Tips for Planning Your Trip to the Finger Lakes

I get a lot of emails from people that are planning trips to the Finger Lakes for the first time asking advice about what to see, where to stay, and what wineries to visit, and I enjoy getting emails and giving advice, so keep them coming. However, common themes arise as I exchange email replies. My first reply usually asks questions like how long are you staying, at which lake do you want to make your base, what are your wine preferences, and what is your budget

Most folks are trying to do too much with too little time and do not realize how big The Finger Lakes area is (over 7500 square miles) and how many wineries (over 90) are here. So once I get them to zero in on a specific lake to explore and make their base at, and I get an idea of their wine palate, their interests, and their budget, then I can offer them my recommendations.

When visiting the Finger Lakes for the first time, especially if it's just for a long weekend, you really must do some planning if you want to get the most out of your visit. What are you most interested in doing? Wine Tasting, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Visiting historical and/or touristy sites, Dinner cruises on a lake, Nightlife, or Relaxing (I always recommend SCHEDULING time for relaxing on a vacation because we get so caught up in trying to do everything that we end up exhausted when we get back home). Once you prioritize your interests, then research. http://www.google.com/ and the other major search engines are a huge help. Just do searches for such keywords as "Finger Lakes", "Finger Lakes Lodging", "Finger Lakes Wine", "Finger Lakes Attractions", "Finger Lakes Tourism", "Finger Lakes Travel", "Finger Lakes Event Calendar", "Finger Lakes Dining", "Finger Lakes Fishing", etc. You get the idea.

Also, you can order (and also download some) free Finger Lakes Tourist Guides from http://www.visitfingerlakes.com/publications.php,

http://www.fingerlakes.org/request_info.htm,

(or you can download this tourist guide at http://fingerlakes.org/travelguide2007.htm), http://fingerlakeswinecountry.com/index.asp?pageId=412

(or download this travel guide at

http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/usr/FLWC_TravelGuide07.pdf), http://www.fingerlakeswest.com/requestguide.html

(or download this guide in color at http://www.fingerlakeswest.com/pdfs/2007VisitorsGuide_color.pdf or in black and white for speedier download and using less ink if you want to print it out at http://www.fingerlakeswest.com/pdfs/2007VisitorsGuide_bw.pdf), http://www.chemungchamber.org/TravelGuideRequestForm06.asp, http://www.tourcayuga.com/order_publications/publications.php,

http://www.corningfingerlakes.com/

http://www.visitithaca.com/.

For researching Finger Lakes wineries, visit http://www.newyorkwines.org/winecountry/fingerlakes/index.asp or
http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/index.asp?pageId=278 or
http://www.fingerlakeswine.com/ or search through my archives.
or visit the Finger Lakes Wine Trail websites at
http://www.canandaiguawinetrailonline.com/ or
http://www.senecalakewine.com/jc/ or
http://www.keukawinetrail.com/

And above all, Have Fun!!! The Finger Lakes is a very special place with amazingly beautiful scenic treasures and world-class wines. A little bit of research will make your trip more enjoyable and relaxing. And if you have any questions about planning your trip, feel free to email me by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- Lots of good features on http://www.fingerlakeswine.com/ including the current winery profile by Sheila Livadas, a very interesting Question and Answer feature with 10 Finger Lakes winemakers, and a great Interactive Map of The Finger Lakes.

- I came across this well-written article from 2006 by Pennsylvania state viticulturist Mark Chien "In Praise of Grape Varietal Diversity" that echoes my thoughts completely.

- If you want to do something to help our troops, this Beer Website has a list of websites where you can help.

- I've talked to some Finger Lakes winemakers in the last week who tell me the Finger Lakes grape crop is doing very well this year heading into the final months before harvest. The weather during these last weeks will be critical.

- Opici acquisition means broader distribution for some Finger Lakes wineries.

- Winery Tourism growing in less known local wine regions.

- Apple Farm is doing well

- Farm worker summit searches for answers.

- Finger Lakes Dairy treats are listed

- How about some Finger Lakes vodka?

- The second round of New York winery website improvement grants is announced. I've already noticed a huge improvement at a lot of Finger Lakes winery websites with colorful graphics, informative copy, pulldown menus, and ecommerce!

- State and local officials differ over Cayuga Indian land agreement

- Lake Trout fishing in the Finger Lakes

- Casa Larga ready for champagne shortage

- Iowa winery makes wine from Finger Lakes grapes

- A week of tranquility on Keuka Lake

- Keuka Lake travelogue

- Jason Feulner's latest post at LennDevour focuses on Bully Hill

- Ken & Theresa from Ken's Wine Guide post some reviews from their recent visit to the Finger Lakes.

- See Kathleen Lisson's informative webcast of Fred Frank giving a primer on how weather affects the grapes in the Finger Lakes. I visited Dr. Frank's new tasting room last weekend and it is fantastic; spacious with simple elegance and, of course, a fantastic view of Keuka Lake. Dr. Frank's 45th Anniversary Celebration is this Sunday (sold out).
Also, I will be performing again at Dr. Franks's on Sept. 8 & 9. Come on out!!!

- News from my neighbors to the south, Fulkerson Winery. New Releases:
*Cabernet Franc 2005, Residual Sugar: 0%, Alcohol: 12%, Bottling: 135 cases
Price: $14.00, I tasted this last weekend and it is excellent, ripe cherries and sweet vanilla with a touch of petrol on the finish.
* Dornfelder 2006, Residual Sugar: 0%, Alcohol: 12%, Bottling: 191 cases, Price: $16.00. A German red hybrid showing great promise. It is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. Dornfelder is the 3rd most planted red wine grape in Germany . In the Finger Lakes region it is very scarce, only two wineries grow Dornfelder and Fulkerson is the only varietal wine producer.Tasting NotesOur innovative cult wine. Take a break from the ordinary with this hybrid grape variety from Germany . The Currant and spicy nose draws you into the medium bodied fruity taste with a long finish. Fulkerson Winery is the only producer of a Dornfelder varietal in the Finger Lakes with this Limited Quanity wine aged 8 months in 2 year old French Oak.
* Reserve Red 2005, Residual Sugar: 0%, Alcohol: 12%, Bottling: 323 cases, Price: $9.00
Comprised of Baco Noir and Corot Noir (NY 70.0809.10), a newly named numbered variety from the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva NY . Aged 10 months in 2/3 French Oak and 1/3 American Oak barrels.
* Ratings from Wine Enthusiast Magazine: October 2007 issue
87 Fulkerson 2006 Traminette $12.00 * Best Buy
84 Fulkerson 2005 Gewurztraminer $16.00
83 Fulkerson 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon $16.00

2007 New York Wine & Food Classic Winners Announced

Thanks to Jim Trezise at NYWGF for providing the results.
The Finger Lakes wineries winning top honors this year were:

2007 New York Wine & Food Classic
COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts
Napa, CA
August 7 & 8, 2007

Governor’s Cup
Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2006 Dry Riesling

Winery of the Year
Red Barn Winery

Best Sparkling Wine
Swedish Hill Vineyards NV Spumante Blush

Best White Wine
Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2006 Dry Riesling

Best Blush Wine
Barrington Cellars 2006 Buzzard’s Blush (Weekend Wino Favorite)

Best Specialty Wine
Red Barn Winery 2006 Raspberry Wine

Best of Class

Best Other Sparkling
Swedish Hill Vineyards NV Spumante Blush

Best Dry Riesling
Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2006 Dry Riesling

Best Unoaked Chardonnay
Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery 2006 Chardonnay

Best Pinot Gris
Hunt Country Vineyards 2006 Pinot Gris

Best Pinot Blanc
Glenora Wine Cellars 2006 Pinot Blanc

Best Gewürztraminer
Standing Stone Vineyard 2006 Gewürztraminer

Best Hybrid White Blend
Bloomer Creek Vineyards 2006 Reserve White

Best Vignoles
Anthony Road Wine Company 2006 Vignoles (Weekend Wino Favorite)

Best Vidal Blanc
Long Point Winery 2006 Vidal Blanc (Weekend Wino Value Pick)

Best Cayuga White
McGregor Vineyard Winery 2006 Cayuga White (Weekend Wino Favorite)

Best Other Blush
Barrington Cellars 2006 Buzzard’s Blush

Best Catawba
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Cabin Fever

Best Pinot Noir
Six Mile Creek Vineyard 2005 Pinot Noir

Best Native Red Blend
Fox Run Vineyards NV Fox Trot Red

Best Late Harvest
Swedish Hill Vineyards 2005 Late Harvest Vignoles

Best Port
Red Barn Winery 2005 Pauley’s Port

Best Mead
Torrey Ridge Scarlet Red (Weekend Wino Favorite)

Best Fruit Wine
Red Barn Winery 2006 Raspberry Wine

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- (Shameless Plug) My new CD "Sparkling Diamonds - Songs of The Finger Lakes" is now for sale at the following locations:
* Dr. Frank Wine Cellars, Stop by Dr. Franks for their 45th Anniversary Celebration this month and see the brand new Tasting Room (and purchase a copy of my CD!).
* Arbor Hill Winery (in Naples NY and the CD will soon be available for sale online at Arbor Hill's website http://www.thegrapery.com/ )
* Artizanns, Gifts from the Finger Lakes (in Naples NY)
* Barrington Cellars, east side of Keuka Lak
* Lakewood Vineyards, west side of Seneca Lak
* And the CD is coming soon to Fulkerson Winery. Check out Fulkerson's new very cool website.

