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Best New York Wine: A-Z Guide by Variety and Region

Best New York Wine: A-Z Guide by Variety and Region

New York offers you a number of amazing wines. While it might not be the first place that you think of when you think about wine that does not mean that it is not a great place to go. Our favourite winery is Fulkerson Winery and our favourite bottle of wine is Keuka Spring Riesling 2015. This guide gives you all of the details that you need for the top wineries, the top wines, as well as basic tips for picking a great bottle of wine, and of course, answering the FAQs.

Top New York Wineries

If you are a wine drinker, you might be shocked to learn that the second-largest wine-producing state in the United States is actually New York. The largest is, of course, California. There are wineries scattered throughout the state of New York. A lot of the wineries are located in the area surrounding the Finger Lakes. The wineries from this area are known to produce good high-quality wines. Visiting these wineries is something that can be fun for everyone.

Fulkerson Winery

Fulkerson Winery is a great first stop for every one. With its dedication to winemaking, this family-owned winery has been a tradition for seven generations. Fulkerson Winery is located on-site at Fulkerson Farms. While you are visiting the farms, you can actually participate in u-pick crops where there are more than thirty different varieties of grapes produced and grown. Fulkerson Winery was established in 1805. They produce more than twenty-five varieties of wine that are all bottled on site. There are options for dry wines, sweet wines, red wines, and white wines. There is sure to be a Fulkerson Wine that you are going to enjoy.

Tours

There are a number of different options that you can find for tours at Fulkerson Winery. The tour takes you on an in-depth journey through the history of the farm, from a lesson in growing grapes to learning about the specialized winemaking techniques that are used. Tours cost just $10 and last around a half hour. Each tour includes tastings as well. You can participate in tours from May through August.

Tastings

There are three different options for tastings at Fulkerson Winery.

  • Reserved Tasting – A reserved tasting is a private tasting that features a variety of Fulkerson wines. There is a wide range of different pairings. These tastings are capped at ten people and run from 11 am to 3 pm. They do require that you make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance. There are both wine and cheese flights and wine and chocolate flights and they run from $8 to $12.
  • Standard Tasting – A standard tasting is the best way to try out a variety of the wines that are produced at Fulkerson Winery. They are best experienced with ten friends or fewer. These do not require a reservation. You just top in during regular business hours and ask to do the tasting. It does cost $4, but you can get a full refund if you decide to purchase two or more bottles of wine.
  • Group Tasting – If you have a large group of friends looking for a great experience tasting wines, then Fulkerson has you covered. Their group tastings are available any day between 10 am and 3 pm and have been created for parties that have at least ten people. You do need advanced reservations and can have up to thirty in your group. The tasting costs $5 per person, but anyone who purchases two bottles or more will receive a full refund.

The Wines

Fulkerson Winery produces a number of delicious wines. Here are their varieties:

Fulkerson Wines

Zeppelin Wines

  • Airship White
  • Diamond
  • Red Zeppelin
  • Sparklin’ Diamond
  • Sunset Blush

Brotherhood Winery

Brotherhood Winery was established in 1839 and is America’s oldest winery. On the property, you can visit the Grand Salon. This is a building that was built in the early 19th century and is made from stone. One of its most beautiful and unique features are the towering ceilings with exposed wood beams and ten-foot round wrought iron chandeliers. There is also a large house that was built by Jean Jacques in 1837 on the property. It was recently renovated. Plus, there is a unique art space where local artists can show their work.

Tours

The winery is open for tours from April until December. Tours are available on Sundays through Thursdays from 11 am until 5 pm. They are available on Friday between 11 am and 6 pm and on Saturday from 11 am until 7 pm. The tour times Monday through Friday are available at 11:30 am 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3:30 pm.

On Saturdays and Sundays, you can go on tours as a group gathers. Tours cost $8 on their own or you can do a tour with a tasting for $15. There is also an executive tour for $50 per person with a minimum of 2 guests. These tours include five one-ounce tastings of premium/select wines. They also include a souvenir glass, a book (“The Story of Brotherhood”) and 10% off coupons. This special tour takes one and a half hours.

Tastings

There are a number of different options for tastings. Here are the tasting options:

  • Tasting – A standard or traditional tasting is just $10 and available during opening hours.
  • Tour and Tasting – You can take advantage of a tour for your tasting for a full price of $15.
  • Private Group Tastings – There are special options for private groups to do a tour and tasting together. These cost $250 for 20 people or less. If there are 21 or more in your group, the cost is just $12 per person. These tours include five one-ounce tastings, souvenir glasses, 10% off coupons, and take two hours to complete. If your group is only interested in a tasting, for a group of 20 or less it is $180 and for groups of 21 or more, it is $9 per person. These reservations are needed prior to arrival.

