New York wine is often overlooked for the bounty of bottles coming out of the West Coast.
In recent years, however, as a compounding result of consumer preferences, climate change, education about the region, and some industry giants establishing roots on the East Coast, New York wine’s scene is more popular than ever.
The state’s first American Viticultural Area (AVA) — a specific region identified for its unique climate suited for grape growing — was identified in 1982. In comparison, the first-ever federally recognized AVA in the U.S. was in 1980. Today, New York state hosts six main wine growing regions including Hudson River Valley, Lake Eerie, Niagara Escarpment, Champlain Valley, Long Island and the Finger Lakes, totaling 11 AVAs and some 450 wineries.
Of the wine regions, Long Island and the Finger Lakes comprise seven of the AVAs, and account for many of New York’s nationally-acclaimed wines. Long Island’s appellations include North Fork, The Hamptons and Long Island, which are revered for producing quality Bordeaux-style blends and Sauvignon Blanc, while the Finger Lakes’ AVAs are Canandaigua Lake, Keuka Lake, Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake, most recognized for their Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.
Below, discover the diversity of wines being produced throughout New York state.
Long Island
Channing Daughters Sylvanus Vineyard Blaufrankisch
This Long Island winery has an acclaimed portfolio of unoaked white wines, but their collection of unique international varieties really makes them stand out. Native to Austria, Blaufränkisch isn’t as popular outside European borders, but Channing Daughters found success with it at their Sylvanus Vineyard. The 2019 vintage is majority Blaufränkisch blended with 25 percent Dornfelder, used to bring an even darker color and spice quality to the already bold, black-fruit and silky tannins of Blaufränkisch.
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Terra Vite Winery & Vineyard Marea Rosé
North Fork and The Hamptons are renowned for producing crisp and refreshing rosé wines thanks to their coastal climatic influence. Terra Vite’s Marea, translating to “tide” in Italian, is specifically crafted to drink seaside, even better, “with your toes in the sand,” they advertise. The blend varies from year to year, however, it’s typically Merlot-dominant with either Cabernet Franc or Syrah used as a blending partner, and always ensures limited skin contact to ensure a light color and zesty flavor.
Macari Vineyards Bergen Road
Macari Vineyards has made a name for itself with its Bordeaux varieties, including single varietal wines as well as this top tier Bordeaux blend, Bergen Road. The 2021 release comprises 44 percent Merlot, 31 percent Cabernet Franc, 17 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and eight percent Petit Verdot that has aged up to 22 months in French oak barrels. The resulting wine offers bright fruit combined with a hint of oak and well-integrated tannins that will keep this wine drinkable through 2030.
Sparkling Pointe 2018 Boisseau Blanc de Blancs
As its name suggests, Sparkling Pointe Vineyards and Winery is exclusively dedicated to producing sparkling wine from their 40 acres of vineyards, all in the traditional Méthode Champenoise. This single vineyard, 100 percent Chardonnay-based bottle is a classic expression with lemon and buttered toast aromas before a luscious palate accented by notes of spiced pear and a mouth-coating fizz.
Lenz Winery Estate Selection Merlot
Sitting in the mid-range of Lenz Winery’s Merlot offerings — they have a younger expression as well as an Old Vines Merlot — the Estate Selection Merlot is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Currently on their 2017 release, the wine is balanced with juicy plum and black fruit aromas that also show on the palate with lingering notes of extra dark chocolate and the leathery, tobacco quality that a premium Merlot is known for.
Wölffer Estate Vineyard Landius Pinot Noir
Celebrated for their Summer in a Bottle series that captures their locale and the hearts of Hamptons-goers each season, Wölffer Estate Vineyard produces so much more than crushable (delicious) rosé and Sauvignon Blanc. Their single varietal Landius Pinot Noir is just one example of their food-friendly, ageable wines; its black cherry notes and light strawberry mingle with a slight earthiness and the silky tannins on the palate. The wine’s quality develops with time, not only in the glass, but also winemaker, Roman Roth, says this Pinot Noir can age up to a decade.
