Turning 30 Twice Tour: A Toast to Long Island and Finger Lakes

It’s no secret, I started out 2023 with the realization I’m turning 60 (I don’t feel it) and life is going by fast. It is time to start living it!!

In this Turning 30 Twice Tour, I am discovering more of what New York wine country has to offer beyond the Hudson Valley, and I invite you all to join me in this exciting journey!

I decided to visit the two New York wine regions that I haven’t visited in quite a while, Long Island and Finger Lakes Wine Country. I will say, since Covid, I really like the new wine-tasting experience. Yes, some wineries you still belly up to the tasting bar, but many have seated tasting. I found the seated tasting much more enjoyable. Reservations are usually required, so if you are planning a tour, I would suggest giving each winery a 2-hour window and take into consideration the travel time from point to point. The best days to go tasting are any days but Saturday and Sunday.

Long Island Wine Country

The first region in my “Turning 30 Twice Tour” was Long Island Wine Country. This was the perfect meeting place for me and my friend Sharon (also turning 60) as I drove up from New Jersey and she from Boston. Long Island Wine Country is a good 2 hours from Manhattan. As you drive east on the LIE, the scenery goes from, concrete to congested to country. Wine Country. The region is home to over 57 wine producers dotting the North and South Forks.

Upon arrival, you'll find yourself in a maritime climate with sandy soils, allowing the region to cultivate a vast array of grapes focusing on Bordeaux varietals and blends. Here, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon grow well as do Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

I will go into more detail on the wineries I visited, but give you an idea on how to plan your tour, we met at 1pm at Lieb Cellars and had a nice tasting with a beautiful charcuterie board. Many of the wineries offer cheese plates and charcuterie boards. We then went to Bedell Cellars before heading to our hotel in Greenport.

Day 2 began with bubbles at Sparkling Point.Our next appointment wasn’t until 2pm at Pindar Vineyards, so we stopped at Lenz for a quick tasting right next door. Pindar is the largest winery on Long Island and we had a wonderful tour with Pindar himself.

On our way out of town on Day 3 we stopped at Macari Vineyards. We were sitting there enjoying our tasting when Gabriella Macari approached us to see if we would like a tour of the vineyard. Of course we said yes! It was such a great time and the perfect ending to our 3 days in Long Island Wine Country.

Finger Lakes Wine Country

After a wedding in Buffalo we wine tasted our way home in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Nestled in Upstate New York, the Finger Lakes region is the largest wine-producing area in New York State, known worldwide for its top-tier Rieslings.

This region boasts over 100 wineries, most spread along the shores of Seneca, Cayuga, and Keuka Lakes. The unique microclimate, influenced by the deep, cool lakes, provides an ideal environment for growing vinifera grapes, producing wines with a balance of ripeness and acidity.

We began with a stop at Ravines in Geneva and then went to Trestle Thirty-One, but it was closed :(. Then we headed down Seneca Lake to Anthony Road, Fox Run, Hermann Wiemer, a stop at Tabora Farms for lunch, ending the day at Lakewood Vineyards before heading to the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel.

Day two began with a very nice tour and tasting at Red Newt. Then a stop at Boundry Breaks, Sixty Eight Cellars (on the way to Cayuga Lake) and ended the day at Sheldrake Point.

Long Island and Finger Lakes Wine Country offer unique expressions of New York State's wine-growing prowess. They serve as a compelling reminder that great wine can be found all throughout New York State!

Notable Quotes from Wine Bloggers Conference in the Finger Lakes #WBC15

There is so much to be learned at the Wine Bloggers Conference.  Both about wine and and about marketing.  Instead o writing an indepth review I thought I'd share with you notable quotes. Some are funny, some serious and some educational.

Karen MacNeil Keynote

"Wine should never be stripped of its culture. To know Malbec, you need to know the Tango" ~ Karen MacNeil

"Be on top of your game all the time!" ~ Karen MacNeil

"Why are hybrids such crappy grape" ~ Wine Folly (Madeline Puckette)

"Wineries that make bad hybrids, also make bad vinifera"

"Generation Open - tired of Cabernet and Chardonnay"

"The only barrier we have to fight is medocrity" ~ Karen MacNeil

"I want to make wine that people can drink" ~ Craig Camp, Cornerstone Cellars

" I travel so much I passed myself in the air" ~ Sally, Brix Chocolate

"This is the most engaged group of people to talk to" ~John Wagner

"There are 13 different soil types in Alsace"

"Alsace has 38,300 acres of vines, 90% white wine, 15% of the vineyards are organic or biodynamic."

