April 4, 2015

 

             Wine Region of the Year, more great scores, great market research,  wine ice cream on TV, label clutter, Senator Schumer rises, and lots more from New York wine country.

  

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

 

The 30-Year Overnight Success!

 

                 Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards gala on Monday was an evening to remember in so many ways.  The elegant, historic New York public library was a great venue for both the reception and dinner. Wine Enthusiast's team perfectly orchestrated a very complicated evening of wine, food, videos, speeches, and celebration.  The food--for 500 people!--was great.  And there were about 30 representatives from the New York wine industry to celebrate our honor as Wine Region of the Year!

 

                   This award belongs to hundreds of people--grape growers who refused to give up, winery owners who invested their money and dreams, winemakers always striving to improve, and our incredible partners at Cornell University who for decades have conducted world-class research to improve quality from the vine to the glass.  New York and Long Island Farm Bureau have also been vital partners for decades.

 

                    Many public officials also share this awards, starting with former Governor Mario Cuomo who rescued our industry from economic ruin 30 years ago, and now with Governor Andrew Cuomo who has created the best business climate for wine in the history of New York State.  State legislators like Senator Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Bill Magee, who chair the Agriculture Committees, have also been vital parts of our success.  And on the federal level, former Senator Hillary Clinton and current Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer have been champions of our cause along with many members of the New York Congressional delegation.

 

                     Thirty years ago, the New York wine industry was the Rodney Dangerfield of the wine world: We didn't get no respect.  But look at us now: Wine Region of the Year, ahead of Champagne, Chianti, Sonoma, and Washington.

 

                      We're the 30-year overnight success! 

                    

More Great Scores --for Finger Lakes Reds!                              
 
                   70 years ago, the conventional wisdom was that you couldn't grow classic European (vinifera) grapes in the Finger Lakes--it was too cold.  But then along came Dr. Konstantin Frank, followed by some really nice Chardonnays and Rieslings from several wineries.
                    OK, but you can't make good red wines--it's too cold.  Well, guess what: Wrong again.
                     The May edition of Wine Enthusiast, with reviews by Anna Lee Iijima, includes seven FLX reds with scores of 90+, including a 91 for Damiani 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir.  Scores of 90 were awarded to Damiani 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir Lower Block, 2012 Barrel Select Cabernet Franc, and 2012 Meritage; Heron Hill 2012 Pinot Noir Ingle Vineyard, 2012 The Chosen Spot Ingle Vineyard, and 2012 Eclipse.
                       There are also plenty of other scores in the high 80's, undoubtedly with more to come in the future.
 
                        Elsewhere, at the Winemaker Challenge competition, Swedish Hill Winery won Eastern Winery of the Year along with scores of 92 for Blanc de Blancs, and 90 each for 2012 Cabernet Franc/Lemberger and 2013 Blue Waters Gewurztraminer.  Wolffer Estate 2012 Diosa Late Harvest got the highest score of 95.  Dr. Frank 2014  Gruner Veltliner (90) won Best of Class, with a 90 also for its 2014 Dry Rose.  Heron Hill received 90 points each for 2013 Unoaked Chardonnay, Ingle Vineyard, and 2013 Pinot Blanc.  Wagner Vineyards 2013 Riesling Select earned 90 points as well.
 Simply the Best Wine Market Research                             

                   

                        "Tipping Point or Turning Point?" was the overall theme of two great presentations Tuesday at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Simply put, it's the best wine market research in the country, presented by John Gillespie (President of the Wine Market Council) and Danny Brager (The Nielsen Company).

 

                          The overall thrust is that, overall, things are still good for the wine industry, but the landscape has changed, particularly with the explosion of craft beer across the country.  The young "Millennial" generation which has been a great boon to wine sales is also very attracted to craft beers, which primarily have taken market share from the big beer brands but are affecting wine as well.

                     

                           Of the 40% of Americans who drink wine, 54% are female, and while the total volume of wine sold grew only slightly (to 302 million cases), the value grew more strongly because many people are "trading up" to higher priced wines.  In addition, compared with normal sales channels (restaurants, liquor stores, grocery stores in many states), direct-to-consumer sales are exploding.  Another interesting development in terms of new marketing opportunities are "groceraunts"--combinations of grocery stores which have also opened restaurants right in the stores, like our own fabulous Wegmans here in Canandaigua.

 

                           The United States is the world's #1 wine-consuming country in terms of total volume (but certainly not per capita), with demographic factors seem favorable for even more growth.  And from a regional perspective, the most encouraging finding is that, for the first time ever, consumers were as likely to have purchased a New York wine as one from Oregon and Washington.  Major progress indeed.

 Free Run...                             

 

                Mercers Wine Ice Cream got a HUGE plug this week on The Real TV program where several women raved about both the concept--mixing wine into ice cream--and the reality--a smooth, flavorful, unique comfort food.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrBbyhSOZeU.

                This incredible product was conceived at the 2003 New York Farm Day in Washington when visitors poured their ice wine into the ice cream.  Voila!  A new product.  Now it's sold in many states and other countries from France to Dubai and China.  And it's entirely family- and female-owned.  Try some today--while you're watching the hilarious video.  Be happy.  www.mercersdairy.com.

 

                 98,089 wine labels were approved in 2014 by the federal Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), compared with 10,297 spirits and 17,586 beer labels, for a total of 125,972.

                  One thing that shows is how much label clutter and competition for consumers' attention is out in the market, and why having attractive and eye-catching labels is so important.  Another is that TTB is busy! In fact, next weekend I'll head to Washington for the annual conference of WineAmerica and Winegrape Growers of America to discuss key issues with our Senators and Representatives--including making sure that TTB is adequately funded to serve our industry.

 

                    Senator Charles Schumer has been a great supporter of the New York grape and wine industry, and we are delighted that he was named by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid as his recommended successor.

                     Senator Schumer has a long career in public service, starting at the State level before being elected as a U.S. Representative and then Senator.  He vowed that each year he was in the Senate he would visit all 62 New York counties at least once each year, and he has kept that promise.  He has fought for New York on many issues and, while he clearly has his own opinions, he's among an increasingly rare breed of Senators who are not afraid to reach across the aisle.

                      He was also largely responsible for having New York wines as the only ones served with the meal at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Luncheon in the Rotunda of the Capitol.  I look forward to meeting with his staff on grape and wine issues in a week, and to congratulating him in person.  And who knows: If the political winds shift as they often do, he may soon end up being Senate Majority Leader.

                             

 

  
Words on Wine...                                                       
 
  "Wine, the most delightful of drinks, whether we owe it to Noah, who planted the vine, or to Bacchus, who pressed juice from the grape, goes back to the childhood of the world."
                                                    --Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
  
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