By Lenn Thompson The only thing holding sauvignon blanc back from taking over the Long Island white wine scene is acreage. There just isn't enough planted, and with the economy where it is, few are investing in new plantings. Eventually...

There is still time to join us next Wednesday, September 15 for TasteNY featuring the wines of Shinn Estate Vineyards. For just $65 (that's 20% off), the TasteNY pack gets you three Shinn Estate Vineyards wines: Shinn Estate Vineyards 2009...

By Lenn Thompson Just received quick word that Glorie Farm Winery has harvested one ton of Leon Millot... that came in last week at 24 brix. That is some serious sugar for the beginning of September.

Editor's note: The recipe that Matt links below is one of the most addictive creations I've ever encountered. Matt is an enthusiastic home beermaker, hop grower, and more. We welcome him on with this first post. By Matt Arlauckas So,...

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor I couldn?t believe my luck at finding this relatively rare IPA at my local pub. A Brett-fermented IPA made with Citra hops at Ithaca Beer Company in June, this creation is the brainchild of a...

These are a few wines that have crossed the NYCR tasting table recently but will not be reviewed as part of a standalone post. As always, these are transcribed almost directly from my notebook with little editing: Adair Vineyards 2009...

Benmarl Winery in Marlboro makes some of the best baco noir in the state. In fact, it's achieved what could be considered cult status up in the Hudson Valley. Today, winemaker Matt Spaccarelli (pictured above) and crew picked 4 tons...

At 7 a.m. this morning, with Hurricane Earl promising to at least bring rain and wind to the North Fork, the riesling harvest started at Peconic Bay Winery. According to winemaker Greg Gove, "We are picking the riesling just before...

By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor Sheldrake Point Vineyard on Cayuga Lake has launched an event that winegrower Bob Madill hopes will become an annual tradition. Following the New York Wine & Food Classic, Sheldrake Point hosts the wineries that earned...

Harvest is underway at Paumanok Vineyards on the North Fork where winemaker Kareem Massoud reports that they hand picked 2.67 tons of chardonnay for sparkling wine on August 28. "Brix came in right where we want it for bubbly: 18.5....

This is what we've been drinking... Evan Dawson: Chateau Montaud 2009 Cotes de Provence Rose For $8, this wine is an absurd value. For its regular list price of $12, it's still very, very good. I picked it up on...

By any measure, the 2010 growing season has been an outstanding one for Long Island grape growers. Across the island, I'm hearing reports from vineyard folks saying that the grapes are anywhere from 10-20 days ahead of schedule. They're further...

An earthworm heads back into the soil (source: schizoform on Flickr) I think we can all agree that sustainability in viticulture is important. I mentioned in my first post that our discussion about the science of biodynamics cannot leave out...

The Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) was formed in 2005 with the goal of developing quality standards in the production of Long Island merlot and to establish Long Island as the leading region for merlot in the New World. To...

It was almost a year ago that I wrote about Empire Red, a new wine from Hudson-Chatham Winery that combines the key three red grapes -- baco noir, merlot and cabernet franc -- from each of New York's largest wine...

Evan Dawson: Pichon Lalande 1975 Pauillac We wanted to open something special with a friend on a recent visit, and we're fortunate to have a local source for excellently stored aged Bordeaux. The most fascinating aspect came in wondering whether...

One of three solar panels recently installed at Peconic Bay Winery (Photo courtesy of Peconic Bay Winery) Peconic Bay Winery's new solar panels aren't the first in wine country, but they are among the largest. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony this...

Just a few wines to be tasted at this years Indy International Wine Competition Photo courtesy of Dave Falchek It's official. We are done judging big, blind, medal-focused wine competitions. We did not arrive at this position without much thought...

Photo courtesy of Kelly Urbanik, winemaker at Macari Vineyards

This is one of two collaboration beers between brewers Hans-Peter Drexler of legendary Bavarian brewery Schneider and Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver. The version with the Brooklyn label is widely available but I found a Schneider label bottle and had...

Editor's Note: I touched on some building friction between local wineries and local governments a few weeks ago, but rather than write more about it myself, I asked Steve Bate, director of the Long Island Wine Council to write an...

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor There's still at least one "BP" that isn't destroying the world. Blue Point Brewing Company, creators of multi-award-winning Toasted Lager, have responded to the Gulf oil spill disaster the best way they know how: by...

The phases of a lunar eclipse, by tizianoj at Flickr By Tom Mansell, Science Editor A key tenet of biodynamics is the influence of celestial bodies (e.g., the sun, moon, and planets) on agriculture. While no one will deny the...

By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor The 2010 Governor's Cup award did not go to a Long Island red, or a Finger Lakes riesling. It went to a sparkling riesling, and a sweet one at that. For the second time in...

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor My wife and I had lunch at the Village Tavern in Hammondsport on Tuesday, and we encountered a mind-bending wine list. The Tavern is well known for its long selection of aged Finger Lakes...

Not all that many have hit tasting room lists or store shelves yet, but if the early returns are any indication, 2009 may prove another great year for Finger Lakes riesling. Swedish Hill Winery winemaker Ian Barry makes a lot...

Two weeks ago the Niagara Wine Trail hosted its second annual Niagara Wine and Culianry Festival at Artpark in Lewiston, NY, welcoming close to 1,100 guests to taste local wine and eat local food during a weekend that saw perfect...

Photo courtesy of Vineyard 48 According to winemaker Matt Berenz "I'd say we are 2-2 1/2 weeks ahead this year. I can see us bringing in riesling around mid-September"

Back when I was first getting into wine, I was shopping at Red Feet Wine Market, an Ithaca boutique wine shop. I noticed that some of their shelftalkers had little stickers (seen above) with the letters "O", "S"or "B". Having...

Though not typically a fan of comparing local wines to those of other, more-established or better-known regions, sometimes I can't help myself. Sometimes the parallels are too obvious. Vineyard 48 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($22), my favorite of the winery's current...

TasteNY is back... but it's a little bit different this time around. When we launched the project over a year ago, it was simply about getting the great beers, wines and spirits made in New York into the hands of...

This is what the NYCR editors and contributors are drinking... Evan Dawson: Domaine des Baumard 2007 Savennieres Trie Speciale Screwcap! This wine had the dual interest of being a nicely regarded Savennieres along with being closed by a screwcap. I'm...

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Photo by Morgan Dawson Photography Thursday brought a positively elysian setting for the annual Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty dinner. Chefs from a number of local establishments used local ingredients to create an inspiring menu,...

By deeming this imperial black ale, the "antithesis of Unearthly" the label on this Southern Tier Brewing Company offering promises another 22 ounces of pure hedonism. It pours jet black into a goblet with a puffy three-finger head, for a...

Sometimes, size does matter. Over the weekend, I tasted two samples of the same wine -- Lieb Family Cellars 2008 Pinot Blanc ($20). One sample was from a standard 750ml bottle. The other was from a 375ml bottle. Many wine...