Posts Written OnOctober 12, 2009

This iconic old barn greets visitors to Hermann J. Wiemer's Magdalena Vineyard By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor In a challenging vintage such as this one, Hermann J. Wiemer has two advantages over many other producers: low yields and a thoughtful picking strategy that brings grapes in on multiple days. First, the picking strategy, which has been carefully developed over many years — first by Hermann and then by current owner and winemaker Fred Merwarth. Instead of picking riesling and gewurztraminer in one sweep, Wiemer brings the grapes in during numerous waves. The last of the three waves of gewurztraminer…

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief What We Drank is a little bit different this week. In honor of Regional Wine Week, organized by DrinkLocalWine.com, which started yesterday, I asked our contributors to pick a New York wine. Of course, that's no problem because we're all drinking local wines anyway. From Evan Dawson: Heart & Hands 2007 Barrel Reserve Pinot Noir If blind tastings occasionally seem cliche, I would argue they are imperative in proving the strength of New York state wines to doubters. A brown bag can disarm biases. This weekend, after sorting and stomping grapes at Heart & Hands Wine…