It had been a long flight from New York, and Ana’s enthusiasm to show me her vineyard makes it all worth it. As we arrive a the winery Carlos proudly shows us his “new and old” cellar … one part dates from 1910, and the other part(s) they had built in stages, with the most recent part built just last year. “Welcome!” Around $13.

Do you ever wonder when trying a new wine, if that first taste or bottle may not quite tell you what that grape is all about. Unfortunately, here in Central New York, finding a few different producers is not that easy, but I did find a Gustav Grüner Veltliner 2009 ( $12 ) at the same shop I found the Grooner. Recommended.

first met Ken Forrester in New York at a trade event in New York City focusing on wines from South Africa. During a panel section on Chenin Blanc, I remember how he made a clear point between Chenin Blanc and “Steen” which is what this ubiquitous grape had been called in S. Chenin Blanc has been S.

Today Helene came to London Lennie's in New York to describe her white and red Bordeaux to the staff. Château La Gatte - Bordeaux Blanc. 60% Sauvignon Gris, 40% Sauvignon Blanc There is but one hectare (2.2 acres) of blancs planted at La Gatte, dating 1985. You can see some of the wines tasted below.

Marlborough, New Zealand's South Island seems to have a handle on Sauvignon Blanc. Sarah is one of three winemakers at Cloudy Bay (teamed with Tim Heath and Nick Lane) in Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. They’ve come a long way and their focus is on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. It’s all about climate.

dropped a significant but not unrealistic amount of sauvignon blanc with bunch-rot this morning after walking our little stretch of Wilson Ranch with Salvador, the foreman for Oak Knoll Farming. Anything less and I should just pack up my shit and go home to New York. New York isn't home anymore. No excuses.

Now interestingly, the scallops also pair well with the Cupcake Chardonnay and Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc, two of my favorite wines. When the SB (my pet name for Sauvignon Blanc) was first poured, I was entranced by the fresh aroma of cut grass, and appreciative of the fuller, well-balanced body. A bite-sized bit of fun. ".

So fun to catch up with Bernard Portet today over his new Heritance Wines at Apiary, a fun restaurant in New York. Now he is introducing his new Heritance wines which I experienced last night for the first time. Following Clos du Val he decided to create something new. More About Bernard Portet.

Fortunately, all we are going to get here in Central New York is about 16 hours of rain with very mild winds. And nothing better to pair with the food then a 2008 Ravines Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc ( $18 ) that I just brought home from our recent Keuka Lake Wine Tour. Sauvignon Blanc Keuka Wine Trail Finger Lakes

On our last visit to NYC, I was able to visit my new favorite NYC wine store, 67Wines at 179 Columbus Ave and 68th. She knew I was looking for wines from obscure regions that were no where to be found here in Central New York. She said it's not what one may be use to in a Sauvignon Blanc.

Of course, with Auction Napa Valley 2011 (# ANV11) beginning this coming June 2, 2011 -- and the e-auction already underway it was a great opportunity to taste some wine up for bidding while we are still in New York. Elizabeth Marston and Husband Jamie of Marston Family Winery at Park Avenue Spring.

met up with Javiar Banales Vanes, who always seems to be in New York. had a fabulous conversation with Fernando Vegas, who owns Avelino Vegas and had a lot of fun comparing his Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. Penin seminar. What a fabulous event today at the Puck building. Very exciting.

At City Winery in New York today Andi Kollwentz and Rainer Wess led a fabulous presentation titled: The Wachau and the Leitha: A Tale of Two Mountain Ranges. Andi Kollwentz presented two whites (Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay) and three reds, with my favorite red being a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt.

Among the many wines tasted were varieties familiar to Americans: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, and even Sauvignon Blanc. Here in New York, the menu at Grammercy Tavern seems perfect for them, as the chef often features a more "solid" fish like sturgeon, paired with a slightly rich sauce.

The seminar and tasting for New York journalists was held March 8 and included a larger representation of cool climate VQA Chardonnays featuring 54 wines from 31 Canadian wineries located in British Columbia and Ontario. Oak was a key element, with some producers using new oak and others more restrained. Exultet Estates 2009.

