Posts Tagged“teroldego”

Corks of the Forks: A Look at the “Other” Local Grapes

A couple months ago, I devoted my column space to what has become the de facto “signature variety” for Long Island wine country: merlot. There are approximately 700 acres of merlot planted on Long Island — roughly 30 percent of the total vineyard acreage — and there are reasons for that. It grows and ripens dependably and consistently, even in all but the most horrid of vintages. That’s important here and why it’s the backbone of the industry.  But the East End isn’t like many parts of Europe where regulations dictate what grapes can be grown where. Long Island growers…

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Uncork the Forks: The Physical Side of Winemaking

Two weeks after I spent the better part of a day picking and processing grapes at Southold Farm+Cellar, parts of my body still ache. Yes, that’s a commentary on my present level of physical fitness — and no one would ever suggest that picking grapes is work meant for someone who stands 6 feet, 3 inches — but it’s also a reminder of all of the hard work that goes into the wines we love drinking so much. Most people picture the life of a winemaker as an artistic, romantic one spent walking through vineyards, examining the grapes, perhaps plucking…

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Teroldego: The Story Behind a Red Wine Curiosity

When you’ve worked in the wine industry for years, it takes a little bit more to excite you. You’ve tasted great wines; you’ve seen beautiful landscapes. But if you’re Nancy Irelan, you couldn’t help but be inspired by the scene in front of you: teroldego vines climbing the terraces of Alto Adige, seeming to stretch toward the sky, or at least high into the Dolomites. “It’s just incredible,” Irelan said to no one in particular. On that crisp April day, Irelan felt re-energized by the experience. She has become a kind of red wine pioneer in the Finger Lakes, but…

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Red Tail Ridge Winery 2010 “RTR Vineyard” Teroldego

I don’t have a lot of experience with the teroldego grape. In fact, the first one I ever tasted was the sparkling rendition Nancy Irelan makes at Red Tail Ridge Winery. So, it was with a completely blank slate that I approached Irelan’s Red Tail Ridge Winery 2010 Teroldego ($35) — this time the still version. Color fetishists will no doubt appreciate the dark, almost inky color of this wine, but I’m more interested in its other attributes. Blueberry preserves and ripe strawberry aromas are joined by notes of fennel, Chinese Five Spice and hints of toasty vanilla. Round and…

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Local Kickstarter: Help Southold Farm + Cellar Bring Weird Grapes to the North Fork

Chardonnay. Merlot. Chardonnay. Merlot. Chardonnay. Merlot. As good as Long Island wine can be — yes, including merlot and chardonnay — it can sometimes feel like a lot of the same. Especially because chardonnay and merlot aren’t what anyone would call trendy or sexy grapes right now. There is cabernet franc here too of course, and sauvignon blanc has grown in popularity, which is great. There are also one-winery (or two) wonders like pinot blanc, chenin blanc and tocai too. Personally, varietal malbec is a category that I’m excited about as. Regan and Carey Meador, the couple behind Southold Farm…

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The Finger Lakes 2011 Red Wines of the Year Finalists: Explaining the Diverse Selections

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Photos from our WoTY 2009 Tasting by Morgan Dawson I’m happy to see that the NYCR selections for Finger Lakes red wines of the year have generated a fair amount of feedback and debate. There have been many questions: Why no cabernet franc? How come every wine is made from a different grape? Keep in mind that for a wine to be eligible, it has to have been released in 2011. Many of the red wines released in 2011 came from the uneven 2009 vintage. The glorious 2009 September produced strong conditions for Finger…

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