Dennis Rak of Double A Vineyards, Inc. in Fredonia has quite a few irons in the fire. As the name implies, the business consists of grape acreage. But the business is much more than that. Dennis prides himself on producing vines that are certified virus-free. This includes grape vines but also berry and hop plants. Dennis owns the business with his wife Sue and sons, Adam and Abram. Double A
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Valerie Venezia-Ross Phone: 1 (518) 229-3765 Email: [email protected] PENN YAN NY, April 5, 2022 – The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Born Collective designed to expand global recognition of the New York wine and grape industry, as well as the Boldly, NY. brand. This partnership marks the highly anticipated next phase of NYWGF’s global messaging project. New York
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is pleased to announce the winners of the prestigious 2022 Unity Awards. The Unity Awards were created in 1990 as a way for the community to recognize, encourage, and celebrate cooperation among grape growers, wineries, researchers, retailers, and others to advance the entire industry. Honoring the longstanding and bold spirit of our community members and their numerous achievements, NYWGF is proud to continue the 30-year tradition of celebrating industry leaders and champions.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting official comments about the re-registration and usage of two fungicide materials commonly utilized by grape growers in New York State, Ziram and Iodiprone (trade name Rovral). Growers in New York typically utilize Ziram for diseases such as downy mildew and black rot, with Rovral utilized for Botrytis management. EPA regularly solicits comments from the public before making registration decisions. Should you have input
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is pleased to announce a partnership with two Vineyard Inspectors for the Sustainability Pilot Program: Tim Martinson and Chris King. Tim Martinson’s wealth of knowledge and depth of perspective from leading the original VineBalance workbook project combined with his 9 years as an Area Extension Educator with the Finger Lakes Grape Program and 14 years as a Senior Extension Associate for the Statewide Viticulture
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) has been a longtime partner of the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), providing marketing services for New York wineries interested in exporting their products to international markets. The NYWGF staff, Board Committee, In-Market Consultants, and Export Advisory Committee (industry members) execute the strategy and activities for the Export Program annually. To deliver more effective and streamlined programming, NYWGF is outsourcing various marketing
The NYWGF is pleased to announce the release of Version 2 of VineBalance 2022 as the latest edition of New York’s statewide code of sustainable winegrowing. “I am humbled by the generous the contributions of time and knowledge that the New York wine community have dedicated to Version 2 of VineBalance 2022” said Sustainability Program Manager, Whitney Beaman. Version 2 of VineBalance 2022 was reviewed, workshopped, and revised through a
The Unity Awards are back! This year during the B.E.V NY Virtual Conference, the New York Wine & Grape Foundation will revive our 32-year old tradition of honoring community leaders for their distinguished contributions to the New York wine and grape industry. Supporting each other and being a part of a strong community is more important than ever before. During one of the most challenging times in recent history, our
Headline-writers love to tout the healthiness of red wine. Here’s how it goes: a scientific study about a specific food compound — such as flavonoids — gets published. The findings support that the compound has health benefits. That compound happens to be found in red wine, as well as many other foods. But we all know that lifestyle publications often lead with the red wine information in the headline. It makes sense
Mel Goldman believes in luck. Since college he’d always wanted to grow grapes and over the years he and his wife, Dorothee, would travel and explore their options. At one point, they almost moved to Oregon (where Dorothee’s family is from) but found it cost prohibitive. It was on a family camping trip to Ithaca that Mel and Dorothee stumbled upon the Finger Lakes. Unplanned tours of Cornell University and
In order to support the next phase of our Sustainability Program in 2022, NYWGF is developing a third-party certification for sustainably grown grapes and wine. The basis for this certification will be a grower self-assessment followed by third-party verification according to the latest edition of VineBalance, a workbook that addresses input reduction, soil health, water protection, energy conservation, resources and waste, ecosystem health, climate resiliency, continuous improvement, and social equity.
