For Episode 2, Lenn chats with Regan Meador from Southold Farm + Cellar. Through the course of their conversation, they cover everything from opening weekend in the SF+C tasting room, Rex Farr’s organic vineyard in Calverton, Kickstarter, why Regan hasn’t made a rose yet, and what it’s been like being the new kid on the block.
Weekly New York Wine News — April 13, 2015
Photo via Alexandra Doniger, Assistant Winemaker, Hector Wine Company This week in New York wine news…changes that are happy, sad and historical on Long Island. While Upstate — dollars for wine support, and dollars that detract. NEWS Edible East End – 3/30/2015 Going deep into Long Island’s glacial soils, with a very cool visualization of how the island was formed by the retreating ice sheet. NorthForker – 4/7/2015 Long Island wine loses another long-time fixture as Robert Pellegrini passes away at age 76. Wyoming County Free Press – 4/7/2015 New York State provides $1.4 million in funding to support agricultural product research and…
Brewery Ommegang Hop House Belgian Pale Ale
If it seems like I review some breweries’ offerings more than others here at the NYCR, I do. There are breweries, some large, some small, that are obvious standouts in my eyes. It may seem implicit, but when I’m at the beer store I almost always (try to) buy beer that I know I’m going to like. If I buy and review a beer I really dislike, it was probably by accident. Brewery Ommegang is one of the breweries that I can rely on to never put out crappy beer. I’m not saying every beer they make is great, but they…
Palaia Vineyards is a Family Affair, Where Wine and Celebration are a Way of Life
Jan Palaggi from Palaia Vineyards They say wine, women and song are inseparable. Add a few good men and we have the family affair of Palaia Vineyards in Highland Mills, NY. I just visited with Jan Palaggi, self-proclaimed queen of the operation that she and her husband Joseph founded thirteen years ago. We explored the property, winery and event spaces and tasted some wines. Before sharing my impressions of the wine let me say that while making great juice is a big part of the Palaia family tradition, music, good food and festive events are too. Together they make a delightful experience to…
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2014 Gruner Veltliner
I’ve been lucky when it comes to Gruner Veltliner, one of the great grapes of Austria. Through friends who have worked for various importers over the years, I’ve been introduced to some incredible renditions — expressive wines of intensity, balance and flat-out deliciousness. With that as context, I’ve been a bit let down by most New York Gruner. I used to chalk it up to young vines, poor picking decisions and winemakers getting their footing with it in the cellar. I still think that’s true in some cases, but I’ve also been guilty of not allowing the grapes to express what…
Weekly New York Wine News — April 6, 2015
Early Spring at Hudson-Chatham Winery. (Photo via owner Carlo DeVito) There’s a slew of New York wine news this week, including interviews with winemakers, changes at the SLA, competition wins, and industry innovations. NEWS Terroirist – 3/27/2015 This week’s winemaker interview is with August Deimel from the Finger Lakes, Keuka Spring Vineyards. Westfield Republican – 3/27/2015 Mazza Chautauqua Cellars / Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing is now the first outfit in the state of New York to bat the cycle, producing beer, wine and spirits. Examiner.com – 3/30/2015 William Dowd reports on awards at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and…
It’s Back: The New York Cork Club — New York’s Best and Most Interesting Wines Delivered to Your Door
This is a happier Friday than usual at NYCR headquarters. Why? Because the New York Cork Club — our New York wine club — is back. We’re thrilled to be partnering with The Cellar d’Or in Ithaca, NY to bring the club back. For those of you who were members of the club when we were working with the now-closed New York wine superstore Empire State Cellars, we’ve simplified and scaled back the club significantly. Every month, I’ll pick two wines that will never exceed $60 plus shipping and we’ll send them to you. It’s really that simple. In the…
Peter Conway to Join the NYCR’s Hudson Valley Desk
Please join me in welcoming Peter Conway as the newest member of the New York Cork Report’s correspondent team. Since 2005 he has written the wine and food pairing blog, Mano a Vino. I met Peter at the North American Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, VA several years ago. Peter recently moved to the Hudson Valley, in Garrison, NY with his wife Diana Polack, after raising their two children in Montclair, NJ over 27 the last years. Peter tells me that his passion for wine was ignited in 1979 when he happened upon a spectacular wine in a tiny Florida Gulf Coast wine store.…
Weekly New York Wine News — March 30, 2015
Assistant Vineyard Manager Donna Rudolph working in the vineyard (Photo via Bedell Cellars’ Facebook) NEWS The Leader – 3/24/2015 Senator Schumer believes that the long cold winter may again justify federal aid for NY wine producers. Albany Times Union – 3/24/2015 Republican State Senetor Phil Boyle from Long Island signs on to bill to keep State Liquor Authority from enforcing the adult beverage laws of other states. Dan’s Papers – 3/24/2015 The Damianos Family sells 87 acres on Long Island and will continue to work vineyards until new owners are ready to establish their own wine farm. Auburn Citizen – 3/25/2015 Two…
Southampton Publick House 2013 Imperial Russian Stout
Comparing a vintage beer at different stages of its maturity isn’t something I get to do all the time, let alone a beer I have taken notes on. Recently, I’ve been cleaning up my wine and beer storage that I’ve wanted to check in on and, well, drinking them. I happen to pop this 2013 Imperial Russian Stout almost two years to the day that I last reviewed it here, on the New York Cork Report in 2013. Much about the beer has changed, yet much has stayed the same. The color and appearance of the stout hadn’t changed at…