More New York Gold from Indy

                 New York wines received 11 "Concordance Gold", 10 Gold, 84 Silver and 31 Bronze medals at this week's terrific Indy International Wine Competition held at Purdue University and run by Dr. Christian Butzke and Jill Blume.  The competition included nearly 2500 wines from many states and countries, and more than 50 judges.

               Concordance Gold awards, similar to Double Gold in some other competitions and requiring unanimity of judges, went to Belhurst Estate Winery 2010 Semi-Dry Riesling and 2008 Syrah; Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Vidal Blanc Ice Wine; Lucas Vineyards 2009 Cayuga White and 2010 Seyval Blanc; Merritt Estate Sauvignon Blanc; Seneca Shores Pinot Grigio, DeMarco Vineyards; Swedish Hill Winery 2010 Delaware and 2010 Dry Riesling; Thousand Islands Winery St. Lawrence Red; and Wagner Vineyards 2007 Meritage.

               Gold medals were awarded to Chateau Frank Celebre Rose; Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2009 Estate Chardonnay Proprietor's Reserve, 2010 Estate Semi-Dry Riesling, and 2009 Estate Semi-Dry Riesling; Fulkerson Winery 2010 Riesling; Goose Watch Winery Golden Spumante, Brut Rose, and Sherry; Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay, 2010 Homestead Reserve Riesling, and 2010 Sauvignon Blanc; Lakewood Vineyards 2010 Vignoles; Long Point Winery 2009 Sangiovese; Lucas Vineyards 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling; Ricasoli 2007 Sangiovese; Montezuma Pintail; Seneca Shore Winery Native Port; Torrey Ridge Winery Catawba, Diamond, and Summer Delight; and Ventosa 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon.

               The range of different types of wines winning top medals reaffirms the blend of quality and diversity that is the hallmark of the New York wine industry.  Several of the Concordance Golds were also in the final "sweepstakes" round for Best Wine of the Year, which last year went to Belhurst Semi-Dry Riesling. 

               This year the winner was Willamette Valley Vineyards 2009 Riesling  from Oregon, a stunning wine produced at a level of 32,000 cases--or about one-third of the TOTAL production of Finger Lakes wineries.  The Best of Category winners were also dispersed among different states (including a great Rose (Catwaba) from Indiana, and wines from California, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) as well as British Columbia, reflecting the emergence of great wines from many places.  It's good for all of us.

               Now it's on to our New York Wine & Food Classic on August 15 & 16, and then the "Celebrate the Classic" event on August 26 showcasing the top winners at the New York Wine & Culinary Center (www.nywcc.com).  For details on how wine competitions are run, and what the results mean, visit the "New York Gold" section of our web site (www.newyorkwines.org).            

         It was quite a week for media coverage of the Finger Lakes in various forms and formats.  Newsday, with a large New York City and Long Island readership, featured the Finger Lakes as one of five great places to visit before the end of the summer.  Describing the region as "the New York version of Napa Valley, with a proliferation of wineries and the local, organic food trend flourishing there," the writer also advised readers to "pick up a bottle of Riesling, one of the region's specialties."  www.quick-get-aways-before-summer-gets-away-1.3075691.

           Heart & Hands Winery on the east side of Cayuga Lake received huge national coverage as part of The Early Show's segment on "America Uncorked: U.S. consuming more wine than any other country" on Friday morning.  Tom and Susan Higgins were filmed and interviewed in their vineyard, cellar, and tasting room, and the wines were prominently displayed (and tasted by the co-hosts) on the New York City set.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs99X7i1jl4&tfeature=youtu.be.

            "The 2008 Tierce may be the best dry Riesling ever made in the U.S.", wrote Dan Berger in this week's edition of Vintage Experiences (www.vintageexperiences.com).  That's a major statement from one of the country's foremost Riesling experts, and his article explains his reasoning: "We've had this wine eight times since it was released, and its get better every time...it is in a class by itself...if this Tierce had been judged by those who really understand Riesling and this ultra-dry category, it would have scored 100."  Tierce is a collaborative effort among superb winemakers Johannes Reinhardt of Anthony Road Winery, Peter Bell of Fox Run Vineyards, and Dave Whiting of Red Newt Cellars.  The 2008 version is nearly sold out, but fortunately the 2009 should be available soon.

Lake Champlain Wine Tour

              One of the most surprising, and great, things about the New York wine industry is how it has spread well beyond the traditional regions to virtually every corner of the State.  What used to be a regional industry is now truly statewide from border to border and top to bottom, with 51 of 62 counties now benefiting from having wineries and all the economic benefit they bring.

               The Lake Champlain wine region, like the Thousand Islands region, is truly "north country", a beautiful, charming region that gets real cold in the winter.  Happily, the growers and vintners there have made smart decisions by planting extremely cold-hardy Minnesota varieties, which can make some terrific wines.

               Next weekend the group of five wineries are hosting a Lake Champlain Wines Summer Wine Tour (noon to 6 both days), with the $12 feel including a souvenir wine glass and tastings at all five wineries: Amazing Grace Vineyard and Winery, Everett Orchard, Hid-In-Pines Vineyard, Stone House Vineyard, and Vesco Ridge Vineyards.

               For more information: www.lakechamplainwines.org.           

Free Run... 

           America's Grape Country in western New York and neighborning Pennsylvania is now being featured on an interactive multimedia kiosk at a rest stop on Interstate 90 near the NY-PA border. A few years ago when we had money and sponsored a "regional branding" program, the Lake Erie/Chautauqua region decided to use its funds to create the "America's Grape Country" theme, which has been very effective.  One of the video segments has some great aerial footage of the region and how Lake Erie affects it, as well as history of the local grape industry.  http://youtu.be/OzvYKbE8-hQ.

          Heron Hill Winery is gradually switching to screw caps for many of its wines, starting with the popular "Game Bird" series of blends followed by aromatic wines like Riesling.  There is plenty of evidence that screw caps provide better preservation of young, aromatic wines than other closures, and some New York wineries (like Paumanok) have already made the transition.  In addition to its stunning tasting room at the winery high above Keuka Lake, Heron Hill has three satellite facilities.  www.heronhill.com.

          Whitecliff Winery in the Hudson Valley is highlighting the locavore angle with an upcoming event, Red Wine with Grassfed Beef, on August 20 & 21 from noon to 5 each day.  The $16 per person event includes tastings of beef from two local farms paired with the winery's red wines.  Information and tickets are at 845-255-4613.

   "A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world."

                                                       --Louis Pasteur