More Finger Lakes Winery Visit Summaries

- I had not been to Catherine Valley Winery (east side of Seneca Lake) since right after they first opened. The Texans are still trying to get on their feet after a couple of hard winters, but are moving ahead with plantings of new grape varieties. Charlie, the winery dog, greeted us cordially as all winery dogs should do and we enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of their tasting room. Highlights were their unique blend of Riesling and Vidal called "The Blue Goose"($12.00), named after a local Prohibition-era watering hole, and "The Lost Irishman" ($9.00), a sweet refreshing Catawba wine perfect for summer picnics.

- I made my yearly (or as often as I can get there) pilgrimmage to visit my wine tasting mentor Dave Whiting at his Red Newt Cellars and, alas, he was not there. But we had fun tasting his wines and having lunch on the deck. I enjoyed the Cabernet Franc ($19.50), Medium tannins with cranberry and smoky berry flavors; Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.50), hints of smoke and tobacco, but very smooth; My summer favorite Red Newt White, (9.99) perfectly balanced with citrus highlights into a dry finish; and the excellent Syrah Reserve $28.50), one of the few Finger Lakes Syrah that I know of and it bodes well for this grape's future in the Finger Lakes if the winters cooperate.

- Leidenfrost Vineyards- I think they sort of like to stay under the radar and they don't get the publicity that some of the other wineries do, but I am always impressed by the quality of their wines. 2002 Pinot Noir ($15) smoky cherry aromas and smooth cherry flavor with light tannins and a great value; 2005 Riesling ($12) citrus and mineral in a very light semi-dry style; and Sonata ($8) a unique blend of 3 of my favorites Gewurztraminer, Cayuga, and Vignoles, honey and pineapple with a spicy finish... Heaven!, And the artwork on exhibit is wonderful.

- Bloomer Creek Vineyard- We visited their temporary tasting room in the cellar of the still-being-constructed new tasting room located beside my favorite pulled pork bar b q at The Stonecat Cafe. Highlights for me were 2003 Cabernet Franc ($14) grass and berry aromas with lots of raspberry and cherry fuit and just a touch of smoke; Arabella ($10) a blend of Riesling & Cayuga (but I would swear there was some Gewurz in there) Grapefruit, spice and nice acidity; Half Moon Rose ($10) a blend of Cabernet Franc & Chardonnay that finishes dry, but soft... like Rodney Dangerfield hooking up with Marilyn Monroe. I know, probably not the best image to conjure up, but the wine is good; Cayuga White ($8) Oh the many faces of Cayuga, this one presents a semi-dry citrussy facade with a unique spicy bite at the end. Wino Like.

- Chateau Lafayette Reneau- It's like coming home to the Castle Royale. They do take their wine serious here, and for good reason. I still reminisce about our anniversary weekend at The Inn. The Wine,The Breakfast, The View, The Vineyards, The Deck, The Hot Tub. They treat you like royalty. The awards speak for themselves. 2002 Pinot Noir (19.99) smoke, cherries, and tobacco dressed in smooth silky tannins, delightful; 2003 Reserve Chardonnay ($19.99) Vanilla, butter, and the perfect amount of smooth oak; 2005 Dry Riesling ($14.99) Amazing amounts of peach with citrus and mineral; 2005 Johannisberg Riesling ($14.99) Peach and pear flavors perfectly balanced on a backbone of citrus; 2003 Late Harvest Riesling (14.99) Honey, peach , and pineapple, but NOT sickingly sweet, just right.

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- More Black Bears being spotted in the Finger Lakes

- A nice article about Sheldrake Point

- Storm runoff is deteriorating the quality of Seneca Lake water

- The New York Culinary Center cooks up some good eats

- Water Park to be built in Farmington now

- Nature Conservancy obtains land near Hemlock and Canadice Lakes

- I recently saw June Szabo's exhibit of wood and wire sculptures on display at Leidenfrost Vineyards and the works are truly spectacular

- New Seneca Lake winery opening next month and just down the road. Welcome neighbor!!!

- A good article on organic wine (or the lack of it) in The Finger Lakes

- Lots of old fashioned fun at the Hector fair this weekend

- Send little Alyssa a birthday card and a penny for her birthday... and your prayers

- The first ever Finger Lakes International Dragon Boat Festival

- Finger Lakes Wine Festival Goers come from all over

- Wal-Mart versus The Finger Lakes

- Keuka Lake group receives half million from California charity for park honoring Glenn Curtiss

- Pinotblogger summarizes each day as he is attending the OIV Wine course with good info for wineries

My New Finger Lakes Tshirt For Charity

- One good thing about being unemployed for the last few months is that I have had time to work on some creative projects that I'm going to donate proceeds to charities in The Finger Lakes region. I am working on a CD titled Songs of the Finger Lakes featuring my original songs inspired by The Finger Lakes and that should be completed within a month. I have been working on a humorous illustrated book about The Finger Lakes which I hope to have finished by Fall and I have designed a Finger Lakes Tshirt, which is now finished and available for sale at Tee Shirts 4 Fun. The artwork was done by my friend Annette Myers, who I thank for her beautiful rendering of the idea that appeared in my mind. I will be donating proceeds to Ontario-Yates Hospice and
Southern Tier Hospice because Hospice has helped my family and friends deal with terminal illness. Hospice is a very special organization with special caregivers to help the sick and their families deal with the many physical, mental, and emotional issues that arise when dealing with terminal illness. See the finished design below. The hand portrays the earth and labor from which the grapevines spring forth, the lakes represent the water and climate that provide the conditions needed for the growth of the vines, and the wine glass is the final product of that world-class Finger Lakes wine. The phrase "Wrap Your Fingers Around Our Fingers" is an invitation to all to come and experience the beauty and wine of The Finger Lakes.



















In the coming weeks, this design will also be available on other items available at
Tee Shirts 4 Fun such as coffee mugs, hats, posters, bumper stickers, etc. I think it's a wonderful gift idea for any Finger Lakes wine lover on your gift list and you'll be helping out the Hospice organizations with your purchase and all purchases are guaranteed with the Cafe Press 30 day money back guarantee. I have purchased many items through the Cafe Press network and they have top-notch customer service. I hope you like it and I would love to hear your comments.

Q&A with Virginia Wine Blogger Dezel

I'm always interested to hear how people from other states and regions perceive the Finger Lakes. Dezel, who writes a Virginia Wine Blog called My Virginia Wine Spot
had emailed me for some recommendations for his trip to The Finger Lakes and we got to know each other through our emails and we just missed meeting each other while he was in The Finger Lakes a few weeks ago. I took the opportunity to do a Q&A with Dezel on his trip.

WW: What got you interested in visiting the Finger Lakes?
D: One of my co-workers who was aware that I had an interest in wine told me some really positive things about the Finger Lake area. He and his wife have been frequenting the Finger Lakes since the 70’s, and brought in some literature for me to review. A few weeks later I attended an International Wine and Food festival in Washington DC. The Finger Lakes had several booths set up and I conversed with all of the wineries and sampled a lot of good Riesling, thus confirming my decision to visit the Finger Lakes.

WW: What were your overall impressions of your visit
to the Finger Lakes?
D: The Finger Lakes totally exceeded my expectations. What a wonderful place to work, live and play. There are not too many places where you are smack dab in the middle of great restaurants, quality wine producers, and those picturesque and romantic lake views. I’m itching to return sometime soon and take in some of what I missed.

WW: How did your preconceived expectations of the Finger Lakes differ from what you actually experienced?
D: I had pictured tall buildings, traffic, haste and it was the exact opposite. What I found was friendly people, a relaxed and charming atmosphere, vineyards, trees, green fields and those wonderful lakes.

