We waited until the cows came home!

It's not every day you run into a cattle stampede on the east side of Seneca Lake on the way to visit wineries! OK, so they were calves and there were only about 8 of them. They had obviously

"escaped" from home and were giddy with freedom. They had traffic stopped in both directions as they merrily darted back and forth down the road (jumping over the white and yellow lines). You could almost hear them talking to each other:

"Hey, let's head for that big wine barrel down the road."

"OK, we're all with you!"

"Well, no, maybe we should turn around..."

"OK let's turn around."

"Hey look, there's some really sweet looking grass over there!"

"Let's go for it - hey watch that white line - come on!"

"No, I really think we should..."

As we carefull drove around them on our way to Damiani Wine Cellars, we couldn't help but chuckle at their great escape and obvious enjoyment of freedom. They reminded me of school kids let out for the summer - free at last and not sure what to do first. Oh, to live in the moment like that!

Damiani Wine Cellars (http://www.damianiwinecellars.com/) is owned and operated by Phil Davis and Lou Damiani, friends and natives of Seneca Lake. They produce limited quantities of "fine, hand-crafted wine." Their wines are dry or "off dry" and they even offer a few unfiltered wines (like tasting it directly out of the barrel). In the white wines, they are currently offering Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio,and Riesling all 2007 vintage. They also offer a Dolce Bianco NV (blend of Vignoles, Cayuga and Vidal grapes) which won the Bronze Medal at the 2007 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and a Silver medal from the 2008 Golden Nose Competition. The reds include Vino Rosso NV (Pinot Noir and Rougeon,Vincent and Leon Millet hybrids blend), 2006 Pinot Noir, 2007 Pinot Noir, 2007 Cabernet Franc (double gold medal winner and scored an 87 in Wine Spectator), 2006 Merlot, 2007 Merlot (double gold and gold medal winner and Wine Spectator score of 86), 2006 Meritage and a 2007 Barrel Select Merlot Reserve wine. We had a great time doing vertical tastings of the Pinot Noir and Merlot as well as pairing wines with artisan chocolates available at the winery. Damiani's wines were delicious - smooth and flavorful. While we know the reds in the Finger Lakes keep getting better, Damiani's really excel. And what a thrill to see their wines (and the Finger Lakes Region) represented in Wine Spectator! Hard choices, but we ended up purchasing the Cab Sauv (unfiltered) and the 2007 Merlot. Then we found 2 bottles of the Cab Franc at a local liquor store (the winery is sold out), so will try one of them soon and let you know our impression. My friend, Jon, who was at Damiani Cellars earlier in the day, purchased the Barrel Select Merlot (it is a double gold, gold and silver medal winner with a rating of 87 in Wine Spectator). Jon is planning a return trip in October when the 2008's are released! We're with you Jon, we will definately make a return trip to Damiani Wine Cellars! (Hopefully the cows will stay home!)

Shaw Vineyard and other spring fieldtrips

This spring Jim and I enjoyed several wine trips and a vertical tasting!

In March we were back at Standing Stone for a vertical wine tasting of Cabernet Franc. Marti (the owner) was full of great information and it is just so much fun to be able to compare wines throughout several years. I believe we tried the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007. The type of summer, methods of pruning and wine making improvements all contributed to the taste of the wine in a given year. The wines were accompanied by delicious crackers, breads, cheeses and spreads. It was a lot of fun as always.

April saw us at Hunt Country. Sadly Gus, the Bernese Mountain Dog and winery mascot passed away, but we spied the new puppy in her kennel. The winery said they were planning on releasing a "Sweet Gus" wine in May. As always, their wines are delicious. We stopped down the road at Dr. Franks for some more enjoyable wine tasting. We really liked their Lemberger, which is available only at the winery. We also got quite an education and a demonstration on the use of proper wineglasses for the type of wine you are drinking and the difference (yes, you can tell the difference) it makes in the taste of the wine.