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation would like to thank those who showed interest in this important project! In response to the myriad of questions and proposals that were submitted during the initial request for proposals, we are re-issuing the Global Messaging RFP to provide further clarity on deliverables, examples of expected assets and their use, and a revised budget and timeline to align with NYWGF’s and the successful
Farmers are more in tune with what’s happening to the climate than anyone else because they depend on the whims of the sun, sky, and earth for their bread and butter. Winegrowers are perhaps even more watchful of subtle shifts and changes to the climate, simply because one bad hail storm, or a difference of a few degrees in temperature during the growing season, can doom a harvest. (Too cold,
Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars, part of the Hazlitt family wine production holdings, is celebrating 10 years in business and its benefit to the workforce and economic growth in the Naples community. The expansive facility is now home to multiple businesses. These include East Coast Crush and Co-Pack, Hazlitt’s custom beverage production services company, as well as an on-site retail and tasting room, a brewery, and a recreational hiking trail. In
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Born Collective to develop a marketing plan for the emergent third-party certification for sustainably-grown grapes and wine in New York. Born Collective is a strategic branding agency with an affinity for storytelling and a fervor for audience experience. b+cause is the nonprofit arm of Born Collective, dedicated to providing outstanding, full-service marketing to organizations that exist to make our communities and our world better. “At Born Collective, sustainability
The baton has been passed. Cole and Karen Wilson are the new owners of Knapp Winery & Vineyard Restaurant. Knapp Winery was established in 1984 by Doug and Susan Knapp. They sold the winery in the year 2000 to Pierce and Welliver. Gene Pierce and Scott Welliver recently sold the winery and 100-acre estate to the Wilson’s. Knapp has a long tradition of producing premium and popular wines and the
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Crush Wine Experiences to elevate the B.E.V. NY Conference and New York Wine Classic Awards Ceremony in 2022. To accomplish its mission and meet industry need, NYWGF leads important educational and promotional events each year. Scheduled to take place from March 29th, 2022, through March 31st, 2022, B.E.V. NY is the annual grape and wine conference presented by NYWGF, Cornell’s Finger Lakes Grape Program and the Enology Extension Laboratory. B.E.V. NY will be a hybrid event, with March 29th being held in-person (Rochester, NY) and virtually, and the subsequent days being held virtually.
For 35 years, NYWGF has annually distributed funds to projects that provide the New York State wine and grape industry with short-term solutions and long-term strategic directions. Click here to explore previously funded projects.
The Research Committee of the Board of Directors now welcomes new proposals for 2022. Proposals will be due by January 24th, 2022.
With eCommerce, the wine & spirit industry has been trying to go Electric for at least a quarter century. But only until the pandemic has eCommerce really gained traction in the US, where DtC sales skyrocketed for obvious reasons – according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, online alcohol consumer sales in the US increased a mind-boggling 80% in 2019-2020.
(Dundee, NY) Fred Merwarth, Head Winemaker and Co-owner of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Standing Stone Vineyards has been awarded the Wine Enthusiast Magazine Wine Star Award for Winemaker of the Year. The magazine writes of the awards, “This year marks the 22nd anniversary of Wine Enthusiast’s Annual Wine Star Awards, honoring the individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world. The winners plus
NYWGF would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming interest in our recent Global Messaging RFP. We have compiled and consolidated them all, to the best of our ability, in this document. We encourage you to read it thoroughly before submitting your response. Please note, as this document did take longer than expected to complete, NYWGF has pushed back the proposal deadline to November 29th, 2021.