WW: What are the main differences between the wineries in Virginia and the Finger Lakes?
D: The Finger Lakes produce a number of Native American varietals and delicious true ice wines that you do not find here in Virginia (the ice wines for obvious reasons). Due to friendly competition and a plethora of wineries, the Finger Lakes has the ideal set-up for tourism and high volume, which is good news for the consumer resulting in lower ($1) or no tasting fees, and a lower price on the bottled product. Tasting fees in Virginia range from $3 to $5, and sometimes more for a ‘Reserve’ tasting. To Virginia’s defense the wineries are a bit more scattered and not as accessible in a days travel, so that level of friendly competition and everyday volume is not present like in the Finger Lakes.

WW: What were your favorite 3 wineries and why?
D: First off let me say that none of the wineries were less than satisfactory that we visited. There is certainly some very good wine being made in the Finger Lakes today. Based on our total experience at these places, including quality, atmosphere, staff, etc, if pressed I would select the following in no particular order.

Dr. Franks on Keuka Lake was a wonderful time. Both of us found the red and whites to be of equally good quality. Their Riesling was some of the best I had on our trip. The staff was very personable and knowledgeable and we found the grounds attractive.

Heron Hill on Keuka Lake was a favorite as well. Outside of the stunning views and beautiful and spacious tasting area, Heron Hill has some really good wines overall, and a Riesling Icewine to die for. The staff was also very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines produced there. If that is not enough, the sandwiches at the Café in my humble opinion are awesome! I feel totally cheated when I visit Subway now.

Fox Run on the West Side of Seneca Lake does a good job of balancing everything out. There we found very good wines, and enjoyed the collected effort that went into the 2004 Tierce Riesling. We had great conversation here with the tasting associate and enjoyd our time spent. More bonuses would be the Café, and Wine merchandise store and tours.


WW: Was the Finger Lakes visitor-friendly (signs, people,lodging, etc.)?
Not much to add here, everything was exceptional.

WW: What ways could the visitor experience be improved?
D: My visit to the Finger Lakes was specifically geared towards wine tasting. Surprisingly I could not find too much consumer information or reviews on the wineries in the area. That is when I came across your blog and said awesome! It was exactly what we were looking for in terms of information, and your Finger Lakes tasting tips were golden. Thank You very much and we will pass your page on to anyone curious or thinking about visiting the Finger Lake area.


WW: Will you return to the Finger Lakes?
D: Of course we will return, much sooner than later.

WW: Any other comments about the Finger Lakes?
D: We are happy to have found a wonderful vacation spot in driving reach, and to have met nice people as you. Keep up the great work with your Finger Lake blog and music. We love it !

I have to agree with Dezel that, when my wife and I first thought about visiting The Finger Lakes many years ago, our preconceived notion was that New York state is all like New York City; big and bustling with traffic and angry commuters. But New York state is so much more than just New York City. It's got one of the most beautiful State Park systems of any state and The Finger Lakes, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful areas in the U.S. My thanks to Dezel for answering my questions and for becoming another blogger friend of mine. I've never personally met a lot of them, but I feel know some of my blogger friends better than some people that I've been around all my life. That has been one of the unexpected blessings of writing this blog. Make sure to visit Dezel's wine blog at My Virginia Wine Spot.

News & Notes

- A big Thank You to fellow New York wine blogger Lenn at LennDevours for helping me to access the Wine Advocate issue of June 30 that profiled New York wineries. In that issue, David Schildknecht profiled and rated wines from 11 Finger Lakes wineries: Anthony Road, Atwater, Dr. Frank, Heron Hill, Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Lamoreaux Landing, Shalestone, Sheldrake Point, Silver Thread, Standing Stone, & Hermann Wiemer. The wines he chose to put in this issue were what he felt were "wines of special distinction". Here are the wines and his ratings:
(80-89 is Above Average to Very Good & 90-95 is Outstanding)

Anthony Road- 2005 Pinot Gris (87-89), 2005 Pinot Noir (87-89), 2005 Riesling Semi-Dry (86)
Atwater Estate- 2005 Vidal Blanc (88)
Dr. Frank- 2005 Dry Riesling (90), 2005 Riesling Reserve (89+)
Heron Hill- 2002 Riesling Reserve (86), 2005 Riesling Reserve (86-88), 2003 Ingle Riesling (86), 2004 Ingle Riesling ( 87), 2005 Ingle Riesling (87-89), 2004 Late Harvest Riesling (90), 2003 Riesling Ice Wine (89)
Chateau Lafayette Reneau- 2005 dry Riesling (86)
Lamoreaux Landing- 2005 Gewurztraminer (88), 2002 Cabernet Franc (89), 2002 Cabernet Franc T23 (89)
Shalestone- 2003 Cabernet Franc (88)
Sheldrake Point- 2004 Riesling Ice Wine (90)
Silver Thread- 2002 Blackbird (87), 2002 Pinot Noir (86), 2002 Riesling (88)
Standing Stone- 2005 Riesling (88), 2004 Vidal Ice (87)
Hermann Wiemer- 2003 Blanc De Noirs (86+), 2003 Dry Gewurztraminer (89), 2005 Dry Gewurztraminer (87-89)
And in his comments, he also mentioned "....several others whose 2005 reds looked to set new standards include...Fox Run and Red Newt.

-Sheila Livadas features Wagner Vineyards in her latest profile

- A wine blogger from Virginia gives his thoughts on his recent trip to the Finger Lakes. I will post more about him soon.

- Wineries help contribute 2 billion dollars to Finger Lakes tourism

- The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival features a unique combination of artists July 20-23

- The grape crop is looking good and has potential to be great!

- Have you heard of Noiret, Corot Noir, & Valvin Muscat... 3 new grapes created at Cornell University. More info here and here.

- If you are visiting the Finger Lakes, the boat tours are a great way to have fun and learn about the lakes

- Grape farmers give wish list to Schumer

- And I just have to give another shout out to Pennsylvania winery Clover Hill
and their amazing Vignoles (as I finish another glass of it)- Pineapple, Honey, Candied Lemon Drops, and Raisins in layer after layer of intense flavor.

- And I want to thank all of you who have given me support and encouragement over the past few months as I was laid off and looking for new employment! I am glad to report that I am employed again and it looks to be a fantastic opportunity for me. Thanks Again!!! I have met so many good people through this blog and I am so blessed to know you all.

2006 Finger Lakes Photos

With 2006 over halfway over already, I wanted to share some of my photos this year so far of Finger Lakes life and wine. Here is the first of several posts of photos. Double click on photos for a larger view.



-This is my newly acquired prized posession - An actual Riesling baby vine from Hermann Wiemer Vineyards own nursery. They are selling them at the tasting room and I just had to have one from one from the Royalty of Riesling in the Finger Lakes. I have named my vine Reese Ling. My wife just shakes her head.




- Our friends standing under the 150 year old Willow at Miles Wine Cellars. Miles Wine Cellars is one of the few wineries that is actually down by the lake and it is just a beautiful place to visit.
















- Lakeside View of Seneca Lake from the dock at Miles Wine Cellars where boaters can dock and walk up and get their favorite Miles wine.










-Looking at the back of Anthony Road's Tasting Room from their magnificent gardens. If you go to Anthony Road, you have to check out their gardens, as well as their wine.









-I had to take a picture at Anthony Road of this picture of the Tierce Amigos, my wine heroes Peter Bell of Fox Run, Johannes Reinhardt of Anthony Road, and my winetasting mentor David Whiting of Red Newt- the 3 co-creators of Tierce Riesling. If Seneca Lake had a Mt Rushmore, I think these guys should be on it. My wife just shakes her head.





-I'm finally learning how to take up close photos of grapes with my camera. I thought this one turned our pretty good. Double click on the photo for a larger view.









-This unique deer quilt caught my eye at Weaver View Farms. If you come to the Finger Lakes and want to find that unique gift, you'll find it here. Amish and Mennonite quilts and handmade products, homemade sauces and jellies, and lots of unique items on a real working Mennonite farm. We are addicted to their Apple Cinammon BarBQ sauce that you can not find anywhere else.




-I must have 100 pictures of this, but this view of Keuka Lake from the Bully Hill parking area always mesmerizes me.










-A Finger Lakes Full Moon rising over the trees.












