By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor 2011 was supposed to be a big harvest at Hudson-Chatham Winery where, according to owner Carlo DeVito, the plan was to harvest 20% more fruit than last year. Mother Nature — largely in the form of Hurricane Irene — had other plans. "We probably just held serve, so we may…
These are a few wines that have crossed the NYCR tasting table recently but will not be reviewed as part of a standalone post. As always, these are transcribed almost directly from my notebook with little editing: Adair Vineyards 2009 Rosalais ($12): Beautiful pale ruby color. Nose of cherry Twizzlers and strawberry candy. Medium body…
Yours truly with the staff of Schulze Vineyards & Winery at last year's Finger Lakes Wine Festival By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Niagara region wineries don’t often get the chance to pour for large audiences and even if they did, most don’t have the volume of wine that they can just pour away as…
Just a sampling of what our editors and contributors are drinking. We were almost all wine this week… until I had to mess it up with a big New York-brewed beer. Evan Dawson: Raymond Usseglio 2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape As the referee in a weight-loss contest for two friends — a contest recently ended in swift and…
For this week's edition of What We Drank, our contributors share some of their favorite libations from the Thanksgiving weekend. As per usual, it's a diverse grouping of delicious sips. From Julia Burke: Leonard Oakes Estate 2008 Frontenac and Heart & Hands Wine Company 2006 Pinot Noir My actual Thanksgiving meal could be charitably described…
By Julia Burke, Niagara Escarpment Correspondent Now that the 2009 harvest is finally drawing to a close, I can power-wash my hiking boots, B-Brite the wine stains on my shirts, scrape the grape residue out from underneath my fingernails, and get ready to do it all over again as an intern in South Africa in…
Leonard Oakes Winery's winemaker Jonathan Oakes By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Escarpment Editor Tasting notes by Julia Burke Leonard Oakes Winery has remained somewhat under the radar here in the Niagara wine region. Lying just outside the Niagara County border a few miles into Orleans County, this young winery hasn’t yet benefited from the busy traffic…
By Lenn Thompson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief When most New Yorkers hear "Windham" they think about the popular ski slopes there. But James Bateman, owner, vineyard manager and winemaker at Windham Vineyards, is growing grapes and making wine there instead. Of course, with those ski slopes, its no surprise that Bateman, an Englishman, presides over the highest elevation…
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Correspondent With only twelve wineries in the Niagara region, news just doesn’t happen everyday. During most of the winter, a few wineries may only open on weekends, or in one case, one weekend out of the month. So now that winter is loosening its grip, some good news has surfaced with…