"Have you tasted their Sauvignon Blanc? " To be clear, we are speaking of the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc from the Arkenstone Vineyards estate in Howell Mountain. And "rock" is the appropriate word, for even though this is a California Sauvignon Blanc, the minerality is incredible. It rocks!"

Hong Kong boomed, with $165 millon in wine auctions, surpassing New York’s $154 million. Napa vintner is distilling sauvignon blanc vodka and selling it as varietal and vintage. SIPPED: boom times. Wine auctions brought in a total of $408 million, nearly doubling the 2009 take according to Peter Meltzer. Bottoms up!

On the recommendation of my favorite bartender, who knows absolutely nothing about wine, I purchased the Pinnacle at the recent New York Food Festival. This French Sauvignon Blanc was delightful. Now a new year has begun and new goals must be set. Both happening during the snowiest part of the year.

The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc was delicious as well with a green tint. Tags: New York Veneto Wine reviews macari riesling 2009 macari sauvignon blanc 2009. Cantina di Soave. Let's go to Italy for the first. Cantina di Soave produces two "Soave" wines, both with very different taste profiles.

It was a "soft" opening for a new Thai restaurant downtown in the old Cru space. As we sat down I took out the wine I brought along, the 2008 Pierre Gonon St Joseph Blanc Les Oliviers , $32, Fruit of the Vines Imports. We agreed that it smelled, tasted, and really felt like Chenin Blanc - an old Montlouis, Levi said.

Tags: white Merlot New York Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes

I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. Winemakers notes: A classic Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. 61% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Do you like Greek wines? do … they come in a variety of styles and price points and pair well with a wide variety of food. Typically they are also a very good value for the money, especially when it comes to reserve wines where you can still get a 1997 red with full development for just over $20.

Landscaping the front yard, new addition to rear of garage, new front window, total cleansing of the downstairs family room and about 6 million small task that somehow had to be done in seven days. Chardonnay was disappointing, but a review on the Sauvignon Blanc is coming up next post. This one was a bit different.

With May and New York Riesling month coming to close soon, it is safe to say that I tasted more Riesling this month than any one year in my life. Tags: riesling New York Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes The hard part was deciding which ones I would post on the blog. Both were opened with a BBQ chicken dinner.

it's always fun to sit next to a winemaker / winery owner during a wine dinner at a top restaurant like Park Avenue Spring in New York City. It was the first time I would meet Dennis Cakebread, and it was a thrill to be able to taste the wines and pepper him with questions about the winery's history. cakebread cake.

Long Point Winery is located on the east side of Cayuga Lake on scenic Route 90 in Aurora, New York. bit spicy meant most of the bottle disappeared at the dinner table, but I did save a glass for later to enjoy while chatting with some new friends on Facebook and Twitter. This past Monday evening was a first for me on-line.

This past weeks edition of the Syracuse New Times, a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York, contained an interesting article on Finger Lakes Riesling. Gary noted four wineries, one of which I vaguely remember from an article written by Evan Dawson for the New York Cork Report.

To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. Other than ordering on line, it is very difficult to find New York wines other than Finger Lakes and Adirondack wineries in the local shops. Tags: riesling New York Hudson Valley

This month is Riesling month in New York and this will be the first of many I'll enjoy over the next 30 days. Lot's of New York Rieslings to try and a day touring on the Finger Lakes in a few weeks. Tags: riesling New York Finger Lakes Seneca Lake Finger Lakes Riesling of course. Sound good?

Today Sancerre came to New York in the form of Marc Sorrel-Dejerine, International Director of the Chateau de Sancerre, hosting an intimate lunch and tasting and talking about his wine. Now, it’s possible you are more familiar with the grape variety Sauvignon Blanc than the name Sancerre.

cousin of Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, had been there for centuries. Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) still reign, yet you will find Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vijura, Graciano, Moscatel, and others. The Sauvignon Blancs as a whole are crisp, yet fuller bodied as they are aged on the lees. Navarra.

Sometimes when you least expect it, you open what may becomes your new favorite bottle of wine. blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. Winemakers notes: This dynamic duo combines the brawn of Cabernet Sauvignon and the suppleness of Merlot. An Atwater Estate Vineyards , Cabernet-Merlot 2007. link] Residual Sugar: 0.1%

Big break in weather today here in Central New York. Tags: riesling New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes Temperatures will reach about 30F. Must be the annual January thaw! To celebrate I figured to open one of my usually reserved for warm weather whites. 2007 Riesling.