-Looking out at Seneca Lake through these beautiful windows at the new Art Gallery Room at Leidenfrost Vineyards.










-The beautiful horses of The Buggy Rides with their owner at The Windmill. If you visit the Finger Lakes, you have to visit The Windmill Farm & Craft Market with almost 200 vendors selling everything from Fresh Produce to handcrafted gifts.







-Stay Tuned. More Photos to come.

Finger Lakes News Pours

- Wow. Heron Hill is expecting to have their new Seneca Lake tasting room open by the end of this month. That was fast! Great news for us closer to Seneca than Keuka. Here is my winery visit summary for Heron Hill. Looking at my tasting notes for Heron Hill over my last several visits, the two words that I used most were elegant and balanced. From their spectacular tasting room, which is one of the most architecturally and scenically beautiful ones in the Finger Lakes to their emphasis on top-quality food-friendly wines, owners John & Josephine Ingle have positioned Heron Hill as one of the premium wine brands in the Finger Lakes. And if one wants a truly decadent treat for a very special occasion, winemaker Thomas Laszlo crafts icewines that are world class. Over several tastings, here are my wine notes: 2002 Chardonnay Reserve- Elegant, balanced, and lightly oaked, 2004 Dry Riesling $14.99- A kiss of citrus with crisp acidity, 2004 Semi-Dry Riesling$12.99- Peach and Tropical Fruit with a touch of sweetness, Eclipse White $15.99- Ample fruit with hints of oak and citrus- Elegance without the luxury price tag, Game Bird White- Seyval/Cayuga blend with solid acidic structure, Good value at $9.99, 2002 Pinot Noir $14.99- Beautiful garnet color, light bodied, spicy, and smoky, 2002 Cabernet Franc $14.99-Berry aromas with a smoky cherry finish, Perfect for dinner, Game Bird Red $9.99- Pinot Noir/Baco Noir blend, very soft but complex with a touch of sweetness, Late Harvest Vidal Blanc $17.99- Decadent dessert wine with a touch of spice, 2002 Ingle Vineyard Chardonnay $24.99- From the owners private vineyard on Canandaigua Lake, steely with lingering acidity & oak, 2003 Ingle Vineyard Johannisberg Riesling $24.99- a crisp, drier style of Riesling, 2002 Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir $24.99- Medium tannins and perfectly balanced fruit taste, In my opinion, one of the best Pinot Noir's in the Finger Lakes. 2002 Baco Noir Reserve $19.99- Soft, with rich port-like aromas,and nice fruit, 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve$34.99- soft tannins with spice, leather, and tobacco, made to age, 2004 Late Harvest Riesling $35.99- Layers of honey and pineapple, 2003 Riesling Icewine-Intensity of flavor to the infinite, so much flavor that I didn't want to swallow, and at $99.99 a half bottle, you'll want to savor this a long time, 2004 Ingle Vineyard Riesling Ice Wine $49.99- Apples, Pineapples, and Honey seduce the tongue. Check out Heron Hill's Full Moon Beach Party on Friday July 14 featuring a Clam Bake and Live music.

- If you are looking for some bargains, check out DundeeFest this Saturday 8am-4pm when the village of Dundee puts on one huge yard sale.

- I hope you have your tickets for the Finger Lakes Wine Festival July 14-16 at Watkins Glen International. It's a great opportunity to taste the best of the Finger Lakes all in one place.

-And don't miss the Yates County Fair July 12-16. I love those Demolition Derby's!

- Check out Wagner Vineyards July wine specials and don't forget Alta B Day, Wagner's Customer Appreciation Event on Sunday July 30 from 1-4:30pm, with specials, prizes, and live music.

- After talking with various wineries last weekend, it seems there was minimal or no damage to the vines from last weeks storms and flooding, so that's very good news.

Finger Lakes News and Notes

- Sheila Livadas features Casa Larga Vineyards in her latest winery profile

- McGregor Vineyard Winery announces special sunset hours in July and August. They will be open until 8pm Fridays and Saturdays in July & August for visitors to enjoy wine, special food samples, and Keuka Lake sunsets. Also, check out their Raspberries, Chocolate, & Red Wine Weekend July 8 & 9. One of my favorite things is to bring guests to McGregor for their relaxed sit-down tastings. At my last tasting there a few weeks ago, I was wowed by their Unoaked Chardonnay (100% free-run juice), amazing Gewurztraminer (easily one of the best Gewurz I've tasted yet this year, but only 74 cases produced), Semi-Dry Riesling (another wow 2005), 2003 Vignoles (pineapple and honey with a cranberry finish), and the heavenly 1995 Blanc de Blanc (100% Chardonnay). I know McGregor gets accolades for their reds, but I think their whites are top-notch also.

- Having dual citizenship between New York & Pennsylvania, every year I make the trek to the Poconos for the Pennsylvania Wine Festival. Pennsylvania wine seems to have a bad reputation, but I can honestly say that slowly, they are getting better and better. And in fairness, most Pennsylvania wineries have to deal with much less than ideal growing conditions. I've always enjoyed Pennsylvania fruit wines (other than grape) but now a few wineries are starting to produce top-notch grape wines. The highlights for me were the always good fruit wines (especially their Plum) of Bashore & Stoudt Country Winery & Benignas Creek Vineyard
(especially their Strawberry), West Hanover Winery (a newer winery doing a very nice job with a wide variety of wines), and Clover Hill Vineyards (producing top-notch Riesling and Vignoles)

- Newsday writer goes to the source to discover the Finger Lakes

- How the Farm Winery Act saved the New York wine industry

- A veterans cemetary at the old Sampson military base sound like a great idea to me

- Bikers look tough on the outside but inside, they're softies with big hearts

- Immigration crackdown affecting Finger Lakes farmers and Finger Lakes farmers speak at House hearing on Immigration

- Check your NYSEG bills

- Finger Lakes Railway planning new station

- Ithaca battles Two Rivers in fight over origin of the ice cream sundae. Whoever originated it, I thank them.

- Stay tuned for more winery visit summaries and Thanks for Reading!!! Also, I get a lot of questions and emails from people who are planning visits to the Finger Lakes and want advice on which wineries would fit their taste in wine. I love receiving these emails. Keep them coming. Just email me at the email address at the top of the page and I'll be happy to answer your questions.

More Winery Visit Summaries

- I visited the always busy Wagner Vineyards to check out this years wine (and beer) offerings. I particularly enjoyed the Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (Butter and Vanilla and just the right amount of oak for me), the Semi-Dry Riesling (one of my personal favorites- Floral & Tropical aromas and perfectly balanced), Alta B Blush (nice, easy drinking, sweet summer wine), Cabernet Sauvignon (aromas of cherry, nice and balanced), and Sled Dog Doppelback (Beer- rich and caramelly). Don't miss Live Entertainment on the Deck every Friday 8-11pm.

- We pulled in to Hazlitt1852 Vineyards, where there is always a party going on, and enjoyed there Reserve Riesling (nice citrus and mineral), Schooner White (smooth Chardonnay/Riesling blend), Cabernet Franc (I'm really liking those 2002's), and of course Red Cat (see photo below). They are running a nice special 3-pack of White Stag, Cabin Fever, & Red Cat for just $23.50!!!
And make your reservations now for July 30, when Red Cat turns Legal (21). That's gonna be a party!!!




...Too Much Red Cat or Just Enough??? More Uses For Red Cat- Guitar Stand; Blues Slide; Musician Fuel.









- Penguin Bay Winery (no, they do not have any live penguins there, I asked- but they do sponsor the penguin exhibit at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo) served up their Riesling (a nice Riesling on the sweeter side), Swedish Hill Spumante Blush Champagne (a bubbly treat), and Tuxedo Red (Concord-orific). And I love the Flying Penguin Labels. We don't need no stinking Australian animals on our labels.

- I pulled into our neighbors across the pond- Standing Stone Vineyards, tried the newly released Riesling and Smokehouse Vidal and all I can say is Wow! Loving them! When we run out, somebody please send a boat across for us.

