By Lenn Thompson, Long Island Editor and Editor-in-Chief Why are these two men, Peter Becraft (assistant winemaker) and Johannes Reindhart (winemaker) of Anthony Road Wine Company, smiling? Is it because their 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling won the Governor's Cup, awarded to New York's best wine? No, although the wine did win the Cup. Is it because they've finished bottling some amazing TBA-style wines, one of which Johannes considers the wine of his life? No, although they have and he does. No, they are smiling because they know what I'm in for this weekend and know that I don't. Not really anyway.…
Posts Written OnSeptember 23, 2009
My Winemaking: Why I May Not Be as Fun to Drink With
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Regional Editor In a month I will be participating in my third vintage here in Niagara County wine country. I’ve been lucky enough to gain access to several local winemakers and have gone from having zero experience in making wine to having made six wines in the last two years. As I start to bottle some of these wines, and no I still haven’t bottled my 2007s, I plan on sharing my adventures – and misadventures – here on the New York Cork Report. While I am by no means an expert in chemistry, viticulture, sensory…
The New York Cork Report Adds Julia Burke as New Niagara Region Correpondent
By Lenn Thompson, Long Island Editor and Editor-in-Chief The LENNDEVOURS/New York Cork Report team has grown by yet another New York wine lover today. Please join me in welcoming Julia Burke to the site, focusing mainly on the Niagara Escarpment region, but also chiming in on beer on occasion. Julia has lived in the Buffalo, NY area for over ten years. She discovered the Niagara Escarpment wine scene entirely by accident and soon became completely immersed in the world of wine, leaving behind her previous aspirations of moving to Cambodia to live in a yurt. She looks forward to making…
Lucas Vineyards: Giving Syrah an Honest Shot In the Finger Lakes
Syrah clusters hanging in there as harvest approaches at Lucas Vineyards By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes EditorPhotos by Morgan Dawson Photography Lucas winemaker Jeff Houck is unaware of this, but he was born with trace amounts of sodium pentothal in his blood. You know it better as "truth serum." He's incapable of even trying to mislead you about the wines made by Lucas Vineyards on the southwestern part of Cayuga Lake. He's an FBI agent's dream — were he ever to commit a high-profile felony, that is. Easiest conviction ever. I didn't know this, of course, until I asked why…