Join Chris Serra, a leading expert in sustainable winegrowing certification, as we workshop a selection of new objectives introduced in the VineBalance 2022 update. Growers are invited to practice scoring their vineyard operations anonymously and ask questions as we move through key action items in the Ecosystem Health, Climate Resiliency, and Social Equity chapters of the latest version of the VineBalance workbook. Ecosystem Health – Tuesday, November 30th from 4:00 to
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Valerie Venezia-RossPhone: 1 (518) 229-3765Email: [email protected] PENN YAN NY, November 2, 2021 – The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is pleased to announce a new, creative partnership with wine educator Dan Belmont to update and reimagine the New York Course & Reference Guide. New York wines are now available in markets across the United States and throughout the international markets of Canada, Europe, and
PLEASE NOTE: Revised Timeline & FAQs NYWGF would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming interest in our recent Global Messaging RFP. We have compiled and consolidated them all, to the best of our ability, in this document. We encourage you to read it thoroughly before submitting your response. Please note, as this document did take longer than expected to complete, NYWGF has pushed back the proposal deadline to November
The NYWGF Sustainability Program is pleased to announce the release of a VineBalance 2022 update for New York’s sustainable winegrowing certification pilot program. The latest update expands upon the environmental risk assessment presented in the original VineBalance workbook to address the objectives of the NYWGF Grower Sustainability Advisory Committee: input reduction, soil health, water protection, energy conservation, resources and waste, ecosystem health, climate resiliency, continuous improvement, and social equity. This
When it comes to the Finger Lakes, Christopher Bates doesn’t mince words. “If we want to progress as a wine region, we need to stop growing good fruit and start growing phenomenal wine,” he said on a New York Wines panel earlier this year. Christopher is one of only 269 Master Sommeliers worldwide, and runs F.L.X. Hospitality with his wife, Isabel. The executive chef and winemaker’s portfolio of businesses includes
The NYWGF Sustainability Program is pleased to offer scholarships to the Advanced Soil Health Virtual Certificate Course offered by the Cornell University Soil Health Program. This online course will take place December 4th – 11th from 8am to 11:30am and will include live sessions with soil health experts on December 6th, 8th, and 10th. Harold van Es, Cornell University Professor of Soil and Water Management, and Joseph Amsili, Extension Associate for the Cornell Soil Health Program, will lead the course. Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy vineyard. It is important to practice soil health management throughout the year to reduce erosion, improve infiltration, sequester carbon,
With an eye to the future of wine and spirit bottle labeling, Waterloo Container has invested in a new state-of-the-art repack line which includes a shrink sleeve labeler featuring the R-250 TSER Evolution labeler by PDC international Corporation. This high-speed labeler features unique mandrel design capable of sleeving non-round bottles, and a proprietary cutting system which allows sleeve application at a rate of 50 to 300 containers per minute. The
Adirondack Winery held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday at the site of its future $2.6 million, 14,100-square-foot winemaking facility and Tasting Room at the site of its current Queensbury headquarters. Once complete, the new building will provide the family run winery with the space it needs to triple its wine production over the next 10 years. The new building will house an all-new Tasting Room, where the winery plans to offer
The mission of the NYWGF is to promote the world-class image of New York grapes and wines from our diverse regions to responsibly benefit farmers, producers and consumers through innovative marketing, research, communication, and advocacy. To accomplish our mission and meet industry needs, we are excited to be leading two (2) important events over the next year, the B.E.V. NY Conference (March 2022) and the New York Wine Classic Awards
As we reflect on a tumultuous period full of unprecedented unknowns, one thing remained steadfast – our commitment to each other. New York wine is nothing without the passionate and pioneering people who make it. They share a commitment to craft and community with a warm, welcoming spirit that makes the wines even better. This week we shine a spotlight on the winery members of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
What Is Community Solar?Community solar farms (also referred to as projects) are large, commercial-grade solar arrays shared by multiple community subscribers who receive credits on their electricity bills for their share of the power produced. Community solar farms offer residents, businesses, and municipalities an easy way to support clean, renewable energy AND save up to 10% on their monthly energy costs (with no change in utility provider). It’s easy, which
NYWGF is developing a third-party certification for sustainably grown grapes and wine. The basis for this certification will be the VineBalance Guide to Sustainable Viticulture, a grower self-assessment workbook codeveloped by the Cornell Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation Committee of the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets in 2007. This workbook is widely applied across the state, but it lacks a system of third-party verification and logo
Penn Yan, NY, September 21st, 2021 – Over 30 wineries participating in the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) International Export Program were invited to submit wines for review by JamesSuckling.com last Spring. JamesSuckling.com is an international wine publication that annually reviews and comments on wines from the world’s leading wine regions. Results are published to an audience of over 600,000 unique annual visitors. Of the wines submitted for review by 25 wineries, 69 received scores of 90 and above. According to JamesSuckling.com “a
Since 2018, wine industry organizations from the four states have been partnering to advance sustainability initiatives industry wide. By providing a definition and principles for the U.S. wine industry, conducting trade and consumer research, sharing information through two U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summits and providing education on the industry’s sustainability commitment to trade and consumers, the project has been effective in furthering the understanding of sustainable winegrowing.