"Swiss tour guide says if you don't look someone in the eye during a toast it's 7 years of bad sex."

"We are heading to Lodi to get dirty for #WBC16"

Finger Lakes Wine Country Trip: NY Wine & Food Classic to Wine Bloggers Conference #WBC15

I just got back from a packed filled week in the Finger Lakes.  Here are some of the highlight of my week that began working at the New York Wine & Food Classic which is a wine competition of all of New York State wines.  When that concluded I moved from Watkins Glen to Corning for the Wine Bloggers Conference.

I had a week full of eating, drinking and learning lots.

Chef & Wine Judge Jerry Pellegrino preparing our opening evening dinner

Smoke Salmon Belly which was amazing

All the wine glasses ready for the final sweeps

The view from our room at Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel

New York State wine tasting I hosted in my room Wednesday

Tour of the Corning Glass Museum

Wines of Virginia at Hand & Foot Restaurant

A trip to Finger Lakes Community College to see REO Speedwagon. Me and Bryan Hitt the drummer

Ribera &  Rueda wine seminar and tasting

Education on the bus to Wagner Vineyards

Along with wine & cheese on the bus

All local and homemade dinner at Wagner Vineyards

Chocolate covered onion and Tawney Port pairing

Pouring Hudson Valley Wines at the NY wine tasting at Rockwell Museum

Jordan Wines after party

Miner after party

Packed room for my seminar on Blogging to X

Alsace Riesling seminar and tasting

Austria Riesling tasting

Conclusion dinner at the Corning Glass Museum

Banfi after party

Spanish wine after party

Time to go home and back to reality

2012 Finger Lakes Wine Riesling Launch Party

It was called Riesling Hour but I think it was more like a virtual Finger Lakes Wine Riesling launch party. The big party that spanned coast to coast was organized by Stephanie Jarvis of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance. While this is no easy party to organize, it was the climax of three events held throughout September. Big Congratulations to Stephanie for her hard work at this successful program and for including me in the party.

The evening of September 28 I spent on twitter with new friends and old ones discussing the 2012 Finger Lakes Riesling.  The 2012 growing season was an interesting one and a very early harvest. Justin Paolicelli, Winemaker & Vineyard Manager of Three Brothers Wineries and Estates describes it as "easy and difficult.  Warm and dry summer lead to a warm fall days and cooling fall nights.  Acids were degrading a lot quicker than the brix were accumulating which is unusual." That means the winemaker has to work their magic in the cellar.

All across the country we were sharing our thoughts on the media samples that were sent to us.  The wines on my tasting table were 2012 Heron Hill Dry Riesling, 2012 Standing Stone Vineyards Old West Block Riesling and 2012 Thirsty Owl Wine Company Riesling.  I along with many other people joined in on twitter to discuss our wines.  Some were tasting the same, others were tasting Riesling from the many other producers in the Finger Lakes.

We'll begin with the 2012 Heron Hill Dry Riesling. The brix clocked in at 21.5 at harvest and was fermented in stainless steel tanks.  Aromas of lemongrass, flint and a hint of pear.  The wine is very nicely balanced with soft acidity.  Flavors of apricot and honey lead the way to a lingering finish with a hint of citrus. This wine is priced at $13.99

Standing Stone Vineyards 2012 Old West Block Riesling. The grapes for this Riesling clocked in at 22.5 brix and were harvested September 27, 2012. The Old West Block comes from vines that were planted in 1972. The wine was fermented in stainless steel before heading to the bottle.  The minute I opened this bottle I got a wiff of fresh peaches. Wow!  Other aromas in the glass once the peaches settled down were apricot and some pineapple.  One sip found peach and tangerine finishing with some white pepper dancing on my tongue. The wine wasn't as acidic as I expected from a Riesling from this region but I really enjoyed it and found it quite elegant.

I also used this Riesling to caramelize my onions and mushrooms I was making for dinner. You know the saying, a little wine for the food and a little wine for me.  I tried to match the sweetness and flavors in the Riesling to the veggies.  It worked out great!  They almost didn't make it to dinner.

There are only 129 cases of the Old West Block Riesling produced.  It sells for $18.99 bottle.

The final Riesling for me for the evening was Thirsty Owl Wine Company's 2012 Riesling.  This Riesling had a beautiful nose of white grapefruit, white peach and pear. On the palate flavors of white grapefruit, white peach and pear revealed itself.   Of the three Rieslings tasted this evening this one had the best acidity and was labeled medium dry with RS at 1.6%

There were many Riesling tasted this evening that ranged from Dry, Medium Dry, to Semi-Sweet, to Ice Wine.  What was the most enjoyable was watching what everyone else was tasting, their comments and the conversation with the wineries and fellow Finger Lakes Wine enthusiasts.

