May 16, 2015

More New York Gold, more NY Drinks NY, and more from New York wine country.

Cheers!

Jim Trezise

New York Gold from Michigan

New York wines won nearly 150 medals at the recent Tasters Guild International Wine Competition in Michigan, including 8 Double Gold, 39 Gold, 57 Silver and 42 Bronze awards.

Double Golds went to Chateau Frank 2008 Brut; Dr. Frank 2013 Late Harvest Riesling and 2013 Rkatsiteli; Lakewood 2013 Glaciovinum and 2013 Long Stem White; Swedish Hill 2014 Late Harvest Vignoles; Thirsty Owl 2014 Snow Owl; and Victorianbourg Pechette.

Gold medals were awarded to Americana 2013 Pinot Gris, 2013 Chardonnay, 2013 Apparition, and 2013 Crystal Lake; Castel Grisch 2013 Vidal Blanc Iced; Chateau Frank 2009 Blanc de Blancs, and Celebre; Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2014 Late Harvest Riesling, 2014 Dry Riesling, and 2014 Semi-Dry Riesling; Dr. Frank 2014 Gruner Veltliner, 2013 Semi-Dry Riesling, and 2012 Lemberger; Glenora 2014 Riesling Ice Wine, 2013 Pinot Blanc, 2012 Riesling Select Harvest, and 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon; Goose Watch Snow Goose; Hunt Country 2013 Valvin Muscat; Lakewood 2013 Dry Riesling and 2013 Chardonnay; Lamoreaux Landing 2009 Chardonnay; Osprey's Dominion 2012 Petit Verdot Reserve and 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve; Swedish Hill Naturel, Riesling Cuvee, 2014 Cayuga White, 2013 Vidal Blanc, 2012 Cabernet Franc/Lemberger, 2012 Cabernet Franc, and 2014 Late Harvest Vignoles; Thirsty Owl 2013 Pinot Gris and 2014 Dry Riesling; Torrey Ridge Cayuga White and Lucky; Treleaven 2013 Vignoles; Wagner 2013 Fathom 107 and 2013 Riesling Select.

This week was the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, but the results won't be announced until June. Meanwhile, the number of Golds and above is adding up, and is always available in the Awards and Accolades section of www.newyorkwines.org. For each of the past few years, New York wines have earned well over 700 Golds and above in major competition, and many scores of 90 and above, and this year is shaping up as another great one.

New York City Here We Come!

For the past several years, thanks to a series of grants from the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, we have conducted a continuous "NY Drinks NY" program to increase awareness, trial, and sales of New York wines in New York City. Happily, a new "Phase V" grant will allow us to increase the momentum.

The concept is simple, like our overall marketing strategy: Bring the people to the wine, and take the wine to the people. In other words, it's basically an "exchange program": We bring sommeliers, wine store managers and media from New York City to the regions, and then take New York winery representatives into the Big Apple. And it works like a charm, creating dozens of New York wine "ambassadors" in New York City, and giving New York wineries openings for their products.

Since Phase I, we have worked with First Press Public Relations, a small, efficient, and well-connected firm that works closely with our own Jenn Cooper and the participating wineries which sign up for the program. In addition to the successful parts of past programs--vineyard visits, cellar visits, Harvest House, the Grand Tasting--we are adding updated market research, a special tasting and dinner at Blue Hill restaurant, and a Thanksgiving promotion of New York wines and foods this fall.

New York City is the world's most competitive wine market, and we get no break as fellow New Yorkers. If anything, there's reverse discrimination: If it's local, it can't be good. So we have to gain our place in the spotlight with quality and value.

And that's what we're doing.