Saturday, May 26, 2007
DECANTER, the influential London-based wine magazine, has a great piece by Howard Goldberg on why New York City is such a tough market for New York wines, along with a sidebar highlighting Long Island wineries Raphael, Roanoke Vineyards, and The Grapes of Roth. Describing itself modestly as “The World’s Best Wine Magazine” on the cover, Decanter in fact holds tremendous sway internationally, both in print and on line (http://www.decanter.com). The article describes New York City as a “country within a country” when in comes to wine, the world’s most competitive wine market with little awareness of local wines or regional chauvinism so characteristic of major cities in other wine producing states like California or Washington. Bob Ransom, co-owner with his wife Susan Wine of the Vintage New York wine shops that sell only New York wines, provides great perspective on both the progress and prospects for the little grape in the Big Apple. Mr. Goldberg also mentions that a tipping point for New York wines could occur in late 2008 if the White House is occupied by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has been a huge supporter of the New York wine industry and agriculture in general. During Bill Clinton’s presidency, one Hudson Valley farm winery became a particular favorite: Clinton Vineyards, owned by Ben and Phyllis Feder.
NEW YORK WINES & DINES, our month-long promotion of New York wines with New York foods in New York restaurants, is precisely aimed at addressing the issue described so well in Decanter. Throughout October, top New York City restaurants and wine shops will feature New York wines, with restaurants also creating recipes using New York foods—Long Island seafood, Hudson Valley apples, Finger Lakes vegetables, North Country cheese and ice cream. When we last did this in 2005, over 60 great restaurants joined in to give New Yorkers a taste of the many great foods surrounding them. Happily, this year we even have a significant budget to support the program, thanks to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Catharine Young and many of her wine country colleagues, with support from Assembly Ag Chair Bill Magee. We’ve selected Wine & Food Associates, a highly respected firm run by Rory Callahan, to coordinate the promotion, which will include special events, public relations, advertising, and an update of our dedicated web site (http://www.newyorkwinesanddines.org). This year we’ll put major emphasis on attracting the “millennial” generation of young adults, along with ethnic and cultural groups long ignored by most of the wine industry. With a grant from the Department of Agriculture & Markets, Wine & Food Associates recently conducted a highly successful “trade mission” with media and trade representatives visiting the Finger Lakes and Long Island regions, capped by a statewide wine tasting back in New York City.
WINE TRAILS throughout New York have been tremendously successful in generating tourism, regional identity, and brand loyalty—and similar ventures like beer trails. This week, Ag & Markets Commissioner Patrick Hooker unveiled the latest: a Farm, Apple & Cuisine Trail program launched with the Cooperstown Beverage Trail. The Farm, Apple and Cuisine Trail Designation Program promotes area agricultural opportunities and allows for 10 farm trails, 7 apple trails and 5 cuisine trails to be designated in the State. The Cooperstown Beverage Trail, near the Baseball Hall of Fame that attracts 400,000 visitors annually, connects the great Fly Creek Cider Mill with Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown Brewing Company, and Bear Pond Winery. Among the offerings: sweet cider, hard cider, apple wines, Belgian-style ales, micro-brewed English-style ales, and grape and fruit wines. The new program capitalizes on two of the hottest tourism trends—agri-tourism and culinary tourism—as Americans discover the many benefits of fresh, local, safe foods and beverages right from their own backyards. More information about the new program is available at http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us.
CONGRATULATIONS to two farm families on opposite sides of the state for much deserved recognition. Goold Orchards in Renssalaer County near Albany, an apple farm that will celebrate a century of family business in 2010, was named 2007 Agricultural entrepreneur of the Year by the New York State Small Business Development Center. Sue Goold Miller and her husband Ed Miller are very involved in the community, hosting farm festivals and school tour outings, and drawing over 20,000 visitors to the Annual Apple Festival. In addition, their “Whistle Stop White” apple wine won “Best Hudson River Valley Wine” at the recent regional competition (http://www.hvwga.com). For more information on Goold Orchards, visit http://www.goold.com. Way out west in Westfield, Steve and Helen Baran won the I Love My NY Farmer contest in the Wine & Grape category, sponsored by NY Farms!. Besides farming 180 acres of Concord grapes used for juices, jams and other grape products, the Barans are also actively involved in their community. Helen is President of the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association which promotes area economic development, while Steve is Chairman of the Chautauqua County Farmland Protection Board and President of Growers Cooperative Juice Company.
UPSTATE NEW YORK CHICKEN is a great recipe using Concord grape juice as an ingredient, adding both terrific flavor and health benefits. One of a series of special recipes created by New York Wine & Culinary Center Executive Chef Dan Martello, this one calls for Concord grape juice to deglaze the pan, creating a flavorful sauce for the chicken. Concord grape juice is high in heart-healthy antioxidants, and may have other health benefits as well. This year we’re sponsoring major research into the effects of Concord grape juice on memory function. It’s been shown that moderate red wine consumption has benefits in this area, particularly as we age, so why not purple grape juice? According to the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, grape juice made from Concord grapes was the #1 beverage in antioxidant capacity per serving in an independent study of over 1,000 common foods. We’re also continuing a major program to promote the health benefits of Concord grape juice created by Mason Selkowitz McDermott. For the chicken recipe and more information about the health benefits of Concord grape juice, visit http://www.healthyconcordgrapes.com.
A Votre Santé To Your Health
Jim Trezise
JimTrezise@nywgf.org, email
http://www.newyorkwines.org/, web
http://www.healthyconcordgrapes.com/, web