- We wandered up north to Amberg Wine Cellars (they now have ice cream, too. And I never pass by an ice cream stand) and sampled their Semi-Dry Traminette (wonderful floral aroma and that nice nice spice spice- you know, so nice I had to write it twice), Pearl (a very interesting blend of Riesling & Traminette- the zing of Riesling and the spice and body of Traminette- Must have been crafted especially for us Riesling & Traminette fans, Thank You Amberg!), Pegasus (a unique Muscat/Riesling blend, sweet but smooth) , & Red Baron (Cab Sauv & Merlot, but at 3% Residual Sugar, Rich and fruity). Amberg has the knack for unique blends that work! And they are offering 50% off shipping through the end of June.

- I got over to Hosmer Winery on Cayuga Lake and tasted another amazing 2005 Riesling and one of the best Blush wines in the Finger Lakes (IMO), their Carousel (Cayuga White & Catawba blend) and now I see on their website that Carousel is on sale for $6.00 a bottle!!! It's time to load up the van at that price.

- We visited the friendly folks at Cayuga Ridge Estate & I was fond of their Chardonnay (blend of oak and steel), Solo (blend of Riesling and Cayuga White), and Cranberry Essence (refreshing and balanced, not too tart). I keep meaning to sign up for their Vigneron program where you lease 10 vines and they train you on the fine art of growing grapes. Maybe next year.

- Thirsty Owl's beautiful tasting room was hopping and I was enjoying their Chardonnay (bright fruitiness and light oak), Dry Riesling (lemon and pineapple with that Cayuga mineral finish), and the excellent Diamond (pineapple zing with a sweet ending). Here is a link to the May issue of PinotFile that reviewed Thirsty Owl, Silver Thread, & Dr. Frank wineries.

- Don't forget the Carnival Cookoff this weekend (June 24/25) on the Cayuga Wine Trail with food and prizes.

- The Keuka Lake Wine Trail presents Barbecue at the Wineries this weekend (June 24/25) with food and prizes.

- The Seneca Lake Wine Trail continues its Riesling to Visit Passport Event through Sept. 1st. I know my passport is starting to fill up.

- I'll see you on the wine trail!!!

News & Notes

- I attended the grand opening of the New York Wine & Culinary Center and it sure is a beautiful place. With Canandaigua Lake providing a shimmering backdrop, I'm sure wine and food afficianados from around the world will be inspired and educated at this state of the art facility. My hats off to those who had the vision to create this wonderful educational and marketing tool. Visit the NYWCC website for schedules and more information. I was also impressed with the imaginative and delicious food that was served and also the Fox Run Cabernet Franc they were pouring was wonderful!

- Here is Cookin In The 'Cuse's take on the foodie aspect of the NYWCC

- Laura Rebeccas Kitchen with more coverage of the NYWCC

- A few observations after visiting Finger Lakes wine tasting rooms for the last several months; The 2005 Rieslings are, without a doubt, very impressive and consistently good at a wide variety of Finger Lakes locations. The downside is that supplies are low, so buy what you like now. Also, prices have gone up due to low supplies and rising costs. But if you like Finger Lakes Riesling, the 2005's are worth a few extra dollars. I've also been impressed with the Cabernet Franc at quite a few Finger Lakes wineries so, if you like medium-bodied Reds, I would recommend tasting the Franc's when you visit. As I've stated in earlier posts, from all accounts the Finger Lakes 2005 Reds are going to be some of the best in a long time, but it may take a few years until we can taste for ourselves.

- A big Thank You to my fellow blogger Lenn at LennDevours for turning me on to
Wolffer Estate winery on Long Island. I tried their La Ferme Martin Chardonnay and I'd swear, if I didn't know what I was drinking, that this resembled a Finger Lakes Dry Riesling. Fresh and bright fruit and citrus and crisp acidity, with a lingering mineral finish. I am hooked!
Also, See Lenn's review of Standing Stone's 2003 Pinnacle.

- Fulkerson Winery has released their 2005 Semi-Dry Riesling, 2004 Reserve Red, & 2004 Cabernet Franc and will soon be releasing the 2004 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, 2004 Pinot Noir, & 2005 Dry Riesling. Also, look for Fulkerson wines at Medley of Tastes at Hobart College on June 19 & at The Great NYS Food & Wine Festival in Clayton NY on June 23-25.

- Casa Larga has kicked off a campaign to raise money for The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children. See their website for information on how you can help.

- Watkins Glen State Park turns 100!

- Cobblestone Farm Winery strives to be family-friendly

- The Seaway Wine Trail is now open up in the North Country

- If you like bluegrass music, you'll love Pickin In The Pasture. After playing guitar in rock, country, and folk styles for over 20 years, I picked up the mandolin last year and started getting into bluegrass. I attended Pickin In The Pasture last year for the first time and I had a great time. Everybody is friendly and the pickers and singers are great.

- I went down to Seneca Harbor Station to see my first Cardboard Boat Regatta on Saturday, but with the time/temperature sign at the bank reading 101 degrees, I only lasted for about an hour. All the boats that I saw miraculously did NOT sink! It sure was a HOT weekend in The Finger Lakes! Here are some pics of some of the brave mariners and their ships (double-click on picture to enlarge)




















- Will the Finger Lakes be used by corporations to sell as bottled water?

- New York wineries now have grants available to help develop their websites

- Be sure to check out this new Central New York food blog called Cooking With Ideas by Bibliochef

Finger Lakes Winery Visit Notes

- I am way behind on posting my winery visit notes so far this year, so I will give some summaries below (in no particular order) and work on more detailed reports for later postings.

- I stopped at Ravines Wine Cellars (east side of Keuka Lake) last weekend and found out that their 2005 Dry Riesling had just received a 90 rating in Wine Enthusiast magazine. And I definitely agree! Stop by and try all of Morten & Lisa's finely crafted wines and you won't be disappointed. They will be releasing their new Chardonnay (crafted in a unique way- ask them about it) and new Cab Franc this coming Fathers Day weekend and their new Pinot Noir will be debuting next month.

- I visited the impressive new Ventosa Vineyards facility (Northeast Seneca Lake) and was blown away by the magnificent building. A must-see just for the building alone, but I was also impressed by the Chardonnay(light citrus, light oak, very balanced), Vino Bianco (blend of Chardonnay, Vidal, & Riesling- balanced acidity, bright and flavorful with a lengthy finish), and Saggio (a Bordeaux blend with a fruity cherry aroma, rich and fruity with medium tannins).

- At Hunt Country Vineyards (west side of Keuka Lake), we were greeted by the friendly wine dogs Gus & Barli (beautiful Bernese Mountain Dogs). Hunt Country is celebrating their 25th anniversary and they just get better with age. I particularly enjoy their Dry & Semi-Dry Rieslings (very limited qauntities available), their wonderful Vignoles (2004 sold out, 2005 coming June 22), the easy drinking Foxy Lady Blush, and their rich and caramelly Ruby Port.

- Arcadian Estate's (west side of Seneca Lake) friendly Kim and Jake (another great wine dog) poured their wines for us (Kim poured) and I enjoyed their Snowy Evening (crisp and refreshing), their Cool Hand Peach and Shine On Me Pear (intense fruit flavors), and the Happily Ever After Berry Port. They sure do have some of the most entertaining wine descriptions.

- Skip at Glenora Wine Cellars (west side of Seneca Lake- you can't miss the awesome view) always treats us right and I was fond of the Chardonnay (clean and crisp), Dry Riesling (always good), Alpine White (excellent blend of Cayuga and Chardonnay), Catawba (a little less bite than most Catawba), Syrah (lots of cherry and black pepper), Peach Spumante (unique and awesome), and their refreshing Blueberry Breeze and Peach Passion (for when the temperatures hit the 90's with 100% humidity).

- Summaries to be continued.... I also have a lot of winery photos to post. Stay tuned. The job search continues and that, unfortunately, leaves less time for blogging. But I promise to do the tireless work of visiting wineries and tasting wine... for you my devoted readers!

