September Is “Riesling Month”: Finger Lakes Wine Alliance Celebrates Region’s Star Varietal With Tastings And Wine Events Throughout New York State

With more than 200 brands hailing from the region, Riesling has put the Finger Lakes wine country on the serious oenophile’s map. To return the favor, the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance has proclaimed September “Riesling Month” to shine the spotlight on its star varietal. A month-long series of more than 40 events celebrating the exceptional range of Rieslings produced by Finger Lakes Wine Alliance member wineries will span New York State, including the following four New York City tastings:

Monday, Sept. 26

·        Riesling and Fried Chicken at Nightingale Nine (invitation only)                                     6:30 – 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 27

·        Grand Tasting for trade and media, Scandinavia House (invitation only)                      11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

·        Murray’s Cheese and FLX Riesling Pairing, Murray’s Cheese Bar                                    6:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 28

·        Brooklyn Wine Exchange and Finger Lakes Riesling Event,                              

Brooklyn Wine Exchange                                                                                                         7-8 p.m.

For the full calendar of events, which continues to grow, visit www.rieslingmonth.com. 

The cool climate and shale-rich terroir of the Finger Lakes is ideal for cultivating the Riesling grape. Allowed to develop slowly, it produces a complex, aromatic and balanced wine. As many as 950 acres in the region are devoted to Riesling, with most producers making two or three styles, for a total of 230,000 cases.

Fifteen of these producers will showcase their wines during Riesling Month (14 for the New York City events). They include Bellangelo, Boundary Breaks Vineyard, Chateau LaFayette Reneau, Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars, Fox Run Vineyards, Glenora Wine Cellars, Heron Hill Winery, Knapp Winery & Vineyard Restaurant, Lakewood Vineyards, McGregor Vineyard, Sheldrake Point, Swedish Hill Winery, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, Three Brothers Wineries & Estates (Finger Lakes events), and Wagner Vineyards. In addition, more than 60 retailers and more than 40 restaurants have signed on to participate.

About Finger Lakes Wine Alliance

Founded in 2004, Finger Lakes Wine Alliance is a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to increase the visibility and reputation of the Finger Lakes region, its wines and wineries. The alliance is comