The Press Deck
News from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation
September 12th, 2018
Field Notes...
From Sam Filler, Executive Director
Dear Friends,
We continue to grow our team at the Foundation!

I am excited to announce that Julie Purpura Hosbach will be joining our team as our new Communications Manager. Julie brings her deep experience as a wine educator, a certified sommelier, and knowledge of and passion for New York grapes and wine. She will be instrumental in elevating the quality and effectiveness of our various communication channels: website, social media, the Press Deck, member communications, promotional materials, and our wine education publications. We view her role as a critical piece in advancing the communications objective and goals outlined in our strategic plan.

This past Sunday and Monday, we brought a group of nine beverage buyers, sommeliers, retail shop owners, and media for our NY Drinks NY Long Island Vineyard Visit. 

I joined the group on Sunday, and while many of the wineries grow a varietal of distinction to their brand ( Chenin Blanc, Albariño, Merlot or a Bordeaux Blend), it was the Cabernet Francs by each winery that generated conversation and feedback. Many from the group remarked to me how the quality of the Cabernet Franc was consistent across wineries, but they were surprised that the vinification style varied so much even between wineries across the street from each other. There were other stand-out wines from the tour, and I personally enjoyed the 2002 Lenz Merlot that Jerol Bailey pulled out from their library.

This year’s NY Drinks NY Long Island participants included:


On the Concord Grape front, we are supporting a project being hosted at the Canandaigua Wine Company to explore the effectiveness of Flash Detanté to remove undesirable characteristics. Equipment maker Della Toffola has sent a trial unit to Canandaigua to support experimental trials on Baco noir, Concord, and Rougeon. Dr. Gavin Sacks and his Cornell team will be onsite for their own sample collection and experimental trial. 

This project complements the research that Dr. Sacks began last year on dearomitization, which was also supported with Foundation research funding. The trials are open to anyone in the industry that wants to observe the trials and see the Della Toffola unit in action. CWC will be starting each day with fruit arriving at 7 AM and should be finished processing by 7 PM. Trials start this Friday. Please contact me if you would like to participate:

  • Friday September 7th – Baco noir
  • Friday September 21st – Concord
  • Saturday September 22nd – Concord
  • Friday September 28 – Rougeon
Sam Filler, Executive Director
New York Wine & Grape Foundation
Industry News...
45% Of U.S. Alcohol Consumers Regularly Buy Wine
The TABS wine and spirits study was completed online with 1,900 participants over age 21 in order to pin down purchasing patterns connected with still and sparkling wine as well as various spirits. California, Washington and Oregon produce the bulk of wine in the U.S., but the lion’s share of wine consumers live in the Northeast. At 62% and 53%, New Jersey and New York respectively top the states in wine purchases. Read more...
 Spotted Lanternfly Update for Growers and Wineries
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest from Asia that primarily feeds on tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) but can also feed on a wide variety of plants such as grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, fruit trees and others. DEC is working with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address SLF. A plan has been developed that describes how the agencies will prevent and detect SLF in New York. Extensive trapping surveys will be conducted in high-risk areas throughout the state as well as inspections of nursery stock, stone shipments, commercial transports, etc. from Pennsylvania. DEC and partner organizations encourage everyone to be on the lookout for this pest. Read more...
 Virginia Tech’s GeoVine Uses Data to Grow Virginia Wine
Growing grapes for winemaking isn’t easy. The vines have to be planted at the right time, in the right place and with the right weather. An unprepared grape grower and winemaker will soon become a failed one. But in Virginia, winemakers have a tool they can utilize to be better prepared: GeoVine, an online resource developed by Virginia Tech’s Center for Geospatial Information Technology that helps people identify good places to locate vineyards and provides data-driven methods to help maintain them. Read more...
Riesling Road Show for Industry
The Finger Lakes Wine Alliance is sponsoring this Riesling Road Show this month in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Philadelphia. The event is designed to share Finger Lakes Rieslings, new releases and recent updates from the region. Join 14 Finger Lakes wineries for a night of education in your city. This event is open to members of the trade only. Click here to learn more and RSVP.
New York in the News...
A Manhattanite Discovers the Beauty of Finger Lakes Wines
I'm definitely guilty of having treated wines from the Finger Lakes like the cute boy next door that I never really paid attention to. Surely, a wine from my own neck of the woods couldn't be as exciting as those from lauded old world regions and trendy new world locations abroad? My recent (and first) visit to the Finger Lakes proved me absolutely wrong. The wines next door are pretty intriguing. From multi-generational family owned wineries with deep roots in the region's viticultural history to more recent immigrants and transplants, the Finger Lakes has about 140 wineries and tasting rooms, each with a unique story. Read more...
This World Class Wine Region Was in My Backyard
As a long-time resident of Philadelphia, trips to “Wine Country” for me consisted of a lengthy flight, usually in the neighborhood of 6-7 hours. I would either head west, to one of the many regions in California, Oregon, or Washington. Or, I would fly east, heading across the Atlantic to one of the countless wine regions in Europe.It was not until I moved to Texas two years ago that I realized that there was a world-class wine region that had been virtually in my back yard, a mere four hours away. And I was not alone. In fact, nearly a quarter of the U.S. population lives within a day’s drive of one of the country’s great wine appellations: the Finger Lakes in New York. Read more...
A New York Winery Is Making Rosé With an Ancient Pedigree
Winemaker Jess Johnson spent her summer the way most of us do: with glass after glass of chilled rosé. But her chosen bottle, a 2017 vintage from the Finger Lakes’ Standing Stone Vineyards, is not just any pale, Provencal approximation. It’s crafted of 100 percent Saperavi, an ancient grape from the Republic of Georgia. As more wineries in New York and down America’s East coast are embracing the grape, Johnson is betting it has a broad, colorful future in the U.S. Read more...
Wölffer Estate Nominated for American Winery of the Year
Each year, Wine Enthusiast honors the individuals and companies that made outstanding achievements over the past year in the wine and alcoholic beverage world. This year Wölffer Estate Vineyard has been nominated as American Winery of the Year. The winners will be announced in Wine Enthusiast’s special “Best of Year” issue, and they will be honored at a black-tie gala on Monday, January 28, 2019, in Miami at Nobu Eden Roc.
New York Stands Among Leaders in 'Wine in Cans' Trend
Wine packaged in cans is taking off and New York is among the leaders, a new marketing survey says. New York state ranks second in the number of wines available in cans, although the trend is relatively new, according to a survey conducted by a team from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania and Texas Tech University. Read more...
Notes on the Long Island Wine Scene: Uncork the Forks
Lenn Thompson's round up of Long Island wine happenings: Some of my favorite columnists — in wine, sports and beyond — occasionally write columns that touch on a variety of topics, quick-fire style, rather than writing about a single topic. I like those columns, but have rarely written one myself. However, as local vineyards swell with ever-ripening fruit that is soon to be picked, I have a lot of things I want to write about. So I’m going to give it a shot this week. Read more...
Member Corner...
Member News, Benefits, Events & More...
Legal Update: NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Training [Member Webinar] 9/18 at 10am
In spring 2018 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law designed to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace as well as regulate how employers handle reported instances of harassment. The law requires all employers in New York to develop policies and procedures to prevent sexual harassment as well as provide a reporting process when an employee, customer, vendor, or other outside party feels they have been subject to sexual harassment. All employees must be trained on these policies. The New York Wine and Grape Foundation will be hosting a webinar to review what’s in the law and what steps our member organizations will need to take to comply. The webinar will be presented by Paul Banuski of HR One Consulting. As a Human Resources Consultant, Paul has experience in the areas of human resource planning, employee relations, performance management, employment regulation compliance, and training. This is a valuable opportunity for our members, their human resource team members, and supervisors whose job involves managing employees. Register Today...
Global NY Export Experts Tour
Are you a New York State small business looking to export? Empire State Development’s Global NY Division is taking its expertise on the road. From October 18 - 25, they are bringing six foreign office representatives from Canada, Mexico, Europe (U.K.), South Africa, Israel and China on an eight-stop export promotion tour to regions across New York State. Whether your company is export-ready or you’re interested in entering the global marketplace, the tour offers an excellent opportunity for your business to connect with trade experts and explore new markets around the world. At each stop, our global trade representatives will offer in-depth presentations on their respective markets, and they’ll be available to answer your export questions. Companies will also have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one consultations with the representatives at each stop on the tour. To attend an event, or for more information, click here.
Member Benefit: Wine Market Council Infographics
Upcoming Wine Trail Events