Chateau Frank Celebre
Thought this Cremant-style sparkling wine from Dr Konstantin Frank was super. Riddled by hand and aged ‘sur lies’, this sparkling Riesling offers apple on the nose and tiny, creamy bubbles. Super enjoyable.
Around ($19.99).
13 November 2010 
Anthony Road Wine Company – A Seneca Lake Jewel
November 13, 2010 By
Anthony Road Wine Sign
On a recent visit to the Finger Lakes wine region of New York, I had the pleasure of visiting Anthony Road Wine Company at the recommendation of Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report. My initial reaction to seeing the beautiful structure the tasting room resides in was – wow, what wines might be waiting for me in such a facility?
Anthony Road Winery was opened in 1990 by Ann and John Martini in a farm shed on their property. It has since prospered into an award-winning Finger Lakes winery. Johannes Reinhardt is the winemaker and comes from a German winemaking family involved in the business since 1438.
Here are the wines sampled during our visit:
- 2009 Semi-Sweet Riesling: Offers cantaloupe and lime aromas with slightly sweet notes and a crisp finish. $14.99.
- 2007 Chardonnay – No Oak: Light, straight-forward wine with creamy finish. Not a buttery Chard for certain. $12.99
- 2008 Cabernet Franc / Lemberger: Perhaps the best example of Lemberger I’ve seen in the Finger Lakes – medium-bodied, cherry on the palate with a dry finish. $17.99.
- 2009 Pinot Noir: Fermented and aged in French oak, this wine offers red fruit, but in the form of ripe strawberries versus the typical cherry found in many Pinots. There are hints of cocoa there that make this wine slightly earthy. $19.98.
- Tony’s Red: Was boasted as the ‘pizza red’ and it was – light and fruity wine to be enjoyed with casual fares on any week night. $8.99.
- 2007 Sweet Dream: Using Vignoles grapes (French-American hybrid), Anthony Road Wine Company is able to create a dessert wine that’s balanced with a nice level of acidity to cut through the honey and ripe peach flavors and long finish. 8.6% residual sugar. $15.99 (375ml).
You can find Anthony Road Winery products online at the winery’s web store, at nearby liquor stores and at the winery located at:
1020 Anthony Road
Penn Yan, NY, 14527
Social media fans can ‘like’ Anthony Road Wine Company’s Facebook page.
8 November 2010 
Dr Konstantin Frank – Enjoyable Beyond the Cab Franc and Riesling
November 8, 2010 By
Photo Credit: Finger Lakes Visitors Assoc
Who could visit the Finger Lakes wine region of New York and not visit Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars? Not my party and nor should you.
First, the tasting room in Hammondsport, NY is vibrant with fun energy (did I mention we visited on Halloween weekend?). The staff, especially Colleen, is helpful and knows its pitch. During our tasting, Colleen ensured that we not only enjoyed the wines the winery’s famous for, but some of its less known stars.
Our tasting featured:
- First on the list was the Chateau Frank Célèbre ($19.99). Thought this Cremant-style sparkling wine was super. Riddled by hand and aged ‘sur lies’, this sparkling Riesling offers apple on the nose and tiny, creamy bubbles. Super enjoyable.
- Next came the 2009 Dry Riesling ($14.99) and the 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling ($14.99). The dry Riesling shows tart green apple on the nose and citrus, wet stone in the mouth. The semi-dry Riesling offers a mouthful of juicy ripe pear that lingers pleasantly on the finish.
- We then moved on to the 2008 Rkatsiteli ($17.99). This varietal that originated in Georgia, and is still popular in Eastern Europe, is known for its high level of acidity. To counteract this trait, Dr Frank adds some natural sugar to produce an enjoyable, balanced wine. The in-your-face tropical fruit palate and floral nose would be a good match to spicy food.
- We moved on to the 2009 Gewurztraminer ($17.99). Citrus fruit with subtle honey notes. Nice balance and level of acidity.
- We compared the 2007 Pinot Noir ($19.99) with the 2008 Salmon Run Pinot Noir ($13.99) next. the ’07 is an award-winning wine and shows beautiful purple hues in the glass, bright silky cherries in the mouth with a long dry finish. The ’08 isn’t as bold and bright and has more earthy qualities than the ’07.
- Finally, we sipped on the 2008 Salmon Run Meritage ($13.99). 54% Cabernet Franc/39.5% Cabernet Sauvignon/6.5% Merlot create this French oak barrel aged wine. Was described as a good match for pizza night, and it is. Nothing bold about this wine, just a neat choice for a casual meal.
Planning a Finger Lakes visit? Don’t miss Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars situated in a beautiful area of Keuka Lake at:
9749 Middle Road
Hammondsport, NY 14840
Telephone: 800-320-0735
You can buy Dr Frank wines at the winery, in select stores and through its online store. Want to learn more about this winery? Subscribe to its newsletter.
5 November 2010 
Red Tail Ridge Winery – Thinking Green on Seneca Lake
November 5, 2010 By
Red Tail Ridge Winery
At the recommendation of Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report, we visited 5-year old Red Tail Ridge Winery on a recent visit to the Finger Lakes wine region.
Red Tail Ridge winery is owned and operated by Mike Schnelle and Nancy Irelan (short video), a husband and wife team, who are dedicated to producing fine wine in the Finger Lakes. Red Tail Ridge is the first LEED®-certified green winery in New York. Red Tail Ridge’s “green” features:
- New wine processing building aims for LEED Silver certification.
- Walls contain recycled materials.
