By Jason Feulner, Finger Lakes Correspondent Despite Syracuse's proximity to the Finger Lakes region, I have always found wine coverage in the local newspaper, the Syracuse Post-Standard, lacking (abysmal, actually). With this in mind, I was surprised to find an article recently in that same paper about the wine and grocery story controversy that went above and beyond in many respects. This piece, by Bob Niedt, investigates the money that went into the lobbying effort on both sides, at the same time juxtaposing the local perspective and efforts of wine shop owners in the Syracuse area. Only a small portion of…
Posts Written OnApril 2009
Pindar Vineyards 2001 Mythology
One of the great things about fermented grape juice is that no matter how much you know or how much you think you know, you never know everything. Wine can and will surprise you. Take this Pindar Vineyards 2001 Mythology ($30), for instance. I don't think anyone would argue that Pindar is one of Long Island's top, quality-focused producers. They aren't, but they are great at introducing people to wine with their sweeter, simpler wines. Every wine region has their Pindar. And it could be said that every region needs their Pindar. Regardless of Pindar's place in the local industry,…
Wine Blogging Wednesday #56 Announcement: Fine Kosher Wines
I honestly don't know that I've ever tasted a Kosher wine. I'm sure that I have, at some point along the way, but I've never had a reason to specifically seek them out. I've heard a lot about them, and very little of it has been good. And that's why, when John over at The Corkdork got in touch with me about hosting WBW this month with a Kosher wine theme just in time for Passover, I thought "Hey, that sure would give me an excuse to try some Kosher wine. Let's do it!" So there you have it. That's…
Damiani Wine Cellars 2007 Sauvignon Blanc
By Lenn Thompson, Editor and Publisher When one thinks of the Finger Lakes, riesling is the first grape that comes to mind. After that, I think usually think about Gewurztraminer, pinot noir, cabernet franc and probably Vidal blanc before sauvignon blanc. But, there are a few producers dabbling in this grape and Damiani Wine Cellars is one of them. There isn't a lot of sauvignon blanc grown in the Finger Lakes — and with good reason. It's not very cold hardy and with the below-zero temperatures that can blanket the region, cold hardy is a characteristic that local vines need.…
How to Impress Outsiders: Open Your Cellar, Wow Them at Lunch and Stay Open Late
Chris O'Gorman of Merryvale Vineyards judging the FLIWC last weekend. By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Correspondent When you host guests, I wonder if you do what my wife and I do. We take the opportunity to clean the house and put our most sparkling foot forward. If a guest happens to believe the house is always so pristine, all the better. But shoving all the clutter in the closet is one thing; honoring your guests by using the finest dishware and opening your finest wines is quite another. And that, essentially, is what a handful of savvy Finger Lakes wineries did…
High ABV, Vanilla and Oak: California is the New Focus at LENNDEVOURS
For much of this blog's five-year life, it has dominated the New York wine world, culminating with LENNDEVOURS winning the "Best Single-Subject Wine Blog" category in this years American Wine Blog Awards. I'm proud of that accomplishment and what I have built here, but I'm not one to rest on my laurels. So, now that I've conquered New York, it's time to shift gears here at LENNDEVOURS and choose a new under-appreciated U.S. wine region to cover in-depth. At first, I thought about exploring regions like Virginia, Texas or even Michigan wine country. Those places are all making wines worth…