October 3, 2015

 

             Lots of New York Gold, direct shipment info, 100th birthday, and much more from New York wine country.

 

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

 

Lots More New York Gold and Other Accolades 

 

                 New York wines won a bunch of Gold medals at the recent Tasters Guild International Consumers' Wine Judging, with Lakewood Vineyards leading a strong New York showing.  Their 2014 Vignoles and 2014 Valvin Muscat both won Double Golds, with Gold medals also going to 2014 Long Stem White, 2014 Niagara, and 2014 Riesling.

                 Other top medals went to Belhurst (Double Gold for Ice Princess and 2014 Dry Riesling, Gold for 2013 Traditions Merlot); Black Willow (Golds for 2009 Flight 6.1.37, 2014 Classic Diamond, and 2014 Chardonnay); Dr, Frank (Double Gold for 2014 Gruner Veltliner, Gold for 2014 Riesling Reserve); and Gold for Victorianbourg Pechette.

 

                  There was also lots of glitter at the New York State Fair Commercial Wine Competition (separate from our New York Wine & Food Classic), starting with the Chateau Frank 2008 Brut as Best of Show.  The June Phillips Riesling Award went to Keuka Spring Vineyards 2014 Riesling, Humphrey's Vineyard, while Best of Category winners included Casa Larga 2013 Fiori Negative 8 (Fortified Dessert Wine), Idol Ridge 2014 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine (Dessert Wine), Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery Cranberry Bog (Fruit Wine), Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Franc (Red Wine), Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2014 Dry Riesling  (Riesling) and 2014 Pinot Noir Rose (Rose Wine), 1911 Spirits/Beak & Skiff Apple Small Batch Gin (Best Spirits), and Keuka Spring 2014 Vignoles (White Wine).

 

                   Meanwhile, Lieb Cellars 2013 Reserve Pinot Blanc was named by the Wall St. Journal as one of the top 12 wines in America among more than 400 tasted. I often have that awesome wine with lunch at the New York Wine & Culinary Center where our offices are located.

                   Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Sheldrake Point Vineyard were among the 100 Top Wineries in the world chosen by Wine & Spirits magazine.  Those awards and accolades just keep on comin'.

So How Can You Get Them...?                           
 
                    One of the problems for consumers, especially those in other states, is getting access to great New York wines for the very simple reason that most are not made in large quantities or distributed broadly, even within our State.  So what can you do if your local store doesn't carry the wines you want?
 
                     Order them directly from the wineries.
 
                     A new feature on our home page (www.newyorkwines.org) is a listing of what states various wineries ship to, from Alabama to Wyoming.  Almost all wineries ship within New York State, but many also sell directly to consumers in California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, and many other states--even Alaska and Hawaii!
 
                       It's not simple.  These predominantly small family wineries have to register with the regulatory authority in each state and pay the appropriate fees to have the right to ship, and then keep detailed records that are subject to audit at any time. But now at least they have the right to determine if the time, effort and expense are worth it.
 
                        2015 is the 10th anniversary of direct interstate shipment of wine, which the powerful wholesaler lobby fought tooth and nail for years in order to preserve their monopoly and deny consumer choice.  The Supreme Count's 2005 "Granholm" decision basically forced New York State's government to do something, and after a pitched battle they finally allowed it with certain limitations.
 
                        This didn't happen by chance.  It took direct involvement from our industry, led by four key people: Pete Saltonstall (King Ferry Winery), John Martini (Anthony Road Winery), Julie Suarez (then at New York Farm Bureau, now at Cornell) and lobbyist Allison Lee.  Other people helped out as well, but relatively few compared with the number of New York wineries that now benefit from this freedom.
 Free Run...                             

                    100th birthday will be celebrated on Monday by Malvina Cook Morsack Rafferty Hunt, a bouncy employee at King Ferry Winery on Cayuga Lake who makes all the shipping boxes and is the official greeter for special events.  The reason for the extended name: she has outlived three husbands, and the word is that others may be eyeing her.  She still drives to work and, rather than shuffling around the winery, she struts!  Now that's a beautiful spirit.  Happy Birthday, Malvina!  

 

                   Lake Erie Wine Country is featured in the current AAA magazine (Member Connection), with a couple nice photos of Johnson Estate Winery (the oldest in New York) and the Grape Discovery Center as well as a vineyard panoramic.  The article does a nice job of tracing the region's geological origins, lake effect climate, and attractions. 

 

                   Finger Lakes is one of "7 Places to Put on Your Travel Bucket List if you Love Wines", according to Town & Country magazine.  The others include various destinations in California, France, Italy, Oregon, Mexico, and New Zealand.

 

                  "Capital for a Day" was held Wednesday in the Syracuse area where Governor Andrew Cuomo and his Cabinet met with many people from diverse walks of life.   A two-hour meeting in Auburn focused on the craft beverage sector, and included high-level representatives from the Department of Agriculture & Markets, Empire State Development, the State Liquor Authority, and the Department of Taxation & Finance.  All of them were very helpful in explaining various laws, regulations, and opportunities available to industry members.  We've never had a business climate this good. 

 

                    The Wine Press may not appear for the next couple weeks, but will certainly reappear later this month.  

                             
Words on Wine...
 
       "Wine is a chemical symphony."
                                                                             --Dr. Maynard Amerine
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