* Or you can order the CD by mail by filling out the form at the bottom of this page
This CD makes a great gift for any fan of the Finger Lakes!!! Hear song clips by clicking here

- Fellow Golden Nose Graduate Kathleen Lisson is webcasting about Finger Lakes wine

- Lenndevours Finger Lakes' correspondent Jason Feulner posts about the growth of the Finger Lakes wine industry.

- Check out Glenora Winery's latest news, including a 20% off special!

- Check out the August Finger Lakes Event Calendar here

- Orchestra of The Southern Finger Lakes announces performance schedule

- The New York State Fair Wine Competition winners are announced with Atwater, Chateau Frank, Fox Run, Goose Watch, Knapp, Penguin Bay, & Torrey Rdige winning Best Of Category honors.

- The Indy International Wine Competition awards are announced with Torrey Ridge getting 3 Best Of Class Awards. Congratulations to The Earle's! Torrey Ridge & Earle Estates are kicking some serious butt in wine competitions this year. What I really like about Torrey Ridge is that its wines, even the sweet wines, are very balanced and full-flavored. And I always enjoy visiting the beautiful tasting room.

- This is a great story about Bob & Terry at Keuka Overlook and well-written by Barbara Cunningham at The Star-Gazette. I just have one thing to say to Bob- Make more Chardonnay, Everytime I go there, they are out of it, and Bob makes a helluva Chardonnay.

- Michael Leavy debuts new Finger Lakes book

- Seneca White Deer tours could become a reality

- Another great story, this one about Sam Argetsinger, and well-written as usual by the Star-Gazzette's Wine Guy, Jeff Richards.

- Got document water damage- this Finger Lakes company can help.

- New Canalway Trail segment opens

- Artists support Organic Farming

- Finger Lakes real estate prices are skyrocketing

- Fish Virus is spreading in Finger Lakes

- Finger Lakes Wine Festival recap

- The Grape Guy reviews Finger Lakes wine

- Folks give their opinion on Finger Lakes restaurants

- Retirees travelogue of Watkins Glen

- Student Pilot flies over The Finger Lakes

- Finger Lakes wineries did well at the Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition:

Best of Class:
Earle Estates, Niagara, & Red Raspberry Honey Wine.
Glenora Winery, 2006 Pinot Blanc.
Hazlitt 1852 Winery, 2006 Riesling, Reserve. (This wine is winning award after award)
Lamoreaux Landing, 2006 Riesling, Ice
Swedish Hill, NV Riesling Blue Waters & American 2005 Vignoles, Late Harvest
Torrey Ridge, NV Peach

See the complete results here

2 More Finger Lakes Wineries Open Their Doors

Imagine Moore Winery

Tim Moore, owner of the new Imagine Moore Winery in Naples NY, has realized his lifelong dream of opening his own winery and he is certainly well-qualified. Tim is a graduate of U.C. Davis and has worked around the world in the wine industry, but his "day job" overseeing Vineyard Operations with a company you may have heard of called Constellation Brands brought him to the Finger Lakes and this is where Tim is putting down roots.

Tim's vision for Imagine Moore Winery is to be a winery that makes superior wines and does it by being environmentally-friendly, emphasizing sustainable farming practices, and even going so far as to use recycled wood from old homes nearby in the building of the tasting room and using lead-free organic inks on his colorful bottles.

Tim, along with co-owner and wife Diane and Finger Lakes tasting room veteran Mike Johnson have created a unique tasting room experience, from the cozy and artful decor to the very cool stemless wine tasting glasses that you get to keep with a tasting ($3 for tastings, 4 wines right now, but more on the way). You can feel the passion and vision that this team puts in to every aspect of Imagine Moore, and especially in the wine. Here are my tasting notes:

2006 Peace- Pinot Gris: .4%RS, $16.99, in New French Oak for 2 weeks then finished in Stainless, Very Soft mouthfeel with rounded green apple and citrus tones and finishing with the perfect touch of vanilla and subtly spicy oak.

2006 Joy- Dry Riesling: .6%RS, $14.99, 1st vintage of grapes from new vineyard, very fresh and floral aromas, Once again very soft mouthfeel with rounded citrus tones and long but subtle mineral finish that just melts into your mouth.

2006 Love- Semi-Dry Riesling: 3.0%RS, $14.99, Again that very soft mouthfeel (In all of the Finger Lakes Riesling I've tasted, I don't remember any other Finger Lakes Riesling being this soft and rounded- Tim attributes it to the low yield from the new vineyard). It has an amazingly soft and delicate texture, but it doesn't sacrifice fruit with velvety peach and honeyed citrus highlights.

2006 Change- $11.99, 88% Cabernet Franc & 12% Corot Noir (one of the new grape varieties from Cornell). This is 2006 fruit using carbonic maceration (click here for info on carbonic maceration) in a Beaujolais style, Soft berry fruit with a hint of pepper and a little edginess at the finish, perhaps from the Corot Noir.

Coming within the next month are new bottlings of 2006 Cab Franc (labeled Wisdom), a 2006 Cab/Syrah blend (labeled Synchronicity), and a semis-sweet 5.5% RS Cayuga/Traminette blend (labeled Harmony). The website at http://www.imaginemoorewinery.com/ will be up soon.

Keuka Lake Vineyards

Mel Goldman, owner of the newest winery to open on Keuka Lake (aptly named Keuka Lake Vineyard), has always admired and respected the small farmer. So after retiring from his life in International Development which took him all around the world to Nepal, India, Korea, South America & Europe, Pittsburgh-born Goldman decided that farming would be a suitable and noble pastime for his retirement.

With degrees from MIT and Princeton, he certainly had the ability to learn new skills and, through a fortuitous series of events 15 years ago, he ended up purchasing a vineyard right smack dab in the middle of Finger Lakes Rieslings' birthplace and neighboring the venerable Dr. Frank. But Mel, who is a self-taught winemaker (which it seems is rare and refreshing in this day) is not intimidated by his well-known neighbors because he likes to do things his own way.

For instance, tell him that a Dry Vignoles or Dry Delaware won't work, and he'll prove you wrong.

Mel has spent the last 10 years selling his grapes to top Finger Lakes wineries and now it's his turn to taste the fruit of his labor. In fact, Goldman's vision is to be a small batch (1500 cases this year) estate winery focusing on high quality Rieslings (of course) and top-notch food-friendly Vignoles (what's that you say? - but sweet Vignoles is how its always been done). Don't tell that to Mel. He has proof that top restaurants will buy and serve his Dry Vignoles...Because They DO! And a Dry Delaware sounds like the ultimate oxymoron, but you'd be the moron not to try it!

Here are my tasting notes:

2006 Dry Riesling: $15.00, .45%RS, Crisp and clean with lots of that classic Keuka mineral and a hint of spice at the finish, sort of similar to his famous neighbor and that's saying a lot.

2005 Dry Vignoles: $13.00, 1.0%RS, Rounded lime and lime zest with a long dry finish. A unique Dry Vignoles and it really works. I'll drink it with Mrs. Wino's famous pork tenderloin.

2005 Delaware: $10.00, the label says semi-dry, but a Delaware at 1%RS is Dry in my book. I got a little sweet banana & petrol on the nose, very soft and subtle pear and light tropical fruit, but still crisp and clean with a touch of good petrol at the finish, a very complex Delaware, this is not your Father's Delaware but a Delaware that wants to be taken very seriously. And an excellent value at $10.00.

2005 Leon Millot: $12.00, This grape was a new one for me, so it was Appellation America to the rescue with info, it seems this grape was popular in France as a way to deepen the color of Pinot Noir but now the French have all but banished it. Mel actually inherited these 50 year old experimental vines on his property planted under the direction of none other than Charles Fournier of Gold Seal fame. 1 year in French Oak, clean and balanced with dark berry fruit balanced with oak.

With Finger Lakes winery veteran Sharon Morrell overseeing the tasting room and Mel at the helm of Keuka Lake Vineyards, expect the unexpected and don't be afraid to try something a little different. You just might like it.

In closing, I just have to say that the quality of the new wineries opening in the Finger Lakes is truly excellent and, just when you think that it's all been done and how will a new winery ever be able to differentiate itself from the herd, people like Tim Moore and Mel Goldman come along and wow us by putting their unique spin on Finger Lakes wine. It surely bodes well for the Finger Lakes region.

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- Finger Lakes Wine Festival is this weekend!!!

- Dan Berger rates Finger Lakes Rieslings

- Dr. Frank Rkatsiteli is truly unique

- Grass Roots Festival starts today

- This sounds very cool & I'm going to try and get up to Geneva this weekend for the Hobie Cat championship.

