Diverse and bold, with a long history stretching back hundreds of years, New York is reinventing itself as an epicenter of dynamic winemaking. The state is home to the first winery in the United States, and producers are drawing on that background to produce some of the most exciting wines in the country. Wine has been made since the 17th century and since the 1950s a successful focus on quality has taken hold to the point that New York is gaining a well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s most transformative regions. There is an incredible amount of diversity in climate and growing conditions: from Long Island, exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, to Hudson Valley, the historic heartland of New York wine, to Niagara and the Champlain Valley on the border with Canada, to Finger Lakes, which has established itself as a region that can compete with Germany, Austria, and the Loire Valley. Think cool climate, expect the unexpected.

In the sixth episode of the series, focused on New York wine producers’ commitment to sustainability.

Racine NY’s managing partner Pascaline Lepeltier, MOF, will lead a discussion with New York winery representatives about how they are thinking and acting sustainably, from farming to winery and business practices – both as individual wineries and collectively as a wine region. The panel will also look at the region’s new sustainability program and what that means for the future.

Panelists:
■ Pascaline Lepeltier, Racines NY (moderator)
■ Oskar Bynke, Hermann J. Wiemer
■ Roman Roth, Wölffer Estate Vineyards
■ Josh Wig, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars