Posts Tagged“finger lakes”

Letting the Grapes Speak: An Interview with Anthony Road’s Johannes Reinhardt

By Jason Feulner, Finger Lakes Correspondent Johannes Reinhardt came to the Finger Lakes from Germany, yet it is his varied work experience which sets him most apart from many other winemakers.  He has honed his craft in the ancient family wine business, at an organic winery, at a large-scale commercial winery, and now finds himself the sole winemaker at Anthony Road Wine Company on Seneca Lake. Johannes brings a European perspective to a winemaking region in which he sees a great deal of potential. The Reinhardt family, from the tiny village of Neuses Am Berg in northern Bavaria, was awarded…

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Finger Lakes Wineries Win Gold in Riesling Competition

By Finger Lakes Correspondent, Jason Feulner The Finger Lakes continues to earn recognition for its outstanding rieslings. Last week, at the 10th Annual Riesling du Monde tasting competition in Strasbourg, France, five Finger Lakes wineries placed in the gold medal category amidst a slew of riesling entries from prestigious German and French wineries. These Finger Lakes wineries include Chateau LaFayette Reneau, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fox Run, Glenora Wine Cellars, and Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards. Each winery submitted its top 2006 riesling for review. Fred Frank of Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars is keen on entering competitions like the Riesling du Monde…

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Finger Lakes Pioneer Donates Books to Cornell Wine Library

Everyone knows that Dr. Konstantin Frank and the winery he founded blazed a trail for East Coast wine. But he was also the owner an extremely extensive book collection, which has been donated to Cornell University. In doing so, the Frank family has made Cornell’s viticulture and winemaking collection at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station’s Lee Library one of the best in the country. The Konstantin Frank family book donation consists of 132 titles, composed of 19th and 20th century titles on a wide variety of topics including horticulture, plant science, viticulture, enology, chemistry, nature, history and literature…

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Finger Lakes Harvest 2007: Excellent for Reds, Hopeful for Whites

By Finger Lakes Correspondent Jason Feulner  "The intense flavors just burst in your mouth," explains Phil Davis of Damiani Wine Cellars, describing the qualities of the red vinifera grapes he harvested and tasted in the fall of 2007. "The juice is dark and complex and shows a lot of potential." Davis is one of many Finger Lakes winemakers who are extolling the virtues of the 2007 harvest, which they claim may lead to one of the best Finger Lakes vintages in many years. The weather certainly was unique. A dry spring led to a very dry summer; the growing season…

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The Politics of New York Wine

By Finger Lakes Correspondent Jason Feulner My educational background is in public policy, which does occasionally mix with talk of wine, although not often. Last month my interest was aroused by a news release from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the contents of which were shared on several websites and in print. Through the Agriculture Department a task force has been formed to address the regulations, research and promotion of New York State’s wine industry. To preemptively analyze this task force’s mission before it even produces a word is perhaps foolish for observer and reader alike,…

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Some Finger Lakes Wineries Hop on Hybrids

I read an interesting little piece this morning from the Cornell Daily Sun that talks about hybrid grape varieties, their advantages and what some wineries in the Finger Lakes are doing with them. Apparently, in addition to being more resistant to the cold weather of the region, they are also less susceptible to the typical grape maladies, meaning that fewer pesticides are needed to grow them. It’s kind of an interesting way to "go green" no? I know that there are plenty of wine lovers out there who turn their noses up at hybrids, but I’ve found several seyval blancs…

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Old Apple Trees, Family Traditions and Apple Wine

By Jason Feulner, Finger Lakes Correspondent "How old is that apple tree?" I asked Uncle Sam, pointing at the gnarled, sprawling specimen that towered over his small orchard. "Well, it’s been there a long time. My father probably planted it before I was born," replied the 82-year-old. I was helping Uncle Sam pick apples at his farm, aided by one of my wife’s older cousins and his three-year-old son. I climbed up the trees to reach the highest branches upon which no ladder could lean and shook vigorously, dropping the ripe gems to the ground. The little guy giggled and…

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WTNs: Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars Current Releases (Finger Lakes)

Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars is one of New York’s most well-known wineries, and with good reason. In addition to being a truly pioneering producer, they craft some of the Finger Lakes region’s best wines–particularly their whites. Last weekend, I tasted through their current whites, dry rose, and sparklers. So, in quick-fire style, here are some notes on them: Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 Dry Rose ($18) A medium, orange-tinged pink, the nose is extremely faint and austere with just a little red berry aroma. Medium bodied and with a terrific mouth feel, and crisp finish, this wine is marred…

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Finger Lakes Early Harvest Report

By Finger Lakes Correspondent, Jason Feulner It hasn’t rained much here in the Finger Lakes this year and it has been warm to boot. A local Syracuse television station just posted this print and video report about the potential of the 2007 grape crop in the Finger Lakes.  It looks like it might be good news for both whites and the ever-elusive Finger Lakes reds.  The video report is a bit silly but shows some great vineyard and grape cluster shots! In a cooler growing climate like the Finger Lakes the number of growing days for ideal ripeness is sometimes…

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