Posts Written OnJune 2011

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor In case you missed it, the NYCR is a finalist in the "Best Single Subject Wine Blog" category in this years Wine Blog Awards. We're honored but quick to remind you that NYCR isn't about us — it's about the wines, beers and spirits of New York State. And with that in mind, we would really love to win to once again shine a bright light on the beverage artisans across the state. If you think us worthy, we hope that you'll take a few moments to go vote for us along with your other…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The Long Island Wine Council estimates that 1.2 million people visited Long Island wine country last year. The Finger Lakes Wine Country promotion group estimates that 750,000 visited wineries in that region. And according to the New York Wine and Grape Foundation website, there were nearly 5 million total visitors to New York wine country in 2008. That's a lot of people tasting — and hopefully buying — a lot of New York wine. Empire State Cellars has the potential to dwarf that exposure when it opens later this summer at the Tanger Outlet Center…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The Lenz Winery in Peconic has a new tasting room manager. His name is Jerol Rickard and he brings experience in project management, market research and litigation to the job — experience that should serve him well running the tasting room at one of the North Forks classic wineries.  He brings a unique perspective on wine as well, having grown up in California wine country. A member Lenz wine club before joining the company, he's also keenly familiar with the portfolio and in local wine in general. And now, he answers our set of seven…

Video courtesy of The Feast By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Now that summer is upon is, Terroir Wine Bar's annual Summer of Riesling program back — and bigger than ever. The brain child of Terroir's Wine Director and Co-Owner Paul Grieco has grown over the last few years and this year Grieco — long a supporter of New York wines — has signed more than 160 restaurants and wine bars across the country on to take part. Each has agreed to pour three rieslings by the glass through September 24. There are many restaurants in New York City participating, but…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor It is with great humility that I announce that the NYCR is a finalist in the "Best Single Subject Wine Blog" category in this years Wine Blog Awards. Obviously our team doesn't do what we do here on the site to win awards, but it's always satisfying to be recognized by our readers and our peers. But, this site isn't about us — it's about the wines, beers and spirits of New York State. And with that in mind, we would really love to win to once again shine a bright light on the beverage…

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor On special occasions, Anthony Road Wine Company winemaker Johannes Reinhardt hauls out a long, unlabeled bottle. It's marked only with the letters "SP." Those letters represent one important and potentially game-changing word. Spontaneous. In 2009, Reinhardt decided to experiment with natural, or spontaneous, fermentation. He created a small batch of riesling, only 80 cases, for the purpose of studying the differences between the usage of cultivated yeast and native yeast. This is a small step, but potentially one with large implications for the Finger Lakes wine industry. Anthony Road is a leader in riesling…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor To build on the success of the first of our "New York Beverage Artisan Dinners" at Luce & Hawkins, we knew we wanted to do a wine dinner — but not just any wine dinner. And, I think we're doing something pretty different — by featuring a Finger Lakes winemaker and his wines. Tom Higgins, co-owner and winemaker at Heart & Hands Wine Company on Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes is traveling to the North Fork on July 11 to share five of his pinot noir-based wines as we enjoy a four-course meal prepared…

By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor I

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor I had absolutely no expectations as I drove east on the thruway on my very first trip to the Hudson Valley wine country. David Jackson of Hudson-Chatham Winery and his wife Kathy were kind enough to invite me to their home and show me around, and I could think of no better way to spend one of the first beautiful weekends of summer than exploring a new wine scene. What was in store was a fascinating, vibrant and diverse region with a young-but-exciting quality wine industry, gorgeous farmland, exciting local beer and spirits, an amazing…