Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 4

We awoke to bacon and eggs for breakfast with all the trimmings. We had one appointment for the day. This was an actual appointment that one of my distributors arranged for us for a VIP tasting at the one and only Dr. Frank’s on Keuka Lake. Keuka Lake is about an hour from Seneca and we got an early start heading west to the west side of Keuka Lake.


We were met by Susan Eisenhart who is one of Dr. Frank’s extremely knowledgeable sales ambassadors and she guided us through an amazing 22 wines.

Dr. Konstantin Frank founded the winery in 1962, making this year, 2012, their 50th anniversary celebration. Dr. Frank’s flagship wines are the gold labeled wine portfolio with everything from Riesling and Cabernet Franc to Rkatsiteli, Muscat and Gruner Veltliner. Dr. Frank is considered to be the Robert Mondavi of the East Coast. He is the one who jump-started the NY wine regions into the gold medal standard it is today.

Konstantin’s son Willy, continued the family tradition by adding Chateau Frank to the portfolio, a line of sparkling wines that could rival any Champagne house. Willy’s son Fred is the current President and his legacy is the Salmon Run label using grapes sourced locally.

Joe Canal’s is a proud carrier of these wines. Of the Salmon Run wines we carry the Riesling (one of my favorites), Chardonnay and the Coho Red. Of the Dr. Frank flagship wines we carry the Gewurztraminer, Dry Riesling, Semi-Dry Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. All are definitely worth a try to get a real flavor for NY wines. I’d be happy to make a recommendation for you or just put them all in your cart!

After leaving Dr. Frank with a case of delicious wines, we headed into the town of Hammondsport, voted one of the coolest small towns in America by Budget Travel Magazine, and enjoyed lunch in the town square in what looks to be their only restaurant. And yes, it was pretty cool.

Later that night, we ate dinner at the Wildflower Café, the restaurant attached to Rooster Fish Brewing. We enjoyed local scallops, organic burgers and of course, the local brew on tap.

Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 3

I had 3 destinations on the way back to Watkins Glen. First up was Red Tail Ridge, a winery we carry at Joe Canal’s. It doesn’t look like much from the outside.


But, the inside is modern and clean.


Notice the guy in front with the red shirt? He has two leashes for his Greyhounds. We saw them everywhere from dinner, to the streets to the wineries. We finally had to ask. The Finger Lakes hosts a weekend for people to bring their Greyhounds to promote Greyhound adoption. Wineries such as Red Tail Ridge allow the dogs inside, provide them dog treats and their own rest stop outside. Oh and the wines? Superb. We carry their Semi-Dry Riesling 2009 which is light with just a touch of sweetness, but their red winner was their Blaufränkisch.

Check out the view of their vineyards along their driveway.


My next two destination spots were Heron Hill and Hermann J Weimer. Weimer had some of the best domestic Rieslings I have ever tasted. It’s important to note that not all of these wines are available in NJ and most will not ship direct to consumer for you, so if you have the opportunity to buy them while you’re visiting, make sure you do!

That night was our anniversary so we headed to a restaurant called Suzanne’s. This is a Victorian home converted into a restaurant and the cuisine is local, fresh and delicious. Out back is the huge vegetable and herb garden and we dined on the wrap-around porch feasting on crab, onion soup, duck breast, duck sausage, pork tenderloin, cheese and dessert with local wine. As the dinner ended, we watched the sun set over the lake making this one of the most enjoyable days we’ve had in several weeks.

We topped the night off with a 2001 Brunello Reserve on the porch of the Inn from my personal collection.

Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 2

Mike made us the most amazing breakfast. We feasted on pancakes with fresh picked blueberries, organic syrup, sausages, fresh fruit and muffins with orange juice, coffee and tea. We found an amazing, accurate map at the Village Marina and after breakfast we headed out to the west side of the lake.

What you should first know about these wineries is that they charge for a tasting. Some are as little as $2 per person and up to $6 depending on the vineyard. Some will credit you back if you buy any of their wine. And, if you go to taste and not consume, some pourers will allow you more than the 5-6 wines you get for your tasting price. When I say taste, I mean, utilizing the spit bucket. Yes, you sip, swish and then spit. By doing this, you don’t get drunk especially when you’re driving, you can taste more and some people will pour you a few more sampless of other wines in their portfolio.

