February Finger Lakes Wine Events

Upcoming Wine Events (some events have no cost listed. Please contact the wineries to find out about costs):

Casa Larga Vineyards - Sweetheart's Saturday
Feb 09, 2008 (Sat) @ 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Place: Casa Larga Vineyards
Fairport
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart at Casa Larga! Our Wine Shop will be offering a variety of special treats in honor of the holiday, including samples of our Blanc de...more: http://www.localwineevents.com/Finger-Lakes-Wine/event-153251.html

Celebrate Chocolate & Wine Weekend
Feb 09, 2008 (Sat) to Feb 10, 2008 (Sun) @ 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Place: Wineries along the Seneca Lake Wine Trai...
Watkins Glen
Cost: $25/person or $18 for designated driver
Enjoy a self-guided tour around beautiful Seneca Lake. Pick up your gift item at your assigned starting winery then start sampling chocolates, or foods prepared with chocolate, ...more: http://www.localwineevents.com/Finger-Lakes-Wine/event-159728.html

Cobblestone Farm Winery Sweet Sensation Weekend
Feb 09, 2008 (Sat) to Feb 10, 2008 (Sun) @ 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Place: Cobblestone Farm Winery and Vineyard
Romulus
Cost: None
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved one. Enjoy fine wines paired with complimentary tasty treats such as cheesecake, apple pie, and chocolate brownies. more: http://www.localwineevents.com/Finger-Lakes-Wine/event-165233.html

Fire and Ice Ice Wine Festival - Casa Larga Vineyards
Feb 10, 2008 (Sun) @ 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Place: Casa Larga Vineyards
Fairport
Cost: $12; $10 for Club Members
Ice Wine takes the stage at this annual event! 2008 marks the 12th year for Fire and Ice™, the celebration of Casa Larga's Ice Wines. Each year, this festival draws hundreds of i...more: http://www.localwineevents.com/Finger-Lakes-Wine/event-153252.html

Casa Larga Vineyards - Fiori Wine Enthusiast's Dinner
Feb 29, 2008 (Fri) @ 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Place: Casa Larga Vineyards
Fairport
Join Casa Larga for an elegant evening of celebration! The dinner is part of a month-long celebration of award winning wines, including Fiori Vidal and Fiori Cabernet Franc ice wi...more: http://www.localwineevents.com/Finger-Lakes-Wine/event-153253.html

Then LIFE steps in...

Wow. I just re-read the last blog and realized how quickly things change. How wonderful that warm, content, Christmasy-cozy feeling of the last blog entry. Then the wind blew in changes - changes that have yet to fall out and settle. It all started with that beastly blast of wind and the flying pieces of siding, branches and whole trees (not to mention it was TRASH DAY)! After surviving days of electrical ons and offs, life again settled into the quiet routine of work, school, home. Little did we know event number two was just lurking around the corner. Sitting down to an Instructional Council meeting, my cell rang and I heard those dreaded words that every parent hopes they'll never hear... "I was in a car accident Mom." Thankfully, no one was hurt badly (except the cars) but it was a hair whitening, palpitation producing experience! Watching the other car being towed away, flashers flashing, police sweeping the glass, I knew it could have been much worse. So we deal and move on from event number two. Event three started inconspicuously but gained momentum throughout the month. Our Logo/Poster-boy Golden, Rory, went in for his rabies shot and a possible "lump" was uncertainly found. Bringing him back for a second "feel" a week later and it still was as clear as mud. Blood work, however revealed high liver enzymes (not a good sign and indicative of a fast acting cancer), but an ultrasound would possibly clarify things. Meanwhile Rory is acting just fine - chasing Maggie, jumping on the bed.... The ultrasound showed what looked to be a healthy liver, kidneys and heart, but a very large mass possibly coming off his spleen. It was important to get him in to have it removed or it could burst and he could bleed out. Long story short, as he lay on the table, the vet called to say it was indeed coming off the liver (with other bumps evident on the liver) and what did I want to do. GULP. Rory has had the large (size of 2 grapefruits) growth removed as well as part of his liver. He has been at the vets for 5 days now and we're hoping to pick him up tomorrow. The good news is that every time I call, they re-iterate how they can't believe this dog just went through major surgery. I hope we bought him some time and I really hope our run of 3's is over!

I will add a review of the Hermann J. Weimer Vineyard in the next blog posting as well as some upcoming events And I will keep you posted on Rory's progress.

Golden toasting by a cracklin' fire!

Here are the promised photos of the new room. Rory especially loves the warmth of the fire. This is pure dog contentment!

It was an exceptionally busy holiday season this year. Between births, birthdays, a graduation and Christmas, it has been quite a December!

Our family seems to have a tradition of having birthdays as close to Christmas as possible! On December 23rd my nephew George turned 8 this year. December 24th another nephew, Adam, turned 26. On January 3rd, Adam's daughter Noel will be 7. And we have a new Christmas blessing -Adam's newest daughter, Mia Rose, was born on December 18th! What a tiny, sweet delight she is. She slept peacefully through the presents, the food and all the hoopla! Her parents report that she sleeps pretty well through the night also. How lucky is that?

We have so much to celebrate this New Year. A friend who has just completed radiation treatments for cancer, a child whose college applications are all mailed, a new room for wine tastings in the new year, many dear friends with whom to celebrate throughout the year, and lots of great wines from the 2007 growing season to taste! Our New Year's resolutions will center around New York State wines. Jim and I hope to take a course in February offered at the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua that will give us an internationally recognized certification from the Wine and Education Trust of London, England. We will also keep up our tradition of wine tasting parties throughout the year as well as excursions to the wineries to bring the best wines back to you.

In the mean time, we'll sit back with a glass of Standing Stone's Cab Franc and enjoy the room, the warmth of the fire and the company of our goldens.

So, raise your glass for a toast to 2008. May it be a fabulous, memorable year!

Chateau Lafayette Reneau

The snow is falling as we sit by a warm fire enjoying a glass of Seyval Chardonnay from Chateau Lafayette Reneau. Yes, the "Porch Room" is done and the fireplace installed. What better way to enjoy the winter than to look out from a toasty-warm room with a glass of wine! I'll post photos soon, I promise. (It could be a good wine-tasting room.....)

Chateau Lafayette Reneau (established in 1985) is located on the East shore of Seneca Lake in Hector, NY and produces a wide variety of premium wines. This delightful Seyval (51%) Chardonnay (49%) blend is light, fruity, yet has a subtle oak/chardonnay flavor, too. A unique twist on a chardonnay that goes down easy and is easy on the wallet ($9.49 at the winery)!

When we were at Chateau Lafayette Reneau this summer we sampled 15 wines for $4.00 and met Jenny the winery cat! We enjoyed the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.99) which had a smooth cherry and smokey flavor that should age well. We also liked the 2006 Dry Riesling (surprise!), the Seyval Chardonnay and the Pinot Noir Blanc (referred to as "a giant step above White Zinfandel" and a real deal at $9.49).

The setting was gorgeous (especially so now with snow on the ground) and the staff was fun. I don't know how the wine server remembered all the details about each of the wines while serving them all to various small groups in random order around the bar. She was amazing.

Chateau Lafayette Reneau will be among the wineries on Seneca Lake celebrating the Bargain Bash - Saturday through Sunday, January 13th - 21st, 2007, 10:00am-6:00 pm. This Seneca Lake Wine Trail Event is open to the public and a good way to stock up on the wines you like to help you through the rest of the snowy, cold winter!

Tom Turkey and Standing Stone Vineyards

What wines did you serve with your Thanksgiving dinner? We opted for a Gewurztraminer and a Cabernet Franc with dinner and a tasty late harvest vignoles as our dessert wine. I chose the white wine, a 2006 Gewurztraminer from Casa Larga Vineyards. Light and slightly spicy, it really complimented the big bird and all the trimmings. Jim, the red wine lover, chose a 2006 Cabernet Franc from Standing Stone Vineyards. This cab franc is delicious - light and dry, lots of cherry/fruitiness, and a smooth finish. We tried a piece of dark chocolate with it tonight - it tasted like chocolate covered cherries! Really wonderful!
This wine took us back to when we visited the Standing Stone Vineyards this past summer. Located on the east side of Seneca Lake near Hector, NY, Standing Stone has a spectacular view of the Lake! Now I sit here writing in 28 degree weather with snow on the ground, but the day we were at Standing Stone was one of those 90 degree days. We walked from the stifling heat into the cool, cottage-like tasting room. Outside the tasting room is a huge deck overlooking the lake. The owners do it all - landscaping, serving people and bottling their wines. We sampled their 2005 Reserve Chardonnay, the 2006 Gewurztraminer, the 2006 Riesling, the 2006 Cabernet Franc and the Vidal Ice Wine. All were very, very good, but the Cabernet Franc ($17.99) and Gewurztraminer ($18.99) were our choices to bring home.
We haven't tried the Gewurztraminer yet- we're saving it for a Gewurztraminer tasting/rating one of these days. But the Cab Franc was the perfect addition to our Thanksgiving table! Yum!

