Nova Cadamatre, co-founder of Trestle Thirty-One in New York’s Finger Lakes region, is a trailblazing winemaker with a deep passion for viticulture and a remarkable track record on both U.S. coasts. A Cornell graduate with roots in East Coast winemaking, she honed her craft in California's premier vineyards before returning to her home state to pursue her and her husband Brian's dream of owning a vineyard. In 2017, Nova became the first female winemaker in the U.S. to earn the prestigious Master of Wine title, a testament to her expertise, dedication, and influence in the world of wine. At Trestle Thirty-One, Nova combines artistry, science, and family heritage to create wines that reflect both place and purpose. DeliveryRank offers an exclusive interview.
Credit: Autumn Stein
Trestle Thirty One is deeply rooted in family, from the Winery founding to the artwork on your labels. How does that shared creative legacy shape the identity of your wines and customer experience?
I want people to truly feel that by supporting our brands, they become part of our community—an essential part of helping small businesses thrive. We’re fortunate to have incredible artistic talent within our family, which has allowed us to keep much of Trestle Thirty One’s brand identity close to home. While we don’t have a vineyard yet, we hope to establish one in the future.
After 15 years of preparation before starting, how did your long-term vision evolve, and what were some pivotal moments that solidified your commitment to establishing Trestle Thirty One in the Finger Lakes region?
To be clear, we haven’t planted any vines yet, but we have definitely put down roots in the Finger Lakes. I fell in love with the potential of wines from this region during my time at Cornell University, though I didn’t yet know how to fully capture that in my own winemaking. After moving to California in 2006, I dedicated myself to learning everything I could about crafting fine wine. When we returned in 2015, I brought back a wealth of ideas on how to showcase the quality of the Finger Lakes. That same year, we purchased land—though it remains undeveloped for now. In 2021, we opened our tasting lounge in downtown Geneva, NY, and for the past four years, we’ve been welcoming guests there as well as at The Loft at Trestle Thirty One, which is available to book through Airbnb.
Your brand name and label reflect both the landscape and the history of your winery. How important is storytelling—through visual art and place-based naming—in connecting people to your wine?
To me, authenticity is at the heart of a brand’s meaning and its connection with consumers. In a world full of heavily marketed, manufactured brands, it’s crucial to share the real stories of the people and places behind the wines. Every bottle has a purpose, and when people support our wine, they’re supporting a family—not a giant corporation. Featuring my mom’s artwork, Linda Williams McCune, on our label, and having our logo designed by Brian’s sister, Katie Ng, keeps the focus on the family that truly brings the wine to life. We feel incredibly fortunate to have such creative talent within our family.
Sustainability and small-lot quality seem to be core values at Trestle 31. How do you balance artisanal production with the realities of running a growing winery and tasting room?
The good news is, we’re still very small, which allows us to focus on quality above all else. Most of our wines come from carefully selected single-vineyard parcels, ensuring attention to detail in every bottle. For me, if we can’t do something to the best of our ability—whether due to costs, time, or other factors—we’d rather wait until we can do it right. That’s why it took over five years before we released our first red wine. It’s a process that requires patience—three years of aging before release—and we needed to be more established to invest the time and resources to make it truly exceptional.
You’ve described wine as something to be shared around the table with great food and loved ones. How does this philosophy influence the kind of wines you create and the way you welcome people into your space?
I want people to feel like they’re stepping into my home. The lounge is designed with small, intimate spaces where guests can relax, connect with us, or enjoy time together in a cozy yet upscale setting. We aim to create a fully immersive experience, fostering a sense of togetherness and community that naturally comes from sharing a bottle of wine. So many meaningful conversations and connections happen over great wine and food, and we hope our guests feel that warmth when they visit—and take a little of that experience home with them to share with others.
If you would like to find out more about Trestle Thirty One, please visit https://trestle31.com/