For the first time, more than 40 key actors in the production and marketing of wine around the world have joined forces to accelerate action as sustainability challenges mount. The newly formed Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) is a unique coalition of leading wine brands, small producers, distributors, retailers, environmental organisations, and others – all joined in their determination to make the wine sector a sustainability leader. From drought to flooding,
The Efficient Vineyard approach involves measuring and collecting data on soils, canopy, crop size, and fruit quality; combining direct vineyard measurements and/or sensor data into valuable viticulture knowledge for vineyard managers; and developing variable rate vineyard prescription maps to improve yield and quality, lower production costs, and conserve labor and environmental resources. The FREE MyEV Tool has brought this vision to reality for growers and wineries.
New York wines are now worldwide. They are increasingly available in the international markets of Canada, Europe, and Asia and information about the wines, and our grower community, is frequently sought after by global trade, media, and consumers wanting to learn more about our exciting, up-and-coming region. NYWGF is seeking a consultant to complete a comprehensive technical review and update of the guide, provide copy editing for tone and voice and, finally, core educational modules to serve global trade and consumer audiences.
How do we measure the sustainability of the New York wine and grape industry? In sustainable agriculture, performance is measured using the “triple bottom line” framework. In addition to financial accounting, the triple bottom line framework also recognizes environmental and social returns. Over the past month, the NYWGF Grower Sustainability Advisory Committee has been collectively working to define the triple bottom line of sustainability for the New York wine and
The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association (ASWA) held its 16th annual wine competition on August 14 and 15 at the Marriott Tysons Corner, VA. This year’s Best of Show wine, Fox Run Vineyards 2019 Reserve Riesling, was selected from thirty Best of Category Winners. ASWA’s Wine Competition is the largest in the nation, focused exclusively on East Coast wines. This year our judges evaluated 484 diverse wines made in the eastern US.
Six Eighty Cellars, the newest winery on Cayuga Lake, has recently opened at 3050 Swick Road, Ovid. The owners of nearby Buttonwood Grove Winery, Melissa and Dave Pittard of Skaneateles, were seeking to purchase additional vineyard acreage when the former Toro Run Winery became available for sale. Attracted by the well maintained vines and wide array of classic grapes, as well as its proximity to their other facilities, they seized the opportunity to establish a second brand.
The first layer of this analysis evaluates the broader categories of sustainability addressed by each program to identify what all programs have in common, where VineBalance exceeds other programs, and where it falls short in addressing certain priorities. The categories of sustainability that all three programs share are soil health, water conservation, and pest management. One area where VineBalance goes deeper that other programs is pesticide management. For example, VineBalance includes questions about the security of pesticide storage, certified applicator supervision, and the recyclability of pesticide containers. Key areas where VineBalance falls short include management strategies for biodiversity and worker health and safety.
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation is pleased to announce the release of a Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Objectives for our new statewide sustainability program. These guiding statements were collectively developed by our Grower Sustainability Advisory Committee and Sustainability Program Manager.
Announced on Friday, August 13th after a month long of voting, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, located in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York, wins 4th Best Winery Tour and 7th Best Wine Tasting Room in a national poll hosted by USA Today 10Best.
Experience! The Finger Lakes®, based out of Ithaca NY, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, today announced that it has been recognized as the 4th Best Wine Tour in the United States. Nominees for the USA TODAY 10Best award for Best Wine Tour were chosen by a panel of wine and travel experts consisting of journalists, industry professionals, and broadcast personalities. Twenty nominees from around the country were presented to the public in July. Online public voting took place over 4 weeks, and winners were announced publicly on August 13st.
The New York Wine and Grape Foundation is pleased to announce the formation of our new Grower Sustainability Advisory Committee and Technical Review Committee. These two committees will work together with our Sustainability Program Manager to establish our statewide sustainable winegrowing certification program.
@flxwinemonth on Instagram and Facebook, will help provide information about events and promotions happening in the region throughout the month. Wineries were encouraged to find a way to celebrate that fit with their winery culture; events include everything from yoga and live music to happy hours and vineyard tours. FINGER LAKES WINE MONTH flags will be seen flying high at participating wineries all month long. More and more calendar events and promotional listings are added to the website daily as we see the excitement across the region grow.
