Leonard Oakes Winery 2012 Reserve Series Syrah

“I’m not convinced about its place up here — but we had to give it a shot.” That’s one of the first things winemaker Jonathan Oakes told me when I asked about his soon-to-be-released syrah. Syrah is far from widely planted in the region, but most of what I’ve tasted has been delicious. And, after tasting Oakes’, I’m more convinced than ever at the grapes potential in and near the Niagara Escarpment AVA. Aged in heavily toasted American oak — even if the majority was two and three years old — Leonard Oakes Estate Winery 2012 Reserve Series Syrah ($23) shows a…

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Stoutridge a Uniquely Local Winery

Stephen Osborn at Stoutridge Vineyard

Stephen Osborn at Stoutridge Vineyard What started as a grand experiment, one with results that were successful beyond anyone’s expectations, Stoutridge Vineyard is a very unique winery. In 2001, founders Stephen Osborn and Kim Wagner set out to prove a thesis, they believed that great New York wines could be made truly locally, with local grape species, using the most simple, Old World, terrior-driven vinification processes — some call this “natural” wine making. To achieve wines that taste like they truly come from here. Their wines are perhaps like no others you have ever had. The best way I can begin to…

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Weekly New York Wine News — May 18, 2015

Gamay vines being planted at Whitecliff Vineyard’s new site in Hudson, NY The weather has turned towards summer and everyone is out and about…farmers in the field, bikers on wine trails, politicians on photo ops, and festival season is upon us. NEWS WNYT – 5/12/2015 Bill moving forward in the New York State Legislature to control actions of the SLA brought to light in the Empire Wine case. Ottawa Citizen – 5/15/2015 A couple on bicycles file a brief report on their tour around a portion of the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail, near the shore of Lake Champlain. Finger Lakes Times…

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Wolffer Estate 2014 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose

Much like the season that inspired its name, Wolffer Estate Vineyard‘s “Summer in a Bottle” Rose has been hot since its debut last spring. The initial 1,500 or so cases were gone seemingly before summer had hit its stride. Winemaker Roman Roth made nearly four times as much in 2014 (5,700 cases) so it should be around at least a bit longer into the season, which is a very good thing. Wolffer Estate Vineyards 2014 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose ($24) shows aromas of strawberries and mixed melons — orange and green. It’s not as brightly aromatic as its sister rose, but it’s not muted either.…

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Weekly New York Wine News — May 11, 2015

Photo courtesy of Wagner Vineyards via Facebook Wine, beer and ciders of New York in the news this week. A big riesling release party coming up, and remember…May is Finger Lakes Wine month. NEWS RedFin Blog – 4/15/2015 Affordable living near top notch wine country? If there is such a thing, Long Island makes this list… WineBusiness – 5/6/2015 Hazlitt 1852 Red cat and White Cat wines earn a couple of new lives as pre-packaged sangria. Bloomberg Business – 5/7/2015 Cider sophistication increasing and dry New York made versions garner some attention. CBS New York – 5/8/2015 Craft beer is booming on the east…

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Wolffer Estate 2014 Rose

There are so many styles of rose these days — both here on Long Island and in the wine world at large. New and different renditions pop up every year but when many people think about Long Island rose, they think about Wolffer Estate Vineyard, where winemaker Roman Roth crafts what is know to many as “the wine of the Hamptons season.” Tasting Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2014 Rose ($18) recently, I was reminded why it’s such a classic wine and nearly ubiquitous on the South Fork every summer. Made with 56% merlot, 18% chardonnay, 16% cabernet franc, 5% pinot noir, 4% riesling…

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Bud Break 2015 Has Come to Long Island (PICTURES)

Anyone living on Long Island knows how cool this spring has been. It’s warming up though and today I started to see bud break pictures from across Long Island wine country in my Twitter feed. As I see or receive more pictures, I’ll make sure to add them to this post. Petit Verdot at Macari Vineyards  Pinot Blanc at Lieb Cellars Cabernet Franc at Shinn Estate Vineyards Cabernet Franc at Bedell Cellars Teroldego at Southold Farm + Cellar

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New York Cork Report Goes “Off The Page” With Random House on July 11, 2015

  Hello, newest New York Cork Report correspondent, Peter Conway, here. I’ve learned, as no doubt you have, here at New York Cork Report we are all about New York wine, and the beer and spirits, and of course we’re all about — the New York lifestyle. So, we were delighted to say yes when offered the opportunity to partner with Random House to participate in and sponsor a fabulous New York event occurring this July called “Off the Page” at Basilica in Hudson, NY. Let me tell you a bit about it. “Off The Page” billed as a Saturday…

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Weekly New York Wine News — May 4, 2015

Cabernet franc in Shinn Estate Vineyard Plenty of positive opinions about New York wines coming from the ‘powerful’, the trendsetters, the neighbors, and those that are new to the beverage scene. NEWS Grape Collective – Archive 4/1/2015 Almost three years on from super storm Sandy’s unwelcome visit, the Red Hook Winery in Brooklyn is still rising. Gotham – 4/30/2015 “Power Women of New York” share their favorite wine selections…and Wölffer Estate is the #drinklocal  go-to for this crowd. Cornell Daily Sun – 4/30/2015 A “Toast to the Finger Lakes” a young consumer’s view of the libations that the FLX region offers. Auburn…

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Macari Vineyards 2013 “No. 1” Sauvignon Blanc

There is a lot of very good sauvignon blanc made on Long Island now, which is great given the seafood-focused local cuisine. “What grows together, goes together” and all that — and even though I don’t eat much of the bounty from local waters, I do drink a fair amount of local sauvignon in the warmer months. I don’t think of it as the white grape of the future here anymore. It’s the white grape of the present now. But that doesn’t mean new and interesting things aren’t being done with it. 60% of the fruit that went into Macari Vineyards…

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