- Waterpark & Resort get preliminary approval in Ontario County

- The Riesling Rennaisance continues

- Millie Sherwood gives gift of nature

- Invasion of the giant hogweed

- Tourists want more than just Finger Lakes wine

- Chili Judging is similar to Wine Judging

- A very nice and detailed Finger Lakes travelogue

Finger Lakes Wine Industry Trends for 2007

As the second half of 2007 begins, and after visiting & tasting at about half of the Finger Lakes 90-some wineries (I know, I'm way behind in posting my winery visit reports) I thought I would write about some trends that I have taken note of during my travels and tastings this year:

1. 2006 Rieslings- I'm finding that a good number (not all) of the 2006 Dry Rieslings I've tasted have a very bold citrus up front that I find a bit overwhelming (it also overwhelms that classic Finger Lakes mineral finish for me) and tends to make the wine seem unbalanced in my opinion. Several winemakers have told me that the 2006 Riesling crop had high acidity, leading to the bold citrus. However, after retasting some of these Dry rieslings recently, I'm noticing that a little bottle aging is toning down the citrus a bit. Now, the Semi-dry Rieslings are an entirely different story. It seems as if a little Residual Sugar balances that acidity and brings out those terrific peach, honey, and lime flavors. For now, the Semi-Dry's get my vote.

2. Grape types - As each year goes by, it seems as if Cabernet Franc solidifies itself as the premier red grape in the Finger Lakes. The 2005 Cab Francs, in general, are truly spectactular. Finger Lakes wineries are putting out quality Cab Francs in a variety of styles and I'm particularly intrigued by a number of Semi-Dry Cab Francs (for those of us who aren't afraid of a little Residual Sugar). But Cab Franc better watch it's back, because Lemberger is being planted more and more and is appearing on its own and is favored in a lot of red blends. A few wineries are making a good attempt at Syrah, but I think the verdict is still out on it. Also, Rougeon & Dechaunac seem to be popping up more. A core group of wineries has emerged that are dedicated to the challenging task of producing quality reds in the Finger Lakes and I applaud their efforts. And I can't forget the Ports. In my opinion, the Finger Lakes makes some of the best American Ports for my money.

As for the whites, Pinot Gris seems to be the new starlet in the Finger Lakes. I have sampled several excellent and very complex Pinot Gris' this year. I sure hope this Pinot Gris trend continues. And of course, Dr. Frank Rkatsiteli mania continues with the rare grape creating a unique and quite good wine. Unfortunately, I don't foresee a lot of plantings of Rkatsiteli throughout the Finger Lakes. There's also a couple of Sauvignon Blancs being attempted. Also, I'm seeing Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Gewurz & Chardonnay and a lot of the white grapes being attempted in a lot of different styles away from the norm from dry to sweet to (some very good) sparkling wines & excellent ice wines (always big sellers, even at the high prices). One thing you do get in the Finger Lakes is variety and experimentation. The Finger Lakes is still a very young wine region and it's great to be able to watch it grow. I just hope it doesn't grow up too fast.

3. Improved Quality Overall - I'm noticing improved quality, especially from the "lower tier" producers. There seems to be a general effort to improve wine quality through education and the sharing of information. Just the sheer number and diversity of Finger Lakes wineries winning top awards in competitions this year is proof of the quality. But unfortunately, a few "top tier" producers have actually disappointed me this year. Although it may be a "stylistic" change that I will address in my next point.

4. Stylistic & Price Changes - I'm noticing a trend toward lighter-bodied wines. Now in my opinion, there's a fine line between light-bodied wines that are still full flavored and wines that are thin and lifeless. Some wineries tell me that these are more food-friendly wines that don't overpower food. I guess I'm a rebel these days, but I want to taste the fruit!!! As far as pricing, I hope the trend of some of the "top tier" wineries pricing like they are California wineries stops soon. I'm just a simple working stiff. I won't be able to afford Finger Lakes wine soon! But for now, this cheapskate still manages to find some great bargains.

5. Odds & Ends - I'm noticing that the tasting room personnel, in general, just get more knowledgable and helpful all the time. That, along with good wine, is what keeps people coming back. I'm noticing more wine dinners, special themed tastings, and special events at the wineries. I think events such as Glenora's Jazz concerts that attracts top-level entertainers is the kind of thing that will replicate in other wineries as the Finger Lakes becomes a world-class tourist destination and wineries look to become places where tourists spend a day and not just an hour. I'm noticing that the wineries are updating their websites with ecommerce capabilities and more information and better graphics, which is a great improvement from the static websites that proliferated the internet just a year ago. The Wine Trails continue to work to balance the bus groups vs. the individuals visiting the wineries, which I commend. There are still new wineries opening (I know of 3 opening in July), but I'm wondering how many is too many. One big problem trend that still remains is the lack of quality lodging in the mid-range pricing level. How the Finger Lakes balances its rustic charm against creating more modern lodging for the anticipated influx of more tourists is sure to be a growing challenge.

Well, Those are my thoughts. If you have any comments or additional thoughts, please share them by posting a comment. I do still moderate the comments because of the spammers, but I will post non-spam comments. Here's to a great 2nd half of 2007. I gotta get going and get to the rest of the Finger Lakes wineries. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it!!!

Shaw Vineyards - Newest Winery on Seneca Lake

SHAW VINEYARDS, owned by Steve Shaw, has just opened (west side of Seneca Lake, near Hermann Wiemer) but already has impressive credentials. Steve has been growing wine grapes in the Finger Lakes for many years and the wineries that have purchased grapes from him are solid proof of the quality of his grapes (Do Dr. Frank or Hermann Wiemmer ring a bell to anyone?). Steve's meticulous attention to the grapevines has now evolved into his lifelong ambition of owning his own winery finally bearing fruit.
The parking lot and tasting room are still works in progress (you might even miss the turn into the driveway (like me) if you are not paying attention, but the wines are Very Ready and well worth the visit. With Morten Hallgren (owner and winemaker of Ravines) as his mentor, consultant, and winemaking partner, Steve Shaw has hit the ground running and ready to join the ranks of a growing number of Finger Lakes wineries committed to the difficult task (with a short growing season and the potential of harsh winters) of crafting world-class red wines in the Finger Lakes. Shaw & Hallgren use innovative whole cluster pressing techniques and a commitment to letting the wines age properly before releasing to craft elegant food-friendly wines. Here are my tasting notes:

2002 Chardonnay, 1.2% RS, $15.99, 12 months in French Oak & Pennsylvania Fine Grain Oak (200 to 300 year old trees!), bright fruit with fresh clean acidity, long finish with hints of white pepper and smooth oak.

2005 Semi-Dry Riesling, 1.2% RS, $16.99, clean and fresh on the attack, bright fruit with a solid backbone, with a touch of botrytis lending honeyed citrus notes, very food-friendly.

Non Vintage Merlot, .4% RS, $12.99, Grapes from Long Island North Fork (Martha Clara/ Entenmann Vineyard), 28 months in French Oak, Lots of fruit, abundant raspberry with hints of smoke and pepper, very soft rounded tannins, And at $12.99 a great value!!! Also, a 2004 Merlot (same grape source) that was barrell selected is available for $17.99

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.99 deep ruby color, elegant soft fruit with medium tannins and perfect balance, in my opinion, one of the best Cab Sauv's in the Finger Lakes. Cab Sauv is difficult to do well in the Finger Lakes and '02 was a particularly difficult growing season, but Shaw & Hallgren have crafted a winner with this Cab Sauv. And again a great value at $19.99, Gee, Patience really IS a virtue!

Keuka Hill Reserve, Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon, Shaw's Meritage, nice fruit with hints of pepper, beautiful tannins, needs a little more time, will age nicely.

Shaw Vineyards tasting room summer hours are Fri., Sat., Sun., & Mon. from Noon to 5pm with Steve Shaw Jr. manning the tasting toom operations. Future Summer & Fall New Releases include Cabernet Franc, Dry Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Cayuga, & Sauvignon Blanc. Current Annual Production is 1700 cases. (No Website yet. Website will be up by Fall at www.shawvineyard.com)

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- We had another great weekend last weekend performing songs from the new CD as well as palying acoustic rock and blues classics at Dr. Frank Wine Cellars. I want to Thank Joe, George, The "Finger Lake Shake" Dancers, and everyone at Dr. Frank for their warm hospitality and for making it so much fun to be there. Remember, My new CD "Sparkling Diamonds- Songs of The Finger Lakes" is now available at the retail shops at Dr. Frank Wine Cellars (west side of Keuka Lake), Lakewood Vineyards (west side of Seneca Lake), Barrington Cellars (east side of Keuka Lake), & Artizans Gift Shop in Naples NY (south end of Canandaigua Lake). Or to order a CD by mail, just fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

If you are a Finger Lakes winery or an organization having a Finger Lakes wine-related event, I am available to perform. Also, I'm looking for additional wineries or gift stores or retailers to carry the CD. It makes a great Finger Lakes gift item. Just email me by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.

