USA: New York State Flashcards
NY: Finger Lakes AVA
Growing Environment
One of the coldest AVA;s in the USA
Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters
THere are 11 finger shaped lakes - very deep ( 200m) and have several effects :
1. slopes around the lakes enables cold air to drain towards the water , as it reaches the lake, the warm air rises and creates a vaccumm that draws more cold air off the land
2. generate their own lake-effect snow which helps to insulate the vines during winter
3. lakes provide a warming influence in the autum extending the ripening and reducing frost damage
4. in spring, cool air from the lake delays bud burst to avoid frost
Most of the vineyards are located in Canandaigua , Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga Lakes on steep areas
Fertile soils and rainfall means he vineyards are planted at low densities of large vines
Scott Henry is common for greater air circulation and light penetration
Hilling up the soil and snow cover helps to insualte during winter freeze
NY: Finger Lakes Riesling
- Dry to sweet styles
- most are dry to medium dry
- The wines have high acid, med-med minus body and fresh flavours of apple, peach and lemon
- Wines are made in SS tanks at cool temps
- some use a bit of skin contact for texture or use lees ageing
- Wine with RS are late harvest, botyrtis or stopping ferment early
- Good to very good nd mid to prem priced
- Some outstanding examples
NY: Finger Lakes :Cabernet Franc
- most planted black grae
- Mid ripening and winter hardy
- Some oak but less common
- Oak is Fench or Hungarian with subtle flavours of vanilla and spice
- The wines are Med-med minus body/ tannins with flavours of red cherry, cranberry and black plum with a herby note
- Good to very good
- Also :
- Many grapes for jams and jellies eg. Welchs
- Vidal for ice wine
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NY: Long Island AVA : The Growing Environment
- Surrounded by water - The Atlantic, Peconic Bay, Long Island South
- MAritime climate with a long growing season from moderating effects
- High humidity means that fungal disease is problematic
- Good when its windy
- Leaf removal and spraying occur
- Organic growing is difficult
- THe North Fork is warmer and more protected and contains the largest area of vines on sandy soils with free draining and low fertility
- trained and trellised to VSP
- Able to ripen bordeaux varieties, Merlot
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NY: Finger Lakes RED wines
mostly matured in French oak
Vanilla and spices, cloved compliment the Bordeaux varieties - Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc
NY: Finger Lakes WHITE Wines
- SB, Rielsing and Pinot Gris are made in a dry style in cool temps / SS tanks
- Chardonnay may be unoaked or matured in oak with MLFC and lees ageing to create a creamier, toasty style with Med +acid
- Good to very good
- Cellar door is key to the market of tourists from Manhattan
NY: Hudson River Region AVA
Oldest region dating back to 300 years and the first commercial winery in 1827
60 wineries in the area
small 100ha family estates
The river runs north to south and most vineyards are close by planted on glacial deposits of shale, schits and limestone
Continental climate with warm summer and cold winters -
Spring forst and winter freeze are hazards
GRAPES:
Seyval Blanc, Vidal and Riesling, Chardonnay and Caberent Franc
NY :Wine Law and Business
- Before the NY Farm Winery Act of 1976, wineries were large and made high volume wines
- The Act allowed wineries to sell direct to consumers at a max. 190,000L / year changing the format - more small wineries opened cellar doors
- Small vineyards using French hybrids raised the quality of the wien
- Most sold in State
- Only 470 wineries across the state
- Quality is on the rise as trained wine makers from abroad start to lead the way