This and That

Stormhoek wine has landed in The Finger Lakes. No, I'm not abandoning my beloved Finger Lakes wineries, but Stormhoek Winery in South Africa has taken a unique marketing approach by inviting wine bloggers to sample their wine. Unfortunately, my original date to have my fellow Finger Lakes wine tasters come over and taste test had to be pushed back. But my wife and I just had to take one bottle of Pinotage with us to a wedding we were attending and Wow!!! Very Fruit Forward, Medium Tannins, Just a wonderful Red. Many tasted it and it drew raves. I can't wait to try the rest.

- Finger Lakes wineries are gaining credibility as quality improves

- Younger wine drinkers helping New York wine boom

- Another New Riesling debuts in The Finger Lakes

- Go Scuba Diving in The Finger Lakes? It's true!

- Lake Trout Derby winner. I don't know how they could see in that fog last weekend?

- More Info on New Wine & Culinary Center opening June 17.

- More ways to tour the wineries

- Watkins Glen International Race Track brings IRL Fans in

- A journey along Route 20

- Carousel takes 20 years to make, but it's worth it

- You can walk where the Indians walked

- Katherine visits Crystal City and Keuka Lake

- Spitzer visits with New York farmers

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- I lost count at over 70 medals for Finger Lakes wine at the International Eastern Wine Competition held earlier this month. Highlights include Best of Class, Riesling Champion, and Best White for Treleaven 2005 Dry Riesling, Double Gold for Anthony Road 2004 Sweet Dream, Double Gold for Atwater Estates - Estate White & Gold for 2005 Vidal Blanc & 2004 Celsius, Gold for Dr. Franks 2003 Cabernet Franc, & Gold for Fox Run 2005 Riesling. The complete Medals List can be found here.

- The New York Wine & Culinary Center Grand Opening will be June 17.

- Finger Lakes grape growers avoid April frost damage, but others aren't so fortunate.

- Various critters and insects affecting upstate New York crops.

- The Birthplace of Memorial Day gets ready for this weekend.

- Did the Finger Lakes grapes get throught this weeks cold snap ok?

- The Global Warming question continues to heat up.

- Barbara Adams is honored

- Is that 2004 vintage wine that you are drinking really all 2004?

- Wine Spectator magazine focuses on the Finger Lakes

- The Seneca Lake Wine Trolley looks like an interesting way to tour wineries, especially if you are staying up in the Geneva area.

- Sheila Livadas profiles Goose Watch Winery on Cayuga Lake.

Finger Lakes News & Notes

--Detroit sings the praises of Dr. Franks Riesling

--New Grape Genetics Research Center gets Federal Funding

--Buffalo Tacos prompt evacuations

--"Global Warming" is good for Finger Lakes wine

--Learn history while you drive

--"Green" cars will race around Seneca Lake

--Sheila Livadas' new winery profile is on Standing Stone Vineyards, our neighbor across the pond.

--And finally, to all my readers, I must apologize for the lack of posts recently. I was surprisingly laid off my job recently after 9 years there, and I've been using most of my time to try and find a new job. I thought I'd have more time for blogging, but that has not been the case. If any winery out there has any positions available in Finance or Marketing, let me know. Thank You All for your continued support!!!

Finger Lakes News & Notes

-- Newcomers see Finger Lakes land prices as a "bargain". and are quickly snapping land up.

-- And vineyard land is also being snapped up for new homes.

-- Yes, it's officially wine tasting season in the Finger Lakes.

-- Here's the Star-Gazette's Finger Lakes area Racing Guide for all you race fans. I will be attending my first NASCAR race at Watkins Glen this summer.

-- My wife attended the Seneca Lake Wine Trail's Wine & Cheese event last weekend with "the girls" (I had to stay home and work- bummer) and she reported that it was a great event and very well organized with good food and, of course, good wine.

-- I am working on a new Finger Lakes Wine Event Calendar to link to the blog. Click here for a sneak peek.

--Gas prices are starting to affect tour companies. And Camping gets a boost due to gas prices.

Finger Lakes News and Notes

-- Sheila Livadas features Heron Hill Winery in her newest winery profile.

-- Finger Lakes chefs take their bounty to New York City.

--Tickets are still available for the May 7 & 8 weekend for The Cayuga Wine Trail's Wine & Herb Festival.

-- The New York State Canal System opens in April for the first time in 33 years.

-- Tickets are on sale for 'Taste of the Finger Lakes' on May 25 at The Corning Museum of Glass featuring over 30 woneries and restaurants.

Finger Lakes Winemaker Q&A- Vinny Aliperti, Atwater Estate Vineyards

Todays winemaker Q&A is with Vinny Aliperti, winemaker at Atwater Estate Vineyards which is located on the east side of Seneca Lake. Vinny joined Atwater in 2001 after helping craft wines at Wolffer Estate in Long Island and at the esteemed Hermann J Wiemer Vineyards across the lake from Atwater. 2005 was a very good year for Vinny with his 2004 Dry Riesling and Somerset Blush each pronounced best in their class at the New York Wine & Food Classic, as well as an 89 point rating in Wine Spectator magazine for his Riesling.

WW: Briefly describe Your Philosophy of Winemaking.
VA: To make fruit forward dynamic wines that emphasize the intrinsic varietal characteristics.

WW: What is your favorite thing about making wine?
VA: The process. From the vineyard to the bottle, the process is truly unique year in and year
out. Like life, it has its setbacks and its triumphs, and at the end of the day
there is great satisfaction in pulling it all together.

WW: If you were dropped on an island and could have any 3 wines, what would they be?
VA: Beer.

WW: Do you prefer real cork, synthetic cork, or screw cap and why?
VA: Real Cork. I want a natural product in contact with another natural product.

WW:What advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a winemaker?
VA: It is a whole lot of work and a whole lot of fun.

WW: What wine tasting advice would you give to someone visiting the Finger Lakes for the first time?
VA: Don't over do it, four to five winery visits per day is plenty and try to
avoid weekends in the fall

WW: What makes the Finger Lakes area special to you?
VA: Quality of life stuff like the scenery, little congestion, friendly folks etc.

WW: What is the wine you are most proud of making and why?
VA: I like them all for what they are.

WW: What new wines are in the works for your winery?
VA: We will be releasing our second Cab Franc 2004, a Cab Sauv./Merlot blend
2004, and our very first Reserve Riesling 2005

WW: If you had to be something else besides a winemaker, what would it be?
VA: Rock Star

WW: Who has been the most important person to you in your
development as a winemaker and why?
VA: I apprenticed for three years with Roman Roth at Wolffer Estate Vineyards
on Long Island. I was green and soaked up a lot.

WW: Who is your favorite musical artist or band?
VA: Bob Marley and the Wailers

My thanks to Vinny for answering my questions. Be sure to stop by Atwater during the Seneca Lake Wine Trail's "Spring Wine and Cheese Weekend" April 29 and 30. All participating wineries on The Trail will be pairing their wines with foods prepared with products from New York's own Heluva Good Cheese Company. I hear tickets are selling fast. Go to the
Seneca Lake Wine Trail website for more info about this event and also for info about The "Riesling To Visit Passport", which offers a great value on wine tastings.

Finger Lakes News & Notes

-- In an earlier post, I had mentioned that I really liked the new Fulkerson t-shirt design. I found out who the artist is. It is Carol Culhane and you can view her art at www.justmeart.com

--Here is a nice travelog on the Finger Lakes.

--Who was the"Swamp Hermit of the Finger Lakes"?

--I'd like to add my belated condolences to the family of Bill Simiele, better known as "Captain Bill" of Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises. Here is a nice article on Bill.

--An Ohio reporter makes the 9 hour drive to The Finger Lakes to see and taste.

--New York Times wine reporter Eric Asimov quenches his spring fever with Riesling.

-- Bully Hill gets a mention along with Alaskan Veggie wine in the Miami Herald.

