New York State Flashcards
Who was Dr. Konstantin Frank? What did he do?
New York wines
Experiment with Riesling and Chardonnay => success
Founded “Vinifera Wine Cellars”
it was all hybrids until then
Significance of New York’s Farm Winery Act of 1976
Allowed grape growers to open wineries and sell D2C
What led to loads of wineries opening in New York State?
Farm Winery Act of 1976
How many AVAs in New York State?
10
Most important: Finger Lakes AVA, Hudson River Region AVA, Long Island AVA
How many wineries in New York State?
400
Land under vine in Finger Lakes AVA?
3,800ha
Largest region in New York State
Climate in Finger Lakes AVA
Continetnal with warm summers and cold winters
One of coldest AVAs in USA
How many finger lakes are in the Finger Lakes AVA? So what?
11
region would be too cold to grow v. vinifera without them
Comment on the nature of the finger lakes
not particularly large
but extremely deep
largest (Seneca Lake) is 200m deep
fail to freeze during winter
Influence of lakes on Finger Lakes AVA
- topography (slopes; enable cold air to drain toward water. air warms and rises, draws more cold air off land)
- lake-effect snow: insulate vines in winter
- warming influence in autumn: ripen over a long period, reduce autumn frost risk
- spring: cool lake air delays budburst, reduce frost damage
Name a few of the finger lakes
Canandaigua
Keuka
Seneca
Cayuga
Most vineyards in Finger Lakes AVA located on what sort of topography?
Steeper areas
Cold air flows down towards the lake
(rather than in the cold air pockets in flat bench areas)
New York State has fertile soils and sufficient rainfall. So what?
Low density planting is common
Big training and trellising eg Scott Henry
How are vines protected from winter freeze in New York State?
Snow (natural)
hilling up the soil to cover the graft union
Riesling and Cabernet Franc most planted white and black varieties in New York State. Why?
Ability to withstand cold winter tmperatures
Ability to ripen sufficiently in the growing season
Most planted vinifera grape in New York State?
Riesling!
Most New York State Riesling is what sweetness level?
Dry to medium-dry
New York State Riesling: style
Dry to sweet High acid Medium (-) to medium body Fresh apple, lemon, peach Alcohol low to medium
Winemaking for Riesling in New York State?
Protective winemaking Cool ferment, steel Some skin contact maybe (texture and flavour0 OR keep on lees after ferment (texture)
How is RS achieved in New York State Riesling?
Late harvest, botrytis and/or stop ferment early
What is Chardonnay used for in New York State?
Still and sparkling wines
Chardonnay style (still wines) in New York State
Medium body
Medium (+) to high acid
Citrus
Ferment and mature in oak (texture, toast)
Most planted black vinifera grape in New York State
Cabernet Franc
Why is Cabernet Franc able to produce adequate yields of ripe grapes in most years in Finger Lakes?
Mid-ripening
Winter hardy
Comment on oak use for Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc?
Less new oak being used
Some producers make at least one unoaked Cab Franc
French or Hungarian oak used (subtle vs American oak)
New York Finger Lakes Cab Franc style
Medium (-) to medium body
Medium (-) to medium tannins
Red cherry, cranberry, black plum
Herbaceous
Vinifera grapes in Finger Lakes other than Riesling, Cab Franc and Chardonnay?
Pinot Noir Gewurtztraminer Cab Sauv Merlot Pinot Gris
Significant producers in Finger Lakes AVA
Hermann J. Wiemer
Forge Cellars
Hybrids and American vine species used for what in New York?
Grape juice
Jellies, jams
Some for wine (inexpensive)
Hybrids and American vines used for inexpensive wine in New York. Why?
Easier to grow than Vinifera
Lower quality than Vinifera
Hybrids with some quality potential in New York State?
Traminette
Vignoles
What is Traminette?
A hybrid in New York
Some quality potential
Gezurztraminer-like aromas but higher acid and lower alcohol
What is Vignoles?
Hybrid variety (New York) Noble rot, high acid, non-dry styles
What is Vidal used for in New York State?
Ice wine
Long Island AVA split into which two sub-AVas?
North Fork AVA
The Hamptons AVA
What surrounds the Long Island AVA?
Water!
Atlantic Ocean, Peconic Bay, Long Island Sound
Climate in Long Island AVA?
maritime
long growing season
surrounded by water!
What grapes are grown in Long Island AVA? Why?
Bordeaux black varieties, esp. Merlot
Chard, Sauvignon
Maritime climate with long growing season
High humidity in Long Island AVA. So what?
Fungal disease a problem
But windy weather in coastal sites can help
Options for managing humidity in Long Island AVA?
Spraying
Leaf removal (improve air circulation around grapes)
Sorting grapes in vyd or winery
Warmer of the two sub-AVAs in Long Island AVA?
North Fork AVA
Slightly warmer, protected from Atlantic Ocean
Which has more vineyards/wineries: North Fork AVA or The Hamptons AVA?
North Fork AVA (60 wineries)
The Hamptons has six wineries
Significant producers in Long Island AVA
Wolffer Estate
Channing Daughters
Which AVA is home to the USA’s oldest active winery (and first commercial winery)?
Hudson River Region AVA
New York State
Hudson River Region AVA covers a vast area from north of NYC to south of Albany. But how much land under vine?
64ha!
Grapes grown in Hudson River Region AVA
Hybrids (Seyval Blanc, Vidal)
Vinifera (Riesling, Chard, Cab Franc)
How many wineries in New York State?
470
120 are in the Finger LAkes AVA
Before the New York Faarm Winery Act 1976, New York was dominated by large, commercial wineries. What happened to them?
They WERE making big volumes with American vines
Act changed everything => small estates, quality focus, vinifera
Large wineries either adapted or declined
