WESTFIELD, N.Y. — As the U.S. Navy celebrates its 250th birthday, a small town in Chautauqua County remembers one of its own, a WWII hero who returned home to grow not just grapes, but a legacy .

In the rolling hills of Westfield, New York, nestled near the shores of Lake Erie, sits a piece of living history: Johnson Estate Winery, the oldest continuously operating estate winery in New York State. But its roots run deeper than just fine wines; they trace back to a family legacy steeped in courage, innovation, and a love of the land.

From Fighter Pilot to Farmer

The story begins with Frederick Johnson, an English orphan who immigrated to Canada, then found his way to Cornell University. In 1908, he bought the estate and planted fruit trees and concord grapes. He built an apple cold st

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