Our first stop was Lakewood Vineyards, where we were the first people in the door. In fact, we were early and we were waved in before opening time. This was probably one of the most educated group of people we met of the day. Our pourer knew everything about his wines and was able to guide us through 15 wines or so. Remember the spitting part? We should have only had 10 wines between the two of us. It was here that I was introduced to a grape called Lemberger. I had never had it before and it was just my style – big, dry and earthy.

One of the other things you should know about the Finger Lakes is that it is a popular venue for Bachelorette parties. So, if you want to avoid these groups meeting you at every other winery, you may consider tasting during the week instead of the weekend.

After leaving Lakewood, we stopped at Rock Stream Vineyards, Glenora, Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars, Villa Bellangelo, Ashley Lynn, Miles and Anthony Roads. Our goal was to head up to Belhurst Castle for lunch so once our bellies started growling, we passed a few others in search of food. Tasting really can make you hungry, so it is very important to eat before you go and don’t skip meals. If crackers are offered while you are tasting, take them!

Belhurst Castle is beautiful former private residence in Geneva at the north side of Seneca Lake. Of course, it is the destination spot for weddings, so we did get to watch a newly married couple take photos outside while we dined at one of their restaurants called Stonecutters. After lunch, we walked around the beautiful property before heading south to visit the wineries on the other side of the road.

Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 1

So far this year I have not been on any of the company wine tasting trips, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and book a 3 night vacation in Watkins Glen, NY touring Seneca Lake. This was a perfect way for my husband and I to spend our 11 year wedding anniversary. On Friday, July 27th we took the 4 hour drive to Watkins Glen where we booked “The Merlot Room” at the 1892 Seneca Inn Bed & Breakfast. The Inn was a clean, rustic, old Victorian home operated by Susan and Mike Gilbert. We especially enjoyed the large, wrap-around porch where we spent each evening listening to music, drinking wine and watching life pass by.

It’s important to me to find a place that is centrally located to everything. This Inn was 4 blocks from the Lake and walking distance to all nearby restaurants, breweries, beaches, water sports and shops. It’s also a great location to start wine tasting at!

The house was built in 1892 and was a private home for the next 65 years. The house changed hands over the next 40 years converted into a nursing home, state clinic and family home until being purchased by the original owner’s descendants as Hannah's 1892 House, but it was sold again and restored to be the Inn it is now.

After we settled in, we decided to walk around town and see where the wind blew us. We walked a few blocks to the base of the lake taking in the beautiful sights of the water and the sail boats. After walking the pier, we headed out to the jetty. From there I was able to get a good look at the shore line and I found what I was looking for - a bar right on the water. The Village Marina was just what the doctor ordered. We ordered some beers (yes, I drink beer, too!) and headed out to some chairs to watch the water and relax. We then headed over to the local VFW to talk to the locals and enjoyed some more beers to get a lay of the land and see which restaurants were recommended. For dinner we found a restaurant called the Seneca Harbor Grill where we sat outside dining on seafood chowder, lobster and shrimp dip, a lobster tail with grilled shrimp and a lobster pasta. The night was complete with a blues band who serenaded us during dinner and it was a great time!

We made it an early evening and went back to the house to sip some wine I brought from a home a Colin-Morey Les Chenevottes Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010, listen to music on the porch and prepare for our wine tasting journey the next day.

U-S-A! I-P-A!

India Pale Ales are the quintessential American craft-beer style. Every brewery worth its hops makes an IPA, and it's a measure by which craft breweries can be compared.

Characterized by higher levels of alcohol and hop bitterness, there's wide latitude as to what constitutes an American-style IPA. Brewers utilize a variety of American hops such as Chinook, Cascade and Centennial, which lend a more intense flavor and aroma to the beer than European or noble hops. By adding hop additions at various stages of the brewing process, brewers are able to build a beer that's distinctly unique yet united in its hop-forward flavor profile.

And it seems that there are no limits to how far brewers are willing to push the style in terms of intensity -- or to how far hopheads will go in their appreciation of the style. Founded last year, IPA Day on Aug. 2 is an effort to bring together fans online and in person to celebrate one of craft brewing's most iconic styles with events, tastings, dinners and other IPA Day celebrations. Visit http://ipaday.org or craftbeer.com to learn more.

