Brad developed a love of wine and the art of winemaking after meeting his now wife, Shelby Hearn Ulrich in 2018. After a successful career as a high school history teacher, Brad pursued a harvest internship at Premium Wine Group in Mattituck, NY in the Fall of 2019 and quickly realized his passion and natural aptitude for winemaking.

Brad has been working at Premium Wine Group as part of the production team ever since. At the end of 2021 he was promoted to Cellar Master and now manages the cellar and cellar team.

After several years of working under Russell on Suhru wines, he stepped into the Assistant Winemaker role at Suhru Wines in the Spring of 2022 and is exited to be a part of this family business, working alongside his father-in-law Russell and sister-in-law Kylie in the winery as well as his wife Shelby and mother-in-law Sue. Brad looks forward to the release of his first wine under the Suhru Wines label, a new addition to the Suhru portfolio, to be released Spring of 2023. 

Brad Ulrich

Assistant Winemaker

Russell has made extensive contributions to the New York wine industry over the past three decades with his wines garnering extensive critical acclaim and industry wide respect. His innovative winemaking style has influenced the quality of many wineries in our region, none more so than Pellegrini Vineyards, Lieb Cellars and Suhru Wines.

Australian born, he grew up around wine as his mother was in the business. Russell started his career in Western Australia and has taken his training with him throughout his journey with experience gained working in New Zealand, France, and regions across the USA. Russell founded Premium Wine Group a custom crush facility in 2000, encouraging small, fine quality wine producers like Suhru Wines to flourish.

As the winemaker at Suhru & Lieb Vineyards, Russell brings his knowledge, decades of experience, and long standing relationships to the table as he crafts fruit forward, age-worthy red wines, delicate sparkling, and bright, crisp whites and rosés.

Russell Hearn

Winemaker

Known for their signature dry, clean and fruit-forward style, Suhru & Lieb Vineyards offers a portfolio of estate-grown, still and sparkling wines made by Long Island veteran winemaker Russell Hearn. Enjoy a glass or a tasting while overlooking rolling farmland and our beautiful vineyards, tucked away on Oregon Road, one of the most picturesque locations on the East End!

We are proud to have 54-acres of certified sustainable vines, including the largest contiguous plot of Pinot Blanc in the United States. Suhru & Lieb Vineyards produces two labels. Suhru Wines, focuses on lesser known grape varietals and lesser known winemaking styles. Lieb Cellars, is known for the classic vitis vinifera grape varieties and elegant sparkling wines; think Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Bordeaux style red wines including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and a full-bodied red blend.

Suhru & Lieb Vineyards

United States

Winemakers

Brad Ulrich

Assistant Winemaker

Russell Hearn

Winemaker