In May the kid came home from college, so we just did more drinking in general as we all readjusted to each other! By June we made the trip to Shaw Vineyard on the West shore of Seneca Lake. Shaw Vineyard http://www.shawvineyard.com/ is a boutique winery that specializes in dry wines and the philosophy of "quality over quantity." Housed in a beautiful timber framed structure, the tasting room opened in 2007. Steve Shaw Jr. , whose father is the winemaker and owner, poured us tastes of their award winning wines. True to their philosophy, they offer the following white wines: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Dry Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Being Riesling lovers, we thought the Dry Riesling was excellent and purchased a bottle, however the reds really stood out. They offer a Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cab Sav, and N.V. Keuka Hill Reserve (a Bordeaux style blend). We purchased and last week enjoyed the 2003 (yes, 2003) Cabernet Sauvignon. Steve believes in letting his reds age before bottling them much like what is done in Europe. It was delicious on its own as well as paired with our beef dinner. An interesting note is that Steve Shaw and friend, Morton Hallgren winemaker and owner of Ravines Cellars, share space at Shaws to craft their wines. We highly recommend a trip to Shaw Vineyards- it is well worth the visit.

Coming up: the winemaker's dinner at the Pultneyville Grill and the cattle stampede on the way to Damiani Wine Cellars!

Wine in Supermarkets? What's your opinion?

There has been an awful lot in the newspapers lately about selling wine in supermarkets in New York State. Wineries are divided between those who see it as an avenue for more exposure (and who are blacklisted by liquor stores as a result) and those who remain loyal to their liquor stores. Consumers are divided also between those who feel it would increase drunk driving fatalities and those who would like the convenience of picking up a bottle of wine to go with dinner at Wegmans. I think it is an interesting question and I would like to hear from people in one of those 35 or so states who do sell wine in supermarkets. How has it impacted liquor store sales, the local wine industry and the state's revenues?
Some thoughts:
Will grocery stores be selling the lower end wines mainly and if so how will that impact the local wine industries and liquor store sales? I know I go to the liquor stores for their expertise and to get a "nice" bottle of wine.
How much of the NY State wines will the groceries carry in relation to California wines or wines from other countries? Will it be a huge plus for the local wineries or will just some of the more prominent wineries get their table whites and reds on the shelf?
Why can't the liquor stores expand in other areas to compensate? One wrote that different types/flavors of vodkas alone could take over their stores. What about liquor stores being able to carry beer to make up the losses in wine sales?
As for the ability of youth to get their hands on the wine from grocery stores and therefore increase the number of teen drinking and driving fatalities, I guess I would have to do a little research to get some objective statistics on that.
What about those of you in those states where they sell wine in grocery stores? What can you tell us? I would certainly like to see it happen if it is truly promoting and increasing sales for our local wineries and I find it appalling that local wineries would get their product delegated to the bottom shelf in local liquor stores because of their stand on the issue. How can we find the win-win for liquor stores and wineries in this scenario?

Fox Run's Valentine Dinner - Awesome!

Whodunit?

Most cities have "All of (insert name of your city) Reads" to promote literacy by having a book the whole city or town reads and discusses at their book clubs! Well now we have "All of the Finger Lakes Region Solves the Wine Murder Mystery!" This great promotional idea comes from a Webster consulting firm, CLI, with the goal of promoting Finger Lakes Wineries and their excellent wines. So - go to http://www.areuinthegame.com/home.htm to find out how to play the game and gather clues. The deadline to submit your entry form is January 31 with winners to be announced February 2nd. You will want to start playing now as some clues can only be obtained at the wineries. And yes- there is a cash prize! Wouldn't it be cool if one of us figures out who killed the world renowned wine expert at a tasting conference held in Geneva NY (at a place sounding very similar to Belhurst Castle pictured above)? See you sleuths at the wineries!

2008 Reflections

As the end of the year draws close, I reflect on this past year and a few of the wonderful wines we've tried recently and which deserve a mention:

Hermann J. Wiemer 2007 Merlot


Hermann J. Wiemer 2007 Estate White


Dr. Frank 's 2006 Merlot


Standing Stone Pinnacle 2005


Standing Stone Cab Franc 2006

Happy New Year!

Drink Finger Lakes Wines - responsibly!

Fox Run Vineyard's Harvest Winemakers Dinner

My loving husband, bless his soul, knew that the only way to help me come to grips with my monumental birthday was to wine and dine me! And he made a spectacular choice. Nothing could have been more perfect than our Harvest Winemakers Dinner at Fox Run Vineyards on November 1. You can see by the photo that it was an enchanting evening! From the picture perfect setting in the old wine making room to each course and glass of wine to the company, the evening was spectacular!

