October 19, 2013

             Wine industry booms, wine ice cream soars, more New York Gold, Glenora empire expands, industry conferences coming up, and much more happening in New York wine country.

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

                Quick: How many new New York wineries have opened in the past five years?  (Answer below.)                 

                We are sponsoring an updated and expanded economic impact study conducted by Barbara Insel of Stonebridge Research in Napa Valley, who also did studies for us in 2005 and 2008.  The last one, using 2008 data, showed that the New York grape, grape juice, and wine industry generated more than $3.76 billion annually in economic activity and benefits for the State of New York.

                 As we're updating this, one logical question is how many wineries existed then, compared with now.  Answer: 234 vs. 342.  That's a gain of 108 in 5 years, or 32% of all wineries during 3% of the time the industry has existed (starting in 1839).

                 Now that certainly does not mean a 32% increase in the total economic impact, since most new wineries are very small and don't have the same multiplier effect; and the study also counts grapes and grape juice as well as the multitude of ancillary industries that benefit from our existence.  But certainly the impact will be greater.

                  We are also including our colleagues in the craft beer, spirits, and cider sectors, all of which are growing quickly as well, and which have not had such a study done.  We're hoping the study will be complete by January when the next legislative session begins.

                   Cider Week is now underway through October 27, and was kicked off on Thursday by Governor Andrew Cuomo signing legislation creating a "farm cidery" license similar to that for farm wineries, breweries, and distilleries.  This was one of the many initiatives announced at the Governor's Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit a year ago, and has now become law.

                   In the past few years, there has been increased interest in hard cider production, with several wineries adding it into their product lines as well as cideries dedicated solely to that product.  Cider Week NY in New York City and the Hudson Valley celebrates New York ciders and the growth of the industry.  www.ciderweekny.com.

           Speaking of growth, there are few more dramatic examples than Mercer's Wine Ice Cream, which was conceived at New York Farm Day 2003 and is now sold around the country and world.

            At that Farm Day, hosted by then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, we placed the Mercer's Ice Cream table next to New York Ice Wine.  When Roxaina Hurlburt of Mercer's Dairy and I noticed that people were pouring their ice wine into their vanilla ice cream, we made eye contact, the light bulbs went off in our heads, and a new product was about to be born.

            The next week I sent her bottles of several different types of wine to experiment with, and soon they unveiled their first two flavors.  Then we got the New York law changed so they could make and sell their product, and the rest is history.

             I am not involved with Mercer's and have never received or requested any benefits other than being able to purchase the ice cream and enjoy it (and get free samples at Farm Day, of course).  In fact, it is a 100% female- and family-owned business run primarily by Roxy and her niece Ruth Mignerey, two wine ice cream passionistas who will not be stopped.

             So...today it is sold in MA, MI, NH, NY, NC, TN, TX, and VA, and soon will be in CA, DE, FL, IN, MO, OH, and RI.

              But wait: It's also available in Aruba, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Estonia, Haiti, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Singapore, Trinidad, and Ukraine--and soon in Malta, Puerto Rico, Russia, Seychelles, and the United Kingdom.

              Along the way, they've won several major awards: 2011 Trends & Innovation Award in Shanghai; 2008 Wine Ice Cream World Taste Champion in California; 2007 Wine Package Design; and 2007 Best New Product as The Great American Dessert Expo in Atlanta. Next month they'll be exhibiting in Dubai, and in Moscow in February.  They never stop!

               But to me the best thing is that I can order it online, and they're even developing a holiday gift back for this season.

               Mercer's Wine Ice Cream has been imitated, but never equaled, and it's a great example of how a creative idea pursued by people of passion and perseverence can become a huge success. Congratulations to Roxy and Ruth. www.mercersdairy.com.

                Results from the recent Tasters Guild Wine Lovers Competition (judged by consumers) included a total of 48 medals for New York wines including Double Gold for Dr. Frank 2012 Sauvignon Blanc and Lakewood Vineyards 2012 Borealis.  Gold medals went to Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2012 Late Harvest Riesling and 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon; Dr. Frank 2012 Muscat Ottonel, 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling, and 2012 Dry Riesling; and Wagner Vineyards 2012 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine.

                 With the holidays approaching, your perfect wine shopping list is the "Awards and Accolades" section of our web site (www.newyorkwines.org) which you may search by winery, wine type, or competition.

                    Gene Pierce and Scott Welliver, owners of Glenora Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake and Knapp Winery & Restaurant on Cayuga Lake, have now added a third winery to their portfolio: Chateau LaFayette Reneau on the southeast end of Seneca Lake.

                    Dick and Betty Reno built Chateau LaFayette Reneau into one of the most striking winery locations in the region, but even more importantly produced a diverse line of wines that consistently won top awards in international competitions.  Located in the "banana belt" (warmest area) of Seneca Lake, late-ripening red wine varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Dick's favorite by far, fared very well, as did Chardonnay, Riesling and other varieties.

                     Glenora has been a pioneer and leader in the New York wine industry since its founding in 1977 as the first farm winery in the region.  The list of "firsts" is far to long to include here, but includes grape varieties used, opening a restaurant, establishing an inn, and even this week being the first to ferment some of its wines in a large "concrete egg" developed in France.  Years ago the Glenora owners added Knapp to their holdings, maintaining its independence and quality as a vineyard, winery and restaurant.  Chateau LaFayette Reneau will also continue to operate as a separte entity.

                    Dick and Betty were ready to retire, and richly deserved to do so. To me, it's just a really good thing that their fine creation now belongs to people who clearly care about the New York wine industry.