The Wines

There is a wide range of different wines that are produced at Brotherhood Winery. Here are the wines that they produce.

  • “B” Sparkling Chardonnay
  • “B” Sparkling Riesling
  • “B” Sparkling Rose
  • BAE Riesling
  • Brotherhood Gewurztraminer
  • Brotherhood Premium Dry Rose
  • Brotherhood Winery Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine
  • Brotherhood Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Brotherhood Winery Chardonnay
  • Brotherhood Winery Dry Riesling
  • Brotherhood Winery Merlot
  • Brotherhood Winery Pinot Noir
  • Brotherhood Winery Riesling
  • Founder’s Cuvee
  • Hampton Bay Rose
  • Hampton Bay White
  • Honker
  • I Love New York
  • ICON – Cabernet Sauvignon
  • ICON – Merlot
  • ICON – Pinot Noir
  • ICON – Riesling
  • Late Harvest Riesling
  • New York Red
  • Riesling Private Selection

Thousand Islands Winery

Thousand Islands Winery first opened in 2003. It was started by Steve Conaway who had spent time in Europe after retiring from the military. He became inspired and loved living in the 1000 Islands region of New York. While there he decided that he would love to establish his own winery in the grape-growing region. The original winery had just one thousand and one hundred gallons of wine. It was a new vineyard that had taken shape and inspiration from the land and buildings that were built around it. Today the winery boasts a long list of interesting awards and is quickly gaining recognition as a leading winery.

Tours

Thousand Islands Winery has a long list of different types of tours that are offered. On Wednesday you can watch the bottling process on a special Bottling Day tour that is free from 1-2 pm. On Thursday there is the option for the Winemaker Tour that costs $10 and allows you to go behind the scenes for a personal tour and tasting experience. There are a couple of different tours that are available for buses or large groups. One of these is the Wine Tasting and Winery Tour which costs $3 per person. Then you have the Wine Tasting, Charcuterie Board, and Winery Tour which is $13 per person. These group tours require reservations and are for large groups that are fifteen people and more.

Tasting

There are a number of different tasting options available. You can taste four wines for free. If you would like to taste six wines it is just $1 and to taste ten wines and receive a souvenir glass is $5. Finally, there is a VIP tasting for $10 which includes 8 tastings in the tasting room, 2 tastings in the production facility, a tour of the bottling room and vineyard, a complimentary logo wine glass, and a photo of you posted on Facebook. You can also take advantage of the craft beer and liquor tastings which include Four 3-ounce craft beer samples for $5 or liquor samples for $1. All of the craft beers and liquors that are featured are produced in the state of New York. In addition, on Mondays it is Antipasto and Wine for $10, Tuesdays it is Wine and Board Special for $15, Fridays it is Wine and Chocolates for $10, Saturdays it is Ladies Day Warm UP for $10, and Sundays it is Beer and Board Special for $10.

The Wines

Thousand Islands Winery features a wide range of different types. Here are the types and the bottles that are available:

  • Alexandria Bay Rose
  • Berry’s Bay Blaster
  • Blizzard White
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Captain’s Select
  • Chardonnay
  • Cocoa Island
  • Delaware
  • Enduring Freedom
  • Frontenac
  • Frontenac XXX
  • Gewurztraminer
  • Honey Harbor Mead
  • Iraqi Freedom
  • La Crescent
  • Marquette
  • Merlot
  • Moscato
  • Mountain Resolve
  • Niagara
  • North Carolina Red
  • Pinot Grigio
  • Raspberry Isle
  • Riesling
  • Riva Ridge Red
  • Saint Lawrence Red
  • Seaway Blues
  • Semi-Dry Riesling
  • Tropical Island Twist
  • Warrior Red
  • Wellesley Island White

Top Ten Best Bottles of New York Wines

American wines are some of the most popular wines on the market today. However, when most people think of great bottles of American wine, they are generally thinking about California or Oregon. However, this is not the case, you can get really great wine from a wide range of different states including Washington, Texas, Oregon, and New York. There is a wide range of great wines that are being produced within the state. These are some of our favourite bottles that are curated and produced throughout New York.

Keuka Spring Riesling 2015

If you travel to the Northeast tip of Keuka Lake, you will be at Keuka Spring Vineyards. This winery is located close to some of the other popular vineyards here. The Finger Lakes region is becoming well known in the world of wine and this wine is certainly one that you will want to put on your list. It features the pleasant aroma of tropical fruit, a gentle taste of stone fruit, and is a perfect accompaniment to light salads and other healthy light meals.

