Wine Press FINAL 10-14-10

March 1, 2014

 

             More New York Gold, multi-generational vineyards and wineries, Taste NY at Grand Central Terminal and beyond, industry meetings and conventions, and much more happening in New York wine country.

  

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

More New York Gold from California

 

               The International Eastern Wine Competition, combined with the East Meets West Challenge, once again yielded some impressive results for New York wines--144 medals including 7 Double Gold, 23 Gold, 78 Silver, and 36 Bronze awards, plus 8 Best of Class and 2 Best of Show designations.

                In the ultimate taste-off between top wines from the IEWC and concurrent West Coast Wine Competition, both sponsored by Vineyard & Winery Management magazine, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard 2012 Vidal Ice Wine won Best Dessert Wine, and Earle Estates Meadery Wort Hog Hard Cherry Cider won Best Fruit Wine.

                Other Best of Class awards (and Double Golds) went to Chateau Lafayette Reneau Seyval-Chardonnay, Kontokosta 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Thirsty Owl 2012 Meritage and 2012 Diamond, and Wagner Vineyards 2012 Riesling, Caywood East, and 2012 Riesling Select.

                Hosmer 2012 Single Wheel Riesling also won a double Gold, as did Swedish Hill Blue Waters Riesling.

                Gold medals were awarded to Anyela's 2012 Riesling; Atwater 2012 Dry Riesling; Earle Estates Wart Hog Hard Cider; Hazlitt 2012 Chardonnay; Keuka Spring Vineyard 2012 Chardonnay; Knapp 2012 Dry Riesling; Liberty Vineyards Fredonia; Mazza Bare Bones White and 2012 Pinot Grigio; Penguin Bay Lemberger-Pinot Noir; Sheldrake 2010 Riesling Ice Wine; Sparkling Pointe 2009 Blanc de Blancs; Swedish Hill 2012 Riesling, Blue Waters Chardonnay-Riesling, and 2011 Cabernet Franc; Thirsty Owl 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Ice Wine; Ventosa 2012 Riesling; Wagner 2011 Riesling; and Woodbury 2012 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay.

                  Next up, at the end of this month is the great Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, which I encourage all wineries (in and beyond New York) to enter (www.fliwc.com).  Not only is it a superb competition, but it also supports a great cause (Camp Good Days and Special Times for children with serious illnesses). 

 Wine: A Family Affair

           

         The Hazlitt family of Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards on the west side of Seneca Lake tops the list of those who have been in the New York grape and wine industry the longest--now with the sixth generation in charge--but our recent survey showed that there are two families with four generations involved, some with three, and many with two.

         It's a promising reflection of younger generations' passion for the business, commitment to the industry, and confidence in its future.  In addition, depending on where their interests and talents lie, the younger generations have taken on a variety of roles from vineyard management to winemaking, marketing, and finance.  And in many cases they are part owners of the family business.

          In addition, the multi-generational wineries span the state from Long Island to the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara, Lake Erie, and Thousand Islands regions.  As the industry continue to grow and prosper, most likely even more young people will choose to stay close to home for their careers.

 

          Not surprisingly, the first Hazlitt vineyards were planted in 1852, but the winery didn't open until 132 years later in 1984. Over the years, the family farm was passed on to succeeding generations and split into two separate vineyards, with one still operating as a vineyard only (Eric and Tina Hazlitt) and the other associated with the winery. Today, winery co-owners (with their spouses) Doug Hazlitt and Leigh Hazlitt Triner, the sixth generation, have succeeded in crafting some of New York's most awarded wines while also producing the largest-selling brand (Red Cat), now produced in Naples at the former Widmer Wine Cellars plant.

           Dr. Konstantin Frank, who pioneered the "vinifera revolution" in the Finger Lakes and beyond, also started a family tradition that is now being run by the third and fourth generations, Fred Frank and his daughter Meaghen.  The vineyard and winery of Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars were both established in 1962.

           Leonard Oakes Estate Winery has four generations still involved with the operation, which started with plantings in 1919 and opened the winery in 2006. This began as a major fruit farm (other than grapes), but now includes vineyards and a diverse product mix including the awesome Steampunk Cider.

           Wineries with three generations involved, either past or present, include 21 Brix Winery (vineyards planted in 1960's, winery opened in 2011, owned by the Jordan/Kane family); Jamesport Winery (1981; 1981; Goerler family); Johnson Estate Winery (1960; 1961; Johnson family); Lakewood Vineyards (1952; 1989; Stamp family); Macari Vineyards & Winery (1996; 1998; Macari family); Magnanini Farm Winery (1970; 1983; Magnanini family); Merritt Estate Winery (1880's; 1976; Merritt family); Miles Wine Cellars (1978; 1997; Miles family); Swedish Hill Vineyards (1969; 1985; Peterson family, which also owns Finger Lakes Champagne House, Goose Watch Winery, and Penguin Bay Winery); Wagner Vineyards (late 1920's; 1978; Wagner family).