-- Henry Stark writes about Thirsty Owl and Hosmer wineries.

-- In whats being a called a blow to the Finger Lakes wine industry, Governor Pataki has vetoed 2 million dollars in this years state budget that was earmarked for promotion and marketing of the wine industry.

Wine Blogging Wednesday

Today is Wine Blogging Wednesday being hosted by the

Wine For Newbies blog and podcast. Keep an eye out for their upcoming podcast on New York state wine. This months mission is to pick a white wine other than the Big 3- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and the Finger Lakes beloved Riesling. If you've read my blog at all, you know of my taste for Traminette. Heck, I even wrote the Traminette varietal character for Appelation America. So yes, I will shamefully use this occasion to espouse the virtues of Traminette.

First a little history. Traminette was conceived in 1965 when H.C. Barrett from the University of Illinois crossed Gewurztraminer with Johannes Seyve 23.416 (a close relative of Seyval Blanc). The seeds were subsequently planted in the University of Cornell grape-breeding program in 1968 and today it is grown in many states. It is prized in the Finger Lakes for its hardiness in cold climates.

Two weekends ago, Fulkerson Winery released their 2005 Traminette and I picked up a bottle or three. Fulkerson has been growing Traminette grapes since 1981 and their experience with this grape shines through. Fulkerson 2005 Traminette displays the fragrant floral and citrus aromas that I find heavenly in Traminette, with tastes of lime, pear, green apple, and Gewurz spice, with a long lingering and somewhat dry finish. I am a fan of Gewurztraminer, but I feel that Traminette reveals more fruit flavors and less bitterness. My wife does not like Gewurtztraminer, but she does like Traminette, so if you don't care for the spiciness of Gewurz, "Give Tram A Try". I like that. I will make "Give Tram A Try" my new slogan to convince all of America and the World to try Traminette. Buhahahah. My plan has been hatched. Food pairings that I have seen suggested for Traminette include turkey, salmon, Thai food, Mexican food, and even Easter Ham.

My thanks to Wine For Newbies for this WBW and remember: Give Tram A Try!!!!!!!

I Am Now A Certified Wine Judge....... Not

Over the weekend I took part in the Golden Nose Wine Judging event organized by the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and I must say I had a wonderful time and met some great people. Finger Lakes wine people are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. The event was held at the beautiful Corning Museum of Glass. The premise behind the event was to train novices about wine judging and then actually have them judge Finger Lakes wine- all in one day!
Obviously, us wine novices could not be taught in one day what it takes professional wine judges many many years to achieve. But we got a good beginning foundation with short tutorials such as "The 6 S's For Successful Wine Tasting" by wine educator Lorraine Hems, "Components of Wine" by Peter Bell- winemaker at Fox Run Vineyards, "Wine Flaws" where Dave Whiting- winemaker at Red Newt Cellars, made us smell what happens when wine goes bad, "How To Identify Grape Varieties" by Chris Stamp- winemaker at Lakewood Vineyards, and "An Overview of The Finger Lakes Wine Industry" by Jim Trezise- President of The New York Wine & Grape Foundation.
Then we seperated into Judging Panels of 4-5 people, each led by a wine professional who guided us and answered our questions as we sampled and judged 6 flights, each comprised of 4 unidentified wines from the same category (Riesling, Chardonnay, etc.). We judged each wine on our own and gave it a score and then we discussed each wine with the other members of our panel to decide if it merited a medal (Gold, Silver, or Bronze). At times, there was disagreement but my panel's wine professional, Dave Whiting from Red Newt, skillfully guided us to a peaceful resolution.
It was surprisingly difficult to evaluate the sometimes very subtle nuances in the wines and my tastebuds got fatigued very quickly. But, being a wine geek, it was fun to discuss wine with others who share my obsession and get a glimpse into the life of a wine judge. I left with a new respect for them.
Saturday night, we then got to see and taste the fruits of our labor as the awards were given out by Mike Rusinko, President of The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, at a dinner at The Corning Museum of Glass. I had never been to the Museum before and I was very impressed with the facility and the food. I hope to go back and tour the museum this summer.
It was a wonderful weekend and I have to thank Paul Thomas and Liz Stamp and everyone involved for their hospitality and for putting on a great event. What I enjoyed even more than the judging was meeting a lot of wonderful people who share my enjoyment of all things wine.
Here are the award-winners of the 1st Finger Lakes Golden Nose Wine Competition:
BEST OF:
Chateua Lafayette Reneau- Owners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Knapp Vineyards- Vignoles
Lakewood Vineyards- Cabernet Franc
Lucas Vineyards- Miss Behavin
Prejean Winery- Riesling
Red Newt Cellars- Red Newt White
Sheldrake Point- Riesling Ice Wine
Torrey Ridge- Blue Sapphire

DOUBLE GOLD:
Atwater Vineyards- Dry Rose
Earle Estates- Pear Wine
King Ferry Winery- Apple Mystique & Cabernet Franc
Lakewood Vineyards- Cabernet Franc & Niagara
Torrey Ridge- Niagara & Blue Sapphire

GOLD:
Atwater Vineyards- Somerset Blush
Amberg Wine Cellars- Chardonnay Reserve & Pegasus
Anthony Road- Devonian Red
Atwater Vineyards- Estate White
Cascata Winery- Red Velvet
Chateau Lafayette Reneau- Proprietors Reserve Chardonnay & Owners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Fulkerson Winery- Matinee
Glenora Winery- Brut
Goosewatch Winery- Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Melody, Cabernet Sauvignon, Traminette, and White Port
Knapp Vineyards- Vignoles
Lucas Vineyards- Miss Behavin
Montezuma Winery- Cranberry Bog
Prejean Winery- Riesling
Red Newt Cellars- Red Newt White
Seneca Shore Wine Cellars- Lemberger
Shaw Vineyard- Pinot Noir & Cabernet Sauvignon
Sheldrake Point- Dry Rose, Riesling Ice Wine, & Barrel Reserve Chardonnay
Swedish Hill Vineyard- Blanc de Blanc & Cynthia Marie Port
Tickle Hill Winery- Sweetie Pie
Ventosa Vineyards- Saggio

Finger Lakes Wine Competition Awards

Finger Lakes wineries did well at The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. See all of the award winners here. Here are the Finger Lakes wineries that won Best, Double Gold, Gold, and Silver Awards:

Best Ice Wine- Sheldrake Point Riesling Ice Wine
Best Riesling- Chateau Lafayette Reneau Johannesberg Riesling

DOUBLE GOLD-
Miles Wine Cellars- Wisteria Blush

GOLD-
King Ferry Winery- Apple Mystique
Prejean Winery- 2004 Estate Grown Cayuga
Casa Larga Vineyard- Cab Merlot
Chateau Lafayette Reneau- 2005 Dry Riesling
Torrey Ridge Winery- 2004 Riesling
Widmer Brickstone Cellars- 2005 Semi Dry Riesling

SILVER-
Heron Hill Winery- 2002 Baco Noir Reserve
Fox Run Vineyards- 2002 Cabernet Franc
Miles Wine Cellars- 2002 Cabernet Franc
Rooster Hills Vineyards- 2004 Cabernet Franc
Ventosa Vineyards- 2003 Cabernet Franc
Chateau Lafayette Reneau- 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Lafayette Reneau- 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Dry
Casa Larga Vineyards- Dolce Blanco Cayuga White
Hosmer Winery- 2004 Cayuga
King Ferry Winery- No Oak Chardonnay
Sheldrake Point Vineyard- 2004 Waterfall Chardonnay
Swedish Hill Winery- 2004 Reserve Chardonnay
Fulkerson Winery- 2004 Diamond
Arcadian Estate Winery- Merlot
Casa Larga Vineyard- 2003 Merlot
Knapp Vineyards- Merlot
Arbor Hill- Ambrosia
Glenora Wine Cellars- 2005 Pinot Blanc
Heron Hill Winery- 2003 Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir
Goosewatch Winery- Rennaisance Red
Miles Wine Cellars- 2001 Milestone
Casa Larga Vineyard- 2005 Riesling
Glenora Wine Cellars- 2005 Riesling
Hosmer Winery- 2004 Vintners 100% Riesling
Hunt Country Vineyards- 2004 Semi Dry Riesling
Widmer Brickstone Cellars- 2005 Dry Riesling
Torrey Ridge Winery- 2003 Traminette
Widmer Brickstone- 2005 Vidal Blanc

Congratulations to all the award-winners!!!

