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December 13, 2014
"Wine Region of the Year", Good to Great Harvest, Winning Wines, New Wineries, $4.8 Billion, "New York Drinks New York", New York Farm Day, Taste NY Events...
2014: So Much to Celebrate!
As we near the end of 2014, there's lots to look back on, and much to look forward to. While there are still 18 days before we break out the bubbly on New Year's Eve, it's not too soon to celebrate one of the best overall years in recent memory.
o New York State was named 2014 "Wine Region of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast magazine--ahead of Champagne, France; Chianti, Italy; Sonoma Coast, California; and Red Mountain, Washington. Not bad company, especially when you end up on top!
o The 2014 vintage turned out much better than expected despite ups and downs during the year, with excellent quality and larger quantity than predicted after a series of "polar vortex" events in upstate regions last winter.
o Top awards went to 763 New York wines in major international competitions, along with 104 rave reviews of wines rated 90 or above in major consumer publications.
o 41 new wine producers were licensed so far this year, bringing New York's total to 390, with at least 9 still pending.
o $4.8 Billion (with a "b") is how much the New York grape and wine industry generated in economic benefits for the State of New York in 2012, and with strong industry growth that figure certainly now exceeds $5 Billion.
o "New York Drinks New York" has raised the profile (and sales) of New York wines in New York City.
o "New York Farm Day" hosted by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in September was bigger and better than ever.
o "Taste NY" events throughout the year and the State have highlighted New York wines, other beverages, and foods.
o New legislation has made it more economically efficient to produce New York wines and other farm-based craft beverages and provided new marketing opportunities, along with increased government promotional support.
New York State: Wine Region of the Year!
While 2014 was already shaping up to be a really good year, it became great when Wine Enthusiast magazine named New York State the Wine Region of the Year as part of its "Wine Star Awards".
The other contenders were Champagne, France; Chianti, Italy; Sonoma Coast, California; and Red Mountain Washington. This is the result of hundreds of people working together for decades to get a little better every day which, like compounded interest, really adds up over time.
We're the 30-year overnight success.
The awards will be presented at the gala Wine Star Awards dinner on Monday evening, January 26 in the Celeste Bartos Forum at the New York Public Library. It will be a great way to begin 2015.
Vintage 2014
The weather during 2014 varied greatly by region, and even by specific location, with some concerns going into the fall that the harvest might be good but not great. Happily, September and October changed that in most regions.
"From Official Disaster to Region of the Year: Just Another New York Wine Season" was how Cornell Cooperative Extension enologist Chris Gerling summarized it in a headline of the final Veraison to Harvest newsletter. And indeed, in the upstate regions it was a true roller coaster, starting with a series of prolonged, frigid "polar vortex" events, raising fears about a major crop reduction and even vine kill. Fortunately, due to astute vineyard management and better luck on the rest of the year's weather, the crop reduction was smaller than expected and the quality was superb.
On Long Island and in the Hudson River region, the winter weather was more normal, and the rest of the year brought conditions creating an excellent harvest in terms of both quantity and quality.
Bottom line: Both grape growers and wine makers were very happy with 2014, which means consumers should be happy in 2015 when the new wines are released.
Awards and Accolades
New York wines continued to wow wine competition judges and wine magazine reviewers, gaining unprecedented recognition in 2014. In addition, two neighboring Finger Lakes winemakers--Peter Bell of Fox Run Vineyards, and Johannes Reinhardt of Kemmeter and Anthony Road Winery--were among America's Top 20 Winemakers named by Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine
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In international wine competitions, New York wines received 101 "Best" designations, from "Best of Show" (of all wines in a competition) to "Best of Category" (white, red, rose, sparkling or dessert) and "Best Varietal" (chardonnay, riesling, merlot, etc.). Add to that 165 Double Gold medals (requiring unanimity among judges) along with 497 Gold medals, plus 104 scores of 90 or above, and it was a very good year indeed--867 top awards.
Most notably, Chateau Frank sparkling wines (Blanc de Noirs or Blanc de Blancs) won Best of Show sparkling wines in four different competitions, while Dr. Frank 2012 Riesling took Best of Show and 2012 Riesling Reserve captured Best in Show Riesling at two different events.
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards was also a multiple winner, with its 2012 Vidal Ice Wine taking Best of Show Dessert Wine at two competitions, and the 2012 Homestead Reserve Riesling earning a Best of Show White. And Hunt Country Vineyards 2013 Seyval Blanc was Best of Show White and 2013 Vidal Ice Wine won at a separate event.
Other top awards went to Fulkerson 2013 William Vigne Juicy Sweet Riesling; Penguin Bay 2012 Riesling; Swedish Hill Spumante Blush; and Thirsty Owl 2013 Traminette.
At the New York Wine & Food Classic, Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2013 Semi-Dry Riesling won the Governor's Cup while Macari Vineyards took Winery of the Year.
During 2014, the Chateau Frank/Dr. Frank combination won 126 Gold medals or above, while the Swedish Hill/Goose Watch/Penguin Bay group was close behind with 117.
In terms of top scores in major magazines, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard led the way with a 94 and three 93's, all for Riesling, while 93 points were also awarded to Ravines 2012 Cabernet Franc, Red Tail Ridge 2012 Sticky Riesling, and Sheldrake Point 2012 Pinot Gris.
