June 15, 2013

             More New York awards, success for the Niagara Wine Trail, new winery opens, and more tourism awards.

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

               Finger Lakes wines, especially Rieslings, took some top awards at the Ultimate Wine Challenge, which assigns number scores to the wines as well as designations of Chairman's Trophy or Finalist, and indications if a wine is considerered a "Great Value" based on the combination of quality and price.  All the Finger Lakes wines which achieved either award level were rated Great Values!

              Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars made the strongest showing with two "Chairman's Trophy" awards (2011 Pinot Gris, rated 93; and 2011 Semi-Dry Riesling, at 95) along with a "Finalist" designation for the 2012 Dry Riesling (90), which is on a major winning streak at many competitions this year.

              Other "Finalists" included Sheldrake Point Winery 2011 Riesling (93) and 2012 Gewurztraminer (91); and Wagner Vineyards 2011 Select Riesling (91), 2011 Semi-Dry Riesling (91), and 2011 Dry Riesling (90).

               Finger Lakes Rieslings have truly achieved world-renowned status through competitions like these and other efforts.  At the Los Angeles International, of the 30 Rieslings winning Gold medals, 13 were from the Finger Lakes, and the region in second place had only 4.  I am currently judging at the San Francisco International, where a panel awarded 9 Double Gold medals out of 23 Dry Rieslings sampled (not to mention Gold medals as well).  We don't yet know the origin of those wines because the tastings are "blind", but certainly some, and perhaps many, are from the Finger Lakes.

                In addition, we are fortunate to have Finger Lakes Riesling missionaries like California wine writer and Riesling lover Dan Berger, the father of the IRF Riesling Taste Profile that is now on over 30 million bottles of Riesling in the U.S. market.  Last night at the reception before the judges' dinner, Dan was offering the other judges samples of the 2008 Tierce Dry Riesling, which most found "stunningly good".  The 2010 Tierce was selected as the white wine for the Presidential Inauguration Luncheon in January.  The Tierce Release Party for the newest vintage will be held at Fox Run Vineyards on July 6.

                 In short, the word is clearly out, but we all need to keep spreading it far and wide.

              If indeed "patience is a virtue", then our friends on the Niagara Wine Trail are some of the most virtuous people I know.  After years of waiting and lots of frustration, finally this week the State legislature approved changes to the Niagara Wine Trail which Governor Cuomo is expected to approve.

              Basically, the current trail will be split into to two related parts: Niagara Wine Trail Lake parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario, and Niagara Wine Trail Ridge further to the south but also running east-to-west.  This will make it easier and more convenient for wine country visitors to navigate the large and fast-growing trail, bringing more business and benefits to the overall area.

               The Niagara Wine Trail has a very interesting history which dramatically shows how the "business climate" can really stimulate economic development. Most wine trails develop informally among nearby wineries and, when they reach a certain number, apply for an official State designation that will allow them to have grape-cluster highway signs.  In Niagara about a decade ago, the opposite happened.  There were only two wineries in the region when Senator George Maziarz and former Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte crafted legislation to create a new Niagara Wine Trail, which in turn stimulated the creation of new wineries in the region.  Where there was once two, now there are 17--and growing.  About a year ago, the Trail secured a grant from the Regional Economic Development Council to pay for new signs, which they can now finally put up.

                Senator Maziarz was joined in the current legislative effort by Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, and the "new, improved" Department of Transportation was fully on board with the changes.  On the industry side, much credit goes to Margo Bittner of Marjim Manor and Wendy Oakes of Leonard Oakes Winery for their passion, perseverence, and frequent trips to Albany, where New York Farm Bureau's Julie Suarez set up the meetings and I went along for the ride.

                 It was a great team effort, and it worked.  Diversity is our strength, Unity is our power.

              2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor seems contagious for New York wineries, which is a good thing.  Since the announcements in the last two editions of The Wine Press, we've learned that Fox Run Vineyards and Three Brothers Winery, both on Seneca Lake, each received the honor as well. 

               Toro Run Winery is one of the State's newest, opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 31 in the town of Romulus between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.  Situated on 11 acres of vineyards, the brand new winery and tasting room overlooking Cayuga Lake can produce up to 10,000 cases of wine as well as offering catering servics and site rentals for weddings, reunions and other special events.  www.tororunwinery.com.  

                 "What is better than to sit at the end of the day and drink wine with friends, or substitutes for friends."

                                                                   --James Joyce