Boston is a tough, resilient city, and this weekend's Boston Wine Expo is just the latest example--a collection of determined vendors and passionate wine lovers who refuse to let the snow get them down.

                 Thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo's "Taste NY" program orchestrated by the Department of Agriculture & Markets, for the first time ever there are 25 New York wineries at the Expo, which combines both trade and consumer elements and is one of the top shows in the country.  The New York presence is hard to miss, with huge I Love NY and Taste NY banners high above the 25 wineries from Long Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Hudson Valley, the Thousand Islands, and the Finger Lakes regions.

                  I had the pleasure of conducting a sold-out tasting and seminar on "The New World of World-Class Wines: New York"  featuring a dozen different wines from different regions which have won Gold medal or 90+ scores. It's a great opportunity to spread the word about New York State's status as Wine Enthusiast's Wine Region of the Year, which was prominently advertised at the booths.

                  Participation in the Boston show is very timely because the Bay State finally opened up to direct-to-consumer wine shipments and is right next door to New York State, where Massachusetts license plates are often seen in winery parking lots.  This is just the latest example of the Taste NY program providing marketing opportunities which our industry otherwise would not have. Every winery I spoke with said they would not have been able to afford participating in this show without the support of Taste NY.

                     Tax exemptions are the latest benefit to come from Governor Andrew Cuomo's support of the farm-based craft beverage sectors, as contained in his budget proposal. 

                     The value of wine used for tastings at the winery, as a promotion and marketing tool, have been exempt from sales tax (applied to actual sales), and that would now apply to beer, spirits, and cider tastings as well.  For all beverages, the exemptions would also apply to off-premises tastings at festivals and other events.  In addition, there will be tax benefits applied to packaging such as bottles, corks, capsules and labels. 

                     While this measure is contingent upon a final budget (usually completed in late March), the New York State legislature has also been very supportive of our collective industries, so we are hopeful it will become law--another example of a positive business climate that stimulates investment and growth.

                    Casa Larga Vineyards recently racked up some nice ratings at Beverage Testing Institute for its 2013 Muscat Ottonel (92 and Best Buy), 2012 Hungarian Oak Chardonnay (92), and 2013 Reserve Riesling.

                   Meanwhile, Wolffer Estate 2012 Perle Chardonnay was served at a luncheon of President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a perfect way to wind down after an intense press conference.

                     New look for the Wine Press (Harvesting ice wine grapes) is the idea of our fabulous graphic designer, John "Book" Marshall of Rochester, who is incredibly creative and great to work with.  He has designed virtually all of our graphics, and is always coming up with new ideas, like making the look of the Wine Press more seasonal--so you'll see more changes coming up.  If you ever need a great designer, we'll gladly put you in touch.

                   Valentine's Day weekend means Wine & Chocolate events throughout the State, as many wine trails lure people out of their homes and into the regions to have some fun in February.  These events have helped extend the tourist "season" from a few months in summer to a more year round flow, even in months that used to be dead.  It's all part of the economic engine: wine.