It seems fitting that the winery that launched a vinifera revolution in the Finger Lakes and reinvigorated wine lovers’ passion for Riesling snagged Best White for its 2022 Reserve Riesling in this year’s New York Wine Classic.

“My great-grandfather was a researcher and scientist, and his approach is foundational to what we do here today,” says Meaghan Frank, who joined her family’s winery, Dr. Konstantin Frank, 11 years ago and manages the day-to-day operations alongside her father, Fred Frank. Dr. Konstantin trained Fred to take over the family business, and she says she values his input and insights on everything from vineyard management to operations. 

“I love working with my father,” Frank says. “We are celebrating our 62nd harvest this year, and while we love honoring our family’s history, we are also always looking at new grapes and farming and production practices, which is also very much in keeping with my great-grandfather’s philosophy.”

The winery grows 17 vinifera varieties on 140 acres on Keuka and Seneca lakes and produces about 40 different wines across the Dr. Frank and Salmon Run lines. But they won for the wine that Dr. Frank has become synonymous with.

Dr. Konstantin Frank’s award, as well as the Governor’s Cup, Winery of the Year, and other major category wins, were announced by Wanda Mann, East Coast Editor of ‘The SOMM Journal’ and Founder of ‘Wine with Wanda’ in a live event hosted and organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF). The New York Wine Classic is an annual event that celebrates the best-in-class wines from producers across the Empire State. To evaluate the 715 entries from 92 wineries across the state, the NYWGF partnered with the Beverage Tasting Institute to judge the competition.

In total, 2 Platinum, 190 Gold, 397 Silver, and 116 Bronze medals were awarded.

Riesling Revolution

Dr. Konstantin Frank planted the first vinifera vines in the Eastern United States in modern history in 1957, changing the way the entire world viewed the East Coast’s winemaking potential. Shortly after opening Vinifera Wine Cellars in 1962, the winery made its reputation on its stunning Rieslings, and growers across the region, then state and beyond also began planting Riesling and other vinifera grapes.

Today, a range of vinifera grapes—from the lesser-known Rkatsiteli to deeply familiar Chardonnay—thrive in the vineyards there. Not that it’s always easy.

“Because we grow 100% vinifera in a sometimes challenging climate, we have massive fluctuations in our production level with winter weather and spring frosts,” Frank explains. “But having two different vineyard sites does help.”

The Riesling that won holds a special place in Frank’s heart because of the history it represents. The medium-sweet late-harvest style is made from late-harvested grapes, 60% of which had been affected by noble rot.

“Konstantin made the first 100% Botrytis style wine in America for his very first vintage,” Franks says. “He charged $40 a bottle in the 1960s which was unheard of. Even wilder was his request that buyers prove they had been married for at least 20 years before buying it to prove that they appreciate how much effort it took to make the wine.”

If you shop for the wine online, you’ll get a sad “Sorry, Sold Out!” alert, but fret not, a (very) few bottles remain. But you will have to drive to Hammondsport to pick them up.

“We just made 350 cases, which is a small production for us,” Frank says. “We have a few bottles left at the winery for visitors. And we will have the 2023 bottled soon! I know it’s not the same vintage, but it is made in the same style from the same vineyard.”

If you are planning on making the trip, there are a few special events you may want to time your visit around.

On Friday, September 6 and Sunday, September 8, the winery will hold special luncheons with renowned Austrian chef Erwin Schrottner, the man behind the celebrated Café Katja in Manhattan.

“Erwin will prepare dishes from across Austria, and we will pair his dishes with special wines from our collection,” she explains.

The entire weekend is devoted to the Austrian celebration Heuriger, in which the year’s new wine makes its debut, alongside tours of Chateau Frank’s sparkling cellar and Austrian live music.

Plus, there are plenty of other events on the horizon as harvest wraps up and the holidays arrive. More excuses to pop a bottle of award-winning Riesling? Yes, please!