Posts Tagged“ice wine”

Weekly New York Wine News — February 16, 2016

Photo via Finger Lakes Wine Country Facebook Page NEWS Paste Magazine – 2/9/2016 Kudos for the facility and hospitality found at Glenora Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake. Rochester Business Journal – 2/10/2016 New York lawmakers entertain legislation to create signage for the Rochester Craft Beverage Trail. Cornell Sun – 2/11/2016 The Cornell Institute for Climate Change is developing new tools to help farmers cope with unusual weather patterns. Northern Grape Project – 2/11/2016 A comprehensive update on the fourth year of a program to study and promote cold-climate grape growing. Now and Zin – 2/12/2016 The Finger Lakes International Wine…

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Weekly New York Wine News — February 8, 2016

Photo via Red Tail Ridge Winery’s Facebook Page NEWS Syracuse.com – 2/4/2016 The Wine Forecaster pays a visit to Hunt Country Vineyards on the west side of Keuka Lake. New York Times – 2/6/2016 An even handed review from Kurt Wenzel of Wölffer Kitchen gives the Sag Harbor spot a “very good” rating. Leisure Group Travel – 2/6/2016 The Finger Lakes take the top slot in this short list of recommended destinations where the dining leaves visitors with favorable lasting impressions. New York Wines – 2/8/2016 NY wines “scored big–no, HUGE–at the annual Florida State Fair International Wine Competition”. New York Wine Events…

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Weekly New York Wine News — February 1, 2016

Snow-covered vines at Macari Vineyards (via Macari Vineyards’ Facebook page) NEWS Finger Lakes Times – 1/25/2016 Interview with Jim Trezise on history and his extended transition out of his position as President of the New York Wine and Grape Council. Napa Valley Register – 1/28/2016 Even in heart of California wine country, the Finger Lakes wines are catching attention, with mention of H.J. Wiemer, Red Tail Ridge and Heart & Hands. NorthForker – 1/26/2016 Waters Crest Winery just a couple of weeks away from opening a new tasting room in Cutchogue. My Vine Spot – 1/27/2016 Dezel Quillen reflects on the…

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Harbes Vineyard 2013 Chardonnay Ice Wine

At the end of 2015, I promised myself that I’d make an effort to taste as much Long Island chardonnay as possible this year. A string of mediocre wines a few years ago convinced me to more-or-less ignore the category for a while, but that’s not fair. It’s time to take another look, and I’m working on a 2013/2014 chardonnay tasting report for an upcoming issue of Long Island Wine Press. Those reviews will trickle out here on the site over time, but today let’s talk about Harbes Family Vineyard 2013 Chardonnay Ice Wine ($35). It’s not real ice wine —…

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Weekly New York Wine News — October 19 & 26, 2015

Due to a production glitch, the weekly news bites did not get posted last week, so here they are along with some fresh messages from the world of New York made beverages. NEWS Albany Times Union – 10/15/2015 A closer look at some of the quotes, changes, content and feedback coming from the recent Governor’s summit on New York adult beverages. Ithaca Journal – 10/16/2015 Solar Investment tax credits have helped vineyards and wineries to lead the way in a clean energy future, but credits are scheduled to dry up at the end of 2016. NorthForker – 10/16/2015 Long Island…

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Vineyard Visuals: Icewine 2013 Harvest at Leonard Oakes Winery

Icewine 2013 Harvest @ Leonard Oakes from Bryan Calandrelli on Vimeo. Mother Nature did not disappoint the harvest crew at Leonard Oakes Winery as the week of January 21st provided more than enough time for Jonathan Oakes and gang to pull the rest of their grapes from the 2012-growing season. Bone-chilling temperatures and a massive snowfall didn’t make it comfortable or easy but it did ease nerves and make for a long window to press out their frozen grapes. This quick interview and series of images is a glimpse into what it was like the day of the vidal harvest.…

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Niagara Icewine Update: We Haven’t Started Getting Nervous… Yet

With this weekend’s projected record-warm temperatures, it feels a little weird to be preparing for a weekend of ice wine themed activities across the border. In a region that can usually set its watch to that first big, bone-chilling weather event in early January, Mother Nature has only teased Niagara with a very narrow window for an ice wine harvest so far this year and people are wondering if there will be a full harvest in 2013. “I haven’t started getting nervous yet,” says Jonathan Oakes, winemaker at Leonard Oakes Winery. Oakes is the go-to winemaker in Niagara USA on…

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Ice Wine: I’m Really Trying To Like It

A large amount of residual sugar makes me dizzy. Dessert wine tends to remind me of childhood cough syrup albeit with new and improved flavors. I hated that god awful faux cherry elixir. When the New York Cork Report gets together once a year to taste the best New York State has to offer, I sit the sweet flight out. On tasting menus in fancy pants restaurants, I bargain away my last wine pairing in the name of ‘something sparkling.” The nuance of late harvest anything is generally lost on me. Is the aversion in my head? Bias left over…

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Arrowhead Spring Vineyards 2008 Vidal Ice Wine

Late harvest and ‘iced’ wines — those made with grapes frozen in commercial freezers before processing — are common in New York. Real deal ice wine is not. This is the real deal and you can certainly taste the difference. Arrowhead Spring Vineyards 2008 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine ($38) smells like juicy ripe peaches and apricots drizzled with floral lavendar honey. The nose is intense and ever-moving as the wine warms to room temperature. The palate is explosive in its concentration and complexity, bursting with stone fruit flavors along with those of hay, honey, cooked sugar, golden raisin, dried apricots and lavender…

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Finally! A Good Reason to Open Cab Franc Ice Wine

I’m probably being a bit unfair in the title of this post. After all, some of the region’s top producers make a cabernet franc ice wine. And on occasion, it’s nicely made, drinkable. The problem is that too often, it tastes like ballpark nachos. I suppose the science types among us might be able to explain why that is. But even if it’s good, it’s hard to find a good occasion to open a bottle. How much can you drink? Let’s pretend, for a moment, that you recently purchased a bottle on a wine trip at one of the lesser…

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