Follow-up Note: On day two I had leftover wine (imagine that) and I made Moroccan Carrot Soup with the Thirsty Owl Riesling and served it with a glass. It was delish!

Moroccan Carrot Soup

1 1/2 tbs butter

1 cup chopped onion

1lb carrots peeled and sliced

3 cups chicken broth

1/2 tsp cumin

1 tbs honey

1 tsp Riesling 

1/8 tsp ground all spice

Melt butter in large sauce pan.  Saute onion and carrots for about 4 minutes.  Add broth and bring to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes until carrots are tender.

Remove from heat and puree in batches in blender.  Put pureed soup back in pot and whisk in cumin, honey, allspice and wine.

Simmer for 10 minutes on stove and serve with toasted French bread.

New York Gruner Veltliner by Fulkerson Winery

When you hear Gruner Veltliner you think of a Austria.  Well it's only natural because Gruner is the most dominant grape planted throughout the country. But where else can you find wine made with the same grape outside Austria. We don't have to look to far, just to the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Fulkerson Winery is one of a few wineries in the Finger Lakes region producing Gruner Veltliner.  Planting their Gruner in 2010, the 2012 vintage is their inaugural release.

The wine is all estate grown and was harvested at 20.8 brix.  The alcohol level clocked in at 12%.

The nose is crisp and clean, quite floral with hints of apple and peach.

The palate is full of tart green apple, peach, citrus and finishes with a soft spice.

The retail price for this wine is $12.99

Disclaimer:  I received this wine as a media sample from the winery.




                  

Happy Riesling Birthday to Me

Selection of Finger Lakes Riesling in the Gioquindo Household 

In case you didn't know, this week is Riesling Week, sponsored by the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance and Finger Lakes Wine Country. There have been many featured events all week long all over New York as 30  Finger Lakes wineries release their 2010 Rieslings.

Tonight in celebration of my Birthday from 6pm - 10pm is the worlds largest Riesling tasting as we celebrate the 2010 vintage.  Actually, it's a celebration of Finger Lakes Riesling, and it happens to be my birthday.  So grab a bottle of Finger Lakes Riesling, plan a nice meal paired with Riesling, and invite your family and/or friends over to enjoy it with you.  If you are on twitter use the hashtag #FLXwine and tweet about your tasting and your pairing.  I will be drinking one of the above bottles.

I leave you with this wonderful video to give you a background on the Finger Lakes Wine Country and what it has to offer and it's Riesling.

TasteCamp East - Short review of what I learned

Well I have piles of notes to go through on many wines and wineries along with video I shot, but thought I'd give you a short review of TasteCamp East 2010. I will post individual tasting reviews, experiences and video under - "A Wine Region Away - TasteCamp 2010 - Finger Lakes Wine Country"

What I learned at TasteCamp

1. No matter what lake you go to it's 4 1/2 hours from Poughkeespie
2. Some wineries make exceptional Rieslings other do not.
3. You can grow and produce good red wine vinifera in the Finger Lakes
4. As Riesling ages - the smell of Petroleum and Diesel Fuel become present in the wine.I was reminded of that on my walk/run this morning as the school bus passed I had a Riesling moment.
5. I am wondering if the enamel on my teeth will ever be the same.
6. It's great to get together will fellow wine bloggers.
7. No matter if you are new to wine blogging or an resident wino, everyone welcomes you with open arms.

8. Tom cleans up nicely when he's going on a BOAT. Even splurges on RedCat.
9. Lenn and Evan did a wonderful job in organizing this event
10. The Finger Lakes Wineries bent over backwards to make sure we experienced all aspects of Finger Lakes Wines and viticulture.  Their hospitality was beyond expectations.

I just hope in the future other wine regions will recognize the importance of wine bloggers and open their doors to us so we can share the information with the world.

Here is a little video from the photos I took.  I put it together real quick to share with all of you. 

Three Sisters Project Unites New York's Three Wine Regions

What happens when you get six New York wineries from three of New York's premier wine regions together?  You get some sisterly love and a innovative cooperative project that brings together the three wine regions in New York State under the Three Sisters Project.  From April 3 - May 2, 2010 you will be able to taste, experience and purchase wines from the sisters at each of the participating wineries in each of the wine regions.