Jim and I entered the Fox Run Winery at 6:00 pm sharp and proceeded to the front wine tasting room facing Seneca Lake. Hors d'oeuvres abounded: crab cakes, bacon wrapped scallops, shrimp, cheese galore and more. You could sample any of the wines to go with them. We were approached by a gentleman who asked what wine we wanted to try and of course our first response was "Riesling" . He suggested the semi-dry as we were having the Dry Riesling with one of our dinner courses. We got chatting and the gentleman introduced himself to us as Peter Bell (the winemaker!!!) We had a great conversation about NY State wines, fun wine gatherings (especially our "Try the Tierce" party) and kids in college and otherwise. Then it was time to eat...

The group all went downstairs into the candle-lit Barrel Room and took our seats at the beautifully set long table (There were 30 of us). As we were taking our seats and chatting to the people around us, Peter came over and sat next to me! The owners of the winery, Scott and Ruth Osborn sat down at the other end of the table. Scott got up and introduced himself , his wife, Peter, executive Chef Frank Caravita and then spoke a little about the winery and the dinner and what to expect.

Peter then got up to tell about the first wine/food pairing:

Celery Root Soup with Bacon and Green Apple along with Fox Runs 2006 Chardonnay. Delicious! Our next course was a mixed Baby Green Salad topped with Fried Brie Cheese and Walnut Dressing. This was paired with their exquisite 2007 Dry Riesling. Course 3: Cheese Raviolis with Pumpkin and Sage Sauce paired with the 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir. The fourth course was Roasted Pork Loin with Root Vegetables and Pear Chutney paired with the 2006 Lemberger (very much like a Shiraz) and finally dessert - Normandy Apple Tart paired with Tawny Port. PHEW! Everything was out of this world. In between courses, we had plenty of time to learn about how wine glasses influence the wine's taste, what good things are in wine that keep us healthy, what "umami" is (google it!) and mostly about the wonderful wines this winery produces (and has produced for the past 15 years). Fox Run has been chosen as one of the top 100 wineries in the world by Wine and Spirits Magazine and Peter Bell is considered one of the top 22 winemakers in the United States! This dinner is proof positive of why they are so successful.

After the dinner/feast we were able to purchase some wines, so we happily left with a bottle of 2006 Lemberger (which we have already enjoyed with Jim's famous smoked pulled pork) and a bottle of the 2005 Reserve Cab Franc that we will save for an occasion. We also had time to chat with the Scott and Ruth and let them know what a fantastic time we had at the dinner.

Fox Run will host another winemakers dinner in February (Valentine's Dinner) and Jim and I are already looking forward to it!

Conesus and Hemlock Lake Wineries, Deer Run and Eagle Crest

Wow, what an absolutely spectacular autumn day in upstate New York. And the perfect day to check out some wineries we have never been to before. Pack member Lorri and I had attended a wine-tasting fundraiser for AIDS a few weeks back and tried some wines from various wineries, one of which was Eagle Crest. So on this perfect fall day a few weeks back, Jim and I decided to go to the wineries themselves.














Deer Run Winery (http://www.deerrunwinery.com/), located on the west side of Conesus Lake was founded in 2002 by George and Joan Kuton. Their son, Scott has joined them as vineyard manager. The building used for wine production, tasting and other functions was finished in 2003. They currently offer 19 varieties of wine! Jim and I tried several wines and ended up bringing home the Chambourcin 2006 which is made from Noiret grapes and is peppery and dry ( .4% RS and a steal at $10.99 a bottle). We had it with pizza tonight and it stood up to the pepperoni quite well! We also bought their Cab Franc at $14.99 because Jim loves Cab Franc! We may have a Cab Franc blind tasting party, so need to gather some of these wines up. We are also going to take advantage of their special offerings such as their dinners and special tastings as they are only 30 miles/minutes south of us.

