May 18, 2013

             Finger Lakes Riesling reigns, New York wine trails expand, TopSomm has Finger Lakes winery, Grape Discovery Center to open, and much more happening in New York wine country  

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

             The Riverside International Wine Competition, run by esteemed California wine writer and Riesling aficianado Dan Berger, includes a special section for International Riesling Foundation trophies based on the IRF Riesling Taste Profile categories: Dry, Medium Dry, Medium Sweet, and Sweet.

              The winners of two of the four trophies went to New York wines: Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Dry Riesling, and Wagner Vineyards 2011 Semi-Dry Riesling.

              In addition, of the 31 wines from around the world that won Gold or above, including Best of Class, and Chairman's Award (equivalent to Double Gold), a majority--16 of 31--went to Finger Lakes Rieslings, compared with 6 from California, 2 each from Australia, Pennsylvania and Washington, and 1 each from British Columbia, Germany, and Michigan.

              New York's other Best of Class award included Belhurst Estate Winery 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling.

              Additional Chairman's Awards (equal to Double Gold) were given to Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2011 Dry Riesling; and Glenora 2011 Riesling Select Harvest.

               Gold medals went to Anyela's 2011 Sweet Riesling; Belhurst 2012 Dry Riesling; Dr. Frank 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling and 2012 Riesling Reserve; Fox Run 2010 Dry Riesling, Lake Dana Vineyard; Keuka Spring 2012 Riesling and 2012 Semi-Sweet Riesling; Sheldrake Point 2011 Riesling; Swedish Hill 2011 Riesling; Thirsty Owl 2012 Dry Riesling; and Ventosa 2011 Riesling, New Vineyard.

                Over the past several years, Finger Lakes Rieslings have earned international acclaim, as evidenced by impressive results like these in many competitions--as well as the 2010 Tierce Dry Riesling being served at the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon in January.  The secrets of success: collaboration among growers and winemakers; research and communication by Cornell; and multi-faceted promotion at several levels.

             In 1985 when the New York Wine & Grape Foundation was created, there was one wine trail--the Cayuga Wine Trail--which had been created by a few friendly wineries a couple years earlier.  Today there are 14 involving hundreds of wineries in virtually every region of the state from Long Island to Lake Erie and the Thousand Islands to the Finger Lakes.

             Wine trails are a perfect example of how cooperation pay$.  One winery is a local curiosity, five wineries are a day trip, 15 wineries are a destination.  On one level, neighboring wineries are competitors, but on a more economically beneficial level they can be cooperators who all benefit from creating a much larger tourist "pie".

              With attractive brochures, special events, cooperative advertising, and highway signage, wine trails help to generate more than 5 million tourist visits to New York wine country each year.  Those people buy gas, eat at restaurants (including several at wineries), stay in hotels and Bed & Breakfasts, visit gift shops or other local attractions, and fuel the rural tax bases with their spending in all these places.  It's a true economic engine, and one of the reasons the New York Wine & Grape Foundation has helped fund wine trail programs for over 25 years.  As in some other areas, New York's wine trail initiative provided a model for many other states which have started their own similar programs.

                Today's wine trails, generally from east to west, include the Long Island Wine Council, Dutchess Wine Trail, Shawangunk Wine Trail, Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail, Upper Hudson Valley Wine Trail (the newest, this year), Cooperstown Beverage Trail, Thousand Islands Seaway Wine Trail, Lake Ontario Wine Trail, Cayuga Wine Trail, Seneca Lake Wine Trail, Keuka Lake Wine Trail, Canandaigua Wine Trail, Niagara Wine Trail USA, and Lake Erie Wine Country.  Links to their web sites are at the bottom of this email.

                 If you are looking for a great experience, visit one of our many wine trails any time of year, but especially during their special events.             

           Christopher Bates is one of the owners of Element winery in the Finger Lakes as well as being Executive Chef of Hotel Fauchere in Milford, PA--and recently was voted as TopSomm (best sommelier) among over 200 competitors after a grueling competition in San Francisco sponsored by the Guild of Sommeliers.  This week I judged in LA with long-time colleague Fred Dame, a noted sommelier for decades and president of the Guild of Sommeliers, who was involved in this competition and emphasized that this is truly a BIG deal.  So hats off to Christopher, as he makes us proud.  www.guildsomm.com/News-Details.aspx?articleID=48.  

            Finger Lakes was selected this week by Budget Travel as one of 6 great (undiscovered) wine regions in the company of Texas Hill Country, Paso Robles (CA), Central Virginia, the Leelanau Peninsula (MI), and Walla Walla (WA).  It's just the latest of many forms of recognition indicating that the Finger Lakes has arrived.  www.budgettravel.com/feature/six-great-american-wine-regions,12624/?page=1.

             Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival will occur next weekend at the Columbia Country fairgrounds in Chatham.  This is the inaugural event for the special trail which includes members in both New York and Massachussetts with a diversity of farm-based craft beverages (wine, beer, spirits, and cider) that will be accompanied by gourmet cheeses, grass fed meats, artisanal baked goods, and much more. www.hudsonberkshirewinefestival.com.

             North Country and its cold climate grapes got great coverage this week on National Public Radio, with the theme "North Country wines survive the cold, please the palate".  Based at award-winning Coyote Moon Winery, which has teamed up with Cornell Cooperative Extension on grape experiments, the extensive piece described cold climate varieties like Frontenac and Marquette, the fine wines they can produce, and the growth of the industry in the Thousand Islands, Adirondack, and Champlain regions.  www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21968/20130513/a-north-country-wine-to-survive-the-cold-and-please-the-palate.

             Michael Warren Thomas was incorrectly referred to last week as a "former" radio show host, when in fact he's in his 15th year of the wine show (Sundays, 9-11 am) and 17th year of the gardening, food and Finger Lakes shows (Saturdays, 9-12) on WYSN 1050 AM and 92.1 FM, as well as being streamed live on his web site (www.SavorLife.com) where previous shows may also be archived. 

             Grape Discovery Center in Westfield will open next weekend after years of visioning, planning, and hard work.  Located on Route 20 just west of the village and close to the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) near the Pennsylvania border, the long-awaited facility will serve as an information center, retail outlet, and tasting room to highlight the many special aspects of the local grape, grape juice, and wine industry in the world's largest Concord growing region. Hats off to the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association for spearheading this collaborative effort.  www.grapediscoverycenter.com.

  "If food is the body of good living, wine is its soul." 

-- Clifton Fadiman