The Finger Lakes:World-Class Rieslings from
North America’s Premier Cool-Climate Wine Region
History• 17th century with Dutch and Huguenot
plantings in the Hudson Valley• 1862 first bonded winery in the US - Pleasant
Valley Wine Company in Hammondsport• Dr. Frank promotedVitis vinifera in New York –
hired by Charles Fournier (French Champagne maker) and president of Gold Seal
• 1962 Vinifera Wine Cellars founded• New York Farm Winery Law passed in 1976
The Numbers Add Up• 102+ wineries• 9200 acres of grapes• 700+ acres of Riesling• 100,000 cases of Riesling• Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
and Sauvignon Blanc• Cabernet Franc
North America’s Premier Cool Climate Wine Region• Small, specific producers • Wine that reflects place and
personality• Strong regional aromatic whites with
a focus on Riesling• Producers make 2-3 styles of Riesling• Home to over 200 Riesling brands
Winegrowing• South of Lake Ontario • Lake effect micro climates• Glacial soils• North – South vineyards• East & west facing aspects• Elevation and distance from lake
effects• Growing season 190 – 205 days
10,000 Years In the Making
• A unique geography carved out by glaciers two miles thick
• 11 long, narrow, roughly parallel lakes, oriented north-south
• Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Canandaigua• Among the deepest lakes in North
America 450 to 600 ft deep.
Canandaigua Keuka Seneca Cayuga
The Real Dirt
• Due to ancient glacial activity flooding, the Finger Lakes Region features mostly acidic shales and silty soils.
• Optimum pH levels for wine growing.
Lake Effect: The Cool Difference
• Because of their great depths, the lakes provide a beneficial “lake effect” to the vineyards that flank their shores.
• Warmer minimum temperatures in winter• Cooler maximum temperature in summer• Variation in ripening – elevation, distance
from water.
What It All Means
• The Finger Lakes Region is ideally suited to the production of world-class and truly distinctive Rieslings and aromatic white wines.
Riesling 101
• Noble and versatile• Growing at 9% (Wine Business
Monthly)• Reflects “terroir” of soil and climate
Finger Lakes Are In Good Company• Classic Riesling Regions
Alsace, Germany, Austria, Australia• United States
Finger Lakes, Washington, Michigan• Finger Lakes
Fresh, energetic, vibrant, balancedQuality, value, local
Making Riesling• “Keep It Long, Low And Cool”• Cool climate that allows for a long,
slow ripening.• Vineyard management to keep the
yields low and the flavor concentrated.
International Riesling Foundation’s
Riesling Taste Profile • A quick way to understand balance• Voluntary participation to inform
and educate• Ratio of residual sugar/acidity• Adjusted for extreme pH
The International Riesling Foundation’s Riesling Taste Profile
Vintner Agree
The Finger Lakes isNorth America’s
Premier Cool-Climate Wine Region.