Posts Written OnNovember 2005

Alexa Gifford has been named executive director of the not-yet-open New York Wine & Culinary Center (NYWCC). She joins the not-for-profit organization after more than five years with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, most recently as the organization’s president. Under the direction of the NYWCC’s board of directors, Gifford will manage the Center’s operations and lead a staff of full- and part-time personnel. "The excitement is building for the opening of New York Wine and Culinary Center, and naming an executive director is an important step," said Rob Sands, COO and president of Constellation Brands, and chairman of the NYWCC…

November 17th has become a bit of a wine holiday in America. Every year, the third Thursday in November means that Beaujolais Nouveau hits wine shop shelves and, to many, this marks the beginning of the holiday season. In reality, this “event” is much more hype than holiday. In fact, it can be considered the Valentine’s Day of the wine world – an occasion created largely by marketing and advertising. Beaujolais Nouveau is made from Gamay grapes and is sold a few months after harvest, making it the first red wine many of us taste from any given vintage. And…

You know me as Dan’s Papers’ fearless wine writer (or the owner/editor of LENNDEVOURS), but Monday through Friday, I play a very different role – that of an Internet marketing manager in the high technology industry. Rarely do the two careers cross paths, but my experience with the local wine industry’s Internet marketing initiatives (or lack thereof) has finally driven me to consider Long Island’s wine region from my “day” job’s perspective. Simply put, the Long Island wine industry deserves good grades for its wine, but when it comes to using the Internet to promote itself and its wares, it…

Because of its focus on food, friends and family (not to mention its post-harvest timing) Thanksgiving is often cited as a favorite holiday by local winery owners and winemakers. Each and every year, readers of magazines and newspapers are inundated with wine pairing advice and suggestions for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, instead of offering advice, I decided to ask people in our own local wine industry what foods they were eating and what wines they’d be drinking this year on Thanksgiving. Here are the results.

‘m a little behind in my participation with Beau’s latest meme: The Gift of Wine. Why? First I was insanely busy with my day job. Then was on deadline for a couple freelance pieces. To make matters even worse, we were without Internet access two days last week before heading home to Pittsburgh for Turkey Day. But, I’m back and it’s time to catch up. Beau’s question is: If you were to give a wine out of your own cellar/collection/shelf/fridge as a gift this year, which wine would it be, who would receive it and why? This one is easy…I’d…

Despite my love of New York wines, I rarely find myself eagerly anticipating a new wine’s release — partially because I don’t always know the release schedules and partially because many wineries only release new wines once the previous vintage sells out. I’m not up on their invetory, so I just don’t know. Every fall, right around this time, I do find myself clamoring for the new "Early Wine" from Macari Vineyards. I really enjoyed last year’s vintage and it’s a favorite wine in the LENNDEVOURS household within the first few months of its release. The racy acidity seems to…

By Contributing Columnist Richard Olsen-Harbich Read it again. We’re talking about terroir — you know, that French term? Believe it or not there is actually a debate going on today that asks if terroir really exists. I used to find this astonishing since after all, isn’t wine all about where it’s grown? Isn’t that why we have thousands of different wines to choose from in the stores and restaurants? If terroir didn’t exist, what would any region have over any other? Wouldn’t it be better just to consolidate all the winemaking in one part of the world, cut expenses and…

In my never-ending quest to bring you, my readers, the best and most comprehensive information on the New York wine world, I’ve decided to invite some of the industry’s best and brightest to join me as regular contributors here at LENNDEVOURS. This Thanksgiving, I have a little something extra to be thankful for as Richard Olsen-Harbich, managing director and winemaker at Raphael has agreed to sign on as LENNDEVOURS’ first contributing columnist. Richard has been a part of the Long Island wine industry since 1981 and has been a leader in establishing regional identity and vinification techniques for the region.…