- Another Finger Lakes Wine Center is proposed for Ithaca

- Sandra Silfven (one of my favorite wine writers) visits the Finger Lakes

- Californians to open new winery in The Finger Lakes. Also watch a nice video of the new owners talking about the winery

- Finger Lakes Calendar of Events for July

- Finger Lakes wine finds gold in Michigan

- FingerLakesWine.com profiles White Springs Winery

- Here's proof that wine does not have to be expensive to be good. $2.00 Chardonnay beats out the rest in California wine competition.

- Owasco Lake water quality still a major concern

- Finger Lakes wineries cracking down on rowdy wine tour groups

- If you're looking for books, music, and gifts about New York state, check out Hope Farm

- Hotels offering unique Food & Wine Experiences

- Ethanol plant controversy rages on

- New Yates County lodging tax is debated

- Chinese Honey making a buzz with New York Honey producers

- Finger Lakes town mistakenly voted to be "dry"

- Cycling the Erie Canal (Floating bicycles? No!!!)

- Booze Brother Dan Ackroyd to open winery in the Niagara wine region

- Are high gas prices GOOD for Finger Lakes tourism?

- Has anybody ever tried these Copper Wine Enhancers?

Finger Lakes Winery Visit Reports

Mrs. Wino and I explored the further reaches (for us) of Cayuga Lake over Memorial Weekend a few weeks ago. If you enjoy birdwatching, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is the place for you. There are educational exhibits in the main building and then you can drive your car through the refuge and observe the wildlife. And right down the road, of course, is:


--- Montezuma Winery, northeast end of Cayuga Lake, http://www.montezumawinery.com/,
This winery specializes in Mead (Honey wine) and Fruit wines. My tasting notes are:
- Diamond, 3.6% RS, $8.99, sweet white with the aroma and taste of fresh picked grapes.
- Sparkling Honey Wine, 3.5%RS, $13.99, This wine was crafted for the wedding of the winemaker, A very unique SPARKLING Mead, subtly sweet and bubbly. -Rhubarb Wine, $14.99, Another unique wine made from 100% Rhubarb yielding flavors of citrus and melon and a hint of sweet strawberries. - 2004 Merlot, $17.99, smokey raspberry with deep toffee undertones and a long smoky finish, a nice dry red find among the sweet fruit and mead wines. - Gewurztraminer, $13.99, A lovely floral nose, a dry light-bodied style with classic Gewurz ginger and tropical spice.

--- King Ferry Winery (also Treleaven brand), east side of Cayuga Lake, http://www.treleavenwines.com/, Taste 6 wines for $1.00, My tasting notes:
- 2005 Cabernet Franc, $14.99, soft medium tannins, nice cherry fruit, a balanced and easy drinking Cab Franc. - Meritage, $22.99, tastes of ripe black cherry with a hint of smooth leather, very smooth and balanced with heavy tannins, should age very well. - 2006 Semi-dry Riesling, $12.99, beautiful rounded juicy peach tones waltzing elegantly with subtly sweet lemon drops, Loved It! - 2003 Saumon, $8.99, a grape I have not seen used anywhere else in the Finger Lakes, lightly sweet, zinfandel blush style, with hints of strawberry.

I hope to see some of you at Dr. Franks this weekend. I'll be playing from Noon to 4pm on Saturday & Sunday. Make sure to come up and say Hi, even if I'm playing.

Finger Lakes Wine Notes

- Remember to come on out and see me at Dr. Frank Wine Cellars (west side of Keuka Lake) next weekend, Saturday & Sunday June 23 & 24, from Noon to 4pm both days as I perform songs from my new CD, as well as Acoustic Rock & Blues Classics. The June 9th performance was a lot of fun and I thank all of you who stopped by and all of the great staff at Dr. Frank for their hospitality. If you'd like your own copy of my new CD "Sparkling Diamonds - Songs of The Finger Lakes", it's now available at the gift shops at Dr. Frank Wine Cellars, Lakewood Vineyards, and Barrington Cellars

- New Releases:

2005 Fulkerson Noiret, A “just released” Hybrid Red developed by Cornell U., layers of black cherry and elderberry fruit, 0% RS, aged in French & American Oak barrels for 12 months, $12 .00 (Notes from Fulkerson)
2005 Fulkerson Cabernet Sauvignon, 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, 0% RS, aged in French Oak barrels for 1 year, $16.00 (Notes from Fulkerson). Fulkerson has also received an 86 Rating in the July '07 Wine Spectator magazine for their 2004 Vidal Blanc Iced Wine.

2006 Lakewood Pinot Gris, Lakewood's first bottling of Pinot Gris and it is excellent, Perfectly balanced with delicious rounded peach and pear tones and a long finish.

2006 Prejean Gewurztraminer, Following last years excellent vintage, this 2006 Gewurz is just as good, semi-dry, awesome floral and spice aromatics, lots of fruit with a touch of sweetness and finishing with a good dose of Gewurz spice. I'd also like to give accolades to Prejean's website. It is very informative and I particularly recommend the Winemaking section as a good primer for any new wine drinkers who want to know a bit more about the winemaking process.

- Lots of changes coming to Nagys' Winery (northeast Seneca Lake), Home of what was the smallest tasting room in the Finger Lakes, but not anymore. They are building Three!!! new businesses- Passionfeet Dance Barn, which will feature live music, and Stony Lonesome Winery, and Rogues Hollow Winery. Construction was proceeding quickly when we recently visited.

- Finger Lakes wineries continue to win awards. Here are the award winners form the 2007 Critics Challenge Competition. Congrats to all!!!

Chateau Frank
Critics Gold 2000 Blanc de Blancs Finger Lakes, NY $29.99
Critics Gold 2000 Blanc de Noirs Finger Lakes, NY $29.99

Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars
Critics Silver 2006 Rkatsiteli Finger Lakes, NY $24.99
Critics Silver 2006 Pinot Gris Finger Lakes, NY $19.99

Fox Run Vineyards
Critics Gold 2005 Riesling, Reserve Finger Lakes, NY $30.00

Fulkerson Winery
Critics Gold 2005 Semi-Dry Riesling Finger Lakes, NY $13.00

Glenora Wine Cellars
Critics Silver 2005 Meritage New York $19.99
Critics Silver 2001 Brut Finger Lakes, NY $24.99
Critics Gold 2006 Riesling, Dry Finger Lakes, NY $13.99

Finger Lakes Winery Visit Report - Long Point Winery

Photo:

Long Point Winery Dog "Spike" relaxes while we taste.

Long Point Winery- East side of Cayuga Lake - http://www.longpointwinery.com/

6 tastings for $1.00

There are only a few wineries on the east side of Cayuga Lake, so I don't get over that way a lot but, after tasting this time, I think I'll be getting over there a lot more!!! Owners Gary & Rosemary Barletta have a beautiful country winery nestled off the beaten path overlooking Cayuga Lake. Gary was our friendly and gracious wine server and educator and I came away extremely impressed with Long Point Winery. Here are my tasting notes:

- 2006 Vidal Blanc, $8.99, 1.9% RS (Residual Sugar), aromas of fresh cut flowers, semi-sweet, light and subtle with layers of citrus, apricot and mango, with a balanced crisp, even elegant finish and an amazing value at $8.99, This is one of my new favorite value wines, An amazingly complex Vidal Blanc. - 2005 Chardonnay, $12.99, aged in French oak, perfectly balanced fruit, vanilla and sweet oak. - 2006 Semi-dry Riesling, $12.99, 1.6% RS, very aromatic fruit blossoms on the nose, a lighter style of Riesling with more melon & green apple than citrus, Very Nice.

- 2006 Moon Puppy, $9.99, 3.0 RS, a sweet Cab Franc that works surprisingly well, again a lighter style but it certainly does not sacrifice fruit with lots of cherry on the tongue, a unique and brave Cab Franc experiment that really works out rather nicely. - 2004 Syrah, $19.99, Earthy aromas, again a somewhat lighter style with no shortage of fruit, my notes say "This is what happens when Smoky Robinson and Halle Berry get together - Smoky Berry", and that's what you get with this delectable Syrah. - 2004 Merlot Reserve, $25.99, Medium tannins, with abundant berry and plum and a clean finish, excellent in my book. This is one of the few wineries where I liked everything I tasted. I came away with a new respect for the eastern side of Cayuga Lake. It may be a bit of a drive, but Long Point is well worth it!!!

Finger Lakes News & Notes

Memorial Weekend was absolutely gorgeous at Seneca Pier in Watkins Glen.

- Jason Feulner interviews Ravines' Morten Hallgren

- Hazlitt Vineyards to sponsor concerts at The Glen

- Finger Lakes Skydivers turns 25

- More Finger Lakes land preserved

- The Official Birthplace celebrates Memorial Day. And Mrs. Wino & I proudly attended the ceremonies in Waterloo this year. I'll post more on our Memorial weekend adventures soon.