This is not a story about wine. This is a story about humanity within our community. 2020 was rough. In the year we slowed down, we were forced to sit and watch our world be rocked by a global pandemic and a relentless stream of heartbreaking news. Related to those moments was June 2, 2020. Accounts across social media posted black squares in a movement called Black Tuesday. It was done in solidarity with the Black community reeling from the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. While some larger brands in the wine industry participated, most stayed quiet. In the past, it wasn’t unusual for companies to selectively care, but this time was different. This time, business-as-usual in the face of hatred was an insufficient response.
FLXcursion was held this week at The Smith Opera House in Geneva, NY. The three day symposium brought in wine professionals from around the world to celebrate both a love of Riesling, and a return to normalcy after what has been a hard year for the hospitality industry. The professional conference covered a range of topics pertinent to the industry. From serious conversations about inclusivity and climate change, to pointed questions about the relevancy of terroir, and even included discussions about the use of memes in wine education and marketing.
This week marked the official start of our VineBalance update project, which was awarded to Chris Serra, Executive Director of LIVE. Chris is a great fit for this project with 14 years of experience leading an internationally recognized third-party certification in sustainable winegrowing for Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Chris consulted on the development of Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW) and has been instrumental in providing guidance on other certification efforts, including one for the Great Lakes.
This summer, Macari finds themselves reinventing once again and the tasting experiences now include an option to enjoy a private tasting suite, or a cellar tour, tasting, and lunch between the vines. Gabriella and the team are especially excited about the return of the Macari Barrel Cellar Experience, which offers a flight of five newly released wines alongside cheese, charcuterie and locally made bread.
Today, the New York Wine and Grape Foundation released their Annual Report for the 2020-2021 State Fiscal Year. The Annual Report provides a summary of the Foundation’s operations and accomplishments during the fiscal year. The report also includes information on the amount of funding designated for applied research and the types of research conducted; and the amount of funding designated for promotion, and the effectiveness of the promotional program.
The Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, in partnership with the Wine Trails of Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, Finger Lakes Wine Country, and the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, invite you to join in the reboot of FINGER LAKES WINE MONTH this August!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) began accepting nominations for county committee members on June 15. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2021 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 2, 2021. “We need enthusiastic, diverse leaders
One of the smallest wine producers in the Finger Lakes is celebrating a huge milestone: New Vines Winery turns ten this year. High school sweethearts and Rochester natives, Todd and Dani Eichas always dreamed of retiring to Finger Lakes wine country. As wine and gardening enthusiasts, the couple decided that dream would include growing grapes. The Eichases purchased land to build their bed and breakfast overlooking Seneca Lake in 2007 and that same year, Todd put his green thumb to work planting the first vines. New Vines Winery officially opened in 2011. Now in its tenth year, New Vines Winery grows one acre of grapes and produces approximately 300 cases of Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, and Marquette Rosé.
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation is developing a third-party certification for sustainably farmed grapes and wine. The purpose of the RFP is to provide high level strategic and structural recommendations for certification design based on sustainability best practices, while balancing the small-scale and independent nature of New York’s wine industry. The ideal candidate will be experienced in East Coast climate and agriculture, viticulture and enology, international standards of sustainable winegrowing, and environmental certifications deployed by other agricultural industries. The VineBalance RFP is available here and responses are due by June 30, 2021.
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!
When considering how COVID-19 has affected her family’s business, Meaghan Frank doesn’t wonder what would have been; she’s too focused on the future. She does take a moment to genuinely think about what Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery would be doing if there weren’t a global pandemic and seems stumped. “I feel like so much energy and time has been spent thinking outside the box that I don’t even know what we would have done inside the box.”
Watkins Glen International today announced that the Finger Lakes Wine Festival originally scheduled for July 9-11, 2021 has been postponed to July 8-10, 2022 due to New York State COVID-19 guidelines. Ticketholders will automatically receive a credit for the full amount of their Finger Lakes Wine Festival purchase, plus an additional 20 percent of the total amount paid for those experiences, in their Watkins Glen International account by May 5.