Finger Lakes News & Notes

-- A couple of Finger Lakes wineries did well in the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition.
Fulkerson Winery got a Gold for their 2004 Diamond (one of my favorites) and a Bronze for their 2004 Dry Riesling. Prejean Winery received a Gold for their 2004 Late Harvest Vignoles and a Bronze for their 2003 Chardonnay.

-- Sandra Silfven on winery trends at the Wineries Unlimited show.

--Get your tickets early for the Tierce release dinner at Red Newt on May 5th. I can't wait to try it.

-- The New York Wine & Grape Foundation honors Willy Frank with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

-- Don't forget Swedish Hill Winery and Goose Watch Winery are having their New Vintage Days celebration on April 15 & 16. Get first taste of their new vintages as well as discounts on select wines.

-- Meathead comes to Rochester.

-- Those crazy Polar Plunge people.

-- BellaOnline talks about Finger Lakes wine.

-- Here's a good update on The New York Wine & Culinary Center from Dowd's Wine Notebook.

-- Fill in the Blanc with Lenn Thompson at Wine Sediments.

Lakewood Vineyards Visit

Liz Stamp at Lakewood Vineyards pours you a tasting, answers questions from five people, runs the register, helps a customer find a bottle, and does five other things all at the same time. And all with a smile! I was only there for 20 minutes, but I was exhausted after watching Liz. Lakewood Vineyards is a true family winery, with the entire family involved in running the winery. I've even seen the children practicing their sales skills in front of the winery. Even the winery dogs, who are beautiful Australian Shepherds (Having 2 Aussies of our own, we know that their charm can not be resisted), do their part in retaining customers. The Stamps have been growing grapes in the Finger Lakes for over 50 years and started Lakewood in 1988. They make about 25,000 cases of wine per year and it is a beautiful place to stop and taste their wine offerings.


Here are my tasting notes for our visit: 2003 Dry Vignoles, $9.99, Bright citrus aromas with the light taste of oak and vanilla. 2004 Chardonnay, $12.99, Very nicely balanced with slight oak overtones. 2004 Vignoles, $8.99, Tastes of citrus and pineapple, with a touch of honey and finishing nice and light, An excellent wine at a great price. 2003 Cabernet Franc, $15.99, Nice aromas of raspberry/blackberry with a raspberry jammy start with some smoky pepperriness and finishing soft and balanced. 2002 Port, Made from Baco Noir with ripe fruit aromas, sweet, rich, and decadent, a lovely dessert wine. We also scored a sample of the Just Bottled and Not Yet Released 2005 Riesling. All I can say is, if this Riesling is representative of the 2005 crop, then it's going to be a good year. Even newly bottled, it showed awesome floral aromas and a perfect balance of citrus and mineral. Also, see my post right after this for the Q&A with Lakewood winemaker Chris Stamp.

Winemaker Q & A - Chris Stamp, Lakewood Vineyards

Name & title: Chris Stamp, Winemaker/VP

Winery name: Lakewood Vineyards

WW: Briefly describe your philosophy of winemaking:
CS: It's all about the fruit. We're non-elitist. There are very few bad grape varieties for making wine, but a whole lot of bad ways to make wine. We strive to find the best approach to unlock the greatest beauty in each variety.

WW: If you were dropped on an island and could have any 3 wines, what would they be?
CS: Which island? Different wines go better with different islands.

WW: Do you prefer real cork, synthetic cork, or screw cap and why?
CS: Natural cork. One of the characteristics of wine that separates it from widgets is sensuality. You put a screw cap on and you take the sensuality out.

WW: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a winemaker?
CS: It's not a romantic job. You'll have a lot of dirty T-shirts at the end of the day.

WW: What wine tasting advice would you give to someone visiting the Finger Lakes for the first time?
CS: Get here soon, before the rest of the world discovers us. The lines will be shorter and the prices more attractive.

WW: What makes the Finger Lakes are special to you?
CS: How can a place this beautiful not be over run with humanity?

WW: What is the wine you are the most proud of making and why?
CS: That's like asking me which one of my kids is my favorite. We give 110% to every one of our wines. The rest of the equation is up to God.

WW: What new wines are in the works for your winery?
CS: It's top secret. If I told you, I'd have to kill you.

WW: Who are your 3 favorite Finger Lakes winemakers?
CS: There's not a one of them I don't consider a friend. I think I'll take the fifth.

WW: What are your 3 favorite non-Finger Lakes wines?
CS: Do they make wine other places?? Seriously, it's a moving target, but I'd have to say, Peju Province Cabernet Franc, Alsatian Gewurztraminer, and Gran Reserve Tempranillo from the Rioja region.

WW: If you had to be something else besides a winemaker, what would it be?
CS: Beer maker. Is there a pattern emerging here?

WW: Who has been the most important person to you in your development as a winemaker and why?
CS: My dad. His homemade wine was so bad I was inspired to study the right way to do it.

WW: Who is your favorite musical artist or band?
CS: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band.

WW: Who is your favorite movie actor?
CS: Certainly nobody from "Sideways." Maybe Gene Hackman. He was awesome in "Unforgiven," one of my favorite movies.

My thanks to Chris for answering my questions and for making great wine. See my post above for my visit and tasting notes on Lakewood Vineyards.

Finger Lakes Winery Visit Report

We visited about 10 wineries this weekend and
I will post reports over the next week or so.
We had to start at Fulkerson because I couldn't wait to taste the new Traminette that was just being released this weekend. And it did not disappoint. Awesome floral and citrus scents with a citrus-grapefruit bite into a lightly spiced crisp finish. Being a huge Traminette fan, this one's a winner in my book.




Our friendly server Margaret also gave us a taste of the new Matinee, made from Himrod grapes, which are a small seedless white grape variety. Himrod was developed at The New York Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva as a cross between Ontario and Thompson Seedless grapes. The truly unique thing about this wine is its aroma and taste of mint. It is an excellent and unique sweet white wine with 8% Residual Sugar.





I was also very impressed with their new T-shirt design, featuring a heart-shaped grape wreath with the Finger Lakes drawn in the center. I don't know who the designer is, but it's one of the nicest designs I have seen for Finger Lakes winery apparel.

I'm Back

-- I go on vacation to Florida for some sun and Florida has record low temperatures while I'm there. Of course, their low temperatures are only in the 40's overnight and the 60's during the day, but Floridians act like it's 10 below zero. I'm running around without a coat and they call me crazy. Anyway, it was good to get away for a while, but it's good to be back home.

-- Here is a great story on the man who founded the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

--Here is an article on how the new Immigration Reform Bill may affect Finger Lakes wineries.

-- Here is a nice story about a Finger Lakes dairy farm.

-- A California writer praises Finger Lakes Riesling (specifically 2005 Treleaven Dry Riesling)

-- The Rochester Winos sounds like a club I'd like to join.

-- For those of you out of state, here is a nice list of New York wineries and what states they are licensed to deliver to.

-- I'll be making the rounds at the wineries this weekend, so I'll report on Monday.

On Vacation, Next Post- March 30

The Weekend Wino is heading to Florida for a well-deserved vacation to get rid of the winter blahs. I'll be back in a week with more posts. In the meantime, please check out my archives (lower right) for posts you may have missed and check out my links at the right. Thanks for reading my blog! Talk to ya in a week.

