Tag Archives: 2012

Sep 15 2013
15 Comments
New York - Finger Lakes, Sunday read, USA

Sunday Read: Finger Lakes Region – Where Riesling Rules

I will be participating in the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance 2012 Riesling Launch virtual tasting on September 16. The tasting will be conducted from 8pm until 9pm EST via tweets on Twitter and a live stream on USTREAM, where a panel consisting of the participating wineries’ winemakers will answer questions. The hashtag is #FLXWineVT. Come join if you find the time! The participating wineries are: Knapp Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Lucas Vineyards and Glenora Wine Cellars.

I have been doing some reading preparing for the tasting (and the wines have arrived at my house courtesy of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance) and I found the article I want to share today one of the best reads. It gives a good introduction into what Finger Lakes wine country feels like and what current trends and ideas are. I have yet to visit the area, so I don’t know how true the impressions are, but they helped me in better understanding what is going on.

Lettie Teague seems to want the Finger Lakes wineries to focus more on the core message: Riesling, Riesling, Riesling. I am not sure whether that is the only way to go. I have tried some really good wines from other grape varieties, so I think it is legitimate to tout those credentials as well. In any case, it is time to visit the Finger Lakes in person…

Happy Sunday, and come join the tasting tomorrow!

Lettie Teague: Finger Lakes Region – Where Riesling Rules

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Dec 12 2012
11 Comments
2012, Germany, Rheingau

Ice Wine Harvest at Schloss Vollrads

Temperatures in Germany have been exceptionally low this December and it has enabled many winemakers to harvest grapes for ice wine, Germany’s fabled treasure. I have written about ice wine in the past (here) but there is no way to better understand what makes this wine so special than actually seeing under what conditions the grapes are harvested and then processed. I came across this video by the Rheingau winery Schloss Vollrads (Germany’s oldest continuing winery, see here) yesterday and I was just completely in awe once again about what these harvesters go through to produce tiny quantities of absolute deliciousness.

Maybe this will help you understand what the myth surrounding German ice wine is. Remember, in order to harvest ice wine it has to be below -7 degrees Celsius (19.4 degrees Fahrenheit). In the middle, the guy is talking about how they initially planned to harvest the grapes before sunrise, because it is coldest then. But they had to move it up to midnight because weather forecasts predicted some warm air coming in in the morning. The juice has 195 degrees Oechsle, way above the 110-125 degree threshold it needed to meet.

UPDATE: I just saw photos from the ice wine harvest by Dr. Hermann winery. They expect 200 liters (under 600 bottles) and are really excited that they got to harvest on 12/12/12.

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Oct 28 2012
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Sunday read

Sunday read: 2012 Harvest Snapshots

This Sunday, my suggested read offers insight into what has been on my mind ever since fall started: How is the harvest going in Europe? It is the first time I am not around for harvest season, and I have to say I miss it tremendously. Last year, I had the chance to work a day in the Ürziger Würzgarten with Stefan Erbes and his crew. The excitement and intense labor involved was quite an experience to have…

So, how is 2012 going to be? The weather was crazy throughout spring and summer. From what I have been gathering in Germany, the last days have been gorgeous and rewarded the winemakers with sun and changes in aroma in the grapes (thanks to Matthias Meierer for that info!)…what’s it like in other areas?

Gregory Dal Piaz over at Snooth gives us an idea, and a forecast on the vintage…

Have a great Sunday!

2012 Harvest Snapshots

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