Wine Enthusiast magazine began the year with lots of rave reviews for New York wines, including lots of scores of 90 and above.  The wines listed below are all rated 90 except where indicated:

                 Anthony Road 2014 Dry Riesling; Atwater Estate 2013 North Block Nine Syrah; Billsboro 2014 Leidenfrost Vineyards Dry Riesling; Boundary Breaks 2013 No. 90 Late Harvest Riesling (93), 2014 No. 239 Single Vineyard Riesling (92), 2014 Riesling Ice Wine (91), and 2013 No. 198 Single Vineyard Reserve Riesling (91); Chateau Frank 2010 Blanc de Blanc; Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2013 Syrah; Dr. Frank 2013 Late Harvest Riesling (92), 2014 Gewurztraminer (91), 2014 Dry Riesling (91), and 2014 Semi-Dry Riesling; Hermann J. Wiemer 2013 Late Harvest Riesling; Heron Hill 2012 Ingle Vineyard Riesling (91), 2014 Dry Riesling, and 2012 Reserve Cabernet Franc; Hosmer 2014 Cabernet Franc; Keuka Lake Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Franc (91), 2014 Estate Dry Riesling, and 2014 Evergreen Lek Vineyard Dry Riesling; Keuka Spring Vineyards 2013 Umlaut Gewurztraminer (91), 2014 Semi-Sweet Riesling (91), 2014 Riesling, and 2014 Dry Riesling; Sheldrake Point 2014 SPV Estate Vineyard Gewurztraminer; Standing Stone 2014 Riesling Ice (92) and 2014 Gewurztraminer Ice (92).

                  Wine Spectator also found some New York wines it particularly liked, including Forge 2014 Riesling Sunrise Hill Vineyard (92), 2014 Riesling Classique (91), and 2014 Harvest Ridge Vineyard Riesling (90); Ravines 2014 Dry Riesling (90); and Standing Stone 2014 Riesling Ice (91) and 2014 Vidal Ice (90).

                  Correction: When I reported the results of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, I inadvertently omitted Golds for Swedish Hill 2014 Blue Waters Riesling and 2014 Blue Waters Chardonnay-Riesling.  Sorry.

                   Today is the start of the annual Florida State Fair International Wine Competition in Tampa, were New York wines always do well...so watch for more New York Gold next weekend!

                   The winter months of every year, well after the harvest and during a quiet time in the cellars and markets, comprise "meetings season" when people from our industry get together in different places at different times to discuss different things.

                    Early this week was the winter meeting of the National Grape and Wine Initiative, an organization devoted to strategic planning for research priorities involving grapes, wine, and other grape products.  John Martini and I serve on the Board representing New York, working with our colleagues from other states to create synergies and avoid duplication: What are the big picture research needs, and who is most qualified to address them?

                     That meeting preceded the largest convention and wine trade show in North America--the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, which draws about 15,000 people to the three-day series of seminars and networking opportunities in Sacramento.  Each year the highlight is the "State of the Industry" session, were four experts provide updates on trends in the grape market, wine sales, consumer behavior, and a global perspective.  Overall, despite some clear risks and challenges affecting all levels of our industry, the general consensus was that of a positive outlook.  Some highlights from Jon Frederickson:

-- 383 million cases of wine were sold in the U.S. in 2015, up 2%

-- California wines accounted for 60%, imports 31%, and other states 9%

-- Higher priced wines are driving the growth: volume up 2%, value up 6%

-- "Everyday wines" are shrinking, losing sales to other beverages

-- There are 15,000 imported wine brands

-- TTB approved 137,500 different labels in 2015 (lots of clutter)

-- Wholesale consolidation has hurt small wineries in particular

-- Direct to consumer shipments (now allowed in 43 states) increased 8.5%

-- Direct sales are the lifeblood for small wineries

There is a clear trend, reflected by both vineyard planting/removal and wine consumption data, toward "premiumization" of the American wine market, which should be good news for the New York wine industry as a whole.

                      In about a month is another great conference put on by Cornell Cooperative Extension: B.E.V. NY on March 3-5 in Rochester.  The initials stand for Business, Enology, and Viticulture, and the folks at CCE do a great job creating a great agenda.  On the first morning, top officials from the New York State Liquor Authority will provide an update on the ABC law, followed by our Unity Luncheon to recognize people who have made major contributions to our industry.  To register, visit http://events.cals.cornell.edu/bevny2016.

                     We recently hosted another group of New York City trade and media representatives on a Finger Lakes Cellar Tour--three full and fun days of winery visits, structured tastings, winemaker dinners, and networking opportunities. 

                     It's part of our NY Drinks NY program, now in its fifth year, and since the beginning more than 175 influential New Yorkers have visited the Finger Lakes, Long Island, or other regions to experience firsthand the vineyards, the wineries, the products, and especially the people.  And then, in March of every year, the winery people reciprocate with market visits to the Big Apple capped off by a Grand Tasting for trade, media, and consumers that always sells out.

                     New York City is the most competitive wine market in the world, and it wasn't so long ago that New York wines were essentially shut out of it.  No more.  This program, combined with the great wines and persistent marketing of the wineries, have made a huge difference.

                     We are grateful to the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority for a grant making this possible, and for the support of the Department of Agriculture & Markets.  And our partners at First Press Public Relations have done a phenomenal job.

                     Going green was the focus of a recent meeting organized by Suzanne Hunt, a nationally known expert on renewable energy, owner of HuntGreen LLC, and daughter of Art & Joyce Hunt of Hunt Country Vineyards in the Finger Lakes.  She assembled a group of solar installers, lending institutions, winery owners who have already installed renewable energy systems, and, with our help, other wineries wanting to know more about it.  It was a great mix of people offering a wealth of information.

                     What became clear is that switching to renewable energy makes economic sense as well as environmental sense, and that a lot of people and businesses (including banks) are heading in that direction.  Nationwide, the solar energy sector has grown to be huge, and New York State is now considered a leader in enlightened policies to stimulate further growth.  We intend to continue supporting efforts like this, and we thank the Geneva Experiment Station for providing the venue for this great meeting.

                      Wine in Florida is everywhere!  When I checked into my hotel, I asked where I could buy a bottle of wine to share with others later.  The front desk attendant said: "Well, there's the gas station/convenience store across the street.  Or if you want a larger selection you could go to Walgreens drugstore, or just across the street from that is the Publix supermarket...or WalMart in the same shopping plaza...or the Liquors store between the two of them..."

                      And it was all true: I first went to Publix because I also wanted to get seltzer water, cheese, French bread, grapes, and some other munchies in addition to the wine.  I also took a photo on my iPhone of the Publix sign and the Liquors store sign about ten yards away.  I also decided to buy some different wines in the Liquors store where I got talking with the store manager, who said they have no problem with being flanked by Publix and WalMart, and in fact those "competitors" attract shoppers who otherwise might ever visit their store.  It's collaborative competition and peaceful coexistence.

                      Let me be clear: The issue of wine sales in grocery stores is not on the policy table in New York State, and is not likely to be in the foreseeable future.

                      For over 40 years, the New York State Wine Grape Growers (the farmers who grow the grapes for the wine) have advocated for this issue as a way to expand the market-driven demand for their product--just as the sale of wine coolers in grocery stores did so dramatically in 1984 and years beyond.  But every time it has been seriously discussed over at least four decades, the opponents claim it would mean the death of the liquor stores. 

                      Florida is just one example of many states (like California, Missouri, Vermont, and others) showing that in reality it's simply not true.

                     And for consumers in those states, convenience and choice sure are nice.  How totally civilized.