Rendezvous with Riesling at the NY Wine and Culinary Center

OK so that's Fox Run's Merlot in the glass, but it really makes the words stand out!

My friend John said the other day that he doesn't like going to big wine events because you never get to speak to the owners or winemakers and such personalization is the beauty of visiting the Finger Lakes wineries. The Rendezvous With Riesling event, however, was exactly that. Practically everyone we spoke with was either a winery owner, winemaker or both. With 44 wineries represented from throughout the Finger Lakes (and a few from Long Island), we barely scratched the surface because we had such fun talking to the owners/winemakers. The New York Wine and Culinary Center provided a beautiful backdrop in which to showcase these wineries without ever feeling crowded or uncomfortable. There were 7 gourmet food sponsors who provided samplings also as well as Rohrbach's Brewery. It was the perfect venue to get to know new wineries that we haven't visited on our "retrievals".

Several stand-outs beg to be mentioned first such as Anthony Road's 2008 Martini-Reinhart Selection Riesling Trockenbeeren (Wine Spectator 93 points). The comment I wrote about this late harvest treat was - WOW. Truly a treat. We were also able to sample Dr. Konstantin Frank's 2008 Bunch Select Late Harvest (Wine Spectator gave it 92 points). Again this was an exceptional treat that we were thrilled to be able to try. We also enjoyed Damiani's 2008 Riesling. They are just starting to bottle it so it is still young, but very zippy, crisp, citrus-y and full of promise. (And yes, this is the Damiani Wine Cellars that we have come to love for having exceptional red wines...)

We visited several favorites, but were very impressed with a winery we had never visited, Keuka Spring Vineyards. We spoke a length with Len Wiltberger, the owner, who poured us the most delicious glass of 2008 Gewurztraminer (Best White Wine at the San Francisco Chronicle Competition). It had just the right balance of flowers, citrus and pepper. We were also able to compare the 2009 Riesling (just taken from the barrel for the event) to the 2007 Reserve Riesling. It is always fun to taste the differences in young vs. older vintages to taste the effects time has on taste. Both were excellent; the 2009 has the promise of mellowing out nicely. Other new wineries we tried and enjoyed were Highland Cellars/Hickory Hollow and Boomer Creek Vineyards.

Least I forget, we had some awesome gourmet sausage from Hartmann's Old World Sausage in Canandaigua. I wish I had written down the names of all the sausages, but one was better than the next. We will definitely get some for our next wine party!

So, the evening truly was all about meeting the winemakers and hearing their stories; the pride in their voices as they told the tales of their favorite wines or newest creations. Where else on earth could you make the connection with these hard working people who are so passionate about their craft? THAT'S what makes our Finger Lakes wine region so unique.

Camp Good Days and Special Time's Dinner and Live Auction

Saturday night was an evening to remember! Jim and I volunteered to help Camp Good Days and Special Times at their Wine Dinner and Live Auction last Saturday night. This is a cause we feel strongly about and it was made even more poignant with the sudden passing of my friend and coworker, Steve, 2 weeks ago from cancer. Jim and I both lost our fathers to cancer and my uncle is currently in hospice. Yes, Gary, we too would like to see a cure for cancer in our lifetimes.

Last Thursday we began by attending the training on what we would need to do as wine ambassadors. We learned we would each be responsible for a table of guests; bringing them wines and helping them with their bids! We were nervous and a bit apprehensive of the unknown.

Saturday dragged until we left the house at 3:00 to head to the Rochester Plaza Hotel downtown. As soon as we arrived, signed in and received our aprons and boas, we were whisked away on a tour by Chris Van Zile (that's what she does!) and we learned our positions for the evening.

Job #1 was to man pouring station #5. We were located in the main dining room (see the beautiful photo of the classy set-up) We had a lot of fun pouring wine for silent auction bidders, especially because the wines at our station were of the raspberry, honey/mead, hard cider varieties. (Tough sell, but had fun doing it). Then we grabbed our bottle of the Best of the Show Chardonnay - Prejean's 2007 Reserve Chardonnay and a red (we both took great Cab Sauv's) and lined up for the grand entrance of the wine ambassadors (I SHOULD have taken a picture of Jim dancing with his boa wrapped around his neck!). Campers from Camp Good Days formed a drum line signaling the opening of the dinner event and our entrance. We danced to our tables and got ready for...

Job#2 and the main job for the rest of the evening! To make sure our table was happy and enjoying themselves and bidding on the fabulous items for the live auction. How about a 2 week stay at your own private villa in Argentina? Or an Executive MBA Program Scholarship at RIT? Not academic? What about touring the Finger Lakes in your own private turbine jet helicopter? Or joining the pit crew at Watkins Glen Race track? If you were merely thirsty you had many opportunities to bid on cases of award winning wines, library wines, wine and food pairings and dinners and many, many more fabulous items. As the evening wound down (around midnight), the wine ambassadors and other volunteers were all treated to pizza and gold medal wines, a band playing, and a chance to connect with others and re-live the evening!

We met so many new friends, and felt so privileged to be a part of contributing to such a worthy cause. We soon discovered our fears and anxieties were for naught as we were among a great group of individuals. It was truly an honor to be a part of this wonderful evening.

We got home late, but Maggie waited up for us - sort of!

PS I understand we broke all records! Bidders were so generous that there will be many more children forgetting their illness' for a while and enjoying Camp Good Days and Special Times this summer.