[FAQ] 3i. NY Finger Lakes?

Atwater is my favorite on Seneca. Their Riesling is very good and the Gewurtz is excellent. Hazlitt has some very nice wines. They also sell what is often touted as the best selling wine in NY state, Red Cat. This is a sweet wine made from Red Catawba grapes. Both Atwater and Hazlitt are 'must stops' for me every trip. I've never been impressed with Miles Cellars.

The Ginny Lee at Wagner is good. Never eaten at Red Newt but their wines are decent.

You got my faves (Sheldrake, Ravines, Weimar) -can't add anything. In Ithaca there's a tapas bar called Just a Taste that gets consistent good marks. But they don't take reservations and the times I tried to go wait was too long.

Want me to try and do a preliminary on Long Island?

Mark Lipt> What follows is a rough draft of recommendations for the Finger Lakes

Is it Weimar or Wiemar? And what do they make? Sorry to ask such ignorant questions, but I'm trying to reduce the amount of legwork that I have to do. As or LI: do you think that it's worth doing? I can't recall anyone ever asking about LI wineries here, but if you're up to it, WTH!

Mark Lipton

Mark Lipton wrote:

I am not suggesting any changes. I just thought some might like a bit of the Finger Lakes wine history, now that the subject has been brought up.

The Finger Lakes region wines were more important than California wines at one time in the Eastern half of the US. Some of the wineries were very well known well back into the 1800s. Although many of the wines made from native grapes were "foxy", there was much experimentation with hybrids, and a few hybrids made more conventional tasting wines. The region was especially well known for "Champagne". Some of these sparkling wines were fairly conventional tasting, but many tended to be a bit sweet. Also, back then, there was a stigma toward wines made in the US, especially on the East coast. Many would buy only imported wines which often were French are German. However many of the imports were of the most common sort and really not much better than many domestic mass produced wines. WWII greatly changed this. With imports from Europe cut off, wine distributors in the Eastern US had to find local wines. Many California wines, including the likes of BV Private Reserve became easy to obtain in many East coast wine shops, and some drinkers of only imported wines found them to their liking. Since the California wines, in the higher grades, were more like European wines than the Finger Lakes wines, California wine sales displaced some of the Finger Lake sales. However, after the war, Dr. Frank and others showed how to grow Riesling and other European grapes in the region. This has resulted in a greatly improved reputation for some of the Finger Lakes wines. Also some other areas of New York are making decent wines now, so I hear, but I have not had enough contact with these to have any opinion.

Keuka

Hunt Country- I liked their selection. laid back wine tasting Dr Konstantin- OK wines, I thought the host was snobby (but he clearly talked like he knew what he was talking about).

Seneca:

Glenora- Liked their selection Their were two wineries real close to one another either not listed above or I forgot name of in 3 days (we were their last Friday). Had more fruit wines (apple, berry types) than Grape wines. Castel Grich- good holiday wines- Seneca Dream White and Seneca Dream Red Hazlitt 1852- a fun wine tasting experience (we make this the last stop each year). They serve Jello shots with Red Cat, very fun.

Cayuga

Swedish Hill Great selection Knapp Great selection Vignoles is my favorate. Goosewatch- if you stop by Knapp, this is around the corner and has a great view, plus good wines. Thirsty Owl- a first time stop last weekend, pleasently surprised. Good wines and laid back staff. Lucas- large variety of wines, they have a bottle with world trade centers around it which we like to give as gifts. Have a good Vignoles, good Reisling and excellent staff. Americana- I like their late harvest. Also have wine scented candles, which my wife loves. This was a first time stop this year and will be a stop every time we head back to area.

Seneca Lodge There is a restraurant at southern tip of Seneca Lake, not far from castle Gritsch- Highly recomend. Reasonably priced.

Seneca Lodge

If staying at Seneca Lodge-

Day 1 trip went from Seneca Lodge to Dr K (a 75 minute drive). The North on Keuka to Hunt, then to North part of Seneca back down (ending at Castle Grich). 6-7 hour trip.

Day 2 trip went to Northern part of Cayuga (swedish hill), went south to Americana, then across 143 West to Seneca Lodge. Can hit Hazlitt and others heading south towards Seneca Lodge. 6-7 hour trip.

Actually it's Hermann Wiemer. Rieslings are what I've liked, Gewurz and Pinot Noir were ok.

You're probably right re LI. I've been on several threads on WLDG or eBob re that, but looks like only Midlife asked recently here.

Bully Hill is a great place for lunch but their wines are horrible. Dano's is a fantastic Austro-Hungarian restaurant that shouldn't be missed. Standing Stone makes a nice Vidal Ice Wine. Weimer is one of the best, as if Ravines, but they are both making riesling in what is, to me, more of an old world style. The winemaker at Ravines used to be the winemaker at Konstantin Frank, but he left for the more boutique style of Ravines. Lamoreaux, Lafayette, and Atwater are all good. Stay away from Glenora. . .

Mark Lipt> What follows is a rough draft of recommendations for the Finger Lakes

I was not impressed with customer service at Weimer (West side of Seneca, correct?)- that was only winery I visted all weekend and did not buy something (out of 15 visited). They had flies all over the inside, had a small tasting room, and the one lady working there was quite rude.

There wines were more on the dry side as well.

Why stay away from Glenora?

Generally, I find no issue with these sentiments.

We went to Glenora last weekend... I don't remember "much" about it, but we do have a few bottles from Glenora at home.

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