Glenora Brut NV

The scenic Seneca Lake area is where Glenora Wine Cellars is located. This is the lake’s first winery and they are quickly gaining exposure as they win awards for their beautiful bottles of vino. The winery has been around for about forty years and has been producing top-quality wines since the beginning. One of the most popular bottles of wine is Glenora Bruta which is a wine that has a fruit-forward but light flavour that features yeasty notes that have lively bubbles, and clean or crisp acidity. It is a blend of Chardonnay and Cayuga that is fermented. You end up with a semi-dry finish that is affordable and the perfect sparkling wine to celebrate with.

Brooklyn Winery Unoaked Chardonnay 2014

Brooklyn is probably the last place that you think about when you are thinking about wine. The Brooklyn Winery was founded by John Stires and Brian Leventhal who had worked together prior. The two loved wine and wanted to combine this passion into a new business rather than continuing with their 9-5 jobs. The two met Conor McCormack who was a winemaker from California. He was able to take their little wine business to the next level multiplying the production and offering a new urban dream. The grapes come from vineyards that are located throughout the country. Brooklyn Winery’s Unoaked Chardonnay is a top seller for the company. It has fruit that has been transported in temperature-controlled trucks from the Finger Lakes. It ferments in stainless steel casks. This produces a wine that has a fresh and intense melon flavour and a focused white stone fruit. It has the acidity that is bright and offers a smooth mouthfeel. This means that many people will like it depending on what their favourite flavour profile is.

Shinn Wild Boar Doe 2013

If you have ever dined in the famous Home (one of the top farms to table restaurants on the East Coast), then you probably already know who Barbara Shinn and David Page are. If you have not, you will want to be introduced to them. The pair have planted twenty acres of North Fork Vines since 1998. They tend to the vines to produce the healthiest and purest fruits that they can. Their estate has a unique winery. The winery is unique because it is run solely on clean energy, using both wind power and solar power. They have a wide range of impressive wines. That being said, the Shinn Wild Boar Doe 2013 is the one that we want you to become familiar with. The pair have created a wine that is smooth and has a full-body. The wine offers a full, rich, dark fruit flavour.

Ravines Pinot Noir 2013

One of the best things about the climate in New York is that you get a range which offers you a unique variety of different wines. Ravines Pinot Noir 2013 is a great example of how the cold temperatures and the cool climate can produce delicious wine. The Pinot Noir is made with Old World style and has a flavour profile that is reminiscent of a Bourgogne rouge. It is a wine that is balanced and delicate, has notes of violets, and has red-fruit flavours. The grapes start with a special fermentation process that starts with the whole-berries. Soon they are punched down a few times a day. Then they go through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. You end up with a wine that is perfect for the Burgundy loved in your life as it has Earthy and savoury flavour profiles.

Paumanok Chenin Blanc

The Paumanok Chenin Blanc is a delicious wine that is one of the best that you will be able to find. This wine features an acidity that is quick to the tongue, a brightness with the minerality, and grapefruit aromas that will leave you wanting more. It is a fresh-tasting wine that has a cleanness to it that other wines do not. One of the things that makes this wine so fresh and delicious is that it goes through a special cool fermentation that is slow. The wine is fermented in stainless steel barrels as well. It is one of the best wines to enjoy with seafood or pasta with heavy cream sauce. This Chenin Blanc is rather special because no other winery in Long Island produces a Chenin Blanc. Many might seem sceptical at first but once you have had this wine, you will realize just how delicious it is.

Bedel Cellars Taste Rose 2016

Bedel Cellars Taste Rose 2016 is a delicious rose that is quickly earning praise from wine drinkers around the globe. This wine is actually the fourth most searched-for wine in the region. This wine is produced, but not always fast enough to fulfil its demand. It is a diverse wine that has a wide range of different types of grapes. Roses tend to be made from different grapes depending on the region where they are produced. This explains why some roses are so sweet and others seem so dry. Overall, this wine has the delicious flavour notes that you are looking for and proves to be a good wine to sit back and enjoy.

Paumanok Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Paumanok Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 offers intensely ripe flavours of both blackberries and plums. These flavours are contrasted with a high-level acidity and a tone of minerals. The tannins offer an edge that helps to yield a beautiful wine that is going to be around for years to come. The only thing that you will have to worry about is that as others realize how delicious this wine is, it might be harder to find.

Fjord Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2015

Fjord Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2015 is a delightful wine that you are sure to love. This wine offers bright aromas of both raspberries and cranberries. It takes on a confected note, but not to the point that it is not well-rounded. The wine rounds out with some savoury notes of game and peppercorn. The wine is medium-bodied and there is a tart red-fruit focus that you are sure to enjoy. The bright shots of acidity really highlight the spicy pepper tones and clean hints of green herbs. This wine offers a lot of vitality. It has a nice balanced flavour and a bitter green note that you notice on the finish.

