| Home | About Us | Wineries | Subscribe | Advertise With Us | ||||
Cayuga Lake
 |
Lucas Vineyards
3862 County Road 150, Interlaken NY, 14847 1-800-682-WINE or 607-532-4825 info@lucasvineyards.com |
|||
Farm advisors told the Lucas' they could make a good living on their 68-acre farm by growing grapes for one of the big wineries in Hammondsport. They planted their first vines in 1975 and trucked their first crop to the Taylor winery in 1978. At Taylor, the Lucas' watched in dismay as their carefully nurtured, hand-picked grapes were dumped into giant hoppers with truckload of grapes from other growers. A highlight of the Lucas' grape growing days was when they sold their Cayuga White grapes to Glenora Wine Cellars. Glenora produced the very first Cayuga White commercial wine from Lucas Vineyards grapes.
It was a natural progression for the Lucas' to open their own winery in 1980, the first on Cayuga Lake. Their debut vintage of 400 cases won gold and silver medals at the NY State Fair Wine Competition. That was the start of a long chain of medals and awards for Lucas wines. Lucas Vineyards most known wines are the Tug Boat wines. The nautical wines are named after one of the Founders occupation as a Tug Boat Captain in the New York Harbor.
\In the early years, consumer interest in the Tug Boat Wines kept the winery afloat. Wine production has risen to 17,000 cases (approx. 40,000 gallons), mostly from estate grown grapes. Today the business is owned and managed by Ruth Lucas. The two Lucas daughters, Ruthie and Stephanie, are employed full time by the winery as is Stephanie's husband, Jeff. The second generation hopes that Ruth will be able to retire in a few years and enjoy the fruits of her labor.
 |
Swedish Hill Winery
4565 Rt 414 · Romulus, NY 14541 Tel: 315-549-8326 · Fax: 315-549-8477 info@swedishhill.com |
|||
In 1997, the Petersons opened a second winery, Goose Watch, also on Cayuga Lake. The emphasis at Goose Watch is on the unusual, featuring a selection of wines that are not very common in other Finger Lakes wineries, such as Viognier, Pinot Gris, Melody, Diamond, Merlot and Lemberger. A complete list of current offerings including tasting notes can be found on the wine catalog page, where you can also order Swedish Hill wines online .
Seneca Lake
 |
Atwater Estate
Vineyards & Winery - 5055 Route 414 PO Box 216 Hector, NY 14841 Located on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York atwatervineyards.com/ |
|||
Using quality estate grown fruit, our portfolio of wines include dynamic varietals and artful blends to please every palette. With a spectacular panoramic view of the lake as a backdrop, our friendly and inviting tasting room staff welcomes you to sample current vintages throughout the year.
From vineyard to tasting room, our staff is committed to creating outstanding vintages, providing a unique experience and promoting the best of the Finger Lakes. Open 7 days a week, our hours are: May - December 10:00 to 5:00 Monday - Saturday, Sunday open 11:00 to 5:00. January - April we will open 12:00 to 5:00 Monday - Friday, Saturday open 10:00 - 5:00, Sunday 11:00 to 5:00
We couldn’t grow the grapes we do without our lake. Seneca Lake’s massive depth (over 600 feet!) retains heat, keeping the surrounding soils warmer in winter and cooler in spring, protecting delicate varieties that would otherwise freeze. In fact, the uniqueness of the soil, climate and growing conditions, or terroir, have earned “Seneca Lake” a position as a unique wine growing appellation region apart from the Finger Lakes.
Our vineyards are located in the southern portion of Seneca Lake, affectionately referred to as the “banana belt” region of the Finger Lakes. This area is a micro-climate within a macro-climate, warmer than any other spot in the region, allowing more challenging varieties the opportunity to grow and ripen.
Currently planted with sixteen varieties of vinifera, hybrid and native grapes, we embrace the challenges of cool-climate viticulture as each season brings new issues to tackle and encourages ideas to grow. Our vineyard philosophy is committed to providing sustainable viticulture practices that enhance the quality of the fruit and the earth it stems from.
