THIS JUST IN!
- DannyM
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 21
A Major Magazine names THE FINGER LAKES its American Wine Region of the Year.
Eleven Lakes, 300+ Wineries, and a Thousand Views Like This.
We at Danny's Table have been blathering about the unparalleled natural beauty and œnological excellence of our nearby Finger Lakes Wine Region since our inception. Now THE WINE ENTHUSIAST magazine has made it official.
Below are links to our previously published essays on the wines and wineries of the Finger Lakes region. But first, here is a brief list of some generalizations we've formed in our detailed explorations--
Of the 11 lakes, 2 stand out as homes to numerous and noteworthy wineries-- Seneca and Keuka. (Keuka has the history, Seneca has the most wineries.) That being said, Cayuga Lake is home to one of our top favorites.
The Finger Lakes region might well be the most beautiful wine region on God's Green Earth, especially in autumn.
The region was built on wines crafted not from the well-known European varieties (vitus Vinifera) but rather from native species and European-American hybrids. However, a 4-part Perfect Storm-- the conquest of the Vinifera-munching phylloxera vine louse, the bold efforts of Dr. Konstantin Frank, NY's Farm Winery Act of 1976, and climate change-- has steered the Finger Lakes wine industry toward vitus Vinifera and away from native grapes and hybrids.
The whites are generally better than the reds. (And yet that favorite winery on Cayuga bottles a world-class Pinot Noir.)
The region was once America's largest bubbly producer and presently bottles some excellent Champagne-style sparkling wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Expect to spend $30 or more per bottle... and expect to agree that they're worth every penny.
If the Finger Lakes region had to identify ONE grape variety as its standard bearer, it would be Riesling. there are even numerous sparkling versions.
The red variety Cabernet Franc is widely planted because it survives the occasional sub-zero polar vortexes (vortices?) better than do superior varieties.
Lesser-known varieties from Old World cool climates perform well and are gaining in popularity. Saperavi (from the Republic of Georgia) and Grüner Veltliner (from Austria) are two excellent examples worth trying. The Austrian Blaufränkisch grape might well turn out to be the red variety best suited to the region's terroir.
From painful experience with limo-loads of wine-swilling revelers, many of the high-quality wineries are now barring buses and limos, charging for tastings, and requiring reservations.
And finally, if you do a tasting tour the region, don't drink and drive. Appoint a designated driver.
Here, as promised, is that consolidated list of our Finger Lakes essays--
Congratulations again to a wine region that has overcome more than its share of obstacles along its path to widespread and well-deserved recognition.
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