Del Vino Vineyards Bobina Pinot Grigio
If you’re looking for a simultaneously dry but fruity Italian sip without having to travel far, Del Vino Vineyards produces this bright Pinot Grigio that’s as enjoyable by itself as it is with an overflowing charcuterie board. The light, white wine offers an orange blossom, honeysuckle nose, with ripe melon and peach palate that’s cut by the wine’s sturdy acidity.
Finger Lakes
Ravines Wine Cabernet Franc
Switching gears to further inland and upstate New York, Ravines Wine Cellar is a European-led winery that’s found success with their bone-dry Rieslings and terroir-driven red wines. Their Cabernet Franc falls in the latter category; a 100 percent estate grown bottling of their fruit grown at White Springs and 16 Falls Vineyards. Cabernet Franc is typically used as a blending partner so to see a single varietal bottle, in New York nonetheless, is unique and alluring. The wine delivers with its quintessential variety notes of fresh berries that evolves on the palate as an earthy spice.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery Eugenia Dry Riesling
As one of the most famed names in the Finger Lakes region, and increasingly among Riesling enthusiasts, it’s difficult to go wrong with any of Dr. Konstantin Frank’s bottles, but this release from their Helm Series, which focuses on old vineyard sites, showcases unparalleled quality and flavor. Eugenia Dry Riesling offers a touch of peach on the nose but that’s where the sweetness ends as the mineral-forward palate is brightened by a lime citrus to present the true pinnacle of a dry Riesling.
Hillick & Hobbs Estate Dry Riesling
Decorated winemaker, Paul Hobbs, may have begun his journey in Napa Valley, but now he’s producing wine across the globe, including his Burdett-based winery in the Seneca Lake AVA of the Finger Lakes. His portfolio of Riesling at Hillick & Hobbs is consistently crisp and zippy, with the 2021 Estate selection offering a mouth-tingling acidity and a wet slate-quality imparted by site-specific soils, rich with limestone glacial shale and blue slate.
Anthony Road Wine Company Barrel Ferment Chardonnay
A family-run winery since 1990 (their first vintage was from 1989 grapes), Anthony Road Wine Company produces a fine line up of signature wines. A favorite is their French-oak barrel fermented Chardonnay, which offers a rich mouthfeel with lemon zest and toasted nuts on the palate. They also produce an unoaked Chardonnay which is a beautiful contrast to this full-bodied sip with its lean structure.
Weis Vineyards Grüner Veltliner
Inspired by his upbringing at his family vineyard in Mosel, Germany, winemaker Hans Peter Weis produces many of his home country’s popular grapes, including this Grüner Veltliner, in his new home in the Finger Lakes. The current 2023 vintage is a delight with quintessential aromas of grapefruit and white pepper before a pear and soft herbal palate. Drinkable by itself, Weis suggests trying it with fried foods, like the typical German favorite of schnitzel, as the wine’s crisp acidic finish slices through the grease to reset the palate.
Ryan William Vineyard Gewürztraminer
If you’re looking to try something new and not sure where to begin, try Ryan William Vineyard — in particular, their dry Gewürztraminer. Another popular variety in this cool climate region, this white wine is a thirst-quenching style of the aromatic expression; offering typical notes of white blossom and elderflower mixed with spiced pear and a palate with racy acidity, punctuated by candied orange rinds, for a refined balance of sweet and ginger spice.
Keuka Lake Vineyards Evergreen Lek Dry Riesling
This classic German variety is grown at Keuka Lake Vineyards’ Evergreen Lek vineyard, one of their oldest Riesling sites, planted in 1999, that rises from the steep western slopes of Keuka Lake AVA. The 2021 vintage presents Riesling’s typical petrol and honey on the nose but the palate is a surprising delight of baked apples and dried apple sliced by a lean acidity that culminates in a refreshing finish.
Billsboro Winery Cabernet Franc
As a key grape in the Finger Lakes, it’s worth exploring as much Cabernet Franc as possible. Billsboro Winery’s expression is an elegant sip of blackberry and classic minty herbaceousness that gives the wine a bit more lift on the palate for a fresh finish. Billsboro suggests serving it slightly chilled (55-59°F) to bring out its fruity flavors and subdue the tannins.