- Finger Lakes Summer Festivities

- Holly Howell's white wines of summer

- Take a hike with the Triple Cities Hiking Club

- Settlement proposed for the Cayuga Indian Nation

- Finger Lakes Catawba makes a nice summer picnic rose`

- Finger Lakes Tourism strengths and weaknesses discussed

- New York wineries featured in upcoming TV special

- Whit offers his wines of summer

- The Oneida Indians helped fight the British in the American Revolution

- Finger Lakes wine gaining awards and prestige

- More awards for Finger Lakes wine

- Another new wine trail is created

- Interesting new wine book

- Secrets revealed on growing Finger Lakes wine grapes

Finger Lakes Weekend Wino featured in Wine Spectator

- Today's edition of Wine Spectator Online has a story on my new CD. Just click here.
Pretty exciting stuff! Little old me in Wine Spectator! But Mrs. Wino says I don't look anything like Jimmy Buffett. Maybe Warren Buffett. HaHaHa. That's not funny!
See the previous post for more information about the new CD.

My New CD Sparkling Diamonds - Songs of The Finger Lakes

My New CD titled "Sparkling Diamonds - Songs of The Finger Lakes" is officially released. After 2 years of writing and recording, the CD has been completed. The CD contains 12 songs inspired by the beauty, history, and wine of The Finger Lakes. To hear some of the songs, go to my

Soundclick page by clicking here. The CD will be available shortly at Finger Lakes wineries and gift stores. I will update the retail locations where the CD is available by posting on this blog as they are stocked. For now, though, if you wish to purchase a CD, just email me by filling out the form at the bottom of this page and I will send you ordering information. CD's are $10.00 and that INCLUDES Shipping.

I will be performing songs from the CD as well as acoustic rock and blues classics at Dr. Frank Wine Cellars on Saturday June 9th from Noon to 4pm and on Saturday & Sunday June 23 & 24 from Noon to 4pm. Come on out and sip on that fantastic Dr. Frank wine and listen to my tunes!!!

If you are a winery or retailer who would like to retail this CD, please use the form at the bottom of the page to email me. I am also available for bookings in The Finger Lakes area at wineries and events. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to contact me for bookings.

Thank You to everyone (especially Mrs. Wino) for your support and encouragement for this CD project!!!

Golden Nose Summary

- I just got back from my weekend at the Seneca Lake Wine Trail's Golden Nose Wine Judging Event, where they actually let us amateurs judge wine, and like last years event, it was a blast! First, I have to say once again, that Finger Lakes wine people are the nicest people you could ever spend time with. I've learned more about wine in the 2 weekends I have spent at the Golden Nose than in any other time.

The weekend began with a reception at the amazing Rockwell Museum of Western Art on Friday night where we were treated to Finger Lakes wine (of course) and some delightful culinary treats. Saturday morning at The Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium, the training sessions were given: The super-knowledgable Lorraine Hems gave us her tips for succesful wine tasting, Chris Stamp, winemaker at Lakewood Vineyards presented 'The Components of Wine", Steve DiFrancesco, the winemaker at Glenora Wine Cellars, spoke on The History of Grape growing and Grape types, & David Whiting, winemaker at Red Newt Cellars, gave his popular presentation of unpopular smells and flaws in wine (I learned from last year not to breathe in Dave's concoctions too deeply). Then Lorraine, Chris & Dave did a sample judging to show how a "real" wine judge would evaluate wine.

Then our groups, led by a wine professional, got to the job of evaluating Finger Lakes wine to see which ones would be deemed worthy of a Golden Nose award. Me and my fellow wine judges Bernie and Maria were led by Joe Pierce, wine expert and owner of Pierces Restaurant in Elmira. We evaluated 5 flights encompassing Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Red Viniferas, & Mead and a final Best of Class flight of Cabernet Franc. We'd each evaluate the wines on our own and then we'd discuss the wine and make a decision on whether to award a medal or not. The most enjoyable part of the event for me is discussing each wine with other people who are just as passionate about wine. Sometimes our ratings were very different, but it was always interesting to share our evaluations and that is where a lot of the learning happens.

Then on Saturday night, the awards dinner was held at The Corning Museum of Glass, where we were treated to excellent food and the Finger Lakes wines that we had judged to be the best, and I even got to perform a couple songs from my new CD. For me, this event is like being in Finger Lakes Wine Heaven. I get to taste and discuss Finger Lakes wine with the actual people who make it and are experts, then I get to drink the best of The Finger Lakes and mingle with some of the nicest wine people. There are no snooty wine attitudes here. Everybody comes to have fun, learn about wine, and make new friends. Any of you who are passionate about wine and especially about Finger Lakes wine must put this event on your calendar for next year. I must put out a huge Thank You to Paul & Glenda at The Seneca Lake Wine Trail for organizing a great event and to all the people who contributed to make it a wonderful weekend!!!

Surprisingly, when I compared us amateurs with recent wine competitions judged by professional competitions, I see some of the same wines being judged highly. And to dispel the myth that every wine got an award, I can only speak for my group, but we judged very critically and there were many No Awards. Here is the Awards list for Best of, Double Gold, & Gold (and my tasting notes on the ones that I judged or tasted):

Best of Class:
Best Riesling- Lakewood 2006 Riesling (Semi-dry, bright and fresh, bold citrus with light peach and a hint of mineral)
Best Hybrid Grape- Fulkerson 2006 Traminette (Very floral aroma and just a beautiful vintage of this grape with notes of citrus and complex spice)
Best Native Grape- Torrey Ridge Diamond ( sweet but not overly sweet, with layers of grape, grapefruit, pineapple, and mango.)
Best Other Vinifera Red- Ventosa Pinot Noir (NV)
Best Cabernet Franc- 2005 Prejean Cabernet Franc (A mouthful of cherries and a long finish. My group judged this Best Of flight and this is a great Cab Franc. But I must also mention the Cab Franc that came in an extremely close second and was also wonderful- Sheldrake Point 2005 Cabernet Franc. As I have stated in past posts, the Finger Lakes 2005 Cab Franc's (and also other reds) that I have tasted so far are exceptional.)
Best Dessert Wine- Wagner 2006 Riesling Ice Wine

Double Gold
-Hazlitt 2006 Riesling
-Leidenfrost 2006 Riesling
-Torrey Ridge Niagara
-Torrey Ridge Diamond (As I stated in my Best of 2006 posts at the end of last year, Torrey Ridge was my Most Improved and Best Up and Coming Winery selection. I hear some people pan Torrey Ridge as a "sweet wine winery", but I find excellent balance and complexity with layers of flavor in a wide range of their wines.)
-Ventosa Pinot Noir (I'll be visiting Ventosa shortly and will post a report soon)
-Prejean 2005 Cabernet Franc
-Fox Run 2005 Lemberger (firm medium tannins with lots of berry fruit and just the perfect hint of pepper)
-Wagner 2005 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine (balanced sugars dancing on layers of lemon, honey, & pineapple within the firm acidity structure of Vidal)
-Wagner Vineyards 2006 Riesling Ice (It was all gone by the time I got to the tasting bar, so I guess that says it all)
-Hazlitt Port (NV) (It was late by the time I got to taste this at the awards dinner, but I do remember it made me feel warm and fuzzy, just like a good port should)

Gold
-Prejean 2005 Dry Riesling
-Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Dry Riesling (I don't think CLR can make anything but an excellent Riesling. This one is classic CLR Riesling, dry but full, firm, bright & crisp)
-Bloomer Creek 2006 Riesling
-Lakewood 2006 Riesling
-Glenora 2006 Riesling
-Americana 2006 Cayuga White
-Fulkerson 2006 Traminette
-Miles Wisteria
-Cascata 2005 Odds & Ends
-Sheldrake Point 2005 Cabernet Franc
-Earle Estates Peach Perfection

The Complete awards list will be posted at www.senecalakewine.com

Finger Lakes Wine News & Notes

- This weekend is the Golden Nose Wine Judging Event for all of us wanna-be wine judges. I hope to see some of you there. If you have not bought your tickets yet, it's not too late. Just call Paul or Glenda at the Seneca Lake Wine Trail at 877-536-2717. I hear there are still some tickets left. This is really a great event if you want to really know wine and Finger Lakes wine. We'll be sampling and judging over 150 Finger Lakes wines!!!

- Here's more Finger Lakes wine medal winners, this time from the Pacific Rim Wine Competition. Right at the top is that Anthony Road Riesling that I like so much. Congratulations to all the medalists!!!

