seneca lake

This year I may be taking a more traditional route for our Thanksgiving pairing.  But I should mention that this is no ordinary Riesling offered at this price point. The Lamoreaux Landing 2013 Dry Riesling is a glorious wine we should definitely be thankful for.

Recently we decided to feature New York State Finger Lakes Rieslings by displaying select ones from our inventory at our tasting center. It is no secret that New York produces some excellent Rieslings that rank up there with some of the best German varietals.

Today I am featuring Wagner Vineyards 2011 Riesling Select. This is a very sweet style of Riesling, but this not a sugar delivery device. It is an honest to goodness Riesling that is vibrant, fragrant and complex without the “Kool-Aid” factor that is found in some cheap Rieslings. There are wonderful notes of Apricot, lemon-lime soda and a hint of spice. The finish is pleasantly crisp and lingers a bit longer than most. Enjoy this wine with grilled Mahi- Mahi with spicy, Pineapple Salsa.

Drop in and pick up a bottle of the Wagner Vineyards 2011 Riesling Select for the terrific sale price of $8.99. You should also make a point of visiting Wagner Vineyards on Seneca Lake. It’s a breath taking spot in a

My first real “wine moment” was spent at Chautauqua’s Johnson Estate Winery. A wonderful winery near a nice hiking spot called Panama Rocks. I had met their Winery Representative, Bob Dahl, while working in the stock department of Premier Liquor (then on Delaware) and it just seemed natural to go visit him on my hiking excursion.

Bob and Winemaker, Mark Lancaster, spent the entire afternoon teaching me about their winery and the grapes they used to make some of the area’s finest wines. We had such a great time learning, seeing the vineyards and tasting. I started visiting as many wineries as we could- even spent my honeymoon at Chateau LaFayette Reneau on Seneca Lake!

As time rolled on, my passion for wine turned into a career, I left the stock department and became the Assistant Wine Manager at Premier and went on to become the Wine Manager at Prestige Wines and Spirits (Still a Member of the Premier Group) in Orchard Park. Every day I seem to learn