Hermann Wiemer |
|||||
|
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard3962 Rte. 14 Dundee, NY 14837 607 243 7971
Monday - Saturday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday, 11 AM - 5 PM www.wiemer.com email-wines@wiemer.com |
|||||
Founder Hermann J. Wiemer was born to oenophiles in Bernkastel, Germany. His mother’s family had dedicated more than three hundred years to the trade and his father directed the restoration of Mosel Valley vineyards after World War II. Hermann studied hand grafting and attended Germany’s premier winemaking and viticultural institutions, before leaving for the US where he established Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard on the shores of Seneca Lake. Here, well-drained, sloping shale-stone bedrock and Honeoye silt loam soil lends itself to the production of what critics often recognized as the finest in their categories.
The precision and elegance of German viticulture has been passed on to Hermann’s long-term winemaker Fred Merwarth and his team, who spend countless hours perfecting the legacy that distinguishes Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard. Drawing on Hermann as a mentor, the new generation faithfully focuses on terroir-driven classical estate wines that continue to win accolades.
Hermann J. Wiemer wines come from three specific vineyards:
The Magdalena Vineyard is located 10 miles north of the winery on Route 14. Planted in 1999, this 24 acre vineyard is an impressive site offering expansive views of Seneca Lake. The different soil types vary from rich Honeoye silt loam to eroded hillside gravel. The vineyard blocks were planted in coordination with the changing soil types to capture the different flavor profiles of each block and grape variety. The Josef Vineyard, just south of Magdalena, displays similar mesoclimate to Magdalena, but Josef Vineyard wines differ remarkably due to the slope, soil type, and average age of the vines. The Vineyard rests on a 6% slope with deep honeoye silt loam soils, producing wines that combine the elegance of our Dry Riesling with the ripening capabilities for Late Harvest and TBA.
The Josef Vineyard features 30 year old plantings of Riesling and Chardonnay, as well as a one-acre block of Gewurztraminer, planted in 1967 - the oldest planting in New York.
The HJW Vineyard site was planted in 1976, at the same location as the winery, and represents Hermann’s first planting of Riesling and Chardonnay. This vineyard is defined by its thin gravelly topsoil, yielding low-vigor vines and expressive vibrant wines that capture minerality from the soil.
Keuka lake
 |
Dr. Konstantin Frank
9749 Middle Road Hammondsport, NY 14840 Phone: (607) 868-4884 Toll-Free: (800) 320-0735 Fax: (607) 868-4888 Email: info@drfrankwines.com |
|||
A European immigrant, Dr. Frank and his family arrived in the United States in 1951. After a brief stay in New York City, Dr. Frank – a professor of plant sciences who held a Ph.D. in viticulture moved upstate to take a position at Cornell University’s Geneva Experiment Station. At Geneva Frank attempted to share with his colleagues his vision of growing Vitis Vinifera (European) grapes in the Finger Lakes. His efforts were met by skepticism fueled by a 300-year history of failure growing European varieties in the East, and hampered by a language barrier (Dr. Frank spoke six languages fluently, yet, not English).
Dr. Frank believed from his years in the Ukraine that the lack of proper rootstock, not the cold climate, was the reason for the failure of Vitis Vinifera vines in the Finger Lakes region. He continued to promote his beliefs and to seek a sympathetic ear, which he found in Charles Fournier, a French champagne maker and president of nearby Gold Seal Vineyards. The two innovators shared not only a common vision for Finger Lakes wine, but also a common language, French.
Communicating in French, Dr. Frank revealed his research for growing the delicate European vinifera grape varieties in cold climates. For the first time the Northeastern United States could produce European varieties of wines. The revolution was underway!
In 1962, merely a decade after arriving in America, Dr. Frank founded Vinifera Wine Cellars. The winery quickly earned a reputation for spectacular Rieslings and its original planting of vines – Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon and other European varieties – formed the backbone of New York’s world-class wines and champagnes.
