Posts Written OnSeptember 2009

TasteNY: Finger Lakes Riesling Results

The first TasteNY tasting at Peconic Bay Winery By Lenn Thompson, Long Island Editor and Editor-in-Chief As previously mentioned, I co-hosted a blind tasting of 24 rieslings (including 12 from the Finger Lakes) at Peconic Bay Winery last week as a part of the TasteNY project. It was a lot of fun and very interesting to taste these wines with 8 winemakers and some other members of the Long Island wine community. The 24 wines were broken into three flights of eight wines each and were scored using the American Wine Society 20-point system and sheets.  Flight #1: Phillips Eckstein…

Not Your Usual Harvest Dinners

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor     You drive down lake roads this time of year and I know what you're thinking. The sunflowers appear to be slumped over, bowing their heads and mourning the death of summer. It's important to remember that they're only weighed down by seeds. New life. Harvest is here. Perhaps you've attended a harvest dinner before, but I'd guess you've never attended a harvest dinner that pairs locally grown food with a full flight of… beer? Yes, beer, for the entire evening. "Beer fanatics are already excited about this one," says Liz Karabinakis, the community food…

WBW #61: Lieb Family Cellars 2007 Bridge Lane Cabernet Franc

By Lenn Thompson, Long Island Editor and Editor-in-Chief Lieb Family Cellars, a small North Fork winery with a tasting room tucked into the front of the Premium Wine Group complex, was one of the wineries that first inspired me to start writing about wine more than five years ago. It was the first winery I had visited on Long Island where I enjoyed every wine in the lineup. In fact, Nena and I joined the wine club after that first visit. So, when I was trying to decide what winery to visit for Wine Blogging Wednesday #61: At the Source,…

Today is Wine Blogging Wednesday #61: At the Source

By Lenn Thompson, Long Island Editor and Editor-in-Chief Today is Wine Blogging Wednesday's 61st edition (hard to believe, isn't it) and I'm hosting once again. This month's theme is "At the Source" where I've challenged participants to write about a wine based on a tasting done at a winery.  Think of it as my way of encouraging a "local wine" story without doing the same ole theme again. I think this is going to be a fun one, especially for those bloggers who live in lesser-known and non-traditional wine regions. I hope they had fun with it and I hope…

Q&A: Derek Wilber, President and Winemaker, White Springs Vineyards

By Lenn Thompson, Long Island Editor and Editor-in-Chief This week's Q&A is with Derek Wilber, president and winemaker at White Springs Winery on Seneca Lake. Derek is a native of the Finger Lakes and has been in the grape and wine business since his dad dragged him in kicking and screaming as a teenager.  A graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Fruit Science, he became a commercial winemaker in 1984 and since then has worked for a large winery, a start-up winery and wineries in between. Since February, 2006 he has been president and winemaker of White Springs…

What We Drank (September 14, 2009)

From Bryan Calandrelli: Taylors Fladgate Quinta De Vargellas Vintage Port 1995 Once again my WWD selection comes from a passive aggressive co-worker that opens up one of his private collection wines every time I can't make it to work. This wine, unlike the others, didn't lose much after a few days uncorked, so by the time I got to drink it, it was still kicking. Taylor's Fladgate Quinta De Vargellas Vintage Port 1995 is by far the most impressive Port I've ever had. Its huge black fruit aromas and voluptuous mouthfeel immediately sold me on the idea of keeping a…

Leaf Pulling and Canopy Management: Let the Sun Shine In

Buried grapes in the research vineyards at Cornell Orchards, Ithaca, NY (left) and grapes more fully exposed to the sun at Peconic Bay Winery, Peconic, NY (right) By Tom Mansell, Science Editor As I checked my Twitter feed over the past few days, I noticed lots of tweets about the upcoming harvest from winemakers and growers.  See the following from Lucas Vineyards winemaker Jeff Houck and Fox Run Vineyards owner Scott Osborn: Apparently many places are doing some post-verasion leaf removal, as recently discussed on this site. It got me thinking about what's actually happening inside the grape when all…

Raphael 2008 First Label Sauvignon Blanc

By Lenn Thompson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief Photo courtesy of Raphael Long Island chardonnay (and there is a lot of it planted and made) can be delicious, but it's rarely distinctive. I don't know anyone who visits Long Island for the first time and comes away thinking "Wow, those chardonnays blew me away." Long Island sauvignon blanc is a completely different story. Ignoring niche grapes with only small local plantings (chenin blanc, tocai friulano), sauvignon blanc is the grape that shows the most promise locally. At proper crop levels, it ripens consistently well, even in cooler years. And a unique Long…

Constellation Moving Widmer; Says RIT Could Take Over Property

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Today Constellation Brands confirmed that it will shut down production at the massive Widmer Wine Cellars facility in Naples in 2011. The facility cranks out 2.2 million cases of wine each year, including the Widmer, Brickstone, Taylor and Manischewitz brands. Constellation will continue to make the wine, moving all production to its Canandaigua facility. "We expect the full 2.2 million cases to transfer to Canandaigua as part of the consolidation," says Constellation Director of Corporate Communications Angela Blackwell. The move will bring the Canandaigua facility's annual production to an even 10 million cases. While…

Niagara Region 2009 Vintage: Definitely not 2007. Or even 2008.

  Pinot noir growing at Freedom Run Vineyards By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Does everyone remember 2007? That was a great year, wasn’t it? And how about those whites from 2008? They have such a graceful balance of fruit and acidity…good times. Now that I’m feeling at ease, let me begin the conversation about this 2009 growing season in the Niagara region. It hasn’t been ideal to say the least. The cooler-than-normal temperatures, high humidity and relentless early rains kept disease pressure on everyone’s mind.  Wineries with an environmentally sustainable, organic approach have seen an especially challenging season. For…