Posts Written OnMarch 23, 2011

  By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor When you think about the Long Island wineries that have pioneered alternative energy and other "green" practices, do you think of Osprey's Dominion? If not, you should. They kicked off their wind turbine project in 2000 and converted all of their farm equipment (tractors, trucks, etc.) to biodiesel in 2004. They aren't organic in the vineyard, but 60% of their practices are according to winemaker Adam Suprenant. He refers the rest as "reduced risk" treatments. Suprenant (pictured right) also steers clear of most additives in the winery, only using SO2, acid — if needed…

By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor Photo at right shows the Data Layers map on NYVineyardSite.org; below is Professor Alan Lakso, courtesy Cornell If you have ever thought, even for a brief moment, that owning a vineyard and winery would be fun, consider this: The first decision often turns out to be the biggest mistake. That decision, of course, is what grapes to plant, and where.  With support from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, Cornell has launched an ambitious program and website dedicated to that pursuit. The site is NYVineyardSite.org.  "We're seeing more people who want to get away…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Here is a sampling of what our editors and contributors have been drinking. As always, it's a diverse grouping this week: Evan Dawson: Albino Rocca 1996 Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi A friend asked what this wine revealed, considering the fact that it had some age on it. The best I could offer was that the wine is still primary, still youthful, and yet it's not closed or tight. At all. It has opened like a flower and is generously displaying aromatics that could convert a Coke drinker. We all like to talk about older wine…