             Wineries with two generations in the business include Anthony Road Winery (1973; 1990; Martini family); Arbor Hill Grapery (1900's; 1987; Brahm family); Atwater Estate Vineyards (1980's; 2000; Marks family); Bagley's Poplar Ridge Winery (1980, Bagley family); Barrington Cellars (1971; 1995; Farnan family); Bully Hill Vineyards (1970; Taylor family); Casa Larga Vineyards (1974; 1978; Colaruotolo family); Cascade Mountain Winery (1972; 1977; Wetmore family); Constellation Brands (1945; Sands Family); Coyote Moon Winery (2008; 2009; Randazzo family); Fox Run Vineyards (1984;1990; Osborn family); Frontenac Point Vineyard (1979; 1982; Doolittle family); Fulkerson Winery (1830; 1989; Fulkerson family);  Hudson Chatham Winery (2006; 2007; DeVito family); Hunt Country Vineyards (1973; 1987; Hunt family); The Winery at Marjim Manor (2004; Bittner family); Keuka Spring Vineyards (1981; 1985; Wiltberger family); King Ferry Winery (1984; 1988; Saltonstall family);  Lucas Vineyards (1974; 1985; Lucas family); McGregor Vineyard & Winery (1971; 1980; McGregor family);  Paumanok Vineyards (1983; 1989; Massoud family); Pindar Vineyards (1980; 1982; Damianos family, which also owns Duck Walk Vineyards and Jason's Vineyard); Prejean Winery (1978; 1986; Prejean family);  River Myst Winery (2007; LaMay family); Three Brothers Vineyards (1982; Mansfield family); Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery (1979; 1998; Migliore family); Wolffer Estate Vineyard (1988; 1992; Wolffer family).

               Wine is clearly a family affair!

          

Free Run...

 

             Taste NY stores featuring New York beverages and foods are popping up all over--on the Thruway, at JFK and LGA airports--and this week Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the next one will open this summer at...Grand Central Terminal!

             Each day, up to 750,000 people travel through GCT, making it an ideal venue for exposing New Yorkers to the many great New York products grown and made right in their own backyard.  Like the JFK and LGA stores run by Alie Shaper of Brooklyn Oenology Winery, the new GCT store will operate as a branch office of One Woman Wines & Vineyards on Long Island, owned and operated by Claudia Purita.

             Starting this weekend, the Taste NY Experience will be featured at the International Restaurant and Foodservice Show of New York at the Jacob Javits Center.  This enormous show includes more than 500 vendors from around the world, including more than 75 from New York State.  Hosted by Urban Expositions, the show's featuring of New York products also involves a longstanding partnership between the New York State Restaurant Association and New York Wine & Grape Foundation.  New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball will also be hosting a Farm to City Expo at the show on Tuesday.

             In addition, the first Taste NY Craft New York Beer Fest will take place in Albany on March 22.  The event will feature 30 New York breweries showcasing dozens of beers paired with an array of foods from local restaurants, companies and farms.  Our colleagues in the craft brewing industry are doing an awesome job, and we wish them great success. www.newyorkcraftbeerfest.com.

             Governor Cuomo launched the Taste NY program in May 2013 as part of New York's largest tourism campaign in decades, with a focus on expanding New York's food and beverage industry and to promote agribusiness across the state.  www.tasteny.gov.

 

             BEV NY conference organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension today wraps up three days of seminars on Business, Enology, and Viticulture (BEV), with lots of chatter about this winter and how much damage it will have done to the buds and vines.  While it's still too early to tell the full extent of the damage, it's clear that it will be extensive--especially since we're in the middle of a cold snap once again.  When will it ever end?

            (Fortunately, we had such a huge crop in 2013 that wineries were scrambling to buy fermentation tanks to accommodate all the juice...so there shouldn't be a major shortage of New York wines in the market.)

             Formerly known as the Wine Industry Workshop, BEV NY is another example of the great work that Cooperative Extension and Cornell researchers do in partnership with our industry.  We are extremely lucky to have them here. 

 

             FIVS is an international industry organization representing associations and companies from more than 25 countries around the world, and deals with key issues that affect our industry at all levels including trade, labeling regulations, and much more.  Originally known (in the English version) as the International Federation of Wine and Spirits, FIVS is holding a major conference in Brussels on April 7-9 which is open to anyone interested.

              Topics to be discussed focus on current challenges and opportunities in the areas of international trade, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability--all key to shaping the business climate in which we operate.  For more information, visit www.fivs.org, and contact Sarah Kremer if you have any questions or would like to register ([email protected]).

 

             Wineries & Breweries Unlimited is coming up fast, with the newly expanded conference on March 11-14 in Richmond, VA once again.  Now in its 38th year, the original Wineries Unlimited is adding a craft brewing component based on test-marketing at last year's event which indicated potential synergies among both attendees and exhibitors.

              As always, the conference has a full set of seminars with lots of speakers addressing viticulture, enology, marketing, finance, and much else.  I'll be part of a panel organized by WineAmerica to discuss various state issues and opportunities.  For more information and to register: www.wineriesunlimited.com.

 

                           

               

 

 

                 "Wine to me is passion.  It's family and friends.  It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit.  Wine is art.  It's culture.  It's the essence of civilization and the art of living."

                                                                   --Robert Mondavi

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