February 28, 2015

 

             Thanks to many, a notable 25th, Dry Rose celebration, a Diamond sparkles, new Odessa wine store, trade show season, and more from New York wine country.

  

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

To the People Who Have Made a Difference...Thank You!

 

                 Our Unity Luncheon on Thursday at the B.E.V. NY conference was a great reminder of how many fabulous people are in or associated with the New York grape and wine industry.  What began decades ago as one award--the Unity Award for promoting unity within the industry--has evolved into many more which reflect the diverse aspects of our industry.  This year's recipients:

 

                 Unity Award: Phyllis Feder, owner of Clinton Vineyards, President of the Dutchess Wine Trail, past Chair of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation

                 Industry Award: Dennis Rosen, outgoing Chairman of the New York State Liquor Authority

                 Winery Award: Fox Run Vineyards, Finger Lakes

                 Grower Award: Michael Migliore, Whitecliff Vineyard, Hudson Valley 

                 Research Award: Dr. Brad Rickard, Cornell University

                 Retailer Award: Ryan's Wines & Spirits, Canandaigua

                 Restaurant Award: Tom Schaudel, Long Island

                 Distributor Award: Dina Opici, Opici Family Distributors

                 Consumer Award: Judi Betts, Long Island

 

                  It's quite amazing, and a sign of how things have changed, that our Industry Award--for someone who has made major contributions to our industry's advancement--went to the Chairman of the State Liquor Authority, which for so many years had been an adversary of our industry but is now a partner.  How times have changed.

 

                   All of these awards are richly deserved, and as I have noted many times about this industry: The product is a pleasure, but the people are the treasure

                    

Happy 25th!                               
 
                   Fox Run Vineyards, which this week received our Winery Award, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and we raise a glass not just to their longevity and success, but also their commitment to the New York wine industry.
                    Located in a restored barn on the west side of Seneca Lake, with acres of vineyards sloping up the hill to the winemaking facility, Fox Run has long been a popular destination for wine lovers.  With two large tasting bars, a local-focused deli, and a deck overlooking the lake, it's a great place to kick back and think of how sweet life is.
                    Their special events draw huge crowds, especially the annual Garlic Festival each August when tens of thousands of visitors sample and buy all kinds of local products and listen to local musicians while sipping Fox Run wines.  The economic benefits also flow to other area businesses like transportation companies, B&B's and hotels, restaurants, and gas stations.
                     Collaboration is another hallmark of Fox Run.  Winemaker Peter Bell, recognized as one of the best in the country with a long track record of Gold medals and high ratings, teamed up  with colleagues Johannes Reinhardt (Anthony Road) and Dave Whiting (Red Newt) to create Tierce, an exceptional Dry Riesling combining batches from each of them which was the only white wine served at the last Presidential Inauguration Luncheon.  (That's a big deal!)
                     Co-owners Scott and Ruth Osborn really set the tone at Fox Run, and are models of industry people who rise above their own operation to work for the common good.  Over the years, Scott has served as President of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, and now he is serving concurrently as President(s) of the New York Wine Industry Alliance and Finger Lakes Wine Business Coalition, both of which focus on key issues facing the industry.
                      At the B.E.V. NY conference this week, I gave a talk about "The Effects of (Business) Climate Change" on our industry. There's nothing we can do but react to the weather climate, but we can control the business climate because it is shaped by humans, mostly public officials, whom we can educate about the issues.  There has always been a core group of grape growers and winery owners who do that, and everyone else owes them a ton.
                      To everyone at Fox Run, thank you...and Cheers!                 
                  
Free Run...                             
 
                     DISCOVER DRY ROSE will be held at Fox Run on Wednesday, March 25 from 6-8 pm, kicking off a full month of promotion in April.
                      Riesling is certainly the "signature" wine of the Finger Lakes, but Dry Rose may be right behind in terms of consistent quality and popularity--it flies off the shelves. The first event two years ago included only 14 wineries, but now has doubled to 28 from every corner of the region.
                       The March 25 GrandTasting Event is for industry and media only so they can get a preview of what's new and exciting.  One of the interesting things is that Dry Roses are made from a number of different grape varieties--Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and more--and in some cases are blends, ensuring a diversity of tastes within the overall category.
                       For more information, visit www.Discoverdryrose.com  or contact Dan Mitchell at Fox Run (315-536-4616)
 
                      Black Willow Winery's Classic Diamond is on the silver screen in a big way--by its inclusion in the Academy Award winning film Still Alice starring Julianne Moore (Best Actress). 
                      The blue bottle of Classic Diamond from the Niagara region appears almost 20 minutes into the film during a dinner scene featuring Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin.  While the family eats dinner, the bottle is on the table, and then she pours a glass.  Not bad publicity!  www.BlackWillowWinery.com.
                       Diamond is a very interesting wine which several New York wineries make consistently well, as reflected by the numerous Gold medals won in major competitions.  Years ago, I had to explain to my fellow (California) judges what to expect from a Diamond wine, but that's no longer necessary because they know it--and love it!  Several years ago, the Goose Watch Diamond won Best White Wine at the big Riverside (CA) wine competition (beating well over a thousand Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and other wines, mostly from California), and there's nearly always a Diamond in  the final Sweepstakes rounds of most other judgings.  Visit the Awards and Accolades section of our web site (www.newyorkwines.org) and search for Diamond to view the many awards.
 
                         Odessa Wine & Spirits, on Main St. in this small community southeast of Watkins Glen, offers only Finger Lakes wines--70 different brands so far--and no wines from anywhere else on the planet.  Talk about Locapour!  Owned by our awesome "computer guy" Bob Wixson and his wife Alyssa, the store opened December 20, just in time for Christmas, has beautiful oak shelves throughout, and hosts themed tastings with winemakers every Friday.  It's a great addition to the region.  www.odessawineandspirits.com.
 
                         It's conference season, and Cornell Cooperative Extension's B.E.V. NY event for the last three days is as good as they get.  CCE professionals Chris Gerling, Anna Katharine Mansfield, and Hans Walter Peterson organized a great program with superb speakers on Business, Enology, and Viticulture.  If you missed it this year, plan to attend in 2016 for sure.
                          A couple other industry conferences are also fast approaching, starting with the Craft Beverages Unlimited show on March 4 & 5 in Richmond, Virginia (www.CraftBeveragesUnlimited.com), and then the Eastern Winery Exposition on March 17-19 in Syracuse (www.easternwineryexposition.com)
                   
  Words on Wine...                             

 

 "A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world."

                                                         --Louis Pasteur                              

 

  
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