Finger Lakes wineries receive national and international accolades
The Finger Lakes wine region was in the limelight even more than usual in November, with accolades from two of the industry's major magazines and a well-known wine critic.
Here's the rundown.
Wine Enthusiast Winemaker of the Year
Fred Merwarth, head winemaker and co-owner of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Standing Stone Vineyards was named winemaker of the year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. This is the first time a New York winemaker received this award.
"Of course it’s an incredible honor," Merwarth said, stressing that the achievement is a team effort.
"I see it as a feather in the cap not only for our team here but also for the Finger Lakes," he said. "It brings an amazing amount of recognition to our growing region.”
Merwarth spent six years working for Hermann Wiemer, the winery's namesake and a pioneer in growing vitis vinifera grapes, such as riesling and chardonnay, in the Finger Lakes. In 2007, Merwarth took over the ownership of the winery, together with his wife, Maressa Merwarth, and business partner, Oskar Bynke.
Merwarth credits Wiemer, who continues to be his friend and advisor, with instilling the precision and dedication needed to produce high-quality wines in the region.
The award has given the owners a chance to pause and reflect on what they've accomplished over the past 15 years.
"Now let’s go beyond that," Merwarth said. “I think we have a lot to grow upon and contribute for a long time yet.”
Read Wine Enthusiast's profile of Fred Merwarth here.
Wine Spectator Top 100
Wine Spectator has published its list of Top 100 wines annually since 1988. It is meant to reflect trends and what is exciting from around the world that year.
This year, the 2019 Boundary Breaks Finger Lakes Dry No. 239 riesling, priced at $20, was ranked 86. It was the first time on the list for the Seneca Lake winery, which has the somewhat unusual approach of focusing its efforts on growing grapes; it contracts with several different winemakers who make its wines.
"As much as this is a recognition for Boundary Breaks, it is really a recognition of the Finger Lakes as a serious winemaking region that can be counted on to produce high quality wines every single year," said Bruce Murray, owner.
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The Finger Lakes region made its debut on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list in 2010, when Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard's 2008 Dry Reserve riesling was ranked 97. The Finger Lakes has been represented on the list several times since then.
Forge Cellars twice ranked 31 for its Forge Classique riesling — the highest ranking to date. Dry rieslings from Ravines Wine Cellars appeared on the list four times.
"It’s a really good thing to have the Finger Lakes on this list consistently, and we deserve to be there, I think," Murray said.
James Suckling ratings
James Suckling, a company named for its chairman and editor, tasted and rated Finger Lakes wines that were shipped to its Hong Kong operation in early 2021. Seven that received a score of 90 or higher — considered "outstanding" — were featured in an article on the Finger Lakes written by Nathan Slone, associate editor.
"New York’s Finger Lakes are having a moment," it said. "Never before have so many great wines been produced in the region, and it doesn’t seem like the trend will be slowing anytime soon."
It featured seven dry white wines. Six were rieslings, which has become the region's signature grape. The seventh was an rkatsiteli, an ancient Georgian grape, from Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery.
The featured wines were:
• Empire Estate Riesling Finger Lakes Reserve Dry 2017
• Hillick & Hobbs Riesling Seneca Lake Estate Vineyard Dry 2019
• Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery Rkatsiteli Finger Lakes 2020
• Forge Cellars Riesling Seneca Lake Caywood Vineyard 2019
• Hermann J. Wiemer Riesling Seneca Lake Reserve Dry 2019
• Hosmer Riesling Cayuga Lake Dry 2019
• Red Newt Cellars Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2017
More: How this Finger Lakes winery became a legendary winemaker's most expensive project yet
Tracy Schuhmacher is food and drink reporter and a storytelling coach for the USA Today Network's Storytellers Project. Email her at TracyS@Gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram as @RahChaChow. Thanks to our subscribers for supporting local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Finger Lakes wines receive national and international awards