Eric Asimov, chief wine critic at The New York Times, dismisses our impossible food-wine pairings as “sad&# and irritating–eegad!! Too bad since the series brings many new commenters out of the woodwork. SPIT: Tina Fey? Her talk is likely to be entitled “Going Rouge&# and expound on her secret love of Nebbiolo.

The blog started out in 2008 only as fun thing to do and to give my new wine affiliate web site it's first link. That did not come close to changing when I moved to within one hour of the New York Finger Lakes region. just have to learn how to write like a half way descent journalist to really enjoy this new found hobby more.

Tags: New York Seneca Wine Trail red wine Finger Lakes syrah

Add one more new discovery for 2009 and a reason to be very optimistic for 2010. Tags: New York Seneca Wine Trail red wine Finger Lakes Dornfelder This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject.

The Obamas brought in chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit in New York to cook a meatless, Indian-inspired meal for the 320 honored guests. 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa Valley, California. ? Right now, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Dr. Manmohan Singh, prime minister of India, is being feted at a state dinner!

Tags: riesling New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes

The only downside is the lack of New York wines on the list and no NY reds. Winemaker's notes: Grape Varieties: Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon Chianti may well be the single best-known wine in the world - historically celebrated, universally revered and enjoyed over centuries. As usual, she always gets it right.

Much of this change or palate expansion, if there is such a term, is directly related to the wines from the Finger Lakes region on New York. Sometime near the end of the year, I would like to post all that I have learned and the wines that I have come to enjoy over the past two years. The downside of this Riesling is the price.

passed over many of my favorites before keeping out a Billsboro Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2008. remembered commenting on an older post that this was may be the best Sauvignon Blanc I tasted outside of my favorites from New Zealand. find many good Sauvignon Blanc's from New Zealand and Chile between $9 and $12.

So grab a glass of wine, throw another log on the fire, grab a sandwich, channel your inner wine geek, and listen to John opine on the topics of natural wines, zero dosage champagne, some pitfalls of collecting, 2007 vintage for Port and in the Rhone, the nobility of chenin blanc, the Piedmont producer Produttori del Barbaresco and more!

Since opening, I have been trying to get him to put some New York wines on the wine list. Glenora Wine Cellars has been producing award winning wines in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State for more than 32 years. Tags: New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Gewurztraminer Finger Lakes At that price.

Tags: New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes table wine

don't hide the fact that in the past two years I have fallen in love with wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York. It seems that many times I taste a new wine and just have to add it to a long growing list of favorites. Tags: New York Cabernet Franc red wine Keuka Wine Trail Finger Lakes It has! Great Buy!

one of my new favorites) The Fox Run Vineyards has 55 acres of vineyards producing a remarkable range of fine wines and is situated high on Torrey Ridge over looking one of the deepest parts of Seneca Lake. Thickness is a new descriptor I recently learned. Sometimes though, it can be challenging choosing the right wine for the meal.

My wife Shirley and a best family friend Donna set out to taste some great wines, enjoy some great scenery, have a delicious diner and spend a little cash in one of the most beautiful regions of New York. This is another of the new wineries in the region that is producing some of the Finger Lakes best. mean Damn! mean O sh*t.

took my list of New York medal winners to another local wine shop. Oh yeah, for those who don't know, that wine was judged the most outstanding New York wine for 2009. Winner of the New York Wine and Food Classics's 'Governor's Cup.' OK, today I sinned again, at least according to some. I Don't Like Sugar."

Well it's time to try a new wine, at least new to me. Tags: New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Gewurztraminer Finger Lakes Before now I have never tasted Gewurztraminer. Please, no comments on that issue. It took me over 30 years to appreciate any white wine, and now that I do, I am trying them all. Great Buy!

Tags: meritage New York Seneca Wine Trail red wine Finger Lakes

Doesn't beat my favorites, (dry Rieslings and Sauvignon Blanc), but is a very pleasant add to my summer wine collection. Tags: Rose' New York Cabernet Franc Keuka Wine Trail Finger Lakes I know those close to me won't believe this, but I am actually going to review a Rose' wine. Yes Lenn, I was nuts. That ought to be fun.