Mayers Lake Ontario Winery and Vineyards

Wow! Another stunning fall day! We have been so blessed this fall with the warm weather and stunning fall colors... AND everything I read says that this year's grape harvest is the best in many years. I can't wait to start tasting the '07 wines!

Jim and I took a few minutes out of our weekend to visit a small winery close to us - Mayers Lake Ontario Winery and Vineyards located at Mayers Cider Mill. Mayers makes their wine currently in Webster, but grows their grapes on land in Hilton, NY. They are planning on building the beautiful winery in Hilton that they depict on their labels. We had visited Mayers this summer to purchase beer-making supplies (they have wine making supplies and classes also!) and knew they were working on the new wine tasting room and deck. The room is quaint - nicely decorated with a small wood bar, tables and shelves. They offer polo shirts and baseball caps with their logo as well as unique wine bottle bags and other wine paraphernalia. We both started out with a delicious semi-dry Riesling (of course). I went on to sample the Pinot Grigo (appropriately light and smooth) and the Pinot Noir (light, fruity with a nice finish). Jim sampled the Oaked Chardonnay (nice and oak-y!) and the Cabernet Franc, which he especially enjoyed. They also offer specialty wines (reds and whites), a Blush Chardonnay, a nice middle-of-the-road-in-sweetness Cayuga wine, and sweeter Niagara and sweet Riesling wines. As new wines are bottled, they are added to the sampling list. If you are up North in the Webster area, it is well worth the stop (pick up some cider while you're there, too!). We are eagerly anticipating the opening of the new winery in Hilton when it is complete. We'll keep you posted!

"Best of Show" Newsletter

It's finally here - our "Best of Show" Newsletter - the super-informative newsletter in which we champion New York State wines to help you with your wine selection needs. This first issue will spotlight the "Best of Breed" Rieslings and you will want to lap them up! Now is the time to stockpile those Rieslings to pair with your Thanksgiving turkey! Your guests will howl about your wonderful selections much like Maggie howls for her latest love - Friz (as in frisbee).

When you sign up to subscribe to the semi-annual e-newsletter we will also include you in exclusive notifications of hidden treasures and limited offerings. What a deal for $5.00! Please send a note with your name, e-mail address and payment to:

Finger Lakes Wine Retrievers

PO Box 8105

Webster, NY 14580

Riesling, Riesling, Riesling

The PACK got together last night to judge the best of the Finger Lakes Rieslings and what a tough job it was! Jim and I retrieved our 10 favorite Rieslings this summer: 2006 Dr. Frank Dry Riesling, 2006 Dr. Frank Semi-Dry Riesling, 2006 Prejean Dry Riesling, 2006 Brickstone Semi Dry Riesling, 2006 Hermann Wiemer Semi-Dry Riesling, 2006 Hermann Wiemer Dry Riesling,2006 Fox Run Riesling, 2006 McGregor Semi-Dry Riesling, 2006 Thirsty Owl Dry Riesling, and 2005 Tierce Dry Riesling. Now remember, we are just average dogs, no sophisticated palates in this group! We had cool rating sheets, bottles in bags labeled A,B,C, etc. and cups with the letters of the wine bags written on them. One cup per wine. To cleanse our palates, we had plenty of Gouda, cheddar and other delicious cheeses that compliment Rieslings. We poured the first 5 and were set to go! Whoa – this suddenly seemed like work. The Aromas, Color and Clarity were easy. It was the Taste, (body, acidity, intensity),Finish and Balance that were tough. Remember that each of these wines is excellent on its own, so to try to compare them, well, was darn difficult! We forged on even as some encountered obstacles! The next 5 wines seemed easier – maybe we were getting the hang of all this. We took a break, ate our seafood chowder in Panera bread bowls (yum), and got ready for rating the 5 finalists. There were some surprises and shocks in our final scores, but overall, we were fairly consistent among ourselves in our findings. To find out how each of the wines scored, you’ll have to subscribe to our newsletter (information on how to subscribe forthcoming this week), so stay tuned. Now I’m dogged tired and need a nap!

