By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor Many of you will taste a wide selection of 2010 Finger Lakes rieslings this evening as a part of the inaugural Riesling Hour. It's a marketing effort that seeks to bring more wines to more people, generating buzz for the most recent vintage. We don't want to color your thoughts about what you'll taste, and every group will have a slightly different pack of wines. But here are some answers to questions that have already come up. Are the wines ready? It's a fair question. At least one winery opted out of the event, saying…
Posts Written ByEvan Dawson
BREAKING NEWS: Anthony Road Winemaker Johannes Reinhardt’s Green Card Application Accepted by U.S. Government
By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor The American government has accepted Johannes Reinhardt's application for permanent worker status, the New York Cork Report confirmed Tuesday. This decision essentially guarantees that Reinhardt will finally receive a green card. He is now permitted to apply for a change in status, and legal experts say that part of the process is a mere formality. By law, Reinhardt can apply for the change in status along with his wife, Imelda, who is also seeking a green card. Reinhardt has spent seven years applying for permanent worker status, often referred to as a green card, only…
Red Tail Ridge Unveils New Lineup of “Obscure Red Varietals”
By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes and Managing Editor Visitors to Red Tail Ridge Winery on Seneca Lake have to weave through the vineyards to reach the tasting room, and lately they might have noticed something unusual. The signs at the end of the rows have taken on a rather offbeat edge, marking the home of grape varieties that many customers have never encountered. Few can even pronounce Teroldego. "We didn't start this winery to be a mainstream producer," Nancy Irelan, owner and winemaker, explained during a recent visit. "There's a part of Red Tail Ridge that will always experiment. We'll always…
Paul and Shannon Brock Acquire Silver Thread Vineyard, Aim for Bigger Production
By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes EditorPhotos by Tom Smith Paul and Shannon Brock have reached an agreement to assume ownership of Silver Thread Vineyard, a small operation on a highly regarded piece of property on southeast Seneca Lake. The transition will begin immediately, with the Brocks set to oversee the upcoming harvest. And while they profess a desire to maintain the vision of founder Richard Figiel, the Brocks are planning significant changes. Currently at 750 cases annually, the Brocks expect to increase production of Silver Thread wines to 1,000 cases this vintage, while eventually increasing production to 3,000 cases…
Heron Hill Moves to Screwcaps for Most Wines
In a matter of weeks, Heron Hill Winery customers will find many of the winery’s wines closed under screwcap. The winery recently completed the installation of a screwcap bottling line (pictured above) that owner John Ingle described as “not an insignificant investment.” Ingle described the plan for Heron Hill wines in simple terms: The wines that need to be preserved for as long as possible — with no change or evolution that comes from gradual oxidation — will be bottled under screwcap. The wines that Heron Hill considers to be capable of evolving into something greater will be bottled under…
The Governor Just Did… What? The Meaning of New Legislation for Wineries and Consumers
By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that, he says, goes a long way toward helping New York state wineries succeed. The changes come from recommendations made in 2008 by the New York Wine Grape Task Force, which was chaired by Paumanok winemaker Kareem Massoud. You can check out the news release from the governor's office here. I figured there's no one better to put this stuff in context than Kareem Massoud. Our Q&A follows. NYCR: What is the biggest impact that will come from this legislation? KM: Making it easier for farm wineries to…
On Cayuga Lake, a Copper Glow (and the Pizza Within) Attract New Customers
By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor The small French commune of Tain-l’Hermitage is known for its pitched vineyards that yield some of the world’s finest syrah. It is not nearly so well known as the birthplace of copper ovens. “France’s soil is good for more than just winegrowing,” explain Seth and Mary Jane Kircher, the husband-and-wife owners of The Copper Oven, a specialty pizza joint connected to Cayuga Ridge winery. “Our oven was born in Tain-l’Hermitage and we worked with a family in Maine who helped us with its final construction.” The oven is a marvel to behold, and that’s…
Aboard the SS Acidhound: the Summer of Riesling Concert 2011
By David Flaherty At 8 pm, amidst the sweltering steam bath of NYC, the Half Moon set sail on the East River. Aboard were 27 cases of German Riesling, 2 kegs of Gotham Project Riesling, about 40 tons of ice, 3 local bands, 1 German wine queen and 225 thirsty acidhounds. The Summer of Riesling sold-out boat cruise was underway. Stepping aboard, the guests were greeted with a glass of Gotham Project Riesling from upstate NY in the Finger Lakes. From here on out, it was all German Riesling as the month of July has been devoted to the motherland.…
In Praise of Home and Amateur Winemakers
By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor The word "authentic" is bandied about with too much regularity when we discuss wine these days, and yet I feel compelled to use it here. That's because there is nothing in the world of wine so raw, so ungussied up, so uncorporate — so authentic! — as a bottle of wine created by a non-professional. It almost never carries an industrial label, and often conveys, through a smudged and sticky exterior, the dirty hands required to make it. The home winemaker is unburdened by bias. You think all Baco is subpar? Talk to the…
Commentary: Expensive Doesn’t Mean Great in Just About Anything. Especially Wine
By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor By now you've probably heard about the faux scandal involving Congressman Paul Ryan and his expensive bottles of Burgundy at a D.C. restaurant. If you somehow missed it, here's a quick summary: Rep. Paul Ryan goes out to dinner with some wealthy friends. Those friends decide to order two bottles of a $350 Burgundy. A woman sitting nearby recognizes Rep. Ryan and looks up the price of the bottles. The woman decides it's somehow incongruous for Rep. Ryan to talk about the government cutting spending while he's drinking expensive wine. She also wonders if his…