Finger Lakes Wine News & Notes

-- I attended some portions of the Wineries Unlimited trade show last week. My thanks to Richard Leahy of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine for his hospitality. Here is a good wrapup of the event by Sandra Silfven of The Detroit News. A lot of Finger Lakes winemakers were on hand and the keynote speech by Ernst Loosen, Decanter's Man Of The Year, was about the New Rise of Riesling around the world.

--Jeff Richards new wine column is about the upcoming Golden Nose event presented by the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. A certain blogger may be in attendance.

-- Here is a good article on the similarities of Italy's Tuscany region to the Finger Lakes.

--Here is a good article on the wine industry boom in the Finger Lakes.

--Sheila Livadas' current winery profile is about Arbor Hill Grapery located on the west side of Canandaigua Lake.

-- The new Spring "Life In The Finger Lakes" magazine is now out with good articles on Letchworth State Park and notable women from the Finger Lakes, as well as their usual awesome photography.

-- There's an interesting wine harvest diary at decanter.com

Finger Lakes Winemaker Q&A

This Q&A is with Peter Bell, winemaker at Fox Run Vineyards. Before coming to Fox Run, Bell crafted wine for wineries in Australia and New Zealand and then went on to Dr. Franks Wine Cellars in 1990. He was hired at Fox Run in 1995 and has helped Fox Run to become one of the premier wineries in the Finger Lakes, producing world class wines with a "Minimal Intervention" approach. Peter is a tireless promoter of Finger Lakes wine and he has earned the respect as one of the finest winemakers in the region.

WW: Briefly describe Your Philosophy of Winemaking.
PB: To gently guide grapes from the vine into the bottle.

WW: What is your favorite thing about making wine?
PB: Being able to show up at work and do what I love ­ and be paid for it.
Is this a dream?

WW: If you were dropped on an island and could have any 3
wines, what would they be?
PB: 1. Any Finger Lakes Dry Riesling ­ the ultimate refresher.
2. Fox Run Tawny Port, because a tiny thimbleful would go such a long
way.
3. A bottle of Champagne, to open when the ship came to rescue me --
and I wouldn't need a corkscrew!

WW: Do you prefer real cork, synthetic cork, or screw cap and why?
PB: We use all three. Corks are great in most cases, but screw caps are the
future.

WW: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a winemaker:
PB: Become an organ donor. The world needs more Hammonds and Wurlitzers.
Then we'll talk.

WW: What wine tasting advice would you give to someone visiting the Finger
Lakes for the first time?
PB: Spit, don't swallow. It's going to be a big day.

WW: What makes the Finger Lakes area special to you?
PB: Those long, finger-shaped bodies of water.

WW: What is the wine you are most proud of making and why?
PB: My Ports .­ I have about 20 barrels of Port and they are all different.

WW: What new wines are in the works for your winery?
PB: Our next bottling of Fox Run Tawny Port, late this summer.

WW: Who are your 3 favorite Finger Lakes winemakers?
PB: This would be like choosing my favorite child. I have immense respect
for everybody here.

WW: What are your 3 favorite Non-Finger Lakes wines?
PB: Pol Roger Champagne, Tio Pepe Sherry, Hardy's McLaren Vale Grenache.
My address for deliveries is...

WW: If you had to be something else besides a winemaker,
what would it be?
PB: A university lecturer (in wine science, of course).

WW: Who has been the most important person to you in your
development as a winemaker and why?
PB: Thomas Henick-Kling, Professor of Enology at Cornell University, and
Scott Osborn, President of Fox Run: Both heroes of mine.

WW: Who is your favorite musical artist or band?
PB: How about my favorite 50 musical artists...

My thanks to Peter Bell for answering my questions. If you are visiting the Finger Lakes, be sure to visit Fox Run Vineyards, located on the west side of Seneca Lake.

Finger Lakes News Nuggets

-- President Bush will be visiting the Finger Lakes area tomorrow (Tuesday, March 14) with a visit to Canandaigua. Maybe the Prez will stop by the Finger Lakes Wine Center at beautiful Sonnenberg Gardens to sample some Finger Lakes wine. Of course, he would have to spit. You can't drink on duty when you are Commander In Chief. But I hear that his daughters have been known to sip a glass or two or three...

-- My secret Finger Lakes informant "Deep Vine" tells me the name of Red Newt's new refreshing Niagara will be 'Blue Newt White' and "Deep Vine" says that Lakewood Vineyard's 2005 Rieslings are outstanding. In fact, I've been hearing that overall both the Reds and Whites of 2005 will be some of the best produced in the Finger Lakes. Of course, we will have to wait for most of the reds.

-- Don't forget, if you want a chance to rub shoulders with the winemakers of the Finger Lakes and learn how to judge wine, then you'll want to attend the Golden Nose Wine Judging Weekend, a Seneca Lake Wine Trail event. Tickets are still available but I hear they are going fast.

-- Here's some news from our neighbors at Fulkerson Winery:
Recently released wines:
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon- 0%rs, $16.00, 8 months in French Oak, Generous
Fruit forward aromas of blackberries with a touch of leather and tobacco
carry through to a fruity tart taste edged with vanilla that ends on a
serious tannic note.
2004 Vincent- 0%rs, $9.00, 12 months in older French & American Oak,
Awaken your palate with this dense puple red. Nice plum and tea leaf aromas
with a mouth filling juicy taste followed by a kick of tart elderberry. Enjoy
with chicken cacciatore, spicy foods and "a rich Italian"...!
Centennial- 9.8%rs, $14.00, A wine produced for our 200th anniversary
on the farm. So good we brought it back for the 201st year! A candied wild
cherry aroma with a touch of mint followed by a sweet pomegranate tropical
taste.
Notes:
Fulkerson Winery has been busy bottling many wines from the 2004-2005
harvest's. Bottled and soon to be released in the coming months
are: 2004 Reserve Red, 2004 Pinot Noir, 2004 Cabernet Franc,
2004 Gewurztraminer, 2005 Traminette, 2005 Ravat 51 and the Sunset
Blush (Catawba) from '05.
We are soon to run out of the following varieties, so come and get them
while you still can: 2003 Vidal Ice Wine, 2002 Gewurztraminer, 2003
Reserve
Red, 2003 Chardonnay, 2004 Dry Riesling and 2004 Johannisberg Riesling.
The Fulkerson family and staff would like to pass on their heart felt
condolences to the Frank family and the staff at Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine
Cellars & Chateau Frank for the passing of Willy Frank, one of the Finger
Lake region's great leaders in the wine industry.

-- I received news of a new wine made by not one winery, but three; an unprecedented collaboration by 3 of the Finger Lakes top wineries. I can't wait to try it. Here is the press release:
Anthony Road Wine Company, Fox Run Vineyards and Red Newt Wine Cellars are proud to announce the debut of Tierce, a 2004 Dry Riesling, marking a new collaborative effort in Finger Lakes winemaking. Tierce Dry Riesling will be released on May 5, 2006, kicking off the Riesling Month celebration.Peter Bell of Fox Run, Johannes Reinhardt of Anthony Road and David Whiting of Red Newt, each contributed a portion of Riesling wine, made from fruit grown on the slopes of Seneca Lake, to create 100 cases of a single wine. "This wine pulls together not only the unique vineyard expressions of Seneca Lake, but also the individual philosophies of the participating winemakers," commented Dave Whiting, winemaker and co-owner of Red Newt.Peter, Johannes and Dave not only decided what blend to create, they also chose to seal the bottle with a screw cap because this type of closure works well for wines with delicate aromas, such as a Riesling. Fox Run's winemaker, Peter Bell, noted that, "Screw caps with Riesling wines are quite clearly the way of the future. Corks, natural or synthetic, have a tendency to affect the wine¹s aroma."Fox Run's owner, Scott Osborn, stated, " This is a new level of collaboration among Finger Lakes wineries. In the past, wineries and winemakers have shared information, but this marks the first time three Finger Lakes wineries have worked together to produce and market a wine.""The wine reflects the passion of the three winemakers and opens the door to a new Riesling experience" commented Johannes Reinhardt, of Anthony Road, when asked about this team effort.

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