Anthony Road Wine Company Gold/Best of Class Finger Lakes 2006 Riesling - Dry $13.99
Anthony Road Wine Company Silver Finger Lakes 2006 Riesling Semi-Sweet $13.99
Chateau Lafayette Reneau Gold Finger Lakes Estate 2006 Dry Riesling $14.99
Chateau Lafayette Reneau Silver Finger Lakes Estate 2006 Johannisberg Riesling $14.99
Chateau Lafayette Reneau Bronze Proprietor's Reserve 2005 Chardonnay $18.99
Chateau Lafayette Reneau Bronze Finger Lakes Estate 2006 Pinot Noir Blanc $9.99
Dr. Konstantin Frank Gold/Best of Class Finger Lakes 2006 Rkatsiteli $24.99
Dr. Konstantin Frank Silver New York 2006 Riesling, Semi-Dry $15.99
Dr. Konstantin Frank Bronze Finger Lakes 2000 Blanc de Blancs $29.99
Fulkerson Winery Silver Finger Lakes 2005 Dry Riesling $14.00
Goose Watch Winery Gold Finger Lakes 2005 Traminette $12.00
Goose Watch Winery Silver Finger Lakes NV Classic Cream Sherry $15.00
Goose Watch Winery Silver Finger Lakes NV Diamong $9.00
Goose Watch Winery Silver Finger Lakes 2006 Melody $9.00
Goose Watch Winery Silver Finger Lakes 2006 Villard Blanc $11.00
Heron Hill Winery Silver New York 2005 Dry Riesling $14.99
Heron Hill Winery Silver New York 2004 Eclipse $17.99
Heron Hill Winery Silver New York 2005 Eclipse $15.99
Heron Hill Winery Silver New York 2005 Semi-Dry Riesling $12.99
Heron Hill Winery Bronze Finger Lakes 2004 Late Harvest Riesling $35.99
Heron Hill Winery Bronze Finger Lakes 2005 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc $17.99
Lakewood Vineyards Bronze Finger Lakes 2005 Abby Rose $6.99
Lakewood Vineyards Bronze Finger Lakes 2005 Chardonnay $12.99
Red Newt Cellars Gold Finger Lakes 2005 Cabernet Franc $19.50
Red Newt Cellars Silver Finger Lakes 2005 Viridescens $45.50
Red Newt Cellars Bronze Finger Lakes, Reserve 2005 Cabernet Franc $37.50
Red Newt Cellars Bronze Finger Lakes 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon $21.50
Swedish Hill Winery Gold Blue Waters, Finger Lakes NV Riesling $8.99
Swedish Hill Winery Gold Finger Lakes NV Blanc de Blanc $13.99
Swedish Hill Winery Silver Finger Lakes 2004 Cabernet Franc $16.99
Swedish Hill Winery Silver Finger Lakes NV Country Concord $7.49
Swedish Hill Winery Silver Finger Lakes 2005 Dry Riesling $14.99
Swedish Hill Winery Silver Finger Lakes NV Spumante Blush $11.99
Swedish Hill Winery Bronze Reserve, Finger Lakes 2005 Chardonnay $16.99
Swedish Hill Winery Bronze Finger Lakes 2002 Brut $22.00
Torrey Ridge Winery Gold Finger Lakes NV Peach Wine $11.99
Torrey Ridge Winery Silver Finger Lakes NV Catawba $9.99
Torrey Ridge Winery Silver Finger Lakes NV Niagara $9.99

Finger Lakes Wine News & Notes

- Finger Lakes wineries proved to be big winners at The Riverside International Wine Competition earlier this month, with Chateau Lafayette Reneau's 2006 Off-Dry Riesling winning Best White Wine in the competition over 2000+ entered wines from around the world!!!
Chairman Award winners were:
Red Newt 2005 Cabernet Franc RSV
Swedish Hill Country Concord
Swedish Hill Late Harvest Vignoles
Fox Run 2005 Dry Riesling
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2005 Chardonnay
Hazlitt 2006 Off-Dry Riesling

Gold
Red Barn Blackberry
Heron Hill 2004 Late harvest Riesling
Swedish Hill Blue Waters Riesling
Swedish Hill 2006 Cayuga White
Goose Watch 2005 Lemberger
Goose Watch Diamond
Lakewood 2005 Dry Riesling

Silver
Prejean 2005 Late Harvest Vignoles
Prejean 2005 Dry Riesling
Heron Hill 2005 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc
Heron Hill/Ingle Vineyard 2004 Cabernet Franc
White Springs 2005 Off-Dry Riesling
Swedish Hill 2004 Meritage- Optimus
Swedish Hill 2006 Dry Vidal
Goose Watch Classic Cream Sherry
Goose Watch 2004 Chambourcin
Goose Watch 2006 Dry Viognier
Goose Watch 2006 Melody
Ravines 2006 Dry Riesling
Ravines 2005 Meritage
Dr. Frank 2006 Dry Gewurztraminer
Dr. Frank 2005 Pinot Noir
Chateau Frank 2000 Blanc de Blanc
Chateau Frank 2000 Blanc de Noirs
Fox Run 2005 Lemberger
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Dry Riesling
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Pinot Noir Rose
Lamoreaux Landing 2005 Chardonnay
Lamoreaux Landing 2006 Dry Riesling
Lakewood 2006 Dry Gewurztraminer
Lakewood 2006 Dry Riesling
Hazlitt 2005 Dry Riesling

Get the complete results here

Finger Lakes May Calendar

A Riesling To Visit Passport May 1 - Aug 31, $10 plus tax, Get Free Tastings at member wineries and a chance to win a nice prize. Mrs. Wino & I already have ours.
Seneca Lake Wine Trail, 877.536.2717
E-Mail: info@senecalakewine.com
Info at Website: http://www.senecalakewine.com/jc/content/view/114/131/

Tierce Release Dinner, May 12, 7:00 PM
Anthony Road Wine Company, Fox Run Vineyards and Red Newt Wine Cellars are proud to announce the second vintage of TIERCE, a 2005 Dry Riesling, marking the continuation of a unique collaborative effort in Finger Lakes winemaking - Tickets may be purchased by calling Anthony Road (800-559-2182), Fox Run (800-636-9786) or Red Newt Cellars(607-546-4100). $95 per person/all inclusive
http://rednewt.com/web/

Americana Concert, May 13, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Americana Vineyards
Mother's Day Concert Featuring the Kitchen Chair Band-Folk Music
607.387.6801
Website: http://www.americanavineyards.com

Mother’s Day Brunch, May 13, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Red Newt Cellars & Bistro
All tables receive a basket of freshly baked assorted muffns and sweetbread, and a complimentary glass of Champagne or Mimosa for every Mom!
607.546.4100
Website: http://www.rednewt.com

Mother’s Day Brunch, May 13, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sheldrake Point Vineyard
Enjoy lakefront dining amidst landscaped gardens and sloping lawns.
Reservations advised.866-743-5372.
Website: http://www.sheldrakepoint.com

Mother’s Day Brunch, May 13, 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Knapp Winery & Restaurant
Show your Mother how much you love her...with food! Knapp Winery & Vineyard Restaurant has planned a day of relaxation with our luscious buffet and delicious wines. We will serve from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Call 800.869.9271 to reserve your table.
Website: http://knappwine.com

Mother's Day at Veraisons, May 13
Veraisons at the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars
Brunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m. - Dinner 5 -8 p.m.
800.243.5511
Website: http://www.glenora.com

Mother's Day Brunch, May 13
Ginny Lee Café at Wagner Vineyards
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
607.582.6450
Website: http://www.wagnervineyards.com

The Golden Nose Award: A Wine Judging Weekend, May 18 - May 19
For details, go to: http://www.goldennose.com

21st Anniversary Celebration, May 19 - May 20, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Swedish Hill Winery
Join us as we celebrate our 21st year! Annual Porch Sale and deep discounts on a variety of selected wines and related products
888.549.9463
Website: http://www.swedishhill.com

Keuka in Bloom, May 19 - May 20
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Spring is in the air and flowers and herbs are blooming around Keuka Lake. Each ticket holder will collect a healthy flower or herb in a 4" pot at each winery. Each attendee will enjoy food and wine pairings along with a complimentary wine trail wineglass. Enjoy the rebirth of new new season and start your own garden! An early sell-out, tickets are advance sale only.
$30 per person; $45 per couple
10AM to 5PM Saturday; Noon to 5PM Sunday
800.440.4898
Website: http://www.keukawinetrail.com

Finger Lakes Wine & Dine, May 21
Esperanza Mansion
Finger Lakes Wine & Dine – mark your calendars for Monday, May 21st which is the date of the 4th Annual Finger Lakes Wine & Dine. This wine and food event features the award winning vintages of our local wineries and the gustatory delights of all the area restaurants and eateries. The event will be held at Esperanza Mansion and tickets are $35.00 with proceeds being split between the Chamber and the Yates County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Join us!!
315.536.4400
Website: www.esperanzamansion.com

5th Annual Bistro Grand Opening, May 26 - May 27
Thirsty Owl Wine Company
Kick off another great season with live music on the Terrace plus Edition 1 of the 2007 Artist Series.
866.869.5805
Website: http://www.thirstyowlwine.com

I Love Chocolate Day, May 26, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
King Ferry Winery/Treleaven
Sinful chocolate desserts paired with luscious wines. Fee- $7.00.
800.439.5271
Website: http://www.treleavenwines.com/

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- Ian Barry is up to the challenge at Swedish Hill Winery

- Finger Lakes Drive-In set to open for season

- High water may delay canal opening

- Tierce II set to be released May 12

- The Ithacan tours Cayuga Lake wineries

- Finger Lakes Art Exhibit Listings

- Wegman Piano Factory in Auburn to be turned into Condo's

- Honeymoon Trail Winery owner is interviewed

- Finger Lakes wine fuels tourism

- Finger Lakes wine fuels tourism - Part 2

- Flood of 1935 remebered

- Need a break from wine - Drink Finger Lakes Beer

- Ethanol plant proposals struggle with rising corn prices

- Jason Feulner explores Rkatsiteli

- Finger Lakes Historical marker

- Writer Kurt Vonnegut had many Finger Lakes ties including Cornell & Hocus Pocus

- Spring has sprung in the Finger Lakes

- An interesting blog from a Finger Lakes wine industry veteran

- Allison Krauss coming to Canandaigua

- Ithaca makes "Best Green Place In America" list

- A good website for finding wine info and reviews is Kens Wine Guide

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- I apologize for not getting a Finger Lakes event calendar out for April. Time just seems to fly by. Go to www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com for events listings.
Don't forget this coming weekend April 21 & 22 is The World Tour of Food and Wine on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.

