Posts Written OnJuly 2010

A Different Side of the Finger Lakes Wine Festival: The VIP Experience

By Tom Mansell, Science Editor Photos courtesy of Brian Reider Last year, I went to my first Finger Lakes Wine Festival with high expectations. It was going to be an opportunity for me to taste wines from Finger Lakes wineries I'd never or rarely visited. I'd also be able to taste wines from Niagara and the Hudson Valley, too. That Saturday, the festival was a teeming mass of people. Hot, sweaty and cramped under the tents in 90+ degree heat and tasting wines sitting in ice-cold water baths was not at all what I had in mind.  Sunday was perfectly…

Severe Thunderstorms Bring Tornados and Hail to Long Island Wine Country

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Most of eastern Long Island was under a severe thunderstorm warning yesterday evening. The storms, which came in waves, brought high winds, heavy rains, hail and even tornados apparently. I know that we were under two different tornado warnings at my house. Not long after the storms starting pummeling the North Fork, reports starting coming in of hail damage to local vineyard — Jamesport Vineyards and Comtesse Therese Vineyard to be precise. According to long-time grower Ron Goerler, owner of Jamesport Vineyards, his vineyard sustained around 20% loss, telling me in an email "Jamesport was…

The Finger Lakes Wine Festival Deserves Our Attention

Wine tasting at the Schulze Vineyards & Winery table. By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor The annual Finger Lakes Wine Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors to the region, pumping money into the local economy while helping to promote and support one the country’s largest wine industries. So why don’t we take it seriously? To come away with a well-rounded story about this year’s Finger Lakes Wine Festival, I should’ve gotten a VIP pass and media credentials. I should’ve had time to go the vintner’s room and participate in the various seminars and tastings. I would’ve needed the whole…

Sheldrake Point Vineyard 2008 Gewurztraminer

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor A lot of people, including my wife, don't really care for most gewurztraminer, finding it too floral or perfume-like. I can understand their trepidation — to a point. Some gewurztraminer does indeed smell and taste like the type of perfume your grandma wears. No one likes those much — probably not even your grandmother. But gewurztraminer doesn't have to be like that and there is a lot of great gewurz being made in the Finger Lakes. Right after riesling, it's my favorite grape for the region, delivering exotic spice, tropical-citrus fruit and — when done…

September 12: NYCR Wine Tasting @ Roanoke Vineyards to Benefit Angelman Syndrome Research

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I had never heard of Angelman Syndrome until my wife Nena came home one day and told me that our friend's son had just been diagnosed with the neuro-genetic disorder.  It's often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy or Autism and those afflicted have little to no verbal communication, motor difficulties, developmental delays, eating difficulties and more than 80% develop seizures prior to age three. Today, there isn't a cure for Angelman Syndrome and as with many other syndromes, diseases and disorders, there is never enough money to fund research. Because Angelman Syndrome has touched our lives and…

What We Drank (July 20, 2010)

We only have three contirbutions this week, but — as always — some interesting libations have filled the glasses of the New York Cork Report editors and contributors. Evan Dawson: Multi-year semi-dry riesling flight at Red Newt Bistro Red Newt Bistro offers a nice range of wine flights, with three wines per flight and generous pours of each. On a recent visit I chose a flight that included the Sheldrake Point 2006 Riesling, the Red Newt 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling, and the 2008 Red Newt Circle Riesling. The Sheldrake was simply explosive. Rich, long, and hugely aromatic, my one concern was…

Two Cheeses From Sprout Creek Farms

By Aaron Estes, Cheese Editor As I mentioned in my last post about a positive addition to the Rhinebeck beer and cheese scene, I used the opportunity to try a couple of New York cheeses that I was unfamiliar with. Having lived in the Hudson Valley for quite a while, I can attest that most people are familiar with Sprout Creek Farms. Located right within the heart of Poughkeepsie, this working farm provides education for children and adults with a specific focus on connecting the people with the land, animals and seasonality.  One of the primary methods by which this…

I’m Just Here for the Beer: Escaping Wine at the Finger Lakes Wine Festival

Rooster Fish Brewing's tent at the 2010 Finger Lakes Wine Festival By Julia Burke, Beer Editor Amidst the sea of wine drinkers that accosted me and my fellow vendors (I was pouring for Freedom Run Winery) at the Finger Lakes Wine Festival this weekend, I managed to make my way to my own personal oasis: the Brewers Garden. Purposely tucked away behind the main festival proceedings, the small cluster of beer tents cost a $10 admission fee to both guests and vendors — irritating, yes, but once I got in I realized that maybe the fee was a good thing.…

Hosmer Winery 2008 Dry Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The tasting room isn't fancy and sure, I wish more of their wines were closed with natural cork (to see how they cellar) but for my money, Hosmer Winery offers some of the best value vinifera wines in the Finger Lakes. This dry riesling is no exception — in fact, it's one of the best examples. Hosmer Winery 2008 Dry Riesling ($12), made with grapes grown in the oldest section of their vineyard, planted almost 30 years ago, is very apple-y on the nose with hints of tropical fruit, fresh herbs and lime. The palate…

NYCR Adds Matt Arlauckas as Finger Lakes Food Columnist

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Wine is food — or so the saying goes — and that means that wine coverage should be at least a little a bit about food too I think. We've already added a Long Island restuarant critic and a cheese editor to our ever-expanding food department, Matt likes to cook, especially for others, and he especially loves cooking with fresh, local ingredients. Thanks to his green-thumbed wife, Regina, that sometimes means extremely local — just a quick trip to the backyard. A web developer at 13WHAM-TV by day, Matt also enjoys home brewing, camping and…