Posts Written OnDecember 2011

Happy Holidays from the New York Cork Report

Photo courtesy of Stu Gallagher Photography By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I rarely speak for the team, but I think I can do so this morning when I wish you and yours the most happy and healthy holiday season. We hope you enjoy this time with your family and friends — perhaps with some of your favorite New York wine and beer. With that in mind, we've decided to go on a one-week hiatus next week. We'll be back on January 2 with more great coverage of everything "local" in New York. Cheers!

Will Climate Change Help the Finger Lakes Wine Industry? Here’s Why it Might

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor I read an article this week that has me thinking about climate and winter and the Finger Lakes wine industry. We head into Christmas weekend on pace for the second-lowest snow total ever — as in, ever recorded in more than 125 years — along with one of the top three warmest Decembers. So with my brain already stuck on the subject of unusual weather, I was interested to hear the take of the wine and science communities on how climate change has impacted other major wine regions. This piece comes from John McQuaid,…

Niagara Gets a Little Hoppier

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor There are some exciting new vines in Niagara County –– well, make that bines. Rich and Bree Woodbridge, a charming and passionate young couple well-equipped for Niagara with a sense of adventure and a lot of heart, took a leap of faith when they moved to Lockport from California (after working in economic development in India) in March of this year to revitalize Rich's family's sixth-generation farmhouse. McCollum Orchards is a hundred-acre farm dating back to the 1820s, and while it's wonderful land for apples and other produce, the Woodbridges have something special in mind…

A Christmas Poem From The Winemaker Studio

Our friends at the Winemaker Studio sent us this lyrical reminder yesterday that tomorrow is their last day open until February.  'Twas the week before Christmas, downtown Peconic, Not a grapevine was stirring, I with, gin and tonic; The sorting line silent, the crush pad is bare, The new wines all racked with attention and care; The ‘11s are nestled all snug in their barrels; While The Studio is lively with the loud sound of carols. I power down my PC and turn of the light, With visions of getting to bed early tonight, When out in the Lane there…

Robibero Family Vineyards 2010 Dry Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Robibero Family Vineyards, which took over the old Rivendell Winery building in New Paltz, NY in 2007, is a Hudson Valley winery to keep an eye on. The Robibero family has planted an estate vineyard and is working hard to breathe new life into the winery and tasting room and has hired Kristop Brown, formerly of Benmarl Winery, to help make the wines. For now the wines are made with fruit and juice purchased in other areas of the state — a common scenario in the Hudson River Valley. This Robibero Family Vineyards 2010 Dry…

A NYCR Photo Essay: On Butchering A Local Pig & Making Head Cheese

By Dave Seel, Long Island Food Correspondent. Recently, I had the opportunity to get a pig-butchering lesson at Benner's Farm in Setauket, NY, an educational farm for kids and adults. Benner's Farm is a working farm and the slaughtering of a pig around November is an annual occurence. They don't sell meat to the public, so it is solely used by the family. Because I'm is a self-proclaimed food dork and was intrigued with the whole process, I was lucky enough to come home with the pig's head and two pork chops after my lesson was complete. From there, I…

The New York Cork Report 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

By The New York Cork Report Team Here it is — our first-ever holiday gift guide. You won't find any decanters, aerators or corkscrews on this list though. You won't find breathable wine glasses or magical wine wands either.   What you will find is a handful of gifts that are sure to please your local-drinking, local-eating friends and family this year. How do we know? Because these are gifts we'd love to open this year. We want them too. Cheesemaker's Getaway to Sprout Creek Farms Making cheese is a fascinating process that every cheese lover should try at least once.…

Comtesse Therese 2010 Sauvignon Blanc

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor For years, Comtesse Therese and its owner-winemaker Theresa Dilworth produced mostly red wines, with a chardonnay made in Russian oak the lone white. In 2009 that changed when Dilworth added sauvignon blanc to the portfolio. That first wine was a bit underwhelming, but the Comtesse Therese 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($28) is a completely different story and wine. Two-thirds of the fruit that went into this wine was grown at Palmer Vineyards, with the remaining third coming from Dilworth's own vineyard. Only 95 cases were made. Melon rind and citrus — white grapefruit and lemon —…

Corey Creek Vineyards 2010 Gewurztraminer

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Though once near-sister wineries, the Corey Creek Vineyards label has been almost entirely absorbed by the mother Bedell Cellars label over the past several years. The chardonnays, cabernet francs and roses all wear the Bedell label now, but one holdout — at least for now — is the Corey Creek Vineyards 2010 Gewurztraminer ($35), a wine that is often one of my favorite Long Island gewurztraminers. Pretty honeysuckle and rose petal aromas are backed by lemon-grapefruit citrus, gingery spice and a hint of classic lychee nut. The lychee and spice qualities are a bit more…

Inspire Moore Winery 2010 “Change” Blaufrankisch

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Here is yet another delicious Blaufrankisch from the Finger Lakes, with ripe, juicy aromas of blackberry and black raspberry with hints of cassis and a black pepper edge. Showing off the warmth of the 2010 growing season, the medium-to-full bodied palate displays intense red and fruit flavors that remain bright and crunchy because of the fresh acidity. Add a sprinkling of black pepper and you have a wine well suited to the dinner table or your picnic table next to burgers and barbeque. The finish is long shows a certain floral-herbal quality that brings complexity.…