May 10, 2014

             Gold, Gold, everywhere, great food with great wine in a month, Heron Hill honors, and much more happening in New York wine country.

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

                 New York wineries filled their treasure chests this week at the Riverside International and Tasters Guild wine competitions, raking in a total of 287 medals including 20 Double Gold, 62 Gold, 147 Silver, and 58 Bronze awards.

                  At the the 33rd annual Riverside International Wine Competition, organized by noted wine journalist Dan Berger and his wife Juliann Savage and held at the luxe South Coast Resort and Spa in Temecula, New York wines took two Sweepstakes Awards and 14 Best of Class along with 12 Chairman's Awards (equivalent to Double Gold), 26 Gold, 58 Silver, and 30 Bronze medals.

                  Chateau Frank 2008 Blanc de Blanc took the Sweepstakes Sparkling Wine award, and Thirsty Owl 2013 Traminette the Sweepstakes White Wine. (Both also won Best of Class and Chairman's Awards on their way to the top.)

                   Best of Class (and Chairman's or Gold) awards went to 21 Brix Raspberry, Ella's Red, and Ella's White; Anyela's Vineyards Cuvee Blanc and 2011 Noiret; Chateau Frank Celebre; Chateau Lafeyette Reneau 2012 Dry Riesling; Harvest Moon Cidery Blueberry Moon Hard Cider; Keuka Spring Vineyards 2013 Apres Vignoles; Liberty Vineyards Rufus Red; Thirsty Owl 2012 Diamond; Torrey Ridge Catawba.

                  Additional Chairman's Awards were given to Atwater Estate 2012 Cabernet Franc; Dr. Frank 2012 Rkatsiteli; and Wagner Vineyards 2012 Riesling Ice.

                   Other Gold medals went to 21 Brix Ellatawba; Arrowhead Spring 2011 Syrah; Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling; Dr. Frank 2013 Gewurztraminer; Fox Run 2011 Riesling 10, Hanging Delta Vineyard; Glenora 2013 Riesling; Goose Watch 2012 Diamond and Snow Goose; Hazlitt 2012 Dry Riesling 2012 Homestead Reserve Riesling, and 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling; Hunt Country 2013 Pinot Gris and 2012 Late Harvest Vignoles; Keuka Spring 2013 Dry Riesling, Humphrey's Vineyard and 2013 Riesling; Knapp 2012 Riesling; Liberty Vineyards Fredonia; Swedish Hill 2012 Blue Waters Chardonnary; Thirsty Owl 2012 Riesling; Wagner 2012 Dry Riesling, Caywood East Vineyard, 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling, and 2012 Select Riesling

                  At the Tasters Guild International, orchestrated by Joe Borello in Michigan, New York wines hauled in 161 medals including 8 Double Golds, 36 Gold, 89 Silver, and 28 Bronze.

                  Double Gold medals went to Hazlitt Solera Sherry, Hunt Country 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling, Schulze 2012 Block Three Ice Wine and Ruby, Thirsty Owl 2012 Diamond, Torrey Ridge Lucky and Diamond, and Wagner 2012 Riesling Select.

                  Gold medals were awarded to Americana Crystal Lake, 2012 Chardonnay, and 2012 Lemberger; Chateau Frank Celebre Rose, 2007 Brut, and 2008 Blanc de Blanc; Chateau LaFayette Reneau Cuvee Rouge and 2012 Cabernet Franc; Dr. Frank 2013 Dry Rose, 2012 Pinot Gris and 2012 Riesling Reserve; Earle Estate Apple Enchantment and Traditional Honey Mead; Glenora 2013 Vidal Iced Wine; Goose Watch 2011 Chambourcin and 2012 Lemberger; Hazlitt Port, White Stag, 2012 Homestead Reserve Riesling and 2012 Gewurztraminer; Heron Hill Late Harvest Vidal Blanc, 2012 Semi-Sweet Riesling and 2012 Classic Chardonnay; Keuka Spring 2013 Vignoles and 2012 Lemberger; Penguin Bay 2012 Pinot Grigio, 2012 Dry Riesling and 2010 Cabernet Franc; Swedish Hill 2012 Vidal Blanc, Blue Waters Dry Riesling, 2012 Dry Riesling, 2012 Riesling; Torrey Ridge Catawba and Blue Sapphire.

                    Next week is the awesome Los Angeles International Wine Competition, where New York wines traditionally shine as well, though the results won't be released until a major event in June.

                    Congratulations to the winners, who promote the quality of New York wines.

                     A month from now, the Wine Symposium of the Finger Lakes will be a great showcase of the region's wines and foods in an international context, with a lineup of expert speakers blended with superb wine receptions and meals.

                    During the Symposium, Sommelier James Treadwell and chef Rob Newton will explain the food affinities of cool-climate wines from the Loire, Mosel, Piedmont, Champagne, and the Finger Lakes with some inspiring foods:

                    o Poached shrimp with Vietnamese dressing, peanuts and mint

                    o Grilled asparagus with country ham powder, lemon and parsley

                    o Roasted mushrooms with garlic and chili flakes

                    o Grilled flank steak with black pepper aioli, crispy shallots, lime

Now what's not to like about that?  The Symposium will also be capped off by an incredible luncheon, but you're going to have to wait until next week to get that menu.  Meanwhile, you can get more information and make your reservations by visiting http://winesymposiumfingerlakes.com/program. 

                     It's not to be missed!

                 Heron Hill Winery got great exposure this week with a bottle of its 2012 Classic Dry Riesling front and center on the cover of Wine & Spirits magazine's "100 Top Value Wines of the Year" edition, featuring superb wines costing $15 or less.

                    Heron Hill, five minutes from Dr. Frank Winery at the southwest end of beautiful Keuka Lake, has been one of the Finger Lakes's premier Riesling producers since it opened in the late 1970's.  With its magnificent view of "the bluff" (the huge peninsula which separates Keuka into its east and west branches), along with stunning architecture and a warm ambiance in the tasting room, the Heron Hill has also been rated by Travel & Leisure magazine as having one of the top 10 tasting rooms in the world!

                    In short, the winery and its wines are world-class.

                    Thanks to Governor Cuomo's Taste NY program, 34 New York craft distillers showcased their products last night at the huge Manhattan Cocktail Classic.  This is a major, "must" event for spirits producers, but it also far too expensive for virtually all of New York's small craft producers.  So, just like last year, as part of its initiative to promote New York's farm-based craft beverage producers, the Taste NY program footed the bill.

                    That's a great investment that will pay off in terms of exposure, sales, and further growth of the industry.