The Spring Wine & Cheese event on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail is on April 28 & 29 and if you are really serious about Finger Lakes wine, you must go to the Seneca Wine Trail's Golden Nose weekend event on May 18 & 19; I've got my ticket. And The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail hosts their Wine & Herb Fest on April 28 & 29 and May 5 & 6 and check out Cayuga Wine Trail's new Vino Visa that gives you savings on tastings at the member wineries.

- I have a major announcement! Yours truly, The Finger Lakes Weekend Wino, will be performing at Dr. Franks Wine Cellars on June 9th and June 23 & 24 for their Barbecue at the Wineries celebration. I will be debuting songs from my soon to be released CD "Sparkling Diamonds - Songs of The Finger Lakes". Come on out and party with the Wino!

- Gary at my favorite Internet TV show (heck my favorite TV show period!) Wine Library TV reviews 3 Finger Lakes Rieslings. Hint: He really liked the one that starts with "W", has "iem" in the middle, and ends with "er".

- Lots of good news from Fulkerson Winery- New Release: 2006 Traminette, 2.7% rs (Semi-Dry), 877 cases produced (more than doubling our largest bottling, the 2002 vintage).$12.00 per btl. & Ratings from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, May 2007, pg. 124: Fulkerson Winery Ratings- 2005 Dry Riesling, 86 rating / 2005 Semi-Dry Riesling, 85 rating.

- And another winery visit report:
Castel Grisch Winery, 2005 Chardonnay Reserve $14.99, a very unique Chardonnay for the Finger Lakes with a distinct toasted nut taste; 2005 Baco Noir $9.99, very nice ripe fruit with pepper and earth tones on the finish; Estate Reserve Burgundy $9.99, 75% Chancellor & 25% Chardonnay, full bodied semi-dry with lots of black cherry and a long smooth finish, excellent and an excellent value!

Long Island winery trip report

Several weekends ago, I visited some friends and finally got to tour the wineries of Long Island's North fork. After we figured out how to get out of NYC, it was great. I must say, Long Island is very beautiful and not what I pictured (I was thinking more crowded and over built). We had a great lunch at Legends in Mattituck and then we commenced wine tasting.


Overall, I noticed a pepperiness at the finish of most of the wines I tasted. Most of the wineries we visited specialized in reds and overall I was very impressed. Here are my tasting notes:





Peconic Bay, 2005 Steel Chardonnay, Nice fruit, long finish with slight pepperiness; 2004 La Barrique Chardonnay, Smooth French Oak, hint of butter, long peppery finish; 2005 Riesling, A little unbalanced and tart for me, and with that bit of pepperiness at finish; 2004 Cabernet Franc, astringent, not much fruit, perhaps underripe; 2001 Merlot, complex, upfront fruit, ripe tannins, excellent!!!
- Bedell, Very nice reds, 2006 Rose, nice and light, soft cherry;
Main Road red, Nice medium tannins, very nice table blend; 2003 Merlot, muted fruit, sloppy tannins; 2004 Taste Red, lush tannins with nice cherry and cola overtones; 2002 Reserve Merlot, very complex with very nice long plummy finish.
- Pindar, fun winery, nice staff, value winery; 2004 Chardonnay reserve, bright fruit, intense apple, very good; 2005 Semillion, complex, soft and smooth intro into a spicy finish; 2005 Sauv Blanc, lime and mineral, sort of like a dry riesling; 2006 Johannisberg Riesling, everything I like in a sweeter Riesling, pineapple, peaches, honey, I had to ask if they were using FL fruit, but they said it was LI, excellent; 2005 Riesling Ice wine; awesome!!!
- The Tasting Room- not a winery but they pour a variety of LI wines, Comtesse Therese 2004 Chardonnay, grapefruit & crisp acidity, I really liked the uniqueness that the Russian oak gave it; Comtesse Therese Rose, not enough fruit for me; Comtesse Therese 2003 Merlot, sort of Cab Franc like, but good; Schneider Le Breton 2004 Cab Franc, nice cherry and pepper with that unique mid palate eucalyptus, very good
- Roanoke Vineyards, Fellow wine blogger Lenn at LennDevours blog recommended this one and it was my favorite, owner Rich Pisacano (who is also Vineyard manager at Wolffer Estate)talked with us for a long time . I was about red wined out by this time so I chose the white flight, 2006 Roanoke Chardonnay, crisp bright and fruity, excellent; 2002 Wolffer Estate Chardonnay, very complex, with a nice nuttiness at the finish; 2005 Wolffer Rose, nice peach and citrus; 2006 Wolffer Late harvest Chardonnay, a bit unbalanced and too sweet for me, possibly could have used more vignoles to cut the sweetness.
If you are ever out Long Island way, I highly recommend visiting the wineries. My tips are: Take a good map & be patient getting though the NYC traffic (and have plenty of cash ready for tolls), be ready for more reds than whites, and keep in mind that the prices are higher than the Finger Lakes. We had a great time. But fear not, My beloved Finger Lakes wineries are still #1 for me.

Finger Lakes News & Notes

- Holly Howell assesses the Finger Lakes wine competition

- The white deer controversy continues

- Napa is Mumm on Guy Deveaux's Finger Lakes work

- Finger Lakes writer writes a touching tribute for her cancer-stricken husband

- The story of The Fox & The Grapes

- Montezuma wetlands vital for bird migration

- Finger Lakes rail buffs tell story of runaway train

- Ice fishing on Skaneateles

- It's trout season

- Auburn mayor delivers State of the City address

- New York wine now offered on American Airlines flights

- Beverly's Best sauces made in the Finger Lakes

- Geneva on the Lake is a romantic getaway

- A Riesling Primer from Heather Johnston

Finger Lakes Wine Competition Results

- Finger Lakes wines once again showed well at the FLIWC with 2 Double Gold, 13 Gold, and 60 Silver medals! Arbor Hill earned Double Gold with one of my favorite grapes - Traminette and Widmer's Cream Sherry also earned Double Gold. But perhaps the surprise of the competition was that a Finger Lakes Riesling did NOT win Best Riesling. That honor went to Washinton state's Chateau St Michelle Riesling. But I must admit that, after Finger Lakes Riesling of course, my second passion is Washington state Riesling. And Chateau St Michelle is always at the top of my list with consistent quality, a complex and bold flavor profile, and value pricing. So congrats to them, however, most of the Finger Lakes 2006 Rieslings were not at the competition. And I think the 2006's are going to outshine all competitors. You can see the complete results at: http://www.fliwc.com/2007Results.asp
Here are the Finger Lakes Gold & Silver medalists:

DOUBLE GOLD
Arbor Hill 2005 Finger Lakes Classic Traminette
Widmer Brickstone Cellars NV Widmer Solaira Cream Sherry


GOLD
Montezuma Winery Blue Moon (Blueberry)
Torry Ridge Winery Catawba
King Ferry Winery Silver Lining 2006 New York No Oak - Stainless Chardonnay
Lakewood Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Chardonnay
Sheldrake Point 2005 Finger Lakes Reserve Chardonnay
Prejean Winery 2005 Finger Lakes Estate Late Harvest Vignoles
Chateau Frank 2000 Finger Lakes Blanc de Blancs
Lakewood Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Port
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 New York Semi-Dry Riesling
Rooster Hill Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Estate Semi-Dry Riesling
Treleaven Wines 2006 Finger Lakes Semi-Dry Riesling
Lucas Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Riesling
Glenora Wine Cellars 2006 Finger Lakes Seyval Blanc


