Sheldrake Wins Big, Others Score Too

               Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2010 Riesling Ice Wine won the USA Perpetual Trophy for Best American Riesling at the recent Canberra International Riesling Challenge in Australia, just a year after its 2008 Late Harvest Riesling was named Best Sweet Wine in the World at the same event.  In addition, this year the winery's 2010 Dry Riesling won a "Top Gold" designation in that category.

             Anthony Road Winery also captured a Gold medal for its 2008 Martini Reinhardt Selection Riesling Berry Selection.  Other New York wineries won one Silver and 10 Bronze awards in this Riesling-only competition, which is considered one of the toughest in the world.

             Meanwhile, Glenora Wine Cellars and sister operation Knapp Vineyards & Winery cleaned up at the 2011 World Value Wine Challenge with a total of six scores of 90 or above.  In the "$20 and Under" category, they included Knapp 2010 Riesling (93) and Glenora 2010 Riesling (92); and in the "$15 and Under" category, Glenora 2010 Seyval Blanc (92) and 2010 Gewurztraminer (91) along with Knapp 2010 Estate Grown Vignoles (92) and 2010 Dry Riesling (90).

             These types of awards have help create international awareness and respect for New York wines. 

            This year's harvest is a vivid reminder that wine is farming, and Nature is in charge.  That, in fact, is why wine labels contain vintage dates.

             The weekly Veraison to Harvest e-bulletin published by Cornell Cooperative Extension keeps us up to date on conditions across the State, which are similar in some ways but not all.  Statewide, 2011 started out very much like 2010, the best harvest in decades, going into the fall ahead of schedule and with warm, sunny days in early September fueling the optimism for another perfect year.

              But water in various forms hit the different regions--Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee devastating the Hudson Valley but sparing Long Island, and a week of late September rains dampening the Finger Lakes and other upstate regions.  This obviously makes for messy harvesting conditions and some fruit loss due to disease, but overall things are still looking good as the harvest starts winding down in some regions.

              This is a testament to the knowledge and dedication of grape growers, the great research and extension services provided by Cornell, and the talent and versatility of winemakers.  There are two types of  "winemaker's year": one when the grapes are so perfect that he or she only has to "babysit" (like 2010), and the other where unusual challenges require all the training and creativity of the craft (2011).  Most winemakers actually like them both, but for different reasons.

              In the Lake Erie region (grape juice country) where Concord is king, the National Grape Cooperative/Welch's plants have been humming along, with the grapes coming in at more than 16% Brix and excellent quality despite rainy weather.  Fortunately, as in the rest of the state, the long-range forecast looks like sunny and warm.

              Meanwhile, as we move through the second half of harvest, our wonderful colleagues in Michigan, Oregon, and Washington are mostly twiddling their thumbs waiting for the harvest to begin.  Wine is farming, and Nature is in charge. 

21 Brix Winery Opens

                 New York's newest winery has opened in the Lake Erie region, owned by a family with deeps roots in the Chautauqua grape industry. 

             Trenholm Jordan and his son Mike created Olde Chautauqua Farms in the 1960's, starting with 12 acres which has grown into 300 of wine and juice grapes in Portland, New York. Now Mike and Marion Jordan, and their sons Bryan Jordan and Kristopher Kane, have created Brix 21, with Kris as winemaker and Bryan contributing his corporate business expertise.

              The winery's location right on well-traveled Route 20 connects the wineries on the east end of the Lake Erie Wine Country's wine trail with those in the middle, and guarantees lots of visitors to the 9,800 square foot facility.  For more information, www.21brix.com. 

               Of New York's 62 counties, 53 now have wineries, and as soon as a couple licenses are approved by the State Liquor Authority, there will be 55.  Wine is a statewide industry.         

 Constellation Profit Soars

           Constellation Brands recently announced a 78% increase in profits for its second quarter, with net income of $163 million, and a 69% increase for the first half of its fiscal year.

                 Headquartered in Victor, New York near Rochester, Constellation began modestly as the Canandaigua Wine Company in that small city on the lake of the same name.  Founder Marvin Sands started the company's strong growth curve, which was subsequently accelerated by his sons Richard and Robert so that Constellation is now the world's leading premium wine company.

                 The original processing plant in Canandaigua continues to hum along, and the company is by far the largest purchaser of New York wine grapes for brands like Taylor, Great Western, Widmer, and Arbor Mist.  Constellation is also a key player in dozens of industry trade associations around the country and world.

            "Beer is made by men, wine by God." 

                                                                                   --Martin Luther