Posts Written OnOctober 07, 2009

Q&A: Nancy Irelan, Co-Owner and Winemaker, Red Tail Ridge Winery

Nancy Irelan and Mike Schnelle, co-owners of Red Tail Ridge Winery (Photo courtesy of Red Tail Ridge) By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief Red Tail Ridge Winery, situated on the west side of Seneca Lakes in the Finger Lakes, is a winery that has gotten a lot of press lately, both for the construction of its LEED-certified winery building or its wines. I have yet to meet owners Nancy Irelan and Mike Schnelle (they are at the top of my list for my next visit to the region) but I was able to track Nancy down to take part in our almost-weekly…

Long Island Wine Country Trip Report: At Channing Daughters and Paumanok, Experiments Yield Success

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Morgan and I took our first trip to Long Island wine country last weekend and I plan to share some observations and experiences in a series of upcoming posts. They are in no particular order of quality or chronology, and I should state emphatically that the winemakers and owners we met were excessively generous with their time and cellars.  Long Island wine country is, in no small measure, a must-visit for New York wine enthusiasts. It is wildly different when compared to the state's other appellations. The vineyards are flatter than a cookie sheet…

Niagara Escarpment: Harvest 2009 is Underway

The harvest moon over Freedom Run Winery By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Escarpment Editor Harvest came early for me this year as my lovely wife gave birth to our son Wyatt Calandrelli on September 29, 2009, a full 12 days before he was due. Both he and mom are happy and healthy. As for myself I am exhausted from a long night and day of labor, a long night of celebrating, a seasonal cold and several sleepless nights of diaper harvesting.  So when I got invited to harvest grapes on Monday, I couldn’t resist dusting off my nippers and running my…