Eagle Crest Vineyards(http://www.eaglecrestvineyards.com/), located on the western shore of Hemlock Lake, has an unusual story. Founded in 1872 by Bishop Bernard McQuaid as O-Neh-Da Vineyard, they made sacramental alter wines for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. While they still make sacramental wines, under the current name of Eagle Crest (for the bald Eagles that nest in the Hemlock Lake area), they specialize in making pure grape wines from Finger Lakes grapes, using only natural grape sugars (no corn sweeteners or cane sugars).
We tried their dry wines: Hemlock Lake Red ($9.99) Cabernet Franc ($13.99), unoaked Chardonnay ($11.99), Riesling ($12.99), their semi dry- On-no-lee($8.99), Midnight Moon ($10.99) and their Solar Flare ($13.99 - a bargain) late harvest wine. They also offer Hemlock Lake White ($9.99), a dry blend of Seval and Vidal Blanc grapes, sweet wines: Diamond ($8.99)and Niagara ($7.99), and even sweeter Queen of Hearts($8.49), Yummy($8.99), and Concord ($8.99). We thought all the wines we tasted were very good and ended up taking the Solar Flare (thinking about having a dessert wine party) and the Hemlock Lake Red to have with pasta one of thee nights.. Eagle Crest uses screw tops on all their wines so you don't lose any wines to a bad cork. It also comes in handy when your wine puller broke like our Bully Hill one did this month after 25 years of pulling corks!

Stay tuned. Jim and I went to Fox Run's 5 course dinner with the wine maker last weekend to celebrate my birthday (OK, it's official, I'm OLD) and it was fabulous!

Standing Stone's Vertical Wine Tasting

Let me set the stage: early August, 85 degrees, a big tent in the front of the winery facing the lake where a wedding had been the day before (what a setting for a wedding!), a cloudless summer day with a blue sky and a gentle breeze. We sat on (what is now) an enclosed porch facing the lake as we enjoyed the wines and the informal chat with the winery's owner, Marti Macinski, a lawyer turned vintner with her husband Tom. This was a vertical wine tasting where you sample the same wine from different years. The wine - Cabernet Franc - yum!

The Cab Franc's we tasted were from 1995, 1998, 2001, 2005, and 2006. If you have never been to a vertical wine tasting, it is a real experience to taste older wines. Sometimes you don't really know what to expect from an older wine and wonder, when you open it, if it is corked or if that's the way it is supposed to taste. Vertical tastings or tastings of library wines give you an experience that most of us have never had who don't have extensive, really aged wines in our wine cellars (or the boxes of wine in the basement as the case may be). Jim and I went to a tasting at McGregor's Winery about 5 years back where we tasted a really old (20+ year old) Riesling. It tasted like petroleum! That is what old Rieslings apparently taste like, but I would have thrown it out after smelling it! Go figure!

Anyway, these Cab Franc's really showed the growth of the Cab Franc wine at Standing Stone. The 1995 Cab Franc was what you would expect from a red wine of the Finger Lakes region at that point in time. It was OK, but nothing special. 1998 was a little better because it was a good growing year, but still - none of the nuances and flavors that make a really good Cab Franc. The 2001 was MUCH better due to different techniques in the growing, harvesting and aging processes and a new winemaker who came on board in 2000. We both liked the 2005 the best. This was a fantastic growing season and all the improvements came together to produce a wonderful, smooth Cab Franc with lots of cherry and plum flavors. The 2006 was good, too, but not quite as full bodied as the 2005 due to a different growing season. (And we know the 2007 growing season was really good, too, so get ready for another excellent Cab Franc)! We discussed terrior (how the minerals in the land affect flavor) with Marti. Seneca, Keuka, and Cayuga Lakes all have different flavors in their Cab Francs depending on the lake the grapes are grown on as well as the side of the lake they are on.

Standing Stone Winery in Lodi, New York offers vertical and other wine tastings. Check out their website http://www.standingstonewines.com/ for more details. We enjoyed it so much, we joined their wine club which allows us to come back for more vertical or library wine tastings as well as receiving 2 bottles of wine every few months.

I think a good idea for our next wine tasting with The Pack would be to blind taste Rieslings or Cab Francs from each lake and see which ones we like best. I'll get back to you with the results! Better yet, let me know if your wine group does this and what you liked and I'll post everyone's results!

A Toast to Rory

Please find a glass and a lovely bottle of something golden - the American Oak Reserve Chardonnay from Casa Larga, Lamoreaux Landing's Chardonnay, or perhaps a lovely, sweet late harvest (Standing Stone) or ice wine with a deep golden, amber color. Raise your glass in a toast to Rory, who went out with his boots on. To a super golden dog!