Harvest is underway across New York, and October brings a ready-made reason to invite customers back to the table. Come Over October (COO), the national campaign encouraging people to gather with friends and family over a bottle of wine, returns this month. New research shows it gives wineries a practical way to drive visits, club engagement, and sales. The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is supporting COO again
For New York wineries, sustainability is more than a buzzword or marketing term. It’s a practice embraced throughout the state, with grape growers and wineries planning their next sustainability goal almost immediately after the last one has been implemented. Many take an extra step: not only do they do the work in the vineyards and wine cellar to increase sustainability, but they also complete the paperwork required to become New
The New York Sustainable Winegrowing Trustmark is gracing bottles across the Empire State. The certification, launched by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation in 2024, is based on grower self-assessment and then confirmed through a third-party audit. Vineyards who earn the Trustmark and wineries making wine with a minimum of 90% fruit from certified vineyards are permitted to use the logo on bottles and in marketing. The Trustmark is
Ryan William Vineyard Earns Governor’s Cup for 2025 Pinot Blanc; Weis Vineyards Named Winery of the Year for Third Consecutive Year Winners of the 2026 New York Wine Classic were announced tonight during a live virtual Awards Ceremony hosted by Wanda Mann, East Coast Editor of The SOMM Journal & Tasting Panel and founder of Wine With Wanda. Organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF), the New York Wine Classic is the
Dramatic love stories usually involve heartbreak, but this one is refreshingly tear-free. The unambiguous and widely heralded rise of Cabernet Franc in New York has been, many say, just a matter of time. “Cabernet Franc has really come into its own in New York over the last several years,” says Amy Racine, beverage director at the Michelin-starred JF Restaurants from Chef John Fraser. “As growers have spent more time with
Image courtesy of Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery. Ask almost any wine professional who understands the full picture of America’s wine and wine regions, and they’ll all say that New York State is home to the best Riesling in the country. You could argue that New York State is one of the best regions in the world for Riesling, and if you did want to argue that, a recent VinePair list
When most of us think about ideal wine and food pairings, we think about what we’re eating and then select our wines. What if, instead of selecting a wine to pair with food, we all picked dishes based on the wine we wanted? At many New York wineries, this philosophy is being deployed, with delicious results. We spoke to winemakers and sommeliers to find out how they select their pairings,
October is a month that naturally invites us to gather. Here in New York, the colors start changing, harvest is in full swing, the air smells of grapes, and vineyards across the state buzz with energy. This season, the national movement Come Over October (COO) is once again asking wine lovers to do something simple yet powerful: invite someone over, open a bottle of wine, and celebrate connection. “Come Over October captures the
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is once again proud to join Come Over October (COO)—a global movement that celebrates wine’s true purpose: bringing people together. Founded by Karen MacNeil, Gino Colangelo, and Kimberly Noelle Charles, Come Over October encourages people everywhere to open their doors and their bottles, inviting family, friends, and neighbors to gather over wine throughout the month of October. What began as a simple
Download the Co-branded New York Wine & COO Assets The NYWGF is excited to support the international campaign, Come Over October (COO)! As a Friend of COO, we are encouraging New York wineries to join the promotional campaign this fall through the many opportunities to engage with COO and celebrate New York wines. What is Come Over October? COO is an international campaign created by wine journalist Karen MacNeil and industry PR
Autumn in New York is a season made for exploration. The air is crisp, the landscapes glow with vibrant color, and vineyards are alive with the energy of harvest. Across the state’s diverse regions, from Long Island’s coastal vineyards to the glacier-carved Finger Lakes and the Hudson Valley’s Shawangunk region, fall offers the perfect opportunity to experience New York wines at their peak. A Destination Rich in History and Innovation
The consumption of wine in communal settings probably predates our species, according to findings from anthropologists and archeologists. (Cue the Drunken Monkey hypothesis). The oldest-known winery was excavated in modern-day Armenia circa 4000 B.C. Remnants of wine on pots found in China date back 9,000 years. Winemaking and consumption shaped ancient cultures and religions, from the ancient Greeks to the Christians. (Who can forget that Noah’s first to-do after parking