Magazine Names Finger Lakes Top Wine Region for 2015

From the New York Wine and Grape Foundation:

Wine Enthusiast has named the Top 10 Wine Destinations of 2015, with New York's Finger Lakes region right at the top of the list.

Anna Lee Iijima, who has written about the region and tasted extensively (including as a judge at our New York Wine & Food Classic competition), has written a great piece about the wineries, wines, other attractions, and recommendations on where to stay and eat.

New York state has also been selected by the magazine as Wine Region of the Year based on the ever-increasing quality of its wines, close partnership with the state and strong growth. The Finger Lakes is by far the largest single region, with 128 wineries, hundreds of top awards in 2014 and about 4 million tourist visits annually.

The region's growth in all respects has commanded widespread attention in the world of wine.  

In 2004, there were 73 wineries, compared to 128 today, with the growth rate strong and increasing, especially in the past five years (38 new wineries). Similarly, in the past few years the number of Gold medals and ratings of 90 or above has steadily increased (from 557 in 2011 to 886 in 2014), reflecting the ever-increasing quality of wines.

The Finger Lakes led the top 10 list of wine country destinations, with the others being Piedmont, Italy; Hawks Bay, New Zealand; Rhone Valley, France; Orlando, Florida (for restaurants); Galicia, Spain; Okanagan, British Columbia; Loire Valley, France; Mendocino, California; and Isrtria, Croatia/Slovenia/Italy.

Finger Lakes Rieslings Get Another Accolade

Jim Trezise of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation reports:

"Du riesling made in USA" is the headline of a major piece by wine writer Bernard Burtschy in Le Figaro, the largest circulation daily newspaper in France.

Bernard is one of the judges at our New York Wine & Food Classic, so has had the opportunity to sample a wide range of New York wines, and is particularly impressed with Finger Lakes Rieslings.

The lengthy article is accompanied by an iconic photo of vineyards above Keuka Lake, as well as one of me with Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the Governor's Cup Wine Tour.  Le vin de New York: c'est magnifique!

Cuomo Signs Bills Enhancing New York State Wine Industry

This news comes from the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo:


Bills were signed today that will allow wine to be sold at roadside farm markets and will designate portions of state highways near wineries and vineyards as "Wine Trails."

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said his signing of these bills continue the state's efforts to better market and promote New York wine.

“These new laws will build on our continuing efforts to promote New York’s wine industry across the state and beyond, boosting tourism, local economies and job growth,” Cuomo said. 

“We are increasing market opportunities for local producers and farmers and expanding our wine trails to attract tourists to communities across Upstate New York," he said. "Our state is home to hundreds of wineries that produce some of the best wine in the world, and we want both New Yorkers and visitors to come and enjoy them.” 

The farm markets legislation (S.267/A.1512) will create a new site for New York wineries to sell their products by allowing roadside farm markets to sell wine manufactured and produced by up to two licensed farm wineries, special wineries or micro-wineries located within 20 miles of the roadside farm market. 

The governor also signed four wine trail laws: one establishes a new wine trail; one expands an existing wine trail; one both expands two existing wine trails and changes their names; and one simply changes the name of an existing wine trail.

Wine trails help guide tourists to local attractions, vineyards, and wine tasting rooms, and to experience all that New York’s wine regions have to offer.

There are currently 16 wine trails designated by state law. 

“By allowing New York’s wide variety of quality wines to be sold at roadside farm markets, we are opening another door for this important industry," said Assemblyman William Magee, of Nelson, Madison County, chair of the state Assembly agriculture committee. "This is a measure that will support the growth of local businesses in our communities, and provide an important boost to wine producers across the state.”

New York is home to nearly 500 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Producers account for more than $22 billion in annual total economic impact in the state and support tens of thousands of jobs statewide.

The state ranks third in the nation in wine and grape production, has the second-most distilleries, and three of the top-producing 20 brewers in the United States are located in New York.

Today is Wine Tourism Day in the Finger Lakes

Check out http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/Wine-Tourism-Day.aspx for more information.

Love of Finger Lakes Wines Finally Catching On in NYC

Check out http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2013/05/lover_for_finger_lakes_wines_is_spreading_in_new_york_city.html this story from syracuse.com

Signage Needed To Help NY Wine Trails, Wineries, Grow Even More

Here's more news from Jim Tresize of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation:

Wine trails have been a major reason that wine country tourist visits have mushroomed from 340,000 in 1985 to over 5,000,000 today.

And a big part of wine trails' success has been standardized highway signage (green grape cluster symbols) leading visitors to and through the trails.

It's classic economic development: small investment, huge return.

Most wine trails are all set, but there are several (Niagara, Long Island, Adirondack Coast, Upper Hudson) that need either entirely new legislation to officially create the trial to allow signage or amend legislation to expand and improve signs.

For many years, the state Department of Transportation was difficult to deal with on this issue, but now the department is absolutely great. The governor supports the program, the state Senate has passed legislation but unfortunately, the bill has stalled in an Assembly committee.

So, thanks to coordination by Julie Suarez of New York Farm Bureau, I and several wine trail representatives spent April 30 in Albany trying to shake things loose.

Timing is key -- if the legislation is passed by the Assembly in the next two months, it will be lost for another year. It's a lose-lose situation for the trails wineries, tourists, local communities and the state of New York.