SILVER
Arcadian Estate 2005 Finger Lakes Watkins 'Way Cool' Blush
Domiani Wine Cellars 2005 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc
Fox Run Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Reserve Cabernet Franc
Keuka Spring Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Reserve Cabernet Fran
Lucas Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Limited Reserve Cabernet Franc
Red Newt Cellars 2005 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc Reserve
Sheldrake Point 2005 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc
Sheldrake Point 2005 Finger Lakes Barrel Reserve Cabernet Franc
White Springs 2004 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc
Knapp Winery Finger Lakes Kat Knapp
Lucas Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Cayuga White
Sheldrake Point 2006 Finger Lakes Summer White (Cayuga)
Cobblestone Winery 2005 New York Chardonnay
Hosmer Winery 2005 Cayuga Lake Chardonnay
Miles Wine Cellars 2004 Finger lakes Chardonnay
Ravines 2005 Finger Lakes Chardonnay
Cobblestone Winery 2005 Cherry
Thirsty Owl 2006 Finger Lakes 2006 Diamond
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 Finger Lakes Gewurztraminer
Lamoreaux Landing 2005 Finger Lakes Gewurztraminer
Atwater Estate Vineyards 2005 FingerLakes Celsius Chardonnay (Late harvest)
Heron Hill Winery 2005 Finger Lakes Vidal Blanc (Late Harvest)
Widmer Brickstone Cellars 2005 Vidal (Late Harvest)
Domiani Wine Cellars 2005 Finger Lakes Meritage
Hunt Country Vineyards 2004 New York Meritage
Widmer Brickstone Cellars 2004 Fingerlakes Meritage
Arbor Hill Finger Lakes Ambrosia (Methode Champenoise)
Hickory Hollow Seneca Lake Niagara
Arbor Hill 2005 Finger Lakes Noiret
Goose Watch Winery 2005 Finger Lakes Lemberger
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 Finger Lakes Rkatsiteli
Heron Hill Winery 2004 Finger Lakes Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir
Hosmer Winery Finger Lakes Estate Red
Fox Run Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc - Lemberger
Lakewood Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Abby Rose
Red Newt Cellars 2005 Finger Lakes Viridescens
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 Finger Lakes Riesling
Fox Run Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Reserve Riesling
Heron Hill Winery 2005 New York Riesling
Lucas Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling
Swedish Hill Winery 2005 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Finger Lakes Estate Dry Riesling
Heron Hill Winery 2004 Finger Lakes Ingle Vineyard Riesling
Knapp Winery 2006 Finger Lakes Dry Reisling
Buttonwood Grove Winery 2004 Riesling
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Finger Lakes Estate Johannisberg Riesling
Cobblestone Winery 2005 New York Riesling
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 Finger Lakes Rose
Long Point Winery 2006 New York Rose
Goose Watch Winery Finger Lakes Classic Cream Sherry
Red Newt Cellars 2005 Finger Lakes Syrah Reserve
Goose Watch Winery 2005 Finger Lakes Traminette
Long Point Winery 2006 New York Vidal Blanc
Hunt Country Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Late Harvest Estate Bottled Vignoles
Keuka Spring Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Vignoles
Knapp Winery 2005 Cayuga Lake Estate Vignoles
Swedish Hill Winery 2005 Finger Lakes Vignoles Late Harvest
Atwater Estate Vineyards FingerLakes Banana Belt White 95% Niagara / 5% Cayuga
Keuka Spring Vineyards 2005 Finger Lakes Celebrate 50% Vidal / 30% Cayuga / 20% Riesling
Ventosa Vineyards 2005 Fingerlakes Vidal Riesling

New World International Wine Competition Results

- The results are in for the NWIWC and the Finger Lakes' Lucas Vineyards & Dr. Frank scored big. Congrats to both!!!

- BEST NEW WORLD SPARKLING WINE
Lucas Vineyards, NV Extra Dry, Finger Lakes New York

Best of Varietal, Dr. Konstantin Frank, 2006 Rkatsiteli, Finger Lakes New York

Gold Medal
Dr. Konstantin Frank, 2006 Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes New York

Silver Medal
Chateau LaFayette Reneau, 2003 Chardonnay, New York Barrel Fermented
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, 2006 Riesling, New York
Heron Hill Winery, 2004 Johannisberg Riesling, Ingle Vineyard New York
Hosmer Winery, NV Red Blend, Finger Lakes New York Estate Red
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, 2005 Chardonnay, Finger Lakes New York Estate

See the complete results here: http://www.nwiwc.com/
I think Wine Competition results are good lists to give you ideas about new wines to try, especially if you are travelling to a specific area. It used to be that you'd see mostly California wines at the top of these competitions but now there seems to be so much great wine being made all across the country that are garnering top awards. I'm seeing Nebraska & Missouri wines gaining top medals lately. It just makes me want to head out on a winery road trip across the U.S. I think it's a very exciting time for the U.S. wine industry and a great time to be a wine drinker with U.S. winemakers becoming some of the best in the world.

In my next post, I'll review my trip last weekend to Long Island Wine Country and I'll have the results from the Finger Lakes Wine Competition from last weekend as soon as they are posted.
From this article, it appears that New York wines did very well.

Finger Lakes Winery Visits

This weekend was a nice weekend in The Finger Lakes, a little rainy, but it's good to get back out to the wineries. Spring is in the air and the snow is almost all melted. I felt a lot of excitement at the wineries for the new '06 whites and '05 reds that will be released this year. Here are my winery visit summaries:



White Springs Winery, www.whitespringswinery.com
Northwest Seneca Lake

This is the newest winery on Seneca Lake and I was anxious to visit. I came away very impressed. But I should not have been surprised at the quality of the wine. Although White Springs is a new winery, the folks behind it are very experienced. Owner Carl Fribolin is a very successful businessman and winemaker Derek Wilber is a talented winemaker, formerly at Swedish Hill. My tasting notes:
- 2005 Chardonnay, 0% RS, $14.99, Bright citrus tones with hints of lemon zest and a long smooth finish.
- 2005 Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio blend, .05% RS, $13.99, 56% Chard & 44% Pinot Grigio, The P.G. toned down the brightness of the Chardonnay with some pear tones and gave a fuller mouthfeel, an interesting blend but I preferred the straight Chardonnay.
- 2005 Riesling, 2.5% RS, $12.99, a somewhat subdued start but a long smooth mineral finish
- 2002 Harvester, 3% RS, $7.49, Chardonnay/Cayuga White blend, another interesting blend, it occurred to me that it was both dry and sweet at the same time and, once again, a very long finish. Could be a nice food wine for a semi-dry/sweet? white and a good value.
- 2004 Merlot, 0% RS, $14.99, a bit thin for me, a bit Cab Franc-like.
- 2004 Cabernet Franc, 0% RS, $12.99, sometimes I get creative with my tasting notes especially when a wine speaks to me and my notes for this Cab Franc were "Middle aged cherries lounging in imported leather chairs at the Friars Club and smoking the finest Cubans".
I think that says it all.
- 2004 Happenstance, .3% RS, $8.99, a very unique blend of Lemberger, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, & Cab Franc. I can just picture the blending session for this one. My impression was that it was a white wine with tannins or a white wine that wanted to be a red wine. I applaud the effort, but it didn't work for me.
- Springhouse White, 5% RS, $7.49, Bold sweet and tangy mango/pineapple, good sweet sipping wine.
They will be releasing their new Gewurztraminer & their new Sauv. Blanc in May. I can't wait!


- Billsboro Winery, This winery is in a bit of a transition after the passing of it's founder, the venerable Professor Bob Pool, last June. But they are open and the legacy of Bob Pool continues on in the fruits of his research and dedication to the wine and grape industries of New York and in the elegant wines that he produced. Once again, I enjoyed Bob's classic Chardonnay, Cab Franc, & Pinot Noir. I've been told that Vinny Aliperti, the skilled winemaker at Atwater Estates Vineyards, will take over the winemaking operations at Billsboro, and he will still continue his work at Atwater. So Billsboro will continue on in good hands.


- Fox Run Vineyards, I learned 2 valuable lessons this time at Fox Run. Lesson 1) Their Cafe is excellent. I had lunch there for the first time and their deli sandwiches and salads are first-rate.
Lesson 2) If you are tasting wine, do not eat the pickles that come with lunch. After lunch, I tried to taste wine at Fox Run, but the pickles had saturated my taste buds and nothing tasted right. After a lot of water, I finally could taste the last selection, their Fine Old Tawny Port, 12% RS, $45, Excellent port, sweet but balanced, mocha and mild caramel on my cured taste buds. Oh well, it just gives me an excuse to go back again!

- Anthony Road, Here I found what I was looking for, '05 Cab Franc/Lemberger blend, amazingly deep ruby red, berries and toasted tobacco in light tannins, yes. '06 Semi-sweet Riesling, tangerine, pineapple, & lime with a finish that I was still tasting a mile down the road, Wow!!!


- Fulkerson Winery, After I told John & Sandy how I had accidentally turned Fulkerson Diamond juice into the best champagne I've ever had, they still allowed me to taste. The '05 Pinot Noir (0% RS, $20, sweet oak and smokey raspberry) & '04 Cab Franc (0% RS, $14, medium tannins, smoky cherries with a long peppery finish) are going fast. The newly released '06 Matinee (7.2% RS, $14), their unique dessert wine is slightly less sweet than last years 8% RS, but that just enhances those amazing melon, kiwi, and mint tastes. Always on the cutting edge of new grape varieties, Fulkerson will be releasing the new Noiret this May.


- Lakewood Vineyards, After seeing Tattoo & Mr. Rourke- Da plane boss- de plane (you had to be there), I was looking for the new stuff. But, alas, they are bottling the '06 Riesling & Carpe Vinum this week and they will soon be bottling their first Gewurztraminer & Pinot Grigio. Once more, it's just a reason to visit again.