Wine shipping records confusion prompts crackdown

(c) Sovos Compliance 2017

Many states are cracking down on what they perceive as illegal alcohol shipping, with New York, Michigan, and Illinois at the top of the aggressive stance, according to a report on Forbes.com.

Part of the states' shipping crackdown comes from confusion over shipping reports. Alex Koral, industry outreach advisor at the direct-to-consumer (DTC) tracking organization ShipCompliant, “Many wineries will use third-party fulfillment centers to facilitate their orders. When the common carrier files a report with the state, they’ll list the fulfillment center as the source of the shipment … . The states won’t have a record of that location being connected to a licensee … . It looks like it’s an illegal order, even though it was properly coming from a legal, licensed winery.” He says only North Dakota and Virginia license fulfillment centers.

Go here for the full story from Forbes.

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Finger Lakes may become National Heritage Area

• From WAER.com

The Finger Lakes region has its fingers crossed about the tourism potential that could come with receiving a certain federal designation. 

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) recently announced a bipartisan bill to consider the region a National Heritage Area. If passed, the Finger Lakes region, which contains 14 counties and 26 state parks [and dozens of wineries], could become part of the National Parks system.  Coleen Fabrizi, chair of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, says the name would be excellent for the region’s economy. ...

If the bill succeeds, the Finger Lakes will undergo a Feasibility Study Process, taking about a year to assess the area’s natural beauty and historical significance. Tourism in the Finger Lakes is already a nearly $3 billion dollar industry. Fabrizi finds the region earns this with its many sights and attractions.

"New York State and the Finger Lakes Region are not places you come and explore for a day.  There is so much to see and do.  You can experience it for weeks and months at a time and never run out of things to do."

Go here for the full story.

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Upstate Riesling tops NY Wine & Food Classic competition

The Governor's Cup

Buttonwood Grove Winery's 2016 Riesling was awarded the Governor’s Cup, top honor in the annual New York Wine & Food Classic competition, in judging finished Wednesday in Watkins Glen.

Buttonwood Grove, purchased in May 2014 by David and Melissa Pittard from founders Ken and Diane Riemer, is located at 5986 State Route 89 in Romulus. Phone: (607) 869-9760.

CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery of Penn Yan and Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery of Southold, Long Island, tied for “Winery of the Year” honors.

This year, a total of 81 Double Gold, 88 Gold, 454 Silver, and 241 Bronze medals were awarded. (Double Gold medals require unanimity among the judging panel, whereas Gold medals require a majority vote.) This year's competition included 915 New York wines, 27 hard ciders and 16 craft spirits from across state.

The “Best of Category” awards, all of which made winners eligible for the Governor’s Cup, went to:

• Best Sparkling Wine: Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery 2014 Topaz Imperial, Méthode Champenoise
• Best White Wine: Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling
• Best Pink Wine: CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery Catawba
• Best Red Wine: 3 Brothers Wineries & Estates 2016 Zweigelt/Cabernet Sauvignon
• Best Dessert Wine: Goose Watch Winery Classic Cream Sherry

"Best of Class" awards go to Double Gold or Gold medal wines in classes of at least seven entries. They were:

• Best Oaked Chardonnay: Osmote Wine 2014 Chardonnay
• Best Unoaked Chardonnay: Martha Clara Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay
• Best Gewürztraminer: Dr. Konstantin Frank 2016 Gewürztraminer
• Best Dry Riesling: Lucas Vineyards 2015 Dry Riesling
• Best Medium Dry Riesling: Dr. Konstantin Frank 2016 Riesling, Semi-Dry
• Best Medium Sweet Riesling: Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling
• Best Sweet Riesling: Fox Run Vineyards 2014 Lot 11 Riesling, Lake Dana Vineyard
• Best Overall Riesling: Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling
• Best Sauvignon Blanc: Paumanok Vineyards 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
• Best Pinot Grigio: Seneca Shore Cellars Pinot Grigio
• Best Grüner Veltliner: Dr. Konstantin Frank 2016 Grüner Veltliner
• Best Other Vinifera White Varietal: Kontokosta Winery 2016 Viognier
• Best Vinifera White Blend: Bedell Cellars 2016 Taste White
• Best Traminette: Johnson Estate Winery 2016 Traminette
• Best Vignoles: Anthony Road Wine Company 2016 Vignoles
• Best Cold Climate White Varietal: Weis Vineyards 2016 Heart of the Lake
• Best Hybrid White: 3 Brothers Wineries & Estates Nearly Naked
• Best Diamond: Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2016 Diamond
• Best Niagara: Chateau LaFayette Reneau Niagara Mist
• Best Rosé: Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé
• Best Blush: Owera Vineyards Cazenovia Blush
• Best Catawba: CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery Catawba
• Best Merlot: Damiani Wine Cellars 2012 Merlot Reserve
• Best Pinot Noir: Martha Clara Vineyards 2015 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
• Best Cabernet Franc: Fjord Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc
• Best Syrah: Clovis Point Vineyard & Winery 2014 Syrah
• Best Other Red Vinifera Varietal: Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2015 Malbec
• Best Vinifera Red Blend: 3 Brothers Wineries & Estates 2016 Zweigelt/Cabernet Sauvignon
• Best Cold Climate Red Varietal: Tug Hill Vineyards 2015 Marquette
• Best Hybrid Red: Stone Age Winery Reugeon de Chaunac
• Best Fruit Wine: 21 Brix Winery Raspberry
• Best Cider: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard Cider Tree with Citra Hops
• Best Spirit: Finger Lakes Distilling Seneca Drums Gin
• Best Port: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard Light Port
• Best Late Harvest: Wölffer Estate Vineyard 2014 Diosa Late Harvest
• Best Ice Wine: Leonard Oakes Estate Winery 2015 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine
• Best Vinifera Sparkling White: Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery 2012 Blanc de Blanc, Méthode Champenoise
• Best Vinifera Sparkling Pink: Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery 2014 Topaz Imperial, Méthode Champenoise
• Best Hybrid Sparkling White: J.R. Dill Winery Cayuga White Rise

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10th Sangria Festival at Hudson-Chatham Winery

Renovated Ghent tasting room (photo provided)

The Hudson-Chatham Winery recently opened its third tasting room, in downtown Troy, but it is hoping its followers come to the original venue this Saturday. That's when its 10th annual Sangria Festival & Jazz Fest will run from  11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Founders Carlo and Dominique DeVito have grown the event into something a bit beyond the usual tasting, thus the addition of  "& Jazz Fest" to the name. Admission runs from $12 to $15.

The winery and original, renovated tasting room is located at 1900 Route 66 in Ghent, Columbia County, about midway between its two namesake communities. Phone: 518-392-WINE. Its two satellite tasting rooms are located at 6036 Main Street in Tannersville, Greene County, and 203 River Street, Troy.

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A Canadian view of the Finger Lakes wine scene

A view of Keuka Lake (photo provided)

• From the Toronto Globe & Mail

“Wine, Wings and Water” promises the sign leading into Hammondsport, NY, a small town on Lake Keuka in the Finger Lakes region that thrives on thirsty summer tourists.

That slogan isn’t likely to change the minds of the people who long-ago decided that Upstate New York wine was more suitable for use as a punch line than for pairing with meals.

But, given that the region now is home to world-class Riesling, standout Gruner Veltliner and delicious fizz, the rest of us should re-think Finger Lakes wine.

Go here for the full story.

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