Richardolsenharbich_3In 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. A graduate of Cornell University, he
worked to establish Long Island’s second commercial winery in Bridgehampton (now defunct),
where he was among the first to market Long Island wines to Manhattan and its residents.

Over the
past 25 years he assisted in implementing many pioneering techniques for Long
Island vineyards such as permanent cover crops, high-density spacing, low-wire
trellising, soil pH management and varietal selection while winning hundreds of
awards and accolades for his wines. In his role at at
Raphael, he has developed the first Bordeaux/Long Island consultation
partnership and has been a leader in the use of hands-on, artisanal
winemaking techniques in the region.

Richard is also the author of all three
federally recognized Long Island American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).

Please join me in welcoming Richard to the LENNDEVOURS team, and watch for his first post which will appear later today.

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