This part and the bolding are added by me- Community member and Niagaracool participant HANS WALTER-PETERSON is mentioned!!! Saturday, June 16, 2007
“NEW YORK’S GREAT GRAPES” are now displayed on our web site for use by consumers, wineries, restaurants and wine retailers. Also known as the “varietal series”, this is a downloadable collection of attractive point-of-sale materials describing 18 of the most common varietal wines produced in New York, from Catawba to Cayuga and Chardonnay. For each wine type, there are five different graphics—two types of shelf talker, table tent, price card, and case card—featuring photos of the grapes, the wine, and food that it pairs with. The brief accompanying text describes the grape’s characteristics, the wine’s flavors, and a few recommended foods, along with two simple scales depicting ranges of dry to sweet, and delicate to robust. These materials are designed to be used by wineries in their tasting rooms, along with restaurants and wine shops, to give consumers some simple but useful information for selecting wines. They are simple to download and can be printed in whatever quantities are desired whenever they’re needed. The project was suggested by Lillian Taylor of Bully Hill Vineyards, directed by NYWGF Vice President Susan Spence working with photographer Randy Tagg and designer Book Marshall, and make possible by funding obtained by the New York State Senate. The “New York’s Great Grapes” series will provide useful merchandising materials for our New York Wines & Dines program in New York City this October, and New York Wine Month in November. To view and download the materials, visit http://www.newyorkwines.org, go to Information Station and Hot Topics.
NAVIGATING WINE COUNTRY has never been simpler, thanks to our web-based “Map Center” that gives visitors road maps to every winery in New York State. The Map Center complements several online regional guides—Long Island, New York City, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie, Central New York and Lake Ontario—supplemented by a statewide guide with more general information on how to enjoy wine country. New York wine lovers can just go to http://www.newyorkwines.org, and click on Wine Country to find the regional information, Map Center, and even an Event Center showing what’s going on in the different regions each month. . There’s also basic information about the regions, attractive photos by Randy Tagg and an eye-pleasing design by Book Marshall under the direction of Susan Spence. Wine Country tourism season is here, so plan your trip today—the easy way.
NEW YORK GOLD was again discovered at the recent Critics Challenge competition, topped by two great sparklers from Chateau Frank (2000 Blanc de Blancs, and 2000 Blanc de Noirs), joined by Fox Run 2006 Riesling Reserve, Fulkerson 2005 Semi-Dry Riesling, Glenora 2006 Dry Riesling, and Pindar Vineyards 2006 Johannisberg Riesling Ice Wine—reaffirming New York’s strength in Rieslings of many styles. (Also, a couple weeks ago I inadvertently omitted Rooster Hill’s 2006 Silver Pencil from the IEWC Gold list. Sorry!) California wine journalist Dan Berger, a great fan of Riesling, recently defended American Rieslings after a local wine merchant said there aren’t any good ones in response to Berger’s major article in the online Appellation America. They’re not German Rieslings, Berger responded, and they’re not supposed to be; they’re American Rieslings with different styles, different tastes, and different virtues. Watch for more New York Gold in the near future: the results of last month’s Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition will be unveiled this weekend, even while I’m judging at the San Francisco International. It’s definitely wine competition season: swirl, sniff, sip, savor, and spit (about 150 wines a day).
EDGAR’S restaurant at Belhurst in Geneva has received its 14th consecutive “Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator magazine for its extensive and eclectic wine offerings. Located on the first floor of Belhurst, Edgar’s offers guests the beauty of wood carvings in the interior of the 1880’s stone castle overlooking Seneca Lake, along with a selection of over 250 wines from around the world dominated by a specialty of Finger Lakes wines. The Belhurst properties, which are on the National Register of Historic Properties, include Belhurst Castle (built in 1885), White Springs Manor (1900), and the new Vinifera Inn (2004). With its warm ambiance, expansive lawns and stunning lake views, Belhurst has been voted “One of the Most Romantic Places in New York State.” Due to its strong support of New York wines, Belhurst has also received our “Restaurant Award” for promoting New York wines as part of a fine dining experience. More info: http://www.belhurst.com.
HANS WALTER-PETERSON is the new Finger Lakes Grape Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension, replacing Tim Martinson who was promoted to CCE’s statewide coordinator. Hans brings years of experience with him, having served in a similar position in the Lake Erie region, and has been instrumental in shaping the agendas for our tri-annual Viticulture conferences. Cornell Cooperative Extension has been a vital part of New York’s quality revolution, communicating the results of research to growers and winemakers through conferences, field visits, frequent emails and other means. This year during harvest, as part of our Total Quality Focus program, CCE grape specialists from all regions will be given grants to provide a steady flow of information on how to maximize the quality of the grapes, and the wines they’re made from.
ASEV is the acronym for the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, a very important organization of researchers, cooperative extension professionals, industry representatives and others who focus on improving grape growing and wine making. ASEV has an Eastern Section which hosts an annual conference, with the 2007 event on July 15-17 in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. The three-day gathering at the Holiday Inn Lehigh Valley Conference Center will focus on “Soil Moisture and Vine Vigor” as the technical topic, complemented by a festive banquet and the awarding of graduate scholarships. For growers and wineries, it’s not to be missed; more info is at http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/asev/.
“Grapes are the most noble and challenging of fruits.”
n Malcolm Dunn, Head Gardener to the 7th Viscount Powerscourt, c 1867
A Votre Santé To Your Health