by Richard Leahy | Sep 27, 2018 | Uncategorized
Many of you may be wondering about the quality of the current vintage, given the incessant rain we’ve had pretty much since the growing season started. To put it bluntly, “It’s not 2017” (which was a “10” on a scale of one to ten)....
by Richard Leahy | Aug 27, 2018 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Visits
I spent a few days in southwest Michigan this week in the town of St. Joseph/Benton Harbor. St. Joseph is at the edge of a deepwater port on Lake Michigan, at the southern end of what is described as the “Midwestern Riviera”. The town, with its rectangle...
by Richard Leahy | Aug 13, 2018 | Cider, Competitions, Fruit Wines, News/Announcements, Tastings/Evaluations, Uncategorized
Charlottesville, VA–The third annual “Drink Outside the Grape” competition took place in Charlottesville, VA on August 8, resulting in 83 medals for fruit wines, meads, ciders and fruit brandies; 21 golds, 33 silvers and 27 bronze medals in addition...
by Richard Leahy | Jul 16, 2018 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Review, Winery Visits
Hammondsport, the town in Steuben County on the southern edge of Keuka Lake, has a long-standing wine history. Gold Seal Vineyards (while it was still in business) proudly held the status “U.S. bonded winery #1” and posted this on the side of one of its buildings,...
by Richard Leahy | Jul 13, 2018 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Review, Winery Visits
The first major winery you reach when driving north on Rt. 14 on the west side of Seneca Lake is Lakewood Vineyards, a family operation of three generations of the Stamps. The original Stamp family moved to Lakewood Farm in 1951, and planted grapes for the large grape...
by Richard Leahy | Jul 8, 2018 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Review, Winery Visits
East Seneca Lake is an exciting place in the Finger Lakes, especially the southeast corner, known locally as the “banana belt” due to the heat it accumulates during the growing season where the lake is deepest and the hillsides catch the reflected sun....
