September 14, 2013

             Farm Day is here, more accolades for New York wines, events in the Lake Erie region, New York State of Mind awards, Brooklyn bash, Finger Lakes Cork & Fork, Asa Ransom House, and much more happening in New York wine country.

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

               The super-popular New York Farm Day in the Senate Kennedy Caucus Room happens this Tuesday evening, but not until after we have the opportunity to attend separate workshops on Agricultural Trade and Export Opportunities, Immigration Reform Legislation for the Agricultural Economy, and then other topics at a special meeting of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's Agriculture Working Group.  These meetings were organized by the Senator as a way to make sure we are well-informed about the current status of critical issues.

                Senator Gillibrand is the first New York Senator in over 40 years to sit on the Agriculture Committee, an assignment she specifically requested when she first joined the Senate.  Since then, she has become a strong advocate for New York agriculture, and attending the working group meeting is always a reminder of how totally up to speed she is on all the issues, as well as what a great staff she has to make sure that happens.

                She also takes a lot of time right before the Farm Day reception doors open to greet, thank, and talk with the many exhibitors who have donated their time, travel and product to offer a taste of New York as a way of reminding official Washington that New York is a major farm state.

                Cheers, and Bon Appetit!              

          Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Finger Lakes Riesling Reserve won a Gold medal and "Best of Show White Wine" at the recent New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, adding to an already impressive list of awards for that wine and many others.

           Meanwhile, the new edition of Wine Spectator rates five New York wines at 90 or above, including Grapes of Roth 2007 Merlot (91), Ravines 2012 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling (91, and a "Smart Buy"), Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Finger Lakes Riesling Reserve (90, the same wine cited above), Wolffer Estate 2010 Fatalis Fatum The Hamptons Long Island (90), and Wolffer Estate 2010 Estate Merlot The Hamptons Long Island Lambardo (90).

            In addition, the October issue of Food & Wine includes positive mentions of several Finger Lakes Riesling producers and their wines in a long and superb cover article about how Riesling is "The Most Versatile White Wine on Earth".  The Finger Lakes is cited as one of the "World's Best Riesling Regions", with shout-outs to Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Dr. Konstantin Frank, and Heart & Hands wineries, and specific wine recommendations for Fox Run 2012 Finger Lakes Riesling Lake Dana, and Red Newt 2011 Circle Riesling.

              More medals, high scores and ink--obviously the word is getting out about New York wines.  A continually updated list of top-rated wines is available under the Awards and Accolades section of our web site (www.newyorkwines.org). 

              Yesterday was a special day in the Lake Erie region, with a luncheon and ribbon cutting celebrating the Grand Opening of the Lake Erie Grape Discovery Center in Westfield.

              A group of dedicated grape growers, processors, and others dreamed and worked for many years on the project, which is now a reality.  State Senator Cathy Young deserves great credit for securing resources for the new Center, as she did for the nearby Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Lab.  The Lake Erie region represents about two-thirds of all grapes grown in New York, and these facilities are vital to its future.

              The Center is open seven days a week, with exhibits and displays describing more than 150 years of grape-growing in the Lake Erie Concord Grape region, the oldest and largest Concord grape region in the world, and the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies.  Visitors may also taste 100% pure Concord grape juice, other grape products, and a selection of wines from Lake Erie Wine Country.  This weekend also includes several seminars on various topics related to the region's history, geography, and products.

               Next weekend, another special event will take place when Five & 20 Spirits unveils its Rye Whiskey, joining Pear Eau de Vie, Steuben Grappa, and other fine spirits that are an extension of fine wine producer Mazza Chautauqua Cellars.  The Mazza family first opened a winery 40 years ago in Pennsylvania, then extended their wine empire with Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, originally in Mayville but now located near Westfield on Route 5 & 20.  Among the many awards they have won for their wines was the Best White Wine at this year's New York State Fair for their 2012 Gewurztramner.  www.mazzachautauquacellars.com

                 The New York Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua (where our offices are located) has announced the recipients of the first annual "New York State of Mind" awards in four categories to businesses which do a great job in supporting the New York agricultural and culinary tourism industries.

                   Eat NY goes to 61 Local, a Brooklyn restaurant that uses only New York foods and beverages and will be part of New York Farm Day on Tuesday  www.61local.com.

                   Drink NY will be presented to Brooklyn Winery, another new Farm Day participant, which uses grapes from various regions in making its wines and promotes many New York wineries in its tasting room  www.bkwinery.com.

                   Grow NY will be awarded to Doug Mason of Mason Farms in the heart of "Apple Country", where Doug is the 7th generation of the Mason family that has been farming for over 200 years.  The 900-acre farm with a very diverse array of produce is a major supplier to Wegmans Food Markets, and is committed to quality, sustainability, expanding the selection of organic produce, and extending the growing season.  www.masonfarmsny.com.

                   Love NY goes to the fabulous Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel where we hold our New York Wine & Food Classic, and which won our "Restaurant Award" earlier this year for excellence in promoting New York wines as part of a fine dining experience. www.watkinsglenharborhotel.com.

                   In addition, a special Chairman's Award is being presented to Mary Ellen Burris of Wegmans food Markets, a longtime friend and colleague of mine who has done so much to educate consumers about food and a healthy lifestyle. A West Virginia native who got her start in Cooperative Extension, Mary Ellen has been a true ambassador for this awesome food retailer (whose store is the best part of my office being in Canandaigua).

                     The gala dinner and awards ceremony will be held at the Center on September 28 starting at 6:30 pm, with tickets at $150 per person and all proceeds benefitting the educational programming of the New York Wine & Culinary Center.  For more information, www.nywcc.com.

                Toast of Brooklyn 2013--A Wine, Food, Art and Craft Festival is hapenning this weekend in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood, with a number of New York wineries offering their products for sampling and sales. A black tie VIP awards reception last night kicked off the weekend-long event, with the "World Humanitarian Award" presented to Dr. Makaziwe Mandela representing her father Nelson Mandela.

                Brooklyn is now truly the hot spot for innovative and exciting food, wine, and culinary trends, with lots of good wine stores and restaurants willing to offer something new and lots of young people eager to try it.  Certainly for New York wines, it is a much more welcoming market that Manhattan.  http://www.toastofbrooklyn.com.

                 Finger Lakes Cork & Fork, a major celebration of local foods, wines, and agriculture now in its fourth year, happens this Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls.

                  The two-day event starts with "Partners & Pairings" involving teams of chefs, farmers and beverage producers competing for a "Judges' Choice Award" determined by a panel of celebrity judges, and a separate Foodies' Choice Award determined by festival guests on the basis of presentation, taste, use of local products, and food-beverage compatibility.

                  Tickets are $50 for two days, or $25 for Saturday only.  For more information and tickets, www.fingerlakescorkandfork.com.

                   Bob Lenz is the owner of Asa Ransom House, which is "An Intimate Village Inn" in Clarence (near Buffalo) that several years ago won our "Restaurant Award" long before other restaurants decided to give New York wines a try (which too many are still waiting to do).

                   He and his wife happened to stop by for lunch at the Center this week, and he mentioned that he now has some 40 New York wines on his list and would like to have more but his operation is quite small.  He also keeps nudging his fellow restaurateurs to put New York wines on their lists and give their customers a taste of "local".

                    It was music to my ears, and I just wish Bob Lenz could be cloned.  Go stay or dine there sometime, and thank him.  www.asaransom.com.