Varallo Vineyards is more than a vineyard; it is a destination. The vineyards are uniquely located in the Town of Lockport and are a part of the family's 78 acres (which also includes an 8-acre spring fed lake, unique woods, and the winery). From Gravel to Grapes: The pea gravel used in the landscape today around the grounds was once mined from the property. Around the 1960's there was not much gravel left to mine and water filled in the pit which is now the lake. When the family first purchased the land they built a cabin and enjoyed the grounds for several years. In the early 1990's the dream began to build a winery and the search for a grape that would grow in the sandy soil. After four years of research and a test vineyard, the Varallos determined that the best grape to grow on the property would be a Riesling variety. The process began and over 10 acres of vines were planted.