March 2, 2013

             The latest in "entrepreneurial government", a Sparkling success, cold climate wines, our Sold-Out event, a new education facility, and lots more wineries--it's a busy time in New York wine country. 

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

            "Entrepreneurial government" sure seems like an oxymoron, but the person who coined the phrase--New York Governor Andrew Cuomo--is once again proving that it's not. 

             This week the Governor announced the launch of a "one stop shop" where producers of New York wines, beer, spirits and cider can get answers to their questions and help for their businesses.  The new service is a direct result of the Govenor's Wine, Beer, and Spirits Summit in October, where I and others recommended a single point of government contact for the industry in order increase understanding, enhance compliance, and foster better communication between the public and private sectors.

              To my knowledge, New York is the only state in the country with such a service for members of the farm-based beverage community (my phrase).  New York leads again.

              This service is vital because virtually all of New York's 335 wineries (as well as micro-distilleries, breweries, and cideries) are small, family-owned businesses with very limited resources for dealing with the myriad complicated legal and regulatory matters in many areas--labor, agriculture, environment, alcohol regulations, taxes, and much else.  All producers whom I know are honest, hard-working, law-abiding citizens who want to obey the law but first need to know what it is. 

               That's where the One Stop Shop comes in.  It's the single source of information from numerous govenment agencies including the New York State Liquor Authority, and the Departments of Agriculture & Markets, Tax and Finance, Labor, Environmental Conservation, Health, Transportation, Energy Research and Development, and the Power Authority.

               The service is coordinated by Sam Filler of Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) in conjunction with designated staff from the many other agencies to answer questions, host educational and training programs, and resolve problems.  The service also includes a new web site as an entry point and source of information on financial incentives, grants, loans, special permits, and other matters--along with a special FAQ section providing immediate answers to some of the most common questions posed by industry members.

                Besides enhancing compliance, this service will increase the productivity of the hundreds of artisanal farm-based beverage producers by shiftng hours and days of searching for answers into making better products and marketing them more broadly.  And that, in turn, means more jobs, more tourism, more sales, and more taxes for the State of New York.

                It's truly a win-win, and we thank Governor Cuomo for making it happen.

              Sparkling Pointe 2008 Blanc de Noirs from Long Island was voted "Best New World Sparkling Wine" at the recent New World International Wine Competition held in southern California.  On its way to the top, it also won a Double Gold medal and designations as Best of Class and Best of Varietal.  The winning wine also had some tough competition from another Sparkling Pointe entry, the 2007 Blanc de Blanc, which took a Double Gold.  (In case you haven't noticed, Sparkling Pointe's wines are consistent winners of top awards in major competitions, and we congratulate them.)

               Other Double Golds for New York wines went to Fulkerson 2012 Moscato and 2012 Himrod; Glenora 2011 Signature White (which was also Best of Class, and Best of Varietal); Goose Watch 2011 Viognier (Best of Class); and Swedish Hill 2010 Vignoles (Best of Class, and Best of Varietal).

               Gold medals were awarded to Dr. Frank 2011 Sauvignon Blanc; Glenora 2011 Dry Riesling and 2011 Select Harvest Riesling; Goose Watch 2011 Diamond, Golden Spumante, and Classic Cream Sherry; Hazlitt White Cat; Knapp Gewurztraminer; and Swedish Hill Blue Waters Riesling.

                Coming up real soon is the great Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, which has already broken its previous record for the number of entries, with more coming in daily.  It's a great competition for a great cause (Camp Good Days and Special Times). 

                 A major part of our Viticulture 2013 conference a month ago was the "Northern Grapes Project" symposium involving researchers from many states giving presentations on growing cold climate (Minnesota) grape varieties, transforming them into fine wines, and then marketing them.  Among the marketing-related findings of the project to date:

-- The emerging cold-climate grape and wine industry accounts for over $342 million in economic impact across 12 states, according to a study from the University of Minnesota.  The total figure includes growing grapes, making wine, and spending by tourists visiting the wineries.  There's also accelerating growth, with 43% of the cold climate-focused wineries established since 2007, and 45% of vineyard plantings in the past four years.  (In New York State, the Thousand Islands, Adirondack, and Champlain regions are those specializing in cold-climate varieties, and all are growing rapidly.)

-- Maximizing customer satisfaction at tasting rooms is key to success and profitability.  A survey by Cornell's Dr. Migel Gomez found that "highly satisfied" customers on average purchase four bottles ($60) during a visit, while those merely "satisfied" buy only three ($40).  So staff friendliness and knowledge are key not only at the moment of visit, but also in drawing customers (and their friends) back in the future.

-- A five-month study of over 1,500 tasting room visitors in Michigan showed that, for 49% of them, visiting wineries was "the only reason" or "a very important reason" for visiting the region.  In addition, the average tasting room visitors spent a total of $780 on their trips to the regions--on gas, food, lodging, gifts, and of course wine--reinforcing the role of wine as a major economic engine in predominantly rural areas.

                The Northern Grapes Project has been funded by a grant from the Specialty Crops Research Initiative of the United States Department of Agriculture, which unfortunately is now in jeopardy due to the Congressional delay in passing a Farm Bill.  This type of research is vital to the entire U.S. grape and wine industry, and we hope that Washington will recognize that.

           Sold Out! Sorry, folks, but our NYDrinksNY tasting on March 18 at Astor Center in Manhttan was sold out right after last weekend's Wine Press went out.  Our inaugural tasting last year also sold out, but not nearly as early, so clearly the word has gotten out.  The private tasting for trade and media in the afternoon is also full, a rarity in New York City where so many invitations to tastings are extended.  It's a tribute to our agency, First Press Public Relations, as well as to the quality of New York wines and their spreading reputation.

           Finger Lakes Viticulture Center in Geneva is under construction, thanks to a grant of over $3 million obtained by Senator Mike Nozzolio and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb.  Several years ago, Finger Lakes Community College created a superb two-year Viticulture and Wine Technology program overseen by Paul Brock, a veteran winemaker and co-owner with his wife Shannon of Silver Thread Vineyard on Seneca Lake.  The Viticulture Center, located at the Cornell Ag-Tech Park adjacent to the Geneva Experiment Station, will include a world-class winemaking lab, a grape crushing pad, rooms for storing and aging wine, classroom space, and a teaching vineyard.  The way our industry is growing, it's great to have an education and training facility like this to prepare people for the jobs that are being created.

          New wineries just keep popping up around the state, so at last count we have 335 licensed wine producers (with 10 more pending), not counting 10 satellite stores and 45 branch offices (satellite stores of farm wineries).  In terms of the major regions (officially recognized American Viticultural Areas), there are 118 wine producers in the Finger Lakes (accounting for about 85% of New York's total wine production), 66 on Long Island, 48 in the Hudson River Region, 17 in the Lake Erie region, and 17 in the greater Niagara region, with the others scattered througout the State.  

          There are also wineries in 54 of New York's 62 counties, and this week when I showed Albany legislators a statewide map of wineries by county, they were amazed--and often surprised that they had some in their own districts that they didn't even know about. Manhattan...Brooklyn...Queens?  Yeah, we got that covered! (That's a great way to get legislators interested in our issues!)  To see the ever-changing but latest map, visit our web site, go to Information Station, then Hot Topics, and look for Wineries by County right at the top.   It will no doubt be changing again soon.

 "Wine is a friend, wine is a joy; and, like sunshine, wine is the birthright of all." 

                                                           -- Andre Simon