5 NY Wines To Try This Fall
The autumnal equinox was on Monday, which means that it’s time to start switching gears when it comes what we’re sipping on. As the temps start to drop and the leaves start to change, lets give the rosé a break. Whoa whoa whoa. I didn’t say put it away completely. I’m not a monster!
Let’s just give it a time out for a sec and explore some wines that are prime for chillier, cozier weather. To start this convo, I’m going to suggest some wines from my own backyard. New York state is home to tons of wineries, from the Finger Lakes to the North Fork. Here are 5 NY wines you should give a try this fall:
Located in Ithaca, NY, Six Mile Creek is Ithaca’s oldest winery and distillery. In addition to their selection of wines, they have a full line of grape based spirits and liquoers. (Guys, they have an Orangecello! We’ll take 10!) Their tasting room, situated inside a restored 19th century old Dutch Colonial barn, is open 7 days a week year round. I have a feeling that their guest count is about to go up since their 2016 Cabernet Franc just took home the prestigious Governor’s Cup at this year’s New York Wine Classic.
Tasting Notes on the wine: Light oak, subtle hints of spice, vanilla and dried fruits.
Uh oh. Move over. We’ve got another NY Wine Classic 2019 Winner in our midst. This time it’s from Lenz Winery, located on Long Island’s North Fork. The winery took home the title of Best NY Cabernet Sauvignon with their 2013 vintage. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Lenz while staying out on the North Fork and it was such a welcoming and pleasant experience. Their tasting room is located (once again) in an old barn (Are you sensing a pattern here?) and it immediately puts you at ease and makes you feel like you’re tasting wine with old friends and family. Lenz Winery was started by Peter and Patricia Lenz in 1978 and they handed it over to Peter and Deborah Carroll (no relation to me. Man, I WISH my family owned a vineyard!) in 1988. Since then the Carrolls, just like the Lenzes before them, have been committed to producing “rich” and “food friendly wines.”
Tasting Notes from Lenz: “an alluring, perfumed nose and soft, subtle tannins. Varietal notes of red cherry and cedar round out its flavor profile. Made to enjoy now…”
Ok this vineyard is also a NY Wine Classic award winner but can you blame me for wanting you to try the best of the best? The 2017 vintage of their Dolce Riesling won Best Late Harvest Riesling. The northern most winery in the Finger Lakes, Colloca was named the 2019 New York Riesling Winery of the Year. Located on the southern shores of the Great Lake Ontario, the lake effect combined with the clay soils found there, make the terroir of Colloca ripe for riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir, which all grow best in cool climates. Their current Dolce release to the public is their 2016 vintage. This is a great selection for a fall dessert wine.
Tasting Notes from Colloca: “Sweet apple pie, fig, apricot, and marzipan are captured with a round viscous mouth feel.”
4)Harbes Vineyard Blanc de blancs
This sparkling wine is from one of the North Fork’s newest vineyards. Established in 2003, Harbes Vineyard is the North Fork’s first certified sustainable winery. A previous NYWC winner, their blanc de blanc is made using méthode champenoise, the traditional method in which champagne is made. The small, delicate bubbles gives this wine a refined mouth feel. A perfect sparkling to pop open at the start of memorable occasion or just on a Tuesday night to watch “This Is Us.”
Tasting Notes: Pear aromas, subtle apple and lemon on the palate and a dry finish.
5)Brooklyn Winery Old Vine Zinfandel 2015
Unlike the wines I’ve suggested from the Finger Lakes and the North Fork, this wine is ACTUALLY made close to my own backyard. Of course I’m talking about Brooklyn Winery’s Old Vine Zin. Set in the heart of Williamsburg, this urban winery is committed to producing premium small batch wines from blanc de blancs to merlot. This old vine zin is going to be a delicious selection on a crisp fall night paired with spiced pork or a hearty pasta.
Tasting Notes from the winemaker: “A brooding, dark dense nose with a deep color and sweet aromatics. Big and lush ripe fruit. There are sweet notes of dried fig, chocolate, coffee and dark cherries. Vanilla, mocha and strawberry pie with oak and smoke poking through on the finish.”
So those are my pics for fall NY wines. And the best part? Is that none of these bottles are more than $30. Great quality wine for a decent price point? Two of my favorite things.
Which of these wine are you excited to try?
