USA - New York State

Question 1

Where is New York State?

Answer 1

On USA’s Western coast

Question 2

What vines are planted here?

Answer 2

American and Hybrid vines

Question 3

What purpose do these grapes have?

Answer 3

Juices and jellies

Question 4

What grapes are grown on V. Vinifera?

Answer 4

Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cab Sav.

Question 5

Where is production for New York vs California?

Answer 5

3rd largest producer in USA (1- Cali, 2) Washington

Question 6

Where is Fingerlakes AVA?

Answer 6

Upstate New York, sits below Lake Ontario on Canadian border

Question 7

Describe the lakes and their effect

Answer 7

Deep glacial lakes, store heat well into November, raising air temperature of the surrounding vineyards and extending the growing season.

Question 8

What is the climate in Fingerlakes?

Answer 8

Continental climate, coldest AVA in USA, warm summers, cold winters. Lakes moderate temperature = longer growing season

Question 9

List the lakes

Answer 9

1) Canadaaigua
2) Keuka
3) Seneca (sub-AVA)
4) Cayuga (sub-AVA)

Question 10

What is the topography of Fingerlakes and effect?

Answer 10

slopes around the lakes, enables cold air to drain towards the water. As it reaches the lake, the air warms and rises creating a vacuum that draws more cold air off the land.

Question 11

What unique thing can the lakes do?

Answer 11

Create their own lake-effect snow, which can also help insulate vines during winter

Question 12

What is the warming influence on the grapes?

Answer 12

warming influence during autumn enables grapes to ripen over a longer period, reduces risk of autumn frost

Question 13

What is the effect of cool air from lakes?

Answer 13

in spring, cool air delays bud bust reducing change of frost damage

Question 14

Where are vineyards located?

Answer 14

on steeper areas, where cold air flows towards the lake (rather than on flat bench areas - cold pockets)

Question 15

What trellising system is used?

Answer 15

Scott Henry common - split canopy to allow greater air circulation (reducing fungal disease) and light penetration

Question 16

How are the vines protected in winter?

Answer 16

Snow can help insulate, but further hilling up the soil around the vine protects it

Question 17

What did Dr Konstantin Frank do?

Answer 17

1950s introduced grafted cool climate V Vinifera

Question 18

What are the 2 most planted grape varieties?

Answer 18

Riesling and Cabernet Franc

Question 19

Describe Reisling style in Fingerlakes

Answer 19

Different levels of sweetness, majority dry to med-dry
High acidity
med body
apple, lemon & peach
alcohol levels range (depending on style)

Question 20

describe riesling winemaking in Fingerlakes

Answer 20

made using protective techniques
Fermented at cool temp 12-16℃
S/S
Maybe some skin contact before pressing to enhance flavour/texture

Question 21

How are sweet wines made in Fingerlakes?

Answer 21

Achieved via late harvest, botrytis and/or stopping fermentation.

Question 22

What is the quality level of fingerlake riesling?

Answer 22

good to v good
mid-premium priced

Question 23

Describe Riesling in the vineyard

Answer 23

Cold hardy
Buds late = protect from Frost
Needs good sun/draining + long growing season
HIGH YIELDS 70 hL/ha + GOOD QUALITY
Good disease resistance
Usually unoaked
no MLF - retain acidity/fruit flavours

Question 24

Describe Cabernet Franc in Fingerlakes + tasting note.

Answer 24

Most planted V Vinifera
mid-ripening = adequate yields in most years
less new oak now than in past
often 1 x wine with no oak
Oak = French or Hungarian = more subtle than American
Med body
med tannin
Red Cherry, Cranberry, black plum
some herbaceous notes
good to v good, mid-priced

Question 25

Other grape varieties in Fingerlakes

Answer 25

Pinot Noir
Gewurtztraminer
Cab Sav
Merlot
Pinot Gris

Question 26

Name 2 other AVAs in New York

Answer 26

Long Island AVA
Hudson River AVA

Question 27

Describe Long Island AVA

Answer 27

Extends from Manhatten towards Atlantic Ocean with 2 peninsulas, = 2 sub-AVAs: North Fork AVA and Hamptons AVA

Question 28

What is the growing environment in Long Island AVA?

Answer 28

Surrounded by water - Atlantic Ocean, picnic Bay and Long Island Sound = Maritime climate, long growing season because bodies of water slowly release heat into autumn.

Question 29

What does the long growing season allow for in Long Island AVA?

Answer 29

able to ripen Bordeaux varieties, particularly Merlot, plus Chardonnay and Sav Blanc

Question 30

What is the risk in Long Island AVA?
Treatment?

Answer 30

High Humidity - fungal disease, tho windy coastal sites can help.
Spraying, leaf removal = air circulation
sorting grapes in vineyard/winery

Question 31

Describe North Fork AVA

Answer 31

Slight warmer, more protected from Atlantic weather, contains most of the vineyards vs Hamptons.
Sandy soil, free-draining and low fertility = limits vine vigour.

Question 32

Describe red Grape varieties in Long Island AVA- oak?

Answer 32

Merlot, Cab Sav, Cab Franc matured in French or Hungarian Oak

Question 33

Describe white Grape varieties in Long Island AVA and winemaking

Answer 33

Sav Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris (dry, light bodied style)
cool ferment in S/S
fruity, unbaked style
Chardonnay in unoaked or Oaked/matured in oak style
MLF common plus lees ageing = creamier, FB toasty style, med+ acidity

Question 34

Describe Hudson River Region AVA (history)

Answer 34

Wine made for over 300 yrs
Contains 1st commercial winery
Contains oldest active winery

Question 35

Describe vineyard in Hudson River Region AVA, soil, climate

Answer 35

Small Plantings 64ha
River runs North to South
Vineyards near river on glacial deposits= shale, slate, schist and limestone
climate: continental with warm summers, cold winters
snow needs piling to protect trunks of vines
Hybrids - Seyval Blanc and Vidal planted
Riesling, Chardonnay, Cab Franc planted

Question 36

Wine Law/Biz
Which Act changed the outlook of wine here?

Answer 36

470 wineries
120 in Finger Lakes AVA
66 Long Island AVA
50 Hudson River Region AVA
1976 New York Farm Winery Act = allowed to sell wines they had made directly to consumer
Most sales through cellar doors,
Wineries now run by 2nd generation, who have worked overseas, greater understanding and diversity