Winemaker Nova Cadamatre MW of Trestle Thiry One has compared the buzz of activity in this New York wine region to “the excitement and potential of California in the 1970s.” Even so, few people know that is is one of the top wine making regions in the USA (although everything is overshadowed by California, which is practically a wine COUNTRY to itself).
This region has a long history of innovation and imitative, and its only getting more so in recent years. With the pandemic, wine tourism has increased substantially, which allows people from all over to experience these wines firsthand.
Fun Finger Lakes Facts
- The Finger Lakes wine region is in upstate New York. About 90 percent of New York State’s wine is produced in the Finger Lakes, making it the state’s largest wine region.
- The Finger Lakes was established as an American Viticulture Area (AVA) on October 1, 1982.
- The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 thin lakes stretching east to west in west-central New York, marked by steep hillsides. The Finger Lakes were carved thousands of years ago by successive waves of glaciers, creating cuts as deep as 618 feet below sea level. The lakes themselves are vital to Finger Lakes viticulture. This is a cool climate region, and the temperature-moderating influence of the deep lakes supports quality grape growing.
- The region is home to almost 150 wineries and 11,000 acres of vineyards and produces about 54,600 tons of grapes
- Riesling is the flagship wine variety of the region. Other prominent vinifera varieties grown here are Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. Hybrids and native grapes also have a proud home in the Finger Lakes.
- The first grape growing in the Finger Lakes was in 1829, when Reverend William Bostwick planted Catawba and Isabella grapes in his Hammondsport rectory garden.
- Hybrids were developed in the 1800s to be more disease resistant and cold-resistant. They’re rare, but you can still find them planted throughout New York today. Some examples in the Finger Lakes include red Baco Noir and white Seyval Blanc.
- There was a sort of “Judgement of Paris” moment as for California when the Finger Lakes’ first winery, Pleasant Valley Wine Company, a cooperative formed by Hammondsport growers in 1860. was awarded a gold medal in 1863 at the Vienna Exposition for its Sparkling Catawba—much to the shock and awe of many European wine snobs!
- In the 1950s, Ukrainian immigrant Dr. Konstantin Frank, armed with a Ph.D. in viticulture and his experience winemaking in the cool climate of his homeland, successfully planted vinifera grapes in the Finger Lakes. Previously only hybrids were commercially grown, so this created a completely new – and better quality – wine production potential.
- In the Finger Lakes you will find sparkling wines made with the same grapes found in Champagne (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), but you can also see German influences with Sparkling Riesling.
- The Finger Lakes are known for ice wine, produced from ripe grapes that are pressed while frozen. This causes some water in the grapes to remain on the skin, producing very sweet, thick and concentrated dessert-style wines. Finger Lakes ice wines are commonly made from hybrid grapes like Vidal.
- Sustainability is paramount in the Finger Lakes. The majority of grape growers and wineries adopt efforts to maintain stewardship of the land by minimizing the use of synthetic fungicides and pesticides in the vineyard and utilizing renewable energy for tasting room and cellar operations.
Want to know more about the Finger Lakes AVA or go for a wine tour and tasting? Visit Finger Lakes Wine Alliance – Discover New York’s Premier Wine Region for more information.
Cheers!