Dr Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars Semi-Dry Riesling 2015

There are so many amazing wines out there that you might feel overwhelmed when looking at them. One of the things that make Dr Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars Semi-Dry Riesling 2015 so nice is that it has a beautiful orange blossom scent that mixes with notes of pear and lavender. This wine feels vibrant on the tongue. It reveals a strong flavour that has mandarin oranges, peaches, apples, and a large zesty fruit finish. This wine is best enjoyed with desserts and spicy foods.

What to Look for in a Good Wine

There are a lot of things that you will want to find when you are looking for good wine. One of the things that you can do is talk to a wine specialist or sommelier. This is going to help you to be sure that you are going to get a perfect wine. By talking to someone you can discuss your specific taste preferences. There are a lot of wines that taste great alone, but I believe wine is best enjoyed with dinner. It is great for complimenting your favourite meal. There are a lot of different things that you feel when you browse shelves or are looking online and if you are not familiar with wines, it can be very difficult to pick exactly what you are looking for.

By understanding some basic information about wine, you will be able to figure out what is a good fit for you. You just need to learn about your taste preference and the overall general characteristics of the wine you enjoy. The best part is that you can become a wine expert in no time at all. You will feel confident when picking out a good wine that is going to be paired with a meal.

Good Wine Basics

There are a lot of good wines that you can find. Each person is going to have their favourite as wine is completely subjective. So, it is important to remember that your friend might love a wine that you end up hating and you might love a wine that your friends do not like.

  • Sweetness   – There are three levels of sweetness in a wine. Dry is not sweet at all, then you have semi-sweet and sweet.
  • Tannins – Tannins tell you the level of how dry wine is. Red wines have more tannins that are drier than white wines which have fewer tannins.
  • Acidity – A wine that has a high acidity is tart, whereas a wine with low acidity is round and rich.
  • Body – A light body means that the wine will feel light in your mouth, whereas a heavy body will feel heavy in your mouth.
  • Alcohol – Some wine has probably left you with a warmth as you were drinking it, this is how you know how much alcohol a wine has. If you have a lot of warmth it is higher in alcohol content.

Simple Tips to Remember to Get a Good Bottle of Wine

Here are some of the best simple tips that are easy to remember that can help you to choose the right bottle.

  • Tip #1 – New to wine? Then choose a white or rose.
  • Tip #2 – Look for a wine that features the flavours and flavour notes that you enjoy.
  • Tip #3 – Think about the occasion, whether you are looking for something to please a diverse crowd or just for something you will enjoy.
  • Tip #4 – Read the label.
  • Tip #5 – Look for wines that have “second-labels.”
  • Tip #6 – Don’t let the age of a wine stress you out.
  • Tip #7 – Never use price to determine the bottle.
  • Tip #8 – Not all screw caps are bad.
  • Tip #9 – Take notes on what you try.
  • Tip #10 – Be willing to try a new variety of grape from time to time, and you just might find something you really love.

Choosing a great wine can be simple when you know what you are looking for.

FAQs

What four areas are the most important wine regions in New York?

New York has four major wine-growing regions. They include Lake Erie, Finger Lakes, Hudson River, and Long Island. These are the regions where the wine is being produced within the state.

How many wineries are in New York?

New York is home to more than four hundred different wineries. In addition to this, there are more than one thousand and six hundred different vineyards.

Where are both the sate’s oldest operating winery and a wine-producing region located?

New York state has one of the longest histories with wine in our country. The nation’s longest operating winery is actually Brotherhood Winery which is located in Washingtonville, New York.

How many wineries are in Oregon?

Resting on the West Coast, Oregon has seven hundred and twenty-five wineries.

Why is the Finer Lakes good for growing grapes?

The Finger Lakes offer great conditions for growing wine. One of these is because they help to allow for better drainage for vines when they are planted on the hillside. Another is that they help to provide the grapes with the right temperatures for maximum production. Plus, with the lakes covering a smaller surface area, you are able to find plenty of lands to grow around the lakes.

Conclusion

New York is one of the best regions for wine in the United States. Many are shocked to learn that the United State’s longest operating winery is located in New York. The region produces some delicious wines and has a great variety of different wines thanks to the climate fluctuations and changes.

We love so many of the wines from the region and love that you can experience all of the wines with a regional connection. You can find delicious red, white, rose, and even sparkling wines in New York. Some of the wineries make special products too like wine slushes and other novelties. Plus, there are some wineries that are connected with distilleries and breweries.

This means that in some cases you will be able to find your beer and spirits all in the same stop. The only thing that you will not be missing out on when you are drinking wine from New York is boring flavourless wines. We are so confident that you will appreciate New York wines that we wanted to share them all with you.

Please enjoy responsibly!

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