The energy behind the sustainability movement in the grape and wine industry continues to build across the United States. Last week, NYWGF partnered with the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance to virtually host the second U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit. Over two hundred people joined the summit to hear remarks from journalists Ray Isle and Julia Coney, viticulturists, winemakers, and marketing leaders. NYWGF’s participation in planning these summits began in 2017, which instigated our own efforts to revitalize VineBalance and establish a statewide sustainability certification program. Sustainability presents our nation’s grape growers the opportunity to seize a leadership position and demonstrate how agriculture can be part of the solution to climate change.
The landscape of consumer goods has shifted seismically over the past two decades due to growing environmental awareness and desire for ethically produced products. The millennial generation, born between 1981 and 1996, lead the way. Millennials now make up the largest portion of the world’s population, presenting the greatest growth opportunity for the U.S. wine industry. In order to realize this growth, the wine business must inspire millennials and measure up to their generational values. In addition to an emphasis on climate change, this cohort is more health conscious, socially aware, and ethnically diverse than previous generations.
Buttonwood Grove Winery is excited to announce the addition of Carmela Barbagallo to their team as Director of Wholesale Sales. Her focus will be on increasing wholesale distribution in New York and Ohio, and creating distributor relationships in additional states to broaden distribution channels. Additionally, she will work with partner organizations such as the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and Finger Lakes Wine Alliance to broaden Buttonwood Grove’s participation in multiple marketing programs.
Sebastian Hardy’s favorite book is titled The Obstacle is The Way. He often listens to audiobooks or podcasts for a mindful way to unwind after his busy days making wine. Colleen, his business partner and wife, smiles as he talks about it being good motivation. It’s clear she also buys into the concept of making the obstacle the path forward. And of course they do–in a pandemic their business depends on it.
A good rule of thumb – if it grows together, it goes together. A French wine has a high likelihood of pairing successfully with a French cheese! (Assuming you don’t forget about BALANCE.) These things share terroir – a sense of place! With that in mind, I tried to offer an American artisan cheese suggestion when it fits, four of which hail from the Empire State. I also considered the ancestral home of each grape and their local pairings!
As a producer of nearly 240,000 bottles of wine each year, Fox Run Vineyards knew they had to do more to keep glass out of area landfills. Enter the Expelco GLSand Bottle Crusher: a compact machine designed to crush glass bottles into environmentally usable sand. Fox Run is the first winery in New York State to adopt and use this new technology.
I’ve always liked rocks. As a child growing up on Long Island, I had a rock “garden” in the backyard, and trips to the mall were highlighted by a visit to the store Natural Wonders where I’d spend my pocket money on a new gem stone for my collection that was kept in a secret hiding spot in my bedroom. When Fluorite came home with me? Big day. I remember being a very self satisfied eleven year old for knowing the difference between igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks before it was taught in science class. I like the thrill of the “hunt” for the right rock. Maybe I was just overly influenced by the adventures of Indiana Jones? Stones were my long lost artifacts.
Ben Riccardi’s 31-acre family farm sits on the southeast side of Seneca Lake in the town of Burdett. Soon, it will be home to Osmote Wine, the brand he’s been steadily building since his first vintage in 2014. Currently, Osmote is created with grapes sourced from farmers mostly along Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, but Ben has big plans for the future.
Last night, the New York Wine & Grape foundation announced the top winners of the 35th annual New York Wine Classic, a nationally recognized competition highlighting the best of New York’s wine. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul made the announcement during a special live virtual event. This year, the Governor’s Cup, the most esteemed award given at the Classic, was presented to Pindar Vineyards for its 2019 Dr. Dan’s Signature Collection, Gewurztraminer from the Long Island region. In addition, Paumanok Vineyards from Long Island was presented with the ‘Winery of the Year’ award.
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards has released a new podcast: Great Times Behinds the Wines. The podcast is hosted by Shannon Hazlitt Harts, daughter of Hazlitt’s Co-CEO & Owner, Doug Hazlitt. Each episode is meant to educate listeners in an informative, approachable way for anyone that enjoys or wants to learn about wine.
