Belhurst Estate Winery's 2009 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling tied for "Best of Show White Wine" at the recent San Diego International Wine Competition, earning Platinum and "Best Riesling" honors on its way to the top.  Just a few weeks ago, the same wine won "Best New World Riesling"  at the New World International Wine Compation, while last year it won "Best White Wine" at the Long Beach Grand Cru (CA) competition, and the Belhurst 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling won "Wine of the Year" at the Indy International, reaffirming its reputation as a quality producer and the consistency of results among different competitions.

             Exemplifying the blend of quality and diversity of New York wines, Merritt Estate Bella Rosa also won a Platinum award, with Gold medals going to Coyote Moon Vineyards River Time and Fire Boat Red; Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2009 Gewurztraminer, 2008 Rkatsiteli, and 2010 Semi-Dry Riesling; and Sparkling Pointe 2007 Topaz Imperial.

             Coming up next are the Pacific Rim, Riverside, and Los Angeles International competitions where New York wines typically show well.

             Meanwhile, Grapes of Roth 2009 Dry Riesling from Long Island has been selected for the final round of the 2011 Wall St. Journal Annual Dozen Tasting chaired by Britain Hugh Johnson, the best-selling wine author in the world.  Starting with more than 800 American wines, he ultimately narrows them down to the Annual Dozen and the Luxury Dozen. 

             Roman Roth, the talented German-rooted winemaker who also makes the wines for Wolffer Estate and is one of our industry's nicest people, has a natural affinity for producing top-quality Riesling, which shows.  He is encouraging people to "Root for Riesling".

 Vine Talk Series Debuts

           The long-awaited Vine Talk series on public television has officially begun at many PBS stations across the country from Atlanta and Austin to Boston, Charlottesville, Dallas, Daytona Beach, Denver, Miami, Reno, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, Seattle, and Washington, DC--to name just a few markets where it is being shown.  The New York PBS stations currently or soon showing the series are in the Albany, Long Island, New York City, Syracuse, and Waternown markets, with others to follow later in the year.

               The second show in the series features Finger Lakes Rieslings tasted and discussed by a panel of celebrities in conjunction with Food & Wine Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle and Sommelier Stephanie Caraway.  Sixteen award-winning Rieslings were originally submitted to a pre-screening tasting panel, which selected six to be tasted as part of the show; from those, both the celebrity panel and studio audience would select their favorites.

               While I cannot reveal those favorites today, I can tell you the six finalists were Thirsty Own Wine Company 2009 Dry Riesling; Keuka Lake Vineyards 2009 Dry Riesling Falling Man Vineyard; Red Newt Cellars 2009 "Circle" Label Riesling; Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling; Dr. Konstantin Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars 2008 Late Harvest Riesling Bunch Select; and Anthony Road Martini Reinhardt Selection 2008 Riesling Trockenbeeren.

               Stay tuned next week for the favorites.

Shutdown Spinoffs

          The President and Congressional leaders narrowly averted a government shutdown with a last-second budget agreement last night, and it's interesting how many ripple effects it would have--even on this week's Wine Industry Workshop in Geneva, NY. 

             The three-day conference includes two days of technical presentations for winemakers, but the first day is about marketing and legal/regulatory issues.  We always invite representatives of the federal Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) to present regulatory updates, and this year we invited a representative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to talk about Energy Saving Grants.  At the end of yesterday, our federal friends cancelled (it would be illegal for them to appear if there were a shutdown), and we haven't yet heard back from them, but we sure hope they can make it after all.

             The Wine Industry Workshop also incorporates our annual Unity Banquet where we recognize people who have made major contributions to our industry, as well as a 40th Anniversary Dinner of the WIW the next evening.  For more information about the seminars, speakers, and events, visit www.grapesandwine.cals.cornell.edu.

"CARE" Act Renamed and Renumbered, but...

            Last year the nation's beer wholesalers, with strong support from wine wholesalers, got scores of Congressional Representatives to sponsor H.R. 5034, titled the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulation and Enforcement (CARE) Act.  Fortunately, it died as a one-house bill.

               Now they've renumbered and renamed it (H.R. 1161, the "Community Alcohol Effectiveness Act")--a warmer, gentler "CARE"; but it's still the same basic concept which is unnecessary, unwise and unfair--to consumers as well as suppliers like wineries.

               Last weekend, wine blogger David White (Terroirist) had a great piece in the New York Times on line titled "Wholesale Robbery in Liquor Stores".  As he noted, this "CARE" bill would allow discrimination against out-of-state producers and retailers if lawmakers can prove that such laws advance "a legitimate local purpose that cannot be adequately served by reasonable nondiscriminatory alternatives."  He also noted that beer and wine wholesaler organizations have spent $5.6 million and $9.3 million, respectively, on lobbying Congress during the past decade; and the beer wholesalers donated $15.4 million to candidates for federal office.

               In other words, this bill needs to be taken seriously, and we have already been in touch with our Senators and Representatives in New York.  It is a shame that we have to spend our time fighting initiatives like this, but the silver lining is that this bill has united suppliers (wine, beer and spirits producers) like nothing before.

             Brotherhood America's Oldest Winery Ltd. in Washingtonville is one of the nation's most historic and interesting wineries, and now it's possible to enjoy a great meal when you visit.  The "Vinum Cafe", owned and independently operated by Chef-Owner Christian Pierrel, has been open almost a year but only recently received its license to serve wine; and after all, "a meal without wine is like a day without sunshine".

                We got State legislation passed years ago that automatically allows farm wineries to have restaurants on their premises (commercial wineries need an additional license but may as well), and many in the Finger Lakes took advantage of that long ago.  Unfortunately, local townships on Long Island have prevented them there, but it's nice to see new ones popping up in different regions.

                 Brotherhood owner Cesar Baeza describes the Vinum Cafe fare as "gourmet food at reasonable prices" with fantastic Lobster Bisque and "Hudson Valley Fois Gras that melts in your mouth".  It's open Wednesday through Sunday noon to 9 pm for lunch, dinner and brunch with seating indoors and outside when weather permits.  Visit http://vinumcafe.com/restaurant.htm.