- Fieldstone on facade came from vineyard grounds.
- Geothermal heating/cooling system.
- ‘Daylighting’ to cut energy use.
- Use of suppliers within a 500-mile radius.
- Drainage ditches, drain tile and irrigation pond minimize storm runoff.
- Laser-straight rows planted 6 feet apart aid in cultivation and weed control.
- Fencing and nets deter wildlife humanely.
Our tasting was led by self-proclaimed ‘hired gun’ Noel, a knowledgeable wine and Finger Lakes enthusiast.
- We first sampled the 2009 Sans Oak Chardonnay: Typical non-oaked Chardonnay characteristics – ripe pear/juicy apple with a creamy finish. Around $11.95.
- Second, we sipped on 2008 Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay: Nutty peach flavors, creamy nutmeg finish. Around $16.99.
- Our third offering was the 2008 Dry Riesling: Tangy key lime and juicy tropical fruit with dry finish. Wine Spectator: 89 points. Around $18.95.
- Next was the 2008 Semi-Sweet Riesling: Rich, peachy nose with tangerine/cantaloupe flavor. Unctuous finish that lingers. Think – Indian food. Around $13.95.
- A new varietal to me was the 2008 Lemberger: Mouthful of ripe cherries, spicy, slightly chocolaty notes. Around $19.95.
- Finally, we sipped the 2008 Estate Pinot Noir: Nose is in-your-face with bright cherries. Big mouthful of raspberries/ripe cherries with hints of butterscotch. Around $19.95.
The winery even features a charity wine, 2009 Good Karma, where 3% of the per-bottle profit is donated to Foodlink, a regional food bank.
Red Tail Ridge In Stores
Red Tail Ridge wines can be purchased at the winery, by phone at 315-536-4580, via email at tastingroom@redtailridgewinery.com, at many fine wine stores and can be enjoyed at many New York tri-state restaurants and select California dining establishments.
Good wine producer, confident in its pursuit of sustainability, Red Tail Ridge Winery is a must-visit Seneca Lake winery. The cozy tasting room is located at:
846 State Route 14
Penn Yan, NY 14527
315-536-4580
4 November 2010 
Hermann J Wiemer – The Fame and Attitude are Warranted
November 4, 2010 By
Most fans of Finger Lakes wines and Mosel-style Rieslings have heard of Hermann J. Wiemer, and the fame, awards and accolades are well-deserved.
The winery’s history is rich with Hermann J. Wiemer’s mother coming from a family of Mosel winemakers dating back 300 years and a father who was a skilled nurseryman. Hermann J. Wiemer is regarded as one of the pioneers of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes.
During a recent visit to the winery, I encountered an attitude I had not experienced at any other Finger Lakes wineries that was reminiscent of some French vineyards. The attitude was pure – ‘you’re privileged to be tasting our wines in this space today’. Do I think the attitude is warranted? Mostly, yes for the following three reasons:
Wiemer Building
First, the ‘barn’ housing the winery is fabulous. The winery was designed in 1982 by an award-winning team of Cornell architects. Enclosed within the shell of the 70-year-old scissor-trussed barn is the wine shop, the tasting room and the production facilities.
Second, our tasting was conducted by Michael, a catering company owner from Manhattan who makes weekend trips to Hermann J. Wiemer to share his passion and wine expertise with winery guests. Loved him.
Third, most of the wines are simply great. Our tasting included the following wines:
- 2008 Dry Riesling: What Wiemer’s known for – crisp, light lime floral bouquet with a minerals-laden long finish. Around $17.50.
- 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling: Rich, peachy bouquet and an almost orangey flavor. Unctuous finish that lingers. Think – spicy Thai food. Around $17.
- 2009 Gewürztraminer: Ripe pear with nice spicy finish. Around $22.
- 2008 Frost Cuvee: A blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Cuvee of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, this is an easy-going wine that’d be perfect sipped on a warm summer day at an outdoor party. Not complicated, with peach aroma and a dry finish. Around $12.
- 2009 Late Harvest Riesling: This Spätlese-style wine is full bodied, rich with a 5.9% residual sugar. Mouthful of honey and ripe green apple. Around $23.
- 2007 Cabernet Franc: This wine sees new and old French oak barrels and is bursting with bright fruit and offers soft tannins. Around $25.
Hermann J. Wiemer wines are relatively easy to find at local wine stores, at least compared to some other Finger Lakes wine brands. You can also purchase wines online at http://wiemer.com/shop/ and at the winery’s story located at:
3962 Route 14
Dundee, NY 14837
Click HERE for driving directions
Telephone: 607 243 7971
Make a point to visit this winery when touring the Finger Lakes wine region.
Ravines Wine Cellars – 2007 Cabernet Franc
November 10, 2009 By
Ravines Cab Franc
The 2007 Cabernet Franc by Ravines Wine Cellars from the Finger Lakes, is a ripe, slightly oaky wine with medium tannins that is enjoyable now but will become outstanding with a little cellaring. Uncork this wine as you’re grilling for Father’s Day next year.
Great buy at around $20.
Ravines Wine Cellars – 2007 Pinot Noir
November 10, 2009 By
Ravines Pinot Noir
The 2007 Ravines Wine Cellar Pinot Noir, from the Finger Lakes, is a beautiful bright ruby in the glass and vibrant, slightly spicy cherry in the mouth. The soft tannins and pleasant velvety texture provide the smooth, long finish that all classic Pinot Noirs try to achieve.
Nicely-priced at around $20.
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