The participating wine regions and wineries include the following:
Hudson Valley: Benmarl Winery & Hudson-Chatham Winery
Finger Lakes: Anthony Road Wine Company & Fox Run Vineyards
North Fork of Long Island: Lieb Family Cellars & Macari Vineyards

The goals of the Three Sisters Project are to help increase overall consumer awareness of the great local and quality wines being produced in New York State.  This will give wine enthusiasts a chance to sample some great local wines around the state without traveling to that specific region.

“This has been a great way to work with our sister wineries, share information, try new styles, introduce new wines into our tasting rooms, and get the word out on New York state wine,” said Carlo DeVito, project director and co-owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery. “Interest in local foods and wine have never been hotter. We think this is a great opportunity.  


I personally think this project is a great opportunity to bring together the three premier wine regions in New York State at the closest wine region to you.

“The major thing with New York wines is building awareness,” says Matthew Spaccarelli, owner of Benmarl Winery. “The Quality and consistency is already in place. This program is a great way to showcase what the wineries throughout New York are producing.”

While the final list of wines is being well thought out, you can view what will be available at the sister wineries by visiting the Three Sisters Project website

“From the Lake, to the River, to the Sound, wine from the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley and North Fork of Long Island will be sampled at Macari Vineyards, Mattituck…….come and meet the Three Sisters!”  Alexandra Macari, Macari Vineyards

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Ravines 2007 Finger Lakes Pinot Noir

Just a wine region away and a 3 hour drive from the Hudson Valley is Finger Lakes Wine Country. I was up there in February and stopped at Ravines Wine Cellar for a tasting. We had tasted their Riesling the night before and made a mission to find this winery to taste the next day. (we did get lost, but eventually found it. GPS isn't always correct - and men don't ask for direction..need I say more)

This Pinot Noir was outstanding! It was bright cherry in color and had smoke and earth on the finish. The nose had the classic earthy smell that is a characteristic of pinot noir.

This wine was smooth. You could taste the malolactic fermentation as it had a smooth finish with a slight hint of butter. The bing cherry really came forward in the wine.

This wine was light and paired very well with my maple glazed pork.

If you are in the Finger Lakes, this winery is a must to put on your list.

Finger Lakes Palate

This past weekend, I ventured to the Finger Lakes Wine Country for the Palate. The Palate was a week long event of special wine activities, including private wine tastings, special pricing on activities, lectures and receptions.

We arrived on Friday and headed up to Hazlitt arriving just before the 1pm scheduled private tasting. Unfortunately Justin decided to take lunch and forgot we were coming. We were suppose to have a special preview of the 2008 vintages. That's okay Justin, as your tasting room staff was wonderful and we selected the different wines for our tasting.

We left Hazlitt and visited Atwater Estates and Chateau Lafayette Reneau before heading over to see our friends John and Stacy McGregor at McGregor Winery. After our visit with John we headed to a special reception at the Radisson before the beginning of "Cabin Fever." At this reception we got to taste a number of wineries selections. What stood out most to us was Ravines Riesling and Shaw's Cabernet Sauvignon. We then headed to the streets of Corning to Cabin Fever. This was a great event. Different stores and restaurants hosted a different winery. As you entered the establishments, you got to taste wines from different producers in the Finger Lakes. We finished off the evening at The Birds Restaurant for a wonderful dinner.

Saturday we were up and out to be at Shaw Vineyards at 11am for a private guided tour and tasting through his award winnings wine. Joining me at this event were Rob Lane - The Finger Lakes Weekend Wino, Melissa Dobson, and Morgan McLaughlin - Finger Lakes Wine Ladyand Executive Director of Finger Lakes Wine Country. All of us under one roof! This event was an event not to be missed. Steve is a very talented winemaker and grower. He doesn't rush to get his vintages to market and nurses them until he feels they are ready to be bottled and marketed.

We started off with a verticle tasting of Riesling followed by a walk to the tank room. In the tank room we were treated to three different 07 Rielsings. These Rieslings were all grown on the property, but in different areas. It was amazing the difference in the three. Then if was off to the Barrel Room. Here were were treated to many different Reds going back to 2007 that were still in the barrel.

After our time with Steve at Shaw we went to visit Ravines, Lamoreaux Landing, Thirsty Owl and Standing Stone. Yes we drove to all three of the lakes. We couldn't have done it without our GPS. We ended the evening at Tony R's Steak & Seafood for a wonderful dinner.

Just because it's the middle of winter the Finger Lakes are still beautiful. I enjoyed getting out of my car and looking at the lakes. It's still breathtaking no matter what time of year it is!
This weekend we were on a quest for white wine. We really enjoyed the Rieslings, Chardonnay's and Gewurztraminer's that were produced at the wineries we visited. Three cases of wine later, we drove the 4 hours home.