June 27, 2013

             Government does good, the PGA is here, more New York Gold, NY Drinks NY, great festivals, and much more happening in wine country.

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

               I've often pinched myself in the past year or two to make sure I'm not dreaming when I'm dealing with the New York State government.  I've been doing that for over 30 years, often with difficult and unpleasant encounters, but there has been a sea change under the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

               The latest example came on Tuesday when Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy, State Liquor Authority Chairman Dennis Rosen, Deputy Secretary for Agriculture Pat Hooker, and other State officials met with about 60 winery representatives at the Geneva Experiment Station.  The purpose: Continue the dialogue between the public and private sectors.

                The Lt Gov opened the session with an overview of the Administration's approach--essentially to listen, learn, and act--as well as some of the major initiatives undertaken so far and those still in the works.

                Chairman Rosen reviewed the changed regulatory climate since the Governor's Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit last October, as well as an ambitious legislative proposal that the SLA drafted to further simplify and streamline licensing and other matters.  He also mentioned the greatly reduced time required to get a new license, and noted that the average annual growth rate of new wineries in the past two years (over 17 per year) is nearly triple that of the previous 35 years.

                Deputy Secretary Hooker discussed some of the promotional initiatives emanating from the Summit as well as a new "Taste NY" program which will showcase New York wines and other farm products at the upcoming PGA Golf Championship, the New York State Fair, and elsewhere.

                  Also present was Sam Filler, whom I call "the answer man" because he runs the "One Stop Shop" office where industry members can ask any question in any area--alcohol policies, environmental regulations, tax guidelines, etc.--and Sam and his colleagues will contact the appropriate agency and get the answer back to the source.  I have heard nothing but praise for his efforts.  This has been a dream of mine for decades that is now a reality. (Pinch.)  He's at NYSbevbiz@esd.ny.gov, 518-227-1535.

                   An important part of the meeting was an open and candid Q&A session, where industry members could (and did) ask any question they wished, and it would either be addressed right there or will be answered with more information later.

                   It's all an example of how government should work--but rarely does.

              The upcoming PGA Golf Championship in Rochester is the final "major" tournament of the year, which will draw up to 35,000 people per day for seven days. New York wines will be front and center, along with New York beers, spirits, ciders, yogurt, fruits and vegetables, and other farm products.

               We're all part of a "Taste NY" Expo tent right at the entrance to Oak Hill Country Club, with 15 different tables for the various products.  The three wine tables will be staffed by various wine trails--Canandaigua, Keuka, Lake Erie, Niagara, and Seneca--with samples poured every day.  Our colleagues in the beer, spirits, and cider segments will also offer samples of  their tasty products.

                There will be a separate Taste NY "concession tent" offering New York foods whose recipes were created by the New York Wine & Culinary Center.

                The entire Taste NY presence at this world-class event is being organized by the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets and Empire State Development in conjunction with trade associations like ours.  We greatly appreciate the opportunity. 

              Several New York wines took "Best of Category" awards at the recent Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition in Virginia, including: 21 Brix 2012 Chardonnay; Coyote Moon 2011 Marquette; Thirsty Owl 2012 Pinot Gris; Belhurst Estate Winery 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling; Chateau Frank 2008 Blanc de Blanc; Coyote Moon 2012 Twisted Sister; Robibero 2012 Traminette; and Whitecliff 2012 Mountain Laurel White.

               Additional New York Gold medal winners included Americana Vineyards 2011 Sunrise Riesling; Arbor Hill Grapery Cariesa Hill Iona Rose; Belhurst 2012 Dry Riesling and 2012 Dry Rose; Brooklyn Oenology 2010 Social Club Red; Chateau Frank Celebre; Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2011 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay and 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling; Dr. Frank 2012 Rieslng Reserve and 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling; Martha Clara 2010 Estate Reserve Merlot and 2012 Estate Reserve Riesling; Thirsty Owl 2012 Chardonnay and 2012 Riesling.

               Big congratulations to our friend Rob Deford, a great industry leader and owner of Maryland's Boordy Vineyards, whose 2010 Cabernet Franc Reserve won Best of Show honors.

               Next up, this week, is the awesome Indy International Wine Competition at Purdue University, and then...the New York Wine & Food Classic!

               At the World Wine Championships in Chicago, King Ferry Winery's Treleaven wines cleaned up, with Gold medals and scores of 90+ for its 2011 Eis-Late Harvest Riesling (95), 2012 Dry Rose (93), Apply Mystique (91), and 2011 Semi-Dry Riesling (91).  Casa Larga 2010 Fiori Delle Stelle Vidal Ice Wine also scored 93 points, and Montezuma Sparkling Honey Mead 90.

                Meanwhile, Wine Spectator lauded three Silver Thread Rieslings from the 2012 Vintage from Doyle East Seneca Vineyard (91), Cayuga Lake Randolph O'Neill Vineyard (90), and Finger Lakes Dry Riesling (90).  Wine Enthusiast gave a 91 to Lieb 2009 Blanc de Blancs Pinot Blanc Brut from the North Fork of Long Island; and the Wall St. Journal gave a nice plug to Paumanok Chenin Blanc, one of my favorites.

                New York City restaurants seem to be finally discovering New York wines, as most recently reflected by an article in Wine Enthusiast, "New York's Somms Pour Local".

                The article features and quotes  Thomas Pastuszak of NoMad (who is also the Finger Lakes "Wine Ambassador"); Pascaline Lepeltier of Rouge Tomate; and Juliette Pope of Gramercy Tavern, one of the few New York City restaurants which has featured New York wines for decades, thanks to the vision and commitment of owner Danny Meyer.

                Other restaurants have slowly followed, thanks to some persistent marketing by several Long Island wineries in particular, given that the Big Apple is their main urban market (compared with Rochester or Syracuse for Finger Lakes wineries, or Buffalo for Niagara and Lake Erie wineries).

                 More recently, we have been able to increase the momentum through two phases of our "NY Drinks NY" promotion program, which we hope to continue in the near future.  It's basically an "exchange program" in which we bring New York City wine writers, sommeliers and wine store managers to the various regions to see the vines, taste the wines and meet the people; and then we take the wine producers into New York City for market orientation and a major tasting for the trade, media, and consumers.  The program has been expertly orchestrated for us by First Press Public Relations.

                 A close friend recently returned from a week in Seattle, with lots of dining out, and mentioned that in ALL restaurants the wine list always begins with Washington wines, which are often two-thirds to the total selections.  When he returned to New York City and went out to eat, most restaurants had zero New York wines. Why?

                 New York is New York, the world's most competitive wine market, and we don't get a break just because we're New Yorkers.  We have to earn it...and we will. 

                    Bounty of the Hudson wine and food festival this weekend features 20 wineries along with local food producers and restaurants showcasing the great products of that historic region.  Sponsored by the Shawangunk Wine Trail (www.shawangunkwinetrail.com), the event is taking place at Whitecliff Vineyard in Gardiner (www.whitecliffwine.com), with tickets available at www.bounty2013.eventbrite.

                    Glorious Garlic Festival at Fox Run Vineyards, now in its 21st year, takes place next weekend at the winery on the west side of Seneca Lake.  This is one of wine country's most popular summer events, drawing thousands of people, dozens of vendors (including lots of garlic growers), and a broad selection of garlic-infused foods created by Rochester chef Tony Gullace.  This is a must-go for garlic lovers, wine lovers, and summer lovers.  www.foxrunvineyards.com