According to beer lore, the style was developed for transport to British colonies in India, as the higher alcohol levels and hop concentrations helped preserve the beer during the journey. Other beer styles, including porters, also survived the journey, but India Pale Ales had the added benefit of being well suited to the hot, sultry climate, as the earliest examples were light and refreshing.

The style fell out of favor for a long time, until American craft brewers, most notably on the West coast, reinterpreted it and made it their own. They also upped the hop bitterness in an apparent quest to see who could pack the most hops into a beer.

Today American-style India Pale Ales are by far the most entered category during the Great American Beer Festival competition. Last year there were 176 entries in the category and entries continue to grow each year. (Tickets for this year's festival, Oct. 11--13 in Denver, go on sale Aug. 2.)

The official GABF style description defines an American-style India Pale Ale as having "medium-high to intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma with medium-high alcohol content" with "fruity, floral and citrus-like American variety hop character."

Imperial India Pale Ales, a hopped-up version that's gaining in popularity as craft brewers continue to expand the boundaries of the style, are characterized as having "intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma" along with "notably evident" alcohol content that helps balance the "fresh and lively" hop character.

Will you be celebrating IPA Day this weekend? What are your favorite IPAs? We've got plenty to choose from, try something new!

This article was written by Tom Wilmes and published at dailycamera.com. Click here for more.

Two new Chateauneuf du Papes just arrived!

Are you a CDP fan? Check out these great new 2010 vintages that just arrived in both Woodbridge and Lawrenceville!

Clos des Pape Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

The 2009 vintage of this CDP won the #10 spot in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2010! This new vintage a blend of of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, with the balance made up of Vaccarese, Counoise, and Muscardin.

"The 2010 looks to be extraordinary. A slightly fresher and more elegant version of the 2007, I think it may well be the greatest Clos des Papes since the 1990 and 1978. The 2010 has a dense ruby/purple color, a beautifully precise and pure nose of deep black raspberry, black cherry, boysenberry and blueberry notes with some licorice, garrigue, and bouquet garni. Additionally, there is a meaty richness that probably comes from the Mourvedre and Syrah.

It is an extraordinarily intense, fresh, lively wine with great finesse and elegance, which is somewhat unusual given the richness of fruit and the power of this wine. The color is a dense ruby/purple, perhaps slightly less opaque than the 2007, but very dark. This wine should evolve for 30+ years." -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

This spectacular new vintage is now featured at only $107.99 in our Bottle Club!

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Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

In 2007 Wine Spectator awarded this the #3 spot in their top 100 Wines of the Year. The 2010 is 75% Grenache, 10% each of Mourvedre and Syrah and 5% Cinsault, fermented in concrete and aged in foudres.

" A brilliant effort that ranks alongside the 2007, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape boasts abundant notes of black cherry liqueur interwoven with black currant, blueberry, spring flower, roasted herb, licorice, pepper and bouquet garni characteristics. Full-bodied with good acidity, terrific purity, a fleshy mouthfeel and a long finish, it should be even better in 4-5 years and last for two decades or more." -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Try this new vintage for only $53.99 in our Bottle Club!

Toni Carver's Trip to Spain - Part 4

Day 4

We are off to Casa Del Valle in Yepes, Toledo. This estate is breathtaking!! It is surrounded by the vineyards, olive trees, and gardens. Also on the grounds were an enormous home and many smaller buildings that house the staff, a church, and a small retail shop. We started by tasting thru their wines, my favorite was the Casa Del Valle Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, rich, red fruits, balanced tannins, anise, and tobacco make this a full bodied wine that can pair with steak and BBQ.

We relaxed that evening, enjoying the tranquil break from the busy travel days.

Day 5

We awoke to a traditional bountiful Spanish breakfast and drove to Madrid, only about an hour away. Madrid is a tourist friendly city. Ancient architecture, friendly people, great shopping, great ice cream, and at last, Starbucks!!! For all those that know me, Starbucks is part of my daily routine.

As thankful as I am to travel, I looked forward to returning to my family, sharing my stories about my travels and wine.