Wine Press FINAL 10-14-10

June 30, 2012

 

             New York Gold from San Francisco, Thousand Island wine region rocks, and Dr. Frank toasts 50 years.

 

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

New York Gold Rush

 

           New York wines took 5 Double Gold, 9 Gold, 24 Silver and 20 Bronze medals at the recent San Francisco International Wine Competition, one of the nation's largest with about 4,500 entries. 

           Double Gold awards went to Coyote Moon 2011 Brianna, Goose Watch 2011 Riesling/Gewurztraminer and 2010 Traminette, Penguin Bay 2011 Riesling, and Swedish Hill 2007 Late Harvest Vignoles.

           Gold medals were awarded to Belhurst 2011 Riesling, Coyote Moon 2011 LaCrescent, Dr. Frank 2011 Dry Riesling, Goose Watch 2011 Diamond, Hunt Country 2010 Seyval Blanc, Penguin Bay Tuxedo White, Prejean 2010 Riesling, Red Tail Ridge 2011 Semi-Sweet Riesling, and Swedish Hill Spumante Blush.

            Next up, in three weeks, is the Long Beach Grand Cru competition run by Dan Berger, who also runs Riverside and judges at our New York Wine & Food Classic.

            The Classic will again be held in mid-August at the fabulous Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, and among our stellar group of judges are wine writers from California, New York City, London, and Paris (representing Le Figaro, the largest circulation newspaper in France).  We're looking forward to another great competition.

 Thousand Islands on a Roll

 

            Who woulda thunk it: The Thousand Islands as a wine region...? You gotta be kidding: It's way too cold.

          Wrong! I had the pleasure of revisiting the region on Monday for a special meeting about the Northern Grapes Project headed by Dr. Tim Martinson of Cornell Cooperative Extension.  The big tent at the award-winning Coyote Moon Winery was packed with scores of people who are already growing grapes or operating a winery, or are planning to do so.

           Thousand Islands Winery, the region's first and largest, provided inspiration and information for others who followed; the region now has six wineries and counting.  Even more impressive is the number of growers (without wineries) who have literally put down their roots in North Country soil.  (Also in "North Country" are the Greater Adirondack region with 10 wineries and the Lake Champlain region with 5.)

            The key, as elsewhere in the state and world, is planting the right grapes--in this case extreme cold-hardy Minnesota varieties like Brianna, Frontenac and Marquette which can survive temperatures to 40 below zero. But making good wines is also vital to the growth of a wine region, and that's just what they're doing: Coyote Moon's Double Gold and Gold medals in San Francisco are just the latest of many honors for the region's wines.

             The Northern Grapes Project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a major collaborative effort of scientists throughout the country to create and disseminate the best information possible about growing the grapes, making the wines, and marketing them.  It will be a major focus of our large Viticulture 2013 symposium and trade show on February 6-8 in Rochester, New York. 

Happy 50th, Dr. Frank 

          Tomorrow, a large group of wine writers, trade representatives, government officials, and family members of the late Dr. Konstantin Frank will gather to toast the 50th anniversary of a man, a vineyard, and a winery that have transformed the wine industry in the Finger Lakes and well beyond. 
              Dr. Konstantin Frank was a visionary who spawned the "vinifera revolution"--believing and proving that classic European grape varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling could survive and thrive in the cool climate, and ultimately produce excellent wines.  He often said, "We make only excellent wines."
              As Dr. Frank grew more frail, his energetic son Willy took over the winery operation and also created the adjacent Chateau Frank sparkling wine facility in a historic cellar of the house he lived in until he passed away several years ago.  An indefatigable missionary, Willy went beyond touting Dr. Frank wines to promoting the Finger Lakes as a great wine region.
              That legacy is being carried on by his son Fred, President and CEO, who will welcome the guests and lead them through vertical tastings of Chardonnays and Cabernets from the winery's private library, followed by a tasting of current releases and a luncheon featuring German Cuisine paired with Dr. Frank wines.  Willy's daughter Barbara, a trained winemaker, handles the marketing of Dr. Frank wines in the New York City area.
              And now the fourth generation--Fred and Maryclaire's daughter Meaghan--is currently training to enter the business as well.  After graduating from Cornell University this year, she is now pursuing an MBA in Wine Business at the University of Adelaide in Australia--but will be home for this event. 
              Happily, we'll have a great wine to toast the first 50 years: Chateau Frank 2006 Blanc de Noirs, which has won all kinds of awards in major competitions--most recently, just this week, as "Best Sparkling Wine" (and Double Gold) at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition.  Cheers!        
            
 
 
  "Excellent wine generates enthusiasm.  And whatever you do with enthusiasm is generally successful." 
                                                       --Phillippe de Rothschild
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