Thirsty Owl Wine Company

We were in the liquor store today making our wine selections for our wine tasting at the Yarn Tasting at Spiritwork Knitting this Friday night. Looking at all the Finger Lakes, wines brought back many great memories of our travels to the wineries this summer. Our trip to the Thirsty Owl Wine Company was one really fond memory that I’ll tell you about in a minute. First, I want to let you know about the wines we will offer at the yarn shop. We thought we would present a variety of wines for all wallets and tastes! Our lowest priced but very delicious favorite is Fox Run’s Arctic Fox. This is a white blend (table wine) that is very drinkable with or without food pairings. Next, we will have a Casa Larga’s Limited Release American Oak Reserve Chardonnay (2004). For Riesling lovers, we will offer Dr. Frank’s Semi Dry Riesling (2006). Brickstone’s Cabernet Franc (2004)will be our red selection and we’ll also have Prejean’s Late Harvest Vignoles (2005)in our dessert wine category. To find out what you need to do to attend go to Spiritworkknits.com. We’ll take lots of pictures to post here, too.
So, about the Thirsty Owl Wine Company… we traveled to Thirsty Owl on the west side of Cayuga Lake on a hot summer afternoon. Being famished by the time we got there from Skaneateles, we decided to eat at their bistro. We sat out on their beautiful pergola overlooking the lake where the intertwining grape vine shade, and soft breeze and made it at least ten degrees cooler. The bistro offered Panini sandwiches, salads, sandwiches and a great fruit and cheese platter. We had the fruit and cheese with a glass of wine- a totally relaxing way to spend the afternoon! (It would be a blast with a group of friends, too) Alas, we did have to leave the pergola and go inside to the beautiful tasting room. We especially wanted to try the award winning 2006 Dry Riesling – an exceptional wine! Of the dry whites, we tried the 2005 Chardonnay, the 2006 Snow Owl (a white blend of sevel blanc and Cayuga white grapes), and the 2006 Vidal Blanc, which was delicious. The semi sweet tasting included a 2006 Riesling and the 2006 Diamond. The diamond grape is a sister grape to the Niagara grape (think Lake Niagara wine). This had a very grape-y smell, but had a much softer, milder taste. We also tried the 2005 Pinot Noir with its subtle plum taste and smoky finish. We enjoyed our visit to Thirsty Owl. Check out their website at http://www.thirstyowl.com/ or better yet, visit the winery. It is worth the trip and I will bet the view is awesome with the fall foliage!

White Springs Farm and Estate Winery

Every day it seems you read about new wineries in the newspaper. The Three Brother's Winery and Estate was mentioned the other day in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. So many road trips - so little time! Jim and I did get to one of the newer wineries this summer - White Springs Farm Estate Winery on Seneca Lake. It was officially established as an independent winery last year according to the 6/17/07 Democrat and Chronicle. Located on the tip of Seneca Lake in Geneva, NY it has location, location, location and the wine tasting room is beautifully constructed as you can see. We sampled 6 wines for $2.00 (the $2.00 was refundable toward a wine purchase). With Corey pouring the wines, we tried dry whites: 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, 2005 Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio, 2005 Dry Riesling, 2006 Gewurztraminer, then the semi sweet 2005 Riesling, and lastly the dry red 2004 Cabernet Franc. All were $12.99- $14.99 a bottle. The Sauv Blanc was very nice - light and crisp. Jim enjoyed the floral quality to it. The Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio is a 56% Chardonnay, 44% Pinot Grigio blend. The Chardonnay comes across first and it finishes lighter. We also enjoyed the Gewurztraminer with it's long spicy finish and crisp citrus flavors. The 2005 Riesling was fruity, but not too sweet and the Cab Franc was nicely smokey. The winery suggests food pairings on their tasting list - a nice touch. The winery also offered a Friday Night Flight Series which will finish on September 14th (6:30 pm) with "Reds for Every Taste". Tickets are $15 per person and reservations are required. We are sure this winery will do well! Visit it on your fall trip around Seneca Lake.