Dawn and Bob Betts of Betts Farms LLC The usual “surprised but pleased” reaction that most people admit to having when presented with a major accolade doesn’t quite sum it up for Dawn and Bob Betts. “We were shocked,” Dawn says of learning that she and her husband Bob won the John Brahm III Grower award for their pioneering work with grapes at Betts Farms. “It’s the Wine & Grape
NEWS RELEASE, November 28, 2023Contact: Doug DeCroix, WNY Heritage, [email protected] Baideme, Grape Discovery Center, [email protected] John Thomas Slater, [email protected] Three Achievements in the Chautauqua-Erie Grape Belt: “Celebrate the past and look to the future.”Westfield, NY – November 19th was a busy day at the Grape Discovery Center. Located in the heart of the world’s largest Concord grape-growing region, the Center played host to two celebrations—the release of a new and unique
Hybrid grapes are seen by many as the store-brand version of real-deal grapes. Sure, they have some notable benefits: they’re generally less expensive, and in many ways just as good as the name brand versions. But they don’t have the cache, street cred and long history of their Vitis vinifera counterparts. But in New York—and other regions of the Northeast and Midwest where real-life growing conditions often fail to be
UK wine podcast Interpreting Wine has published a new series exploring New York Wines from a fresh perspective. The series of seven episodes switches focus from winemaking towards grape growing. Episodes feature 1:1 conversations with six principals from Finger Lakes wine companies. The series also features Sam Filler and Justin Jackson of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, discussing the new Sustainable Winegrowing Vineyard Certification. See below for more
Geneva, N.Y. – Stil-Bène, Inc., of Geneva, and Westfield Maid Cooperative, of Portland, were the grand prize winners of the first New York Concord Grape Innovation Awards, a business competition aimed at stimulating innovation and development of new products and markets for one of New York’s largest and most historic grape industries. The prizes were awarded Friday, December 9, at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, where 12 finalists from across the
Let’s explore the vineyards together through the lens of six “Unsung Grapes” of New York State! You may discover a new favourite! In my chats with the producers of each wine we’ll look at the factors that go into choosing what varieties to plant; a grape’s suitability for New York terroir; their viticultural pros and cons; and – if these varieties have a future in New York State? Away we go!