Posts Written OnMarch 2011

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Photo courtesy of Antoinette Di Ciaccio, who was excited to meet Oz in October British wine writer Oz Clarke visited the Finger Lakes in October to promote his new book "Let Me Tell You About Wine." (Full disclosure: Oz and I have the same publisher.) I intended to write a story about his views of Finger Lakes wine during that visit, but time got away from me. I was thrilled to chat with him last week, and I found that his memory of wines and wineries is remarkable. Oz can tell you about a…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Debbie Huneken, Tasting Room Coordinator at Channing Daughters Winery in Bridgehampton, is a local. She was born and grew up in Southampton, spending summers riding her bike and fishing, two activities she still enjoys in her free time. She is also an active runner and triathlete recently completed her first marathon in Prague. Debbie attended the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford where she studied fine art, graphic design and print media. I know her as the knowledgeable — and always smiling — person pouring wines in the tasting room. Today, we bring…

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor I truly believe we're well on our way to shocking my publisher, Sterling Publishing, when it comes to interest in the Finger Lakes wine scene. That's not to say Sterling doesn't believe in my book. Obviously they do, but we want to show them that their modest expectations can be greatly exceeded. And there are some big events coming up that will be one heck of a good time. They're listed below, and the list of events grows almost daily it seems. If you choose one, I hope you'll choose to join us at…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I don't write a lot of reviews of wines made with Cayuga White, a hybrid grape developed at Cornell University's Agriculture Experiment Station. Most of them just don't impress me. Too often they get that foxy character at high brix. But, when harvested a bit earlier, it can make some fruity, well-balanced wines that seem perfectly suited to summer sipping — or even as stand in for riesling at the dinner table with spicy ethnic foods. One such example is Lucas Vineyards 2009 Cayuga White ($9). Just cut pear and apple as well as slightly…

Here is a sampling of what our editors and contributors were drinking last week… Lenn Thompson: Jacques Puffeney 2005 Savagnin Arbois "Most of our customers don't like this." That's what our waiter at Bar Boulud said as he poured me a sip after I ordered a glass this Jura white. We had already established that we were wine lovers, so he meant it more as a badge of honor for me than any sort of warning. He clearly didn't need to warn me — it was a revelation. Clearly oxidized with a streak of acetone that took me back to…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor One of the things I've enjoyed most about Wine Blogging Wednesday over the years is how it forces participants to drink outside their comfort zone. I obviously taste and drink a lot of New York wines. It's great having a blog-related reason to drink something else. Enter Wine Blogging Wednesday and this month's host, Tim Elliot of Winecast. From his post announcing the theme: The theme for WBW 71 is,

The Niagara River divides two wine regions as an international boundary between the USA and Canada. By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor As you

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Nearly five years after its grand opening, the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua is getting a makeover. It is not of the extreme variety, and the relatively modest cost (by modern construction standards) has managers thinking the renovations could be finsihed in just two months. The main tasting room will be converted into a banquet space, with room for as many as 150 people. The new tasting room will occupy the current gift boutique.  Upstairs, the NYWCC will make a few changes to the Taste of New York Restaurant. The large…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Get Real NY's Craft Beer & Food Festival will take place March 19-20 at The Altman Building in the heart of Manhattan's Flatiron District. In addition to 90+ craft beers and 30+ homebrews, the all-you-care-to-taste fest will feature food from New York City restaurants and food artisans like Bark Hot Dogs, Cafe D'Alsace, Murray's Cheese, Cascabel Taqueria, Loreley, Luke's Lobster, Oysters from Blue Island Shellfish and more.  Local breweries, including Long Island-based Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. and Blue Point Brewing, will also be at the event pouring their beers alongside favorites like Kelso of Brooklyn, Booklyn…