By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief This week's Q&A is our first from someone in the western New York wine region. Today, we chat with grape grower Wendy Dunst. From 1999 to 2001, she and her husband Rick converted a Concord vineyard to a three acre wine grape vineyard in the heart of the Lake Erie region in Sheridan, NY. Operating under the name Piranha Vineyards, Wendy and Rick grow pinot gris, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and carménère. They are also accidental growers of pinot noir due to a mix-up in the nursery, growing just enough to fill a single barrel. Wendy has…
Posts Written OnOctober 21, 2009
Video: Wolffer Estate Vineyards and Winemaker Roman Roth on the Today Show
Standing Stone Vineyards: Ice Wine in the Banana Belt
By Jason Feulner, Finger Lakes Correspondent Standing Stone Vineyards is located on the southeastern shore of Seneca Lake in the so-called "banana belt" of the Finger Lakes. This stretch of lakefront, which encompasses several major and well-known wineries, is said by some winemakers to have temperatures that can sometimes range a few degrees warmer than the surrounding area, either enhancing ripening or staving off killer cold. During a recent visit, I was surprised to learn that Standing Stone is at the every epicenter of this warm area. Tucked away in a barn sits an old sign that signifies a very rich history: "Gold Seal Seneca Lake Vinifera Vineyards." "Yes, this was…