In March 2020, one week before the Coronavirus pandemic shutdown, Jenny Menges was on a press trip in London. She was there with the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, representing Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, where she’s the Director of Operations. “No job is perfect,” she smiles, “but this one is pretty close.” For Jenny and the rest of the team, working at Wiemer is more than a job. It’s more like an extended family, and she was eager to get home to it.
Kick-off 2021 with a self-guided wine tasting tour through Hudson Valley wine country. The Shawangunk Wine Trail’s Hudson Valley Wine Tasting Passport is the perfect choice for local and regional wine enthusiasts to enjoy a variety of the finest wines produced in the Hudson River region and to discover new favorite’s along the way!
Hosmer Winery’s Rieslings receive recognition in both Top 100 Wines of 2020 and Top 100 Best Buys of 2020. Hosmer Winery is known for its wide portfolio of estate-grown Rieslings. In the most recent Special Issue of Wine & Spirits, not one, but two of Hosmer’s Rieslings are recognized in their Top 100 series.
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard has been selected as one of the Wine & Spirits Magazine Top 100 Wineries of 2020. Inclusion in the Top 100 is based on the overall strength of the portfolio. This is the 10th time that Wiemer has received this honor.
The FLXposure 2021 Calendar, featuring top Finger Lakes winemakers in pin-up style images, is now available for purchase. All proceeds from the FLXposure 2021 Calendar will be donated to support New York food banks, restaurants and restaurant workers, coordinated through the Debra Whiting Foundation.
Anthony Road Wine Company celebrates 30 years of exceptional winemaking on the west side of Seneca Lake in NY’s Finger Lakes region. Anthony Road Wine Company has been a leader in the Finger Lakes viticulture, research, and wine-making industries since its inception on September 15, 1990. To mark this milestone, the Martini family is releasing their limited production, methode champenoise 2016 Sparkling Riesling. Anthony Road Wine Company (ARWC) was founded
Experience! The Finger Lakes®, based out of Ithaca NY, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, today announced that it has been recognized as a Top 10 winner for Best Wine Tour Company in the United States.
“Pink Cat”, a sweet Catawba wine, will be released by Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards this fall. The wine will be available at both Hazlitt winery locations in Hector, NY and Naples, NY as well as on the shelves of retail stores and in restaurants starting in September of 2020. This is just one of the many commemorations of the 35th anniversary of the winery’s founding.
Grape growing and limited wine production on Long Island dates back to the late 1600’s, but the first commercial vineyards on Long Island were planted in the early 1970s under the stewardship of Alex and Louisa Hargrave. Their work lured investors, grape growers, and accomplished and promising winemakers to the region. Today, the region is home to more than 60 wineries and a number of satellite wineries/stores and is considered
Dear Friends, We are pleased to share with you the New York Wine and Grape Foundation’s Annual Report for 2019-2020. The Foundation supports the establishment of new wineries, funds vital research on grape growing and wine making at Cornell University and other leading research institutions, supports programs to stimulate tourism and expand the availability of New York wines in major urban markets like New York City, and enhances the reputation for
According to Wine Vine Analytics, 36% of wine drinkers are confused by the information found on wine labels and 81% desire a label that is clear and easy to read. Wine labels provide useful information to assist consumers when making their wine purchases. Different countries have different labeling standards as to what is required on wine labels. In the United States, wine labels are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department (TTB). As you become more adventurous with your wine purchases, let us help clear up some of the mystery.
Though neither planned on a career in winemaking, Kelby James Russell and Julia Hoyle have come to be recognized winemakers in the Finger Lakes and beyond and are well-respected for the quality of their wines. Together the two have accumulated more than a hundred 90+ scores from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits, and other well-known periodicals including distinctions for Top 100, Best Buy, Editor’s Choice, and Year’s Best
Recently Governor Cuomo announced that outdoor dining would be permitted starting June 4th at restaurants located in regions currently in Phase 2 for reopening. Those regions currently include: the Capital Region, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern Tier and Western New York. NYWGF received notification from the NY State Liquor Authority (SLA) that this privilege extends to craft beverage tasting rooms. For
Silver Thread Vineyard was established in 1982 on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, at the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. At this location the bottom of the lake drops almost 200 feet below sea level, a dramatic mass of water that creates a distinct microclimate on the leeward (eastern) hillside — cooling breezes in summer, radiating warmth through the winter, and extending the length of the growing season.
