomed winemaker Ian Barry, hailed as a "mad scientist" by peers, to lead an unconventional winemaking program. The result was the opening of Six Eighty Cellars - a platform for creativity and innovation, guided by sustainable practices and a community-first philosophy. Dave, Melissa, and Ian shared a vision of breaking away from convention and expressing their beliefs as winemakers. Together with their children Skiff, Frances, and Marnie, the Pittards embarked on the next chapter of their journey, preserving the quality of farming from the previous owners while imprinting their unique identity on the property. Since opening Six Eighty Cellars, they have expanded the vineyards, unveiled a modern tasting room, and upgraded the property into an on-site vacation rental. Dave serves as the hands-on Lead Farmer and Business Manager, ensuring the winery's day-to-day operations run smoothly, while Melissa, the creative visionary and Marketing and Brand Manager, shapes the brand's identity.

Melissa and Dave Pittard stand as the driving force behind Six Eighty Cellars, where tradition meets innovation, and the Finger Lakes' wine legacy is redefined.

Winemaker Ian Barry’s journey into the wine world began as a part time job while studying to teach English in the Hudson Valley of New York State. He was soon bit by the proverbial “wine bug” and the world lost a mediocre teacher and gained a halfway decent winemaker. His journey took him from the vineyard to the cellar to the tasting room to managing a boutique wine shop. He eventually wandered to the west coast and worked in Oregon and Washington before returning to his native state of New York and settling in the Finger Lakes. Here, he won a couple of Governor’s Cups, scored some 90+ scores in major publications and started his own brand, Barry Family Cellars. Most recently Ian was given the opportunity to be winemaker at Six Eighty Cellars where he’s given the creative freedom to make low- intervention wines in weird vessels and to experiment with lots of fun techniques, both ancient and modern. Before the creation of Six Eighty Cellars, Ian was a consulting winemaker of 8 years for our company's original winery, Buttonwood Grove.

Our full wine list and dinner menu are available.