October 5, 2013

             New laws help wineries, harvest rolls on, the fourth generation joins Dr. Frank, more Taste NY events, and more happening in New York wine country

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

                 This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation designating new or revised wine trails along State highways, and allowing the sale of local wines at roadside farm markets throughout the State.

                  Wine trails have played a major role in boosting wine country tourism by creating a critical mass of wineries in a geographic area and hosting special events throughout the year.  The laws signed this week create a totally new wine trail ("Adirondack Coast Wine Trail") in the North Country; rename the previous Niagara Escarpment Wine Trail into the "Niagara Wine Trail Ridge", and rename the former Niagara Wine Trail as "Niagara Wine Trail Lake"; rename the Chautauqua Wine Trail as "Lake Erie Wine Country Trail"; and extend the "Shawangunk East Wine Trail" in the Hudson Valley. 

                   The changes reflect the continuing growth of the industry in all regions, and the evolution of established wine trails as new wineries are added.  When the New York Wine & Grape Foundation was created in 1985, there was one wine trail--compared with 14 today.

                   The farm markets legislation allows roadside markets to sell wines produced by up to two licensed wineries located within 20 miles of the market. So now roadside shoppers can supplement their corn, tomatoes and lettuce with "the divine juice of September".  This supplements the law in effect since 1984 allowing bottle sales at not-for-profit farmers' markets such as Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan.

                    These are the latest measures designed to improve the business climate for wine, a major economic engine for the State.

          Reports from Cornell Cooperative Extension agents throughout the State indicate that 2013 could end up being a very good year for New York grapes and wine if favorable weather patterns continue.

          Long Island has experienced an "unprecedented stretch of sunny, dry weather," according to Alice Wise, with fewer problems than normal from "the birds and the bees" and "excellent quality across the board".

          At the other end of the State in the Lake Erie region, where two-thirds of all New York grapes are grown, the Concord harvest is in its second week, and a spate of good weather has eased concerns about previous rains.

          The Finger Lakes experienced a similar weather pattern, with warm, sunny days combined with cool nights providing an ideal recipe for ripening.  Some of the first Riesling has been picked, with the rest expected in the next couple weeks.

           In the Hudson Valley, conditions have not been as ideal as in the other regions due to more rainfall, but growers and wine makers are adapting to the conditions.

            The Veraison to Harvest e-newsletter published every Friday is a valuable resource for anyone involved with the harvest, as well as people just interested in how it's going.

              Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars now has a member of the family's fourth generation actively working at the pioneering winery high above gorgeous Keuka Lake. 

              Meaghan Frank recently finished an MBA at the University of Adelaide, one of the world's foremost universities for wine business, and has joined her father, Fred Frank, in managing the family business.  Dr. Konstantin Frank's visionary commitment to classic vinifera grape varieties, and his expertise in growing them in a cool climate, transformed the Finger Lakes, New York, and eastern wine industries.  His son Willy eventually took over the winery, followed by Willy's son Fred.

                Last year, the winery celebrated its 50th anniversary, and this year it is continuing its impressive string of top awards, with over 100 Gold medals already in major competitions.  Most recently, its 2012 Riesling Reserve won Best of Show White Wine at the Sommelier Challenge, joined by Gold medals for Chateau Frank 2008 Blanc de Blancs and Celebre, along with Dr Frank 2012 Gewurztraminer and 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling.

                   Cornell University has received two significant research grants under the United States Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI).

                   One project will evaluate production practices in support of the emerging "Northern Grapes" industry in New York and other states, while the other will examine possible methods to eliminate crown gall, a serious pathogen in grape vines.  Cornell's research is a major factor in the greatly increased quality of New York grapes and wine.

                   Unfortunately, the excellent SCRI program is now in jeopardy because of the refusal by the House of Representatives to pass a Farm Bill (among many other things).

                   "Taste NY" continues to appear in lots of places such as the upscale Eventi hotel in Manhattan where this week there was a reception featuring New York foods and beverages as a prelude to a Taste NY Brunch on Saturday, October 19 that is part of the New York City Wine & Food Festival.  Tickets are still available, and more information is at www.tasteny.gov.

                      Harvest time has lots of sights and sounds--rows of ripe grapes, pickers filling colorful bins, giant mechanical harvesters connected to tractors--but Gene Pierce of Glenora (as well as Knapp and Chateau Lafayette Reneau) says his favorite sound by far is the bubbling going on in the fermenters.  He even invites people to join him in the cellar so they can hear for themselves--not a bad idea at all.