Posts Written ByEvan Dawson

Restaurant Wine Lists: The Quirky Village Tavern Shines

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor When I dine out, I’m looking for three things on a wine list: Diversity. I get it. Ravenswood Zin is awesome, but it would be nice to see a little more. Price: I expect to pay a markup, but I don’t expect to need to pay in installments. Age: This is rare, but it’s always fun to see if an establishment carries any older bottles. The first time I had dinner at The Village Tavern in Hammondsport, NY I could hardly believe the wine list. The restaurant, located on the southern end of Keuka…

Keuka Lake Vineyards: Hybrids Providing More Mileage In Dry Style

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor This is apparently a controversial or surprising thing to say, but I'll say it anyway — the writers and editors for this blog like hybrid wines from New York state. I have voluntarily purchased vignoles. I have consumed an entire bottle of Cayuga without convulsing. I do not believe that hybrids cause sterility, senility or loss of agility. There is, however, plenty of room for hybrids to improve. One way that some local wineries are trying to get more mileage from their hybrids is by going with a much dryer style. That's the plan…

How to Improve New York Wine & Food Classic

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor and Lenn Thompson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief This year it's different. See, every year we write about the New York Wine & Food Classic and the results on this blog. It's important because it's the largest competition that focuses only on the wines of New York State. This blog is the best source for information on those wines. We have to write about "the Classic." But that doesn't mean it's not frustrating to see how it's organized and run. In fact, it is frustrating to watch from afar because we are so passionately interested in…

“I Had Some Tears…” Anthony Road Wins the Governor’s Cup

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor  Anthony Road Wine Company's winemaker Johannes Reinhardt is the most humble man I've ever known. Just watch this video as his winery accepts the Governor's Cup award, handed out for the wine deemed "Best in New York state." Today the award went to Anthony Road for their 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling. Johannes doesn't look like he's getting the honor of his career; he looks like he's having hernia surgery. When I reached him by phone this evening I was surprised to hear what he was doing. "I've just sat down with a glass of sparkling…

Finger Lakes Wineries Stomach Up-Front Costs, Add Food and Restaurants

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes EditorPhotos by Morgan Dawson Photography Most restaurants do not have to endure the uncertainty of a zealous owner who might show up at any moment with a truckload of summer vegetables, picked only hours before. At the Blue Heron Cafe they're getting used to it. "It's pretty entertaining, actually," says Heron Hill Winery's marketing director Kitty Oliver over a plate of the mahgarita flatbread pizza. "(Owner) John Ingle is so excited this time of year. He might drive in with a load of corn and say, 'Here you go!' And the staff finds a way…

All That Food and Wine… But What Exactly Is The Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty?

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Video by Morgan Dawson This was one of those meals that sinks your battleship. If you were smart, you didn't eat for about five days beforehand. The Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty held its annual dinner last Thursday, August 6, but you might be wondering… What exactly is the Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty? In this video I allow two people to tell us. Deb Whiting of Red Newt Bistro is, no surprise, intimately involved. But you'll also hear from a member of the bounty who is not a board member or big name in the…

Seneca Lake Trip Report: It’s All About Service

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Photos by Morgan Dawson On a tour of half a dozen Seneca Lake wineries earlier this week, I was reminded just how much service matters. At some stops I found myself wanting to buy wine that I thought was mediocre — simply  because the service was so good. At other stops I found myself wanting to wave my wallet in front of the staff and shout, "See this? You could have had everything in it if you understood service!" For the most part I'm going to highlight the positive experiences. There is one exception,…

“They Thought We Were Crazy:” A Matriarch of Vinifera Reflects

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Libby Prejean has not been back to West Virginia in 60 years, but sometimes she just can't help it. The "I" becomes an "Ah." The edges of her speech get lethargic. "I can't call people on the phone without them knowing!" she says. But as she turns 80 years old, Prejean admits that if her speech hasn't changed, so much else has. She helped launch Prejean Winery on Seneca Lake nearly a quarter century ago, and I caught up with her over a glass of Marechal Foch on a slow Wednesday morning, yesterday. "They…

Cabernet Franc: What We Learned From 656 Glasses of Wine

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Photos by Morgan Dawson When the demonstration room at the New York Wine & Culinary Center filled up at 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning, 328 glasses of cabernet franc lit up the amphitheater like strands of single-color Christmas lights. It was a bit daunting for the 42 winemakers, winegrowers, industry professionals, newspaper writers, retailers and bloggers. And that was just the first flight. When the event (get some back story) finally ended three hours later we had tasted through 13 Finger Lakes 2007 cabernet francs, 3 Loire Valley cabernet francs, one Long Island cabernet franc,…

When it Rains it’s Poor: Challenging Weather, But a Silver Lining

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Photography by Morgan Dawson Photography Harvest is coming, and if any winemaker or grape grower tells you that things are right where they need to be in the vineyard, they're spinning like crazy.  In basic terms, most growers in the Finger Lakes are anywhere from 10 to 14 days behind ripening schedule. It's not just a lack of heat that has been a problem. The heavy and near-constant June rains put growers in a difficult spot, and July simply failed to dry it out and heat things up. In other words: No pressure, August,…