I am just sitting back enjoying one of the many New York Finger Lakes wines I brought home from last weeks tour. put this stop first because it is definitely my favorite New York winery. was impressed with the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Cabernet Franc. Our first stop was at Damiani Wine Cellars.

Summer arrived in New York with a splash -- cold and wet -- but the trains are still packed out to Montauk, the Jamaica-stop on the Long Island Railroad has traingoers negotiating the politics of seating arrangements with sweaty seniors and the disabled, and the New Jersey Turnpike is packed from north Jersey to Exit 8.

Yes, it’s cold and dreary in New York. Really, they don’t speak for all of New York’s wine lovers, especially those of us patiently waiting for our turn to sample and move on. Either way, it leaves me eagerly awaiting the release of their premier sauvignon, Georgia. Welcome Napa Valley Vintners! didn’t even try.

Everything else is in place for greatness- brilliant terroir, old vines and a great tradition, but these have to be synthesized into the unfortunate new realities of global warming, and in my experience, the Austrians have still not made that leap. new, small oak barrels. German Riesling. And I really don’t understand why. The Loire.

NV Domaine Spiropoulos Ode Panos , $15, Athenee Importers of New York. They grow indigenous grapes such as Moschofilero and Agiorgitiko, and also grow Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and other varieties - how they can do that successfully without an incredible diversity of soil and many micro-climates is beyond me.

The Puzelats grow Pinot Noir, Gamay, Côt (called Malbec in Argentina), Bréton (called Cabernet Franc in the film Sideways ), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris (called Pinot Grigio in Italy), and the rarely seen Pineau D'Aunis and Menu Pineau (called Arbois in the Jura). They buzz with energy, some say "wildness." It works.

Brooklyn Uncorked is the annual showcase of Long Island wine and food that you should make a point of attending if you live in or near New York City. And here I will admit that I don't understand the fuss over Paumanok wines, even their famous Chenin Blanc. Okay, no stars, unless you count Lenn or the location itself, BAM.

The flavor profile of these wines is so new to me, and to be honest, I'm not sure if it is a flavor profile that I like as much as that of Loire or Burgundy whites. went to Italian Wine Merchants , the famous temple of Italian wine here in New York City, hoping to find something by Movia. Not esoteric at all, actually.

BrooklynLady enjoyed her Goose Island Nut Brown Ale from Chicago and I was really impressed with my glass of 2006 Castello di Borghese Sauvignon Blanc (about $20, available at the winery or at Vintage NYC). I used to call this kind of post "Recent Sips," but I think I like this better. We went to Rosewater , a neighborhood favorite.

am really diggin' these Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand. Don't get me wrong I like the Cali Sauvignon Blancs but the New Zealanders have the versatility when it comes to food. Not only in New York City but, really, everywhere more and more affordable wines are available from all around the world.

Here is what I like about them: The reds tend to be somewhat "old-world" in style - they offer complexity and balance that can be elusive among new world wines made with the big three Bordeaux grapes. started out by following Lenn around, took his guided tour of Long Island whites, tasting many a Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

If you live in or near New York City, and you like wine, here are some tastings that should not be missed: Dressner Selections Real Wine Attack 2007, March 22-24, FREE. These are producers who make "real" wine, not using wood chips, for example (a la the manipulation being heatedly discussed on Eric Asimov's blog right now).

That is how I feel about this new wine bar here in the East Village. This a recent Reidel innovation that has caught the boutique bug here in New York City. If anyone knows of one or has any ideas let me know) if you like sauvignon blanc, you will like this. El alimento. El vino. El ambience. �Lo amo! Oh yeah.

Their unoaked 2005 Estate Sauvignon Blanc was fresh and lively. So now I know that Long Island makes serious wine.what about the rest of New York? Vintage is a wine store that sells only New York wines, and also some fancy foods. All in all - New York wine = YES! don't know much about riesling.

had tried Cab francs from Italy, Cali and New York State but not from where it was born, France. The article mentioned that the Loire, because it is known mostly for its Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc wines cab franc has seen a decline on an already low export rate. First up was a rose form Provence.