Learn About Cold-Hardy Grapes at Winter Grape School March 9

From the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program:

Research is being done cold-climate grape varieties that can be grown in Northern New York.

Delicate grape varieties do not do well under harsh winter weather in Northern New York, so the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has funded research on cold-climate grape varieties to support increasing interest in NNY-grown table grapes and wines. 

An update on the most recent work will be offered at the second annual Northeast NY and Vermont Winter Grape School March 9 at the Holiday Inn in Lake George.

Registration information is online at https://enych.cce.cornell.edu or call (518) 410-6823.

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has posted the latest Evaluation of Cold-Hardy Grape Varieties for Production in Northern New York report at www.nnyagdev.org

The report summarizes work in 2016 to revitalize the cold-climate grape nursery at the Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro, Essex County.

Input from regional growers, private grape breeders and representatives of the Cornell-USDA and University of Minnesota grape breeding programs was collected and winnowed to a list of 20 potential new varieties for planting at the research nursery. 

The list includes varieties from the Cornell and Minnesota programs, one each from the USDA ARS grape breeding trials in California and at the University of Arkansas, and from Ontario, Canada, and private breeders.

Removal of old vines, soil testing and replenishing the soil health at the nursery are among the preparatory work in anticipation of the new planting. The Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program plans to hire a grape specialist to oversee the research planting.

Outreach educational programs on cold-hardy grape production research in NNY in 2016 reached groups of more than 60 grape growers and winemakers.

The farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is a research and technical assistance program serving all agricultural sectors in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. 

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Senate and administered through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Coyote Moon Vineyards Now Selling Wine in a Can

Coyote Moon Vineyards is now selling two of its wines in a can.
 
Fire Boat Red and Fire Boat White are available in packs of four 250ml cans --  equal to 1 liter of wine. The cans are available at Coyote Moon Vineyards’ three locations.
 
It took a long year of brainstorming, planning, filing, researching, paperwork and hard labor to make the can idea a reality.
 
So, why drink wine out of a can? Coyote Moon Vineyard’s Fire Boat Red and Fire Boat White Wine in a can provide consumers with limitless options when it comes to enjoying their favorite wines.
 
•    Coyote Moon’s wine in a can is small and light, so it easily fits in you cooler.
•    Wine in a can doesn’t require any tools to open; so it’s OK if you forgot your corkscrew at home.
•    Coyote Moon’s wine in a can is great to take to the pool, ballpark, beach, or anywhere else you can’t bring glass bottles.
•    Cans of wine are smaller than traditional bottles, reducing the chance of leftover, wasted wine.
•    Wine in aluminum cans are completely protected from both light and air, which means less contamination and a longer shelf life.
•    Aluminum cans are recycled more often and more readily than glass bottles and can be endlessly recycled into new cans, using a fraction of the energy and resources needed to create new glass bottles.
 
Coyote Moon Vineyards is a family owned and operated farm winery founded by Phil Randazzo, of  Rochester. The winery specializes in growing northern climate grapes, which can survive the extremely cold winters in Clayton.
 
With more than 600 awards for their wines, Coyote Moon Vineyards is one of the most award winning wineries in New York. 

Coyote Moon Vineyards can be found at the vineyard and winery, 17371 East Line Road, Clayton; the Wine and Craft Beer Lounge, 524 Riverside Drive, Clayton; and at the Tasting Room at Salmon Run Mall, 21182 Salmon Run Mall Loop, Watertown.
 
For more information and a photo of this exciting new product, visit http://www.coyotemoonvineyards.com/youcandrinkit

Tug Hill Vineyards in Lewis County Receives Funding

From Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand:

A total of $62,924 is being awarded to Tug Hill Vineyards in Lewis County to increase wine production at the facility. 

The federal funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program and will be used to purchase essential equipment needed to efficiently increase wine production at Tug Hill Vineyards.

Schumer

“This is federal funding is great news for Lewis County and Tug Hill Vineyards,” said Sen. Charles Schumer. “This funding will provide Tug Hill the funds needed to help them to expand and provide more consumers with their quality products. Making sure we support our agricultural businesses in Upstate New York will always be a priority of mine.”

 “New York’s world-class vineyards produce some of the finest grapes, grown by hard-working farm families,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee who wrote to USDA in support of Tug Hill’s project. 

Gillibrand

“This investment in the Tug Hill Vineyard will help ensure they get the resources they need to expand their business with the purchase of critical equipment. This will help bring their products to market and continue to drive economic growth in their region.”

“Increasing the diversity of agricultural production and adding value to the crops grown in Lewis County are key components of economic development. The economic impacts associated with Tug Hill Vineyards’ growth and success impacts all of Lewis County,” said Larry Dolhof, president of the  Lewis County Development Corp. “The Vineyard is directly responsible for an increase in local employment, retail sales of wine and berries, and tourism related to the wine industry and the vineyards special events capacity.”

“We are so pleased to receive this funding to support the expansion of Tug Hill Vineyards,” said Sue Maring, owner of Tug Hill Vineyards. “We look forward to procuring state of the art equipment necessary for increased wine production.”

Tug Hill Vineyards was established in 2007 and consists of 20 acres of grapevines on a 40-acre  estate. Tug Hill Vineyards produces red and golden raspberries as well as blueberries in addition to grapes. They also produce a variety of wines both dry and sweet.

USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants are available to towns, State agencies, tribes and non-profits. They are used to support development of rural small businesses, distance learning networks and adult job training education programs. The RBEG program’s grants finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses to grow the economy.

Wine Competition Season Kicks Off With Wins for NY

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

The 2014 wine competition season was officially kicked off recently at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the country's largest with 5,825 wines submitted by more than 1,500 wineries from 25 states. 

