Posts Written OnSeptember 2013

5 Questions with… Kelby Russell, Red Newt Cellars

The New York Cork Report recently had the opportunity to sit down with Newark, NY native Kelby Russell, Winemaker at Red Newt Cellars. After graduation from Harvard, Russell found himself as an intern at Fox Run Vineyards and under the tutelage of Peter Bell. While there he was able to make a few wine pilgrimages and work around the world in New Zealand (Whitehaven Winery, Marlborough), Tasmania (Pipers Brook Vineyard) and Australia (Yalumba Winery, Barossa Valley). Armed with a variety of experiences Russell joined the Red Newt team as Winemaker a little over a year ago. In addition to the…

Eveningside Vineyards: Created Out of Passion, Driven by a Lifestyle

Passion. Love. Family. Friends. Lifestyle. These five elements drive the wine philosophy of Eveningside Vineyards in Cambria, New York. Run by Randy Biehl and his wife, Karen, Eveningside Vineyards was founded in the Niagara Region in 2000. This simple philosophy governs how the Biehls approach wine making — and their lives —  and it’s one that has enabled the Biehls to own and operate one of the most successful wineries in the Niagara Region for over a decade. In their thirties, Randy and Karen got “the wine bug,” as Randy describes it. They were living in “suburbia” in West Seneca,…

Harvest 2013: Chardonnay for Sparkling Wine at Paumanok Vineyards

Yesterday, ahead of this morning’s rain showers, the folks at Paumanok Vineyards harvested chardonnay that will become their 2013 sparkling wine. Most people don’t know that Paumanok makes sparkling wine — mostly because winemaker Kareem Massoud only started his sparkling program with the 2009 vintage. That wine will be debuted at the winery’s 30th anniversary party later this month.  

New York-Grown Beer: Will Brewers Support Farmers… Who Will Then Support Brewers?

Originally, this post was going to be about locally grown hops, and what Long Island breweries were doing with them. But after talking with a handful of people in the industry — mainly brewers and hop farmers — I was left with more questions than answers. The craft beer industry is growing at a rapid rate, that’s no secret, but can New York farmers keep up with the demand for local ingredients? You may wonder why it matters. If you are a microbrewery it might not at all. Hops and grain will always be available from sources around the world, sources…

Three Brothers Wineries and Estates 2012 Zero Degree Riesling

Last week I was able to take part in a virtual (via Twitter) tasting that featured a handful of 2012 Finger Lakes rieslings — including this one. All wines we re-tasted the following day as well. Three Brothers Wineries and Estates 2012 Zero Degree Riesling ($14) offers understated aromas of mixed citrus zest, under-ripe peach and citrus blossoms. Dry with light citrus and floral flavors, the palate is a bit sharp and sour — lacking fruit and concentration to balance the acidity. The finish is short, but bitter in a citrus pith way. Unfortunately, this is one of those ‘lemon water’…

The Tasting Room by Atwater Vineyards

The Tasting Room by Atwater Vineyards

The Tasting Room by Atwater Vineyards is now open in Watkins Glen! Why is this news one might ask? What’s new about another vineyard opening a satellite tasting room? The Tasting Room will obviously showcase Atwater wines, but what makes this unique is that it will also sell and offer tastings of other New York Wines from all over the state, not just those local to the Finger Lakes. For example, The Tasting Room in September has a Featured Flight of the Month; Four New York Pinot Gris from Atwater, Hector Wine Company, Anthony Road and Channing Daughters. The Tasting…

2013 Harvest Has Begun on Long Island: Macari Vineyards Chardonnay for “Early Wine”

It’s that time of year again — grape harvest in New York. I’ve heard a handful of reports that chardonnay and pinot noir are starting to come in for sparkling wine. This morning, the crew at Macari Vineyards also picked chardonnay for their 2013 “Early Wine” — a favorite here at NYCR headquarters. Evan and I will be pulling together harvest reports and stories from now through the end of the calendar year (and possibly beyond for those ice wines out there). In the meantime, we also invite any and all New York wineries to submit their harvest photos. We’ll…

Lenz Winery 2007 “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon

Should a region that is a mere 40 years old have wines that are labeled “Old Vines”? That’s a discussion for another day, I suppose, but the vines that lead to Lenz Winery 2007 “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) are among the oldest cabernet vines on the North Fork. So, maybe it’s all relative? What is not up for debate is winemaker Eric Fry’s skill for making traditionally styled wines — rather than modern, polished ones — even in hot, dry years like 2007. This wine shows ripe fruit on the nose — mostly in the form of black cherry…

Escargot Un-Canned: Long Island Duo Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Raise Escargot Locally

Kickstarter campaigns aren’t new to the North Fork, but I have yet to see one like this one started by local chef Taylor Knapp and his business partner Sean Nethercott. Knapp and Nethercott are looking to launch Peconic Escargot on the North Fork — providing both chefs and home cooks fresh, never-frozen-or-canned snails to use in their kitchens. Check out the video and their page — and donate to the cause if you’re so inclined!