August 10, 2013

             Thousands "Taste NY", PGA = $$, Riesling raves, a very special new winery, and the New York Wine & Food Classic starts tomorrow.

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

              On Monday, the venerable Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester opened its gates for the world-class PGA Championship golf tournament, which through tomorrow will attract about 200,000 people from around the world.  Many of them have literally been getting a taste of New York at the fabulous "Taste NY" Expo tent that is right on the way to the course.

               Earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo created a new "Taste NY" program designed to promote New York foods and beverages, including wine.  The Expo tent at the PGA is totally awesome: large, attractive, air-conditioned, and filled with wine, beer, spirits, cider, apple juice, cheese, yogurt, maple syrup and candies, organic mini-tomatoes from Wegmans, and various other goodies representing the agricultural bounty of New York.  It was all coordinated by the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets and Empire State Development, with the wine presence in the form of wine trails from different areas of the State.

               I first went there on Tuesday, a comparatively "slow" practice day for the pros, and the place was mobbed.  All of the samples there were free, but right next door was the "Taste NY" concession stand with a menu of New York-centric food items created by the New York Wine & Culinary Center.

               It's all a fabulous promotion for our industry on the world stage, and our State government generously provided the space for free.  The next stop for the "Taste NY" program will be the Great New York State Fair, which runs from August 22 to September 2 in Syracuse.  And there will be many events beyond that as well, not to mention actual  "Taste NY" stores around the state where consumers may sample and purchase all kinds of New York products.  Why buy from anywhere else?

          The PGA isn't just a world-class sporting event with a worldwide audience, it's also a huge boon to the Rochester area economy...like $78,000,000 total economic impact, over 1,000 new jobs, and additional State and local tax revenues exceeding $7.3 million.

           Meanwhile, a couple hours away in Watkins Glen (home of our Classic) is the NASCAR Sprint Cup this weekend, with many other races throughout the summer.

           Finally, in North Country, the Bassmaster 2013 Elite Series Evan Williams Bourbon Showdown in the St. Lawrence River concludes tomorrow, with some of the world's best fishermen competing.

           It's all part of "Sports Tourism" which New York does in spades, thanks largely to the I Love NY program. 

              The Wall St. Journal and the Frankfurter Allgemeine in Germany each had glowing coverage of Finger Lakes Riesling within the past week, a major coup for any region or varietal.

               "Finger Lakes Region: Where Riesling Rules" was the headline of the WSJ article by Lettie Teague, with descriptions of the Finger Lakes as "one of the last places in the country where an ambitious winemaker can still make a mark", and "one of the most dynamic wine regions in America today."  Wineries covered in this article included Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Anthony Road Winery, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Fox Run Vineyards, Silver Thread Vineyard and Standing Stone Vineyards.

                The Frankfurter Allgemeine is essentially Germany's equivalent of the New York Times, so that already is a big deal, but to have the most influential German newspaper touting Finger Lakes wines is especially sweet.  The author, renowned Riesling expert and wine writer Stuart Pigott, is very familiar with Finger Lakes Rieslings, thanks largely to the steady efforts of Bob Madill who has organized many private tastings with him.

                 Earlier this week, Michael Gitter of First Press Public Relations, which runs our NY Drinks NY, gave a presentation on marketing New York wines in New York City at the Farm Credit East Benchmarking conference in Geneva.  One of his points, based on great market research, is that in the world's most competitive wine market "Finger Lakes Riesling sells itself."

                  That's what reputation will do, and articles like these are how you earn it.                

                   Johannes Reinhardt, the longtime winemaker at Anthony Road Winery, now has his own winery right across the street: Kemmeter Wines.

                   Johannes is one of the most respected and revered winemakers in the Finger Lakes due to his talent, experience, success and collegiality.  He is one of the three "Tierce brothers" with Peter Bell of Fox Run and Dave Whiting of Red Newt who collaboratively produce the superb Dry Riesling with grapes and wine from each of their operations (the 2010 Tierce was the white wine served at President Obama's Inauguration Luncheon in January).

                   Johannes remains the head winemaker at Anthony Road, and will for some time, but now has realized another dream with his own winery.  He makes only five wines--all Rieslings from the 2012 vintage: "Sonero", "SanSan", and three vineyard designated Rieslings from Red Tail Ridge Vineyard (Seneca Lake), White Pine Vineyard (Ontario Lake), and Sheldrake Point Vineyard (Cayuga Lake).  The three are part of a "Three Lake Project", with fruit from some of the best growers in New York State.

                    Tastings of all five wines are from Thursday through Saturday from 1:30 to 5:30 and by appointment only, with no more than 6 guests at a time.  For appointments, call 315-521-3897; for more information, kemmeterwines@gmail.com, or after August 15 visit www.kemmeterwines.com.

           If it's August, it must be Governor's Cup time.  And indeed it is.  Tomorrow evening at Lakewood Vineyards we'll have a Welcome Dinner for the judges and staff of the New York Wine & Food Classic, which takes place at the fabulous Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel on Monday and Tuesday morning.

           This year there are a record number of entries (879) from every corner of the State, including some wonderful craft spirits and hard ciders.  As always, the top quality products will rise to the top and receive the recognition they deserve.  We expect to release the major results in the early evening this Tuesday.

            The Classic is considered "The Oscars" of the New York wine industy.  The envelope please...