News from New York Wine & Grape Foundation

August 1, 2015

Dr. Frank Scores Big--Twice! Lots more New York Gold from INDY and Atlantic Seaboard, Wine Symposium of the Finger Lakes, East End Harvest, and more from New York wine country.

Cheers!

Jim Trezise

Dr. Frank Keeps on Collecting the Gold

Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars and sister winery Chateau Frank this week added to an already impressive string of top awards this year at both the INDY International Wine Competition at Purdue University, and the Atlantic Seaboard Competition in Virginia.

At INDY, Dr. Frank won two of the five Best of Category awards with its 2014 Gruner Veltliner (Best White Wine) and 2013 Late Harvest Riesling (Best Dessert Wine). At the Atlantic Seaboard Competition, its 2014 Semi-Dry Riesling won Best of Show of all wines entered, along with Best of Category for its 2014 Gewurztraminer and 2013 Late Harvest Riesling (the same wine that won at INDY).

At INDY, "Concordance Golds" are essentially Double Golds (requiring uninamity), and went to Chateau Frank Celebre and Celebre Rose (two sparkling wines); 2012 Lemberger; and 2013 Riesling Reserve. Gold medals were awarded to 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Dry Riesling, and 2014 Gewurztraminer.

At the Atlantic Seaboard event, Gold medals went to Chateau Frank Celebre and Dr. Frank 2013 Riesling Reserve.

Dr. Frank 2013 Semi-Dry Riesling began 2015 by taking Best of Show White at the San Francisco Chronicle competition (the nation's largest) in early January followed by the same award two weeks later at the Florida International, and the accolades have just kept coming all year!

Congratulations to the Frank family and entire Dr. Frank team, and thanks to them also for elevating the quality profile of Finger Lakes and New York wines.

...And More Gold for New York Wines

The INDY competition also included lots of medals for other New York wineries, starting with Concordance Golds for Fox Run 2013 Semi-Dry Riesling; Kaneb Orchards St. Lawrence Hard Cider; Lakewood 2014 Full Monty Riesling; Merritt 2014 Seyval Blanc, Swedish Hill 2012 Cabernet Franc-Lemberger; and Wagner 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling.

Gold medals were award to Coyote Moon 2013 River Time, 3013 River Run, 2013 Frontenac Blanc, 2013 Brianna, 2013 Twisted Sister, and 2013 Casa Papa Red; Deer Run Max Black, Diamond, and Attaversare; Fox Run 2014 Traminette, Kaneb Orchards Raquette River Hard Cider; Liberty Vineyards Fredonia, and Reds, Whites, & Blues; Long Point 2012 Merlot; Silver Springs Chardonnay; Swedish Hill Blanc de Blanc, 2014 Cayuga White, 2014 Riesling, and 2014 Blue Waters Riesling; Thirsty Owl 2014 Diamond, and 2014 Gewurtraminer; Wagner 2013 Pinot Noir Reserve, 2013 Dry Riesling, and 2013 Riesling Select.

Besides Dr. Frank's major winnings, other Best of Category winners at the Atlantic Seaboard Competition included 21 Brix Champella Sparkling Wine and Ellatawba Blush; Anyela's 2013 Avail; Coyote Moon 2013 Marquette; Martha Clara 2013 Northside Red and 2014 Sauvignon Blanc; Osprey's Dominion 2012 Cabernet Franc and 2010 Merlot; and Thirsty Owl 2014 Snow Owl.

Gold medals went to Billsboro 2013 Cabernet Franc; Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2014 Dry Riesling; Knapp 2014 Riesling; Martha Clara 2013 Chardonnay, 2014 Northern Solstice Red, 2005 Northville Cremant Blanc, and 2014 Pinot Grigio; Mazza 2013 Riesling, Nutt Road; Osprey's Dominion 2009 Flight, 2010 Flight Meritage, and 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; Thirsty Owl 2014 Pinot Gris; Wagner 2013 Riesling Select 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling; and Whitecliff 2013 Reserve Chardonnay.

Awards like these in major competitions really help spread the reputation of New York wines as quality products on a par with the world's best, so these wineries are not only to be congratulated but thanked as well.

Up next is our own New York Wine & Food Classic competition (the "Oscars of New York Wine"), held on August 11 and 12, with the Governor's Cup, Winery of the Year, and other top results announced on that Wednesday afternoon. Stay tuned!

Free Run...

East End Harvest on Long Island has been a highlight of summer for the past several years, and this year will be no exception. Once again the venue will be McCall Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue, with more than 40 local wineries offering their finest, including barrel samples.

In addition, Geoffrey Zakarian, cohost of the Food Network's "The Kitchen" and judge on "Chopped", will serve as the event's first ever celebrity chef. And another chef will be honored for commitment to regional foods. Proceeds go to several good causes: the Long Island Wine Council, HRHCares, Peconic Land Trust, and Long Island Farm Bureau. General admission is $125, VIP tickets $175, available through www.liwines.com.

It's a great event: Don't miss it!

2015 Wine Symposium of the Finger Lakes on August 21-22 is another not-to-be-missed event in downtown Geneva on the north end of Seneca Lake, starting with a Grand Tasting on Friday evening that will feature the top wines from the recent Finger Lakes AVA Riesling Challenge.

Saturday features a series of seminars at the historic Smith Opera House and other downtown venues, with speakers from New York City, Chicago, and Washington, DC discussing what makes the Finger Lakes special along with special sessions on sparkling wines, Rose, and Chardonnay. And it's all capped off with a "Red White and Blues" street fete featuring the Steve Grills Band along with bubblies and Cabernet Franc.

More information and tickets are available at www.winesymposiumfingerlakes.com.

The Daily Meal blog recently named its "101 Best Wineries in America", which from New York included Boundary Breaks, Channing Daughters, Dr. Frank, Hermann J. Wiemer, Keuka Lake Vineyard, Red Newt, and Shinn Estate.

The word is getting out.

Words on Wine...
"You Americans have the loveliest wines in the world, you know, but you don't realize it." --H.G. Wells