Attitudes, practices, and policies have been changing especially in the last decade with regards to sustainability. There is mounting concern for personal health, and environmental and social problems that the world is facing including sickness and disease, extinction of plant and animal species, depletion natural resources, global warming, etc.
Love Scoring Deals? Check out this month’s New York Wine Best Buys…. New York wineries produce a myriad of world-class, quality wines that are impressive on their own, but even more remarkable when paired with food. For those looking to score a great bottle of wine at a great price, these New York Wine Best Buys are for you. This month’s wines are priced at $18-$20 per bottle, highlighting some
Nestled just off the southwestern shores of Seneca Lake in the heart of New York’s magnificent Finger Lakes wine country is where you’ll find Lakewood Vineyards. Once a run-down peach and apple orchard, this multi-generational, family-run winery celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2019. Today, Lakewood farms over 90 acres of vineyards and produces nearly 16,800 cases of wine from over 15 varieties of grapes. A highlight of the winery is its outdoor tasting bar which features a louvered roof and a spectacular view of Seneca Lake. At Lakewood, the
Five generations of the Wagner family have been growing grapes and making wine in the Finger Lakes for decades. The Wagner Vineyards philosophy is that great wines begin in the vineyard and their success can be attributed to the strict standards of excellence that they employ in their grape growing and winemaking processes. As stewards of the land, they believe that sustainable practices are responsible and respectful to the environment. As a business, they believe that their economic stability is tied directly to how they treat the environment. Although there is a genuine
At Bedell Cellars, sustainability is at the forefront of their vineyard management and winemaking programs. Their distinctive, terroir-driven wines are a direct result of their focus on biodiversity in the vineyard. Bedell Winemaker, Rich Olsen-Harbich has been a pioneer of winemaking in New York for over 30 years and co-founded Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW) in 2012. LISW consists of a group vineyards and wineries who have joined together to be stewards of the Long Island region by adhering to core management criteria – it is the first of its kind on the East
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars is proud to announce that three of their estate-bottled Rieslings from the 2018 vintage received over 90 points in Wine & Spirits Magazine as well as Best Buy and Top 100 Values of the Year. The magazine also named Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars as one of its Top Value All-Stars. 93 Points – 2018 Round Rock Vineyard Riesling – $23.99. Current Release92 Points – 2018 Red
Kingston, NY – Wine enthusiasts can still get their favorite Hudson Valley wines, spirits, and hard ciders from the Shawangunk Wine Trail wineries delivered straight to their door or pickup curbside!
Contact InformationName: Kelly BurnettTitle: Marketing ManagerMontezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery2981 US Route 20, Seneca Falls, NY 13148Phone: 315-568-8190Email: [email protected] April 10, 2020 — Seneca Falls, NY: Since the COVID-19 outbreak started, Montezuma Winery and Hidden Marsh Distillery wanted to do their part amid the global pandemic to help out local hospitals and organizations that are facing this outbreak head on. The winery dedicated its distillery to making hand sanitizer –
NYWGF: When was the moment you fell in love with wine/wine industry? LP: It sounds cliché, but being from an Italian family there was always a love of wine. Dinner wasn’t complete without a large jug of homemade wine at the table-simple wines, usually served in a water glass. No label, no frills. I grew up on Long Island when the wine industry was in its infancy, and visiting those early vineyards piqued my interest in the agricultural aspects. Eventually
Unity Awards Celebration LuncheonFebruary 26th, 2020 at 12:30pm The Unity Awards were created 30 years ago as a way to recognize, encourage, and celebrate cooperation among grape growers, wineries (and their staff), researchers, retailers and others to advance the entire industry. Nominated by peers throughout our industry, we are excited to announce the following 2020 award recipients! Update: Photos from the event can be found on our Facebook Page here. More photos from
Raised on an Erie Canal town just north of the Finger Lakes, like so many teenagers before him, Kelby was certain he would never return after High School. To his surprise, after graduating from Harvard College in 2009 he found himself learning winemaking in the Finger Lakes rather than living and working in an East Coast city. To his delight, he couldn’t be happier. Kelby interned at Fox Run Vineyards