Dr. Frank died in 1985 at the age of 86. His son, Willy continued the tradition until he passed away in March 2006. The legacy continues as Willy’s son Frederick manages the winery and continues the tradition of turning Dr. Frank wines into Gold Medal winners, not only in New York, but nationally and internationally.
Their secret? Enthusiasm, focus on quality and continuation of Dr. Frank’s vision. For his achievement in revolutionizing the New York wine industry. Dr. Konstantin Frank was inducted into the Wine Spectator’s “Hall of Fame.”
 |
McGregor Vineyards
5503 Dutch Street Dundee, New York 14837 Phone: 607 292 3999 Fax: 607 292 6929 Email: info@mcgregorwinery.com |
|||
The fine wines which are grown, produced, bottled and sold at McGregor Winery delight a broad spectrum of taste preferences, and the Winery is a delightful place to sample them. After you've strolled through the Vineyard, we invite you to visit our enclosed tasting deck. Here, you can enjoy the sweeping view of Keuka Lake while you sample fine vinifera wines from our extensive wine list. Afterwards, you may choose to relax in our picnic area.
Throughout the year, McGregor Winery celebrates the release of their new wines by hosting special events for their visitors. Each event is designed to present our wines with creative, compatible treats so you can enjoy new wine and food sensations. Large groups are also welcome by appointment. Call (800) 272-0192 for a complete list of events or for group appointments.
Conventional wisdom said that the Finger Lakes climate was too harsh for the successful propagation of Vinifera grapes.
Then, in 1971, the McGregor family began planting twenty-eight acres of premium Vinifera and Hybrid grapes overlooking the beautiful East Bluff of New York's Keuka Lake. The local wine industry (which was essentially dependent upon native American grape varieties) watched with skeptical interest.
Today, the thriving McGregor Vineyard includes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Cayuga White, and Vignoles. McGregor Vineyard is also home to the rare (in the United States) Vinifera grape varieties Sereksiya Charni, Saperavi Rkatsiteli, and Sereksiya Rose'.
McGregor Vineyard's commitment to premium plantings and meticulous vineyard management results in a small but spectacular production of estate bottled wines.
Come and stroll through the beautiful bounty made possible by the fair "lake effect" winds which caress our flourishing vineyard.
Canandaigua Lake
 |
Casa Larga Vineyards
2287 Turk Hill Road Fairport, NY 14450 Phone:(585)223-4210 |
|||
Now, 35 years later, Casa Larga Vineyards continues this tradition of excellence - producing high quality, award winning wines, and growing to be one of the leading wine producers in New York's Finger Lakes
The Colaruotolo family has carried on Andrew Colaruotolo's dream of building a quality vineyard, seeking to not only showcase the quality wines that can be produced in New York State, but also to remain dedicated to preserving the Italian heritage from which the vineyard has grown. At Casa Larga, our philosophy is that fine wine begins in the vineyards. As Mr. C learned as a young boy in Italy, only a meticulously tended vineyard will yield the fruit required to produce high quality wine. This transcends into every aspect of our vineyard care
The Vineyards at Casa Larga occupy 45 acres of land, located atop one of the highest points in the Finger Lakes region. Rich Ontario sandy loam soil, brought here by glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, makes our vineyards one of the best places to grow grapes in the Finger Lakes.
The picturesque lakes of our region work to our advantage. Situated between Lake Ontario to the north and Canandaigua Lake to the south, our vineyards experience a moderating lake effect. High elevation along with gentle spring rain creates optimal growing conditions. Dry, warm days and cool evenings are ideal for the rest of the growing season.
Following Mr. C’s old-world techniques, our winemakers practice a meticulous type of vineyard management. Vines are hand tended during the summer and winter months with a combination of hand- picking and mechanical harvesting methods employed during harvest.
We grow two varietals classes; the European Vinifera and French-American Hybrids. Particular varieties include Chardonnay, Viognier, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Muscat D'Ottonel, Pinot Grigio, Vidal, DeChaunac, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
WineTracks Magazine copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved