Posts Written OnDecember 2010

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor With the accelerating success Long Island wine has enjoyed in recent years, it's easy to forget that the industry was only founded in 1973. Several grapes have come and gone over the course of 30-plus years — zinfandel was even tried early on — and a handful of grapes have emerged as those showing great promise here including merlot, cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc. For a variety of reasons — and with a few notable exceptions — variety experimentation has slowed in recent years, but Palmer Vineyards and winemaker Miguel Martin aren't done exploring. This…

Duncan Ross, owner and winemaker of Arrowhead Spring Vineyards, pours his new reds. By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Arrowhead Spring Vineyards billed their last tasting event at the winery as a “Release Event Special.” The tasting, which included five new reds grown in the winery’s own vineyard and one pinot noir sourced from Demaison Vineyard just down the road, wasn’t hyped as their first big estate-grown-red release, but that’s exactly what it was in my view. Since many wineries are still buying grapes outside the county here, any time a winery releases the first wines made from their own…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The IT-to-wine career path isn't unique to Paul Deninno, Bashakill Vineyards' owner and winemaker, but his mechanic-to-IT-to-wine journey is a new one for me. Paul grew up in Mahwah, NJ, and graduated from Bergen Catholic High School, later attending Bergen Tech before spending seven years as an auto and diesel mechanic. But, after suffering a crane accident on the job, he changed careers — for the first time — attending night school for computer science. He then spent the next seven years as an IT manager, during which time in 2001 he moved to Wurtsboro,…

By Aaron Estes, Cheese Editor At this point I think everyone has heard about the hit reality show “The Fabulous Beekman Boys” that airs on the Planet Green network. But, for those of you who are not familiar, it follows the lives of two men — Josh and his partner Brent — who decide to lead the lives of farmers, explore the merits of sustainability, and develop their various products and lifestyle brand of Beekman 1802.  On a working farm in Sharon Springs, NY, Josh and Brent are raising a dozen chickens, a couple of pigs and approximately 80 goats.…

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor A nice bock warms the soul during the winter months. This one from Buffalo's Flying Bison Brewing Company pours a pretty black walnut hue into a pint glass, with one-finger head and delicate lacing. The nose reminds me of Nutella: hazelnut and milky chocolate, with suggestions of soft pretzels rising behind the counter at a baseball game. The palate hits all the style bases (sorry) — a roasty malt profile, showing more chocolate, nutty toast flavors and a texture that's chewy but not creamy, with a nice long bitter chocolate finish. I cracked this beer…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor In a wine world filled with so much ubiquity, it is a true pleasure to find a wine like Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Meditazione ($40), a wine inspired by the “Vino da Meditazione” wines of Northeast Italy — be uniquely Long Island through and through. A blend of 27% sauvignon blanc, 27% chardonnay, 16% Tocai Friulano, 16% muscat ottonel and 14% pinot grigio, this wine falls into the "orange wine" category — a white wine made using red wine techniques. All of the fruit was hand-harvested from their estate vineyards in Bridgehampton. It was then…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor With the opening of their second (and now main) tasting room on Main Road in Jamesport, Sherwood House Vineyards is starting to get more of the attention it deserves. Yes, owners Charles and  Barbara Smithen still have their rustic little vineyard-side tasting shed between Route 48 and Oregon Road, but that's an un-heated and therefore seasonal location. The wines are all made by Frenchman Gilles Martin, who also makes wines for Bouke, Sparkling Pointe and the non-pinot wines for McCall Wines. Made with estate-grown chardonnay, the House of Sherwood 2005 Blanc de Blanc ($37) offers…

By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor  How do you live vicariously through Lenn Thompson? (And why would you want to?) What are "wines of joy"? Is it time for an AOC system for New York wines?  We think this is one of the most insightful posts yet in this series. If you're a consumer, this is dense but tremendously educational when it comes to how the wines you want end up in the stores you visit. If you're in the industry, there is wisdom here. Rick Rainey is the Director of Sales Education for Winebow, an American importer and distributor. He…