I had the pleasure of judging, and of learning about the New York wine winnings after today's Sweepstakes round.

New York wines garnered more than 150 awards, including 7 Best of Class designations, 3 Double Gold, 22 Gold, 77 Silver and 42 Bronze medals.

Best of Class (which also won Double Gold) went to Dr. Frank 2012 Gruner Veltliner; Goose Watch 2012 Diamond; Swedish Hill 2012 Cayuga White, Viking Red, and 2012 Marechal Foch; Keuka Spring 2012 Vignoles and 2012 Apres Dessert.

Other Double Gold medals were awarded to Chateau Frank 2008 Blanc de Blanc; Vinditti Vineyards 2012 Vino Rosso E Dolce, and Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Solera Sherry (see below).

Gold medals went to Sparkling Pointe 2010 Tokaz Imperial; Goose Watch Naturel; Hazlitt 2012 Gruvee, 2012 Unoaked Chardonnay, and 2012 Oaked Chardonnay; Glenora 2012 Gewurztraminer; Keuka Spring 2012 Riesling (last year the 2011 Riesling won Best White Wine of the entire competition), 2012 Riesling Humphreys Vineyard, and Celebrate; Swedish Hill 2012 Dry Riesling, 2012 Riesling, and Blue Waters Riesling; Wagner 2012 Dry Riesling Caywood East and 2012 Riesling Select; Knapp 2012 Dry Riesling KV Estate; Benmarl 2012 Semi Dry Riesling; Dr. Frank 2012 Dry Riesling and 2012 Riesling Reserve; Fox Run 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling; Ventosa 2012 Semi Sweet Riesling; Merritt Estate Bella Rosa; and Venditti 2012 Marechal Foch.

Bill Introduced for St. Lawrence County Wine Trail

State Sen. Patricia Ritchie just posted this on Facebook:

"I've just introduced my bill (S.6321) to create the St. Lawrence County Wine Trail. Stretching from Lisbon to Brasher, the Trail will help promote quality North Country wines, boost tourism and help farmers and this new industry grow, just as trails in Jefferson County and across the state have already done."

Here's a map to go with the post: 

Wine Trail Legislation Will Help Industry, Experts Say

Here are two statements about the new wine trail and wine selling legislation in New York state:

Bradley Rickard, assistant professor at Cornell and leading expert in the economics of horticultural markets, said this about new legislation allowing roadside farm market stands to sell wine as well as expand wine trails designations on state roadways.

 

Rickard says:

 

“Similar to laws that have allowed wineries to sell their products at farmers’ markets and that have created wine trails, the new legislative change allowing wine to be sold at roadside farm markets will enable more New York State wine to be sold to consumers and will benefit the industry in some capacity.”

 

The New York Farm Bureau commented on the law expanding the state wine trail system:

In a press release, it said "local wineries across Upstate New York now have new opportunities to lure in visitors with the recent expansion of the state wine trail system. Gov. Cuomo just signed legislation that will allow the Niagara Wine Trail Ridge and Niagara Wine Trail Lake to grow in western New York in addition to the expansion of the Shawangunk East Wine Trail in the lower Hudson Valley.

"The governor also put pen to paper creating the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail in Clinton County.

"We appreciate the governor’s support of New York’s vineyards and farm based wineries. The wine trail system has proven itself to be an economic generator drawing in tourists from around the state and the world to sample and purchase our award winning wines. The wineries themselves pay for the road signs marking the trail, and there is no cost to the state, only an economic benefit.

"The cross promotion and branding of a Wine Trail as a destination allows the state’s smaller farm and commercial wineries the opportunity to work together to capture new customers. Also, the additional visitors to the respective regions provide a spin-off boost to the rural economies as well.

"In addition to the expansions, a separate bill changes the name of the Chautauqua Wine Trail in Chautauqua County to the Lake Erie Wine Trail.

Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau, said “New York Farm Bureau worked closely with the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, a number of winemakers and their respective state legislators, as well as the New York Department of Transportation to make these important changes to the wine trail system.  We very much appreciate Governor Cuomo’s support and faith in our local wineries to provide an economic boost to their communities and to add to the quality of life in the state.”

Ritchie Wants Wine Trail for St. Lawrence County

News from state Sen. Patricia Ritchie:

State Senator Patricia Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, who also is chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is planning to introduce legislation in January to establish a St. Lawrence County Wine Trail to help put local winemakers and vineyards on the map, boost local businesses and create jobs in the North Country.

“St. Lawrence County can now proudly say that it has three outstanding local wine producers in Lisbon, Black Lake and Winthrop,” said Ritchie. “Unfortunately, a lot of people have yet to discover River Myst, Bella Brooke and High Peaks wineries. My legislation will literally put these three local businesses on the map. Just as importantly, it will create a new county-wide tourist destination that will provide new business and employment opportunities for neighboring restaurants, stores and attractions.”

Under Ritchie’s plan, the St. Lawrence County Wine Trail would start near Black Lake’s Bella Brooke Winery in Morristown, extending to Lisbon’s River Myst Winery and then to High Peaks Winery in Winthrop. The trail is being designed to also bring visitors to St. Lawrence Brewing’s microbrewery in Canton, allowing the four companies additional opportunities to work together to market themselves.

“The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce has long dreamed of using our local wineries as tourist destinations," said Chamber Executive Director Pat McKeown. "We know that visitors come for our great outdoor offerings, like fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. Senator Ritchie's new plan adds a really great dimension to St. Lawrence County's arsenal of tourist attractions and we are delighted to do whatever we can to help her project gain traction.”

Science Improves Wine-Making

Check out this http://poststar.com/news/local/science-improves-wine-making/article_a829658a-c8dc-11e2-b59e-001a4bcf887a.html story from the Glens Falls Post-Star.