390 and Counting...
So far during 2014, 41 new winery licenses have been issued by the New York State Liquor Authority, with 9 others pending, and these numbers don't include the 10 satellite stores and 57 branch offices which are essentially remote tasting rooms for wineries. We are grateful that the New York State Liquor Authority has significantly expedited the license approval process, so some of the "pending" licenses may in fact be active by the end of this month.
In addition, the new wineries are scattered throughout the State in many different counties and regions, including some that until recently were never associated with grapes and wine. From being a largely regional industry not long ago, the wine industry has become virtually statewide--with 58 of New York's 62 counties now boasting wine producers (including Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens). (A "Wineries by County" map is available at www.newyorkwines.org.)
One of the services we provide at the New York Wine & Grape Foundation is essentially serving as an "incubator" for new wineries, with web-based information on licensing, business plans, grape varieties, and much more, supplemented with personal help as needed. There's even a special web site where you can get a satellite-based view of New York State and explore specific areas as potential vineyards based on location, slope, soil type, and decades of temperature readings (www.nyvineyardsite.com).
NYS Beverage Shop is another fabulous new service--a "one-stop shop" for all kinds of questions and answers--that grew out of the first Governor's Wine, Beer & Spirits Summit in the fall of 2012. Sam Filler, whom I call "the answer man", fields questions on all kinds of topics, consults with the appropriate government agency, then promptly gets back with the information needed. Located within Empire State Development, Sam has done a great job providing a real service to the industry to help it grow faster.
The growth in new wineries has been accelerating, which we expect to continue in the future, and each new one means new investment, new jobs, new tourism, and new taxes for the State of New York. In 2012, the grape, grape juice and wine industry generated $4.8 billion in economic benefits for the State of New York (see the "What's in a Bottle of Wine?" mini-poster on our web site).
"New York Drinks New York"
That's the name of a major initiative we have created to promote New York wines in New York City.
Thanks to grants from the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority supported by the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, we have been able to work with a superb, small Manhattan agency, First Press Public Relations, on a very creative "exchange program" introducing New York City to New York State, and vice versa.
Basically, we bring New York City wine writers, sommeliers, and wine store managers to various wine regions to get a first-hand understanding of their geography, people and wines. Then we bring representatives of the participating wineries into New York City for a thorough market orientation as well as networking opportunities. It all culminates with a Grand Tasting for media, trade, and consumers at Astor Center each March, which draws capacity crowds with great enthusiasm.
There are other aspects of the program as well, starting with fascinating and illuminating market research ("What does New York City think of New York wines?"); media relations; targeted advertising; a new series of videos; and "Harvest House" in the fall when NYC folks spend several days closely observing all the activities which happen at grape harvest time.
New York City is the most competitive wine market in the world, and we get no breaks as New Yorkers: we've got to earn our place in the sun just like everyone else. Ya gotta be there, and now we are.
Examples: The New York wines sold in New York City by a major wholesaler increased by 280%, and the number of accounts by 180%, in one year. And a winery participating in the program reported a 100% sales increase.
Cheers!
"New York Farm Day" Rocks
It may be an annual event (since 2002), but somehow New York Farm Day gets bigger and better every year.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who thankfully is a very active member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a great advocate for our industry, hosts the event and clearly has the respect of her Senate colleagues as well as members of the House, who enjoy the great food and beverages produced in New York. The food ranges from Long Island oysters to Chobani yogurt, New York apples and Mercer's Wine Ice Cream; and the beverages include wine, spirits, beer, cider, grape juice, apple juice and, of course, milk.
The purpose of New York Farm Day is to tastefully educate official Washington that New York is a major farm state whose needs should be considered when shaping agricultural legislation like the Farm Bill. There are many receptions on Capitol Hill, but Farm Day is one of the hottest tickets for a very simple reason: It's not just great food and great wine, but it's served by the people who actually produce these products (not some detached caterer).
We (especially Jennifer Cooper) orchestrate Farm Day in close coordination with Senator Gillibrand's staff, which is absolutely top notch in all respects. We also know that the 600 or so people who show up are the ones we want (involved with policy) because it's an invitation-only event and they RSVP to us at the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.
We look forward to Farm Day 2015 in September.
"Taste NY" Hits the Road
One of the great things that came out of the first "Summit" is a very active "Taste NY" program orchestrated by the Department of Agriculture & Markets and Empire State Development.
Supplementing the many events is an attractive web site (www.tasteny.gov), as well as extensive TV and print advertising that are still running through the end of this year. And now there are even Taste NY stores selling wines and other products at LaGuardia airport, JFK and Grand Central Terminal.
Another product of the two Summits has been regulatory and legislative changes that make it easier for New York wineries and other farm-based craft beverage producers to do business in New York State. The State Liquor has gone from being a nettlesome adversary to a true partner, and Governor Cuomo recently signed sweeping legislation which he initiated early this year.
It's sooooo great to finally have this type of support.
Happy Holidays!
I am now going to do a very rare thing, and take a vacation with my daughter, so there may be no more Wine Press editions until 2015 (but there may be as well). In any case, thank you for reading, and have a safe and happy holiday season.
Cheers!
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