Saturday, June 30, 2007
RIESLING RENDEZVOUS at Washington State’s Chateau Ste. Michelle this week was a world-class event, reflective of the world’s largest Riesling producer (over 700,000 cases under various brands). Besides making a large quantity of high quality wines, Chateau Ste. Michelle steadfastly remained dedicated to Riesling even when it wasn’t as popular as it has now become—the fastest growing white wine in America. Recently featured in the highly influential Food & Wine magazine as America’s Best Value Winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle brought together the world’s top Riesling producers and key media for a three-day celebration of this most noble and versatile white wine varietal, hosting a unique blend of tastings, seminars, and fabulous food pairings. Winemakers from Germany, Alsace, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Washington, California, Oregon, New York and Michigan presented their wines and engaged in a highly productive dialogue, while wine writers known for their expertise in Riesling like Dan Berger, Howard Goldberg, and Stuart Pigott gave their valuable perspectives. The tastings and seminars were complemented by luncheons and dinners created around Old World and New World Rieslings. Several leading Finger Lakes Riesling producers—Anthony Road, Dr. Frank, Fox Run, Sheldrake Point, and Standing Stone—were an integral part of the conference. The wines showed well, the winemakers did a great job describing the uniqueness of the region and the wines, and all came away with a better understanding of the global picture for Riesling, both in terms of the long European history and global production. Perhaps most significant in terms of this conference’s long-term legacy is that it stimulated conversations among industry leaders on ways to collaborate to push Riesling over the top as the new “great white”. Riesling lovers unite!
CONSTELLATION BRANDS, the world’s largest wine company based at the northwest corner of New York’s Finger Lakes, released its 2007 Annual Report this week, with breathtaking numbers: $6.4 billion (with a “B”) in gross sales, and $5.2 billion in net sales, marking another record year of strong growth exceeding market expectations. Created in 1945 as Canandaigua Wine Company by the late Marvin Sands, one of the finest gentlemen I have had the privilege of knowing, Canandaigua grew from modest roots into a major international force in the wine, beer and spirits industries under the leadership of Marvin’s elder son Richard, who will remain as Chairman but transfer the role of CEO to his brother Rob, who has served as President and Chief Operating Officer for several years. To me, what has been most striking about CWC/CB is how they have always been “team players” in the New York, national, and now international industries. After I was hired as Executive Director of the New York State Wine Grape Growers in 1982, but before I had moved into that position, I got a call from CWC Vice President Bert Silk who introduced himself, welcomed me, and pledged the company’s support. That has never wavered. Constellation remains our largest member by far, and is always actively involved, but in over 25 years has never told me what to do or say. That is collegiality. On both national and international levels, Constellation has been a key player in supporting industry organizations like WineAmerica and FIVS, the international organization headed by Jim Finkle, Senior Vice President for External Affairs for Constellation Brands. Constellation’s Centerra Wine Company is by far New York’s largest purchaser of wine grapes, and we wish them continued success.
NEW YORK GOLD was found in Michigan at the recent Great Lakes Wine Competition, where Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars dominated the medals with a Double Gold (2005 Cabernet Sauvignon) and 5 Golds (2000 Blanc de
Blanc, 2005 Cabernet Franc, 2006 Gewurztraminer, 2006 Pinot Gris, and 2006 Dry Riesling). Wagner Vineyards also earned Double Gold for its 2006 Semi-Dry Riesling, and Gold medals went to Fulkerson 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hazlitt White Stag and 2005 Pinot Noir, Hunt Country 2006 Semi-Dry Riesling and 2006 Vignoles, Keuka Spring 2005 Riesling, and Lamoreaux Landing 2006 Gewurztraminer. In the 2007 Northeast Big E Gold Wine Competition, Hazlitt led the New York charge with a Double Gold for White Cat (voted Best New York and Best Grape Wine) and Golds for White Stag and 2006 Riesling. Pazdar also got a Double Gold for Hot Sin and Gold for Summer’s Ecstasy; Dr. Frank got Double Gold for 2006 Rkatsiteli and Gold for 2006 Semi-Dry Riesling; and Hunt Country got Gold for its 2006 Vignoles.
LEGISLATIVE SEASON is over in New York, and once again the wine and related industries fared well, thanks to the efforts of New York Farm Bureau and Long Island Farm Bureau. While none of the new laws (which we hope will be signed by Governor Eliot Spitzer) is nearly as controversial or broadly significant as the 2005 interstate direct shipment legislation, all advance the interests of the industry. Both the Hudson Valley-based Shawangunk Wine Trail and Long Island’s North Fork Wine Trail have been amended to accommodate new wineries and routes. A bill sponsored by Long Island’s Senator Ken LaValle and Assemblyman Marc Alessi specifies that caterers may serve spirits at weddings and other special events without closing the tasting room. And a bill sponsored by Hudson Valley Senator Bill Larkin and Assembly Agriculture Committee Chairman Bill Magee provides new privileges to New York-based farm distilleries, including the ability to sample and taste on site. While there is still much more legislative work to be done in future years, we are grateful to our legislators for their efforts, and for remembering that the New York grape, wine and grape juice industry contributes over $3.4 billion annually to the State’s economy—which will increase with enlightened public policy.
WORDS ON WINE have come from all sorts of people and sources over the ages, from the Bible to the Talmud and Shakespeare, and you can find a lot of their quotes in the “Words on Wine” section of our web site (Go to http://www.newyorkwines.org, Information, Hot Topics, and scroll way down to “Words on Wine”, or just click here: http://www.newyorkwines.org;articles.ro ... 0Final.pdf .) We’ve organized it by various topics (Wine and Health, Food, Nature, Art, etc.), and are always looking for more, so if you know of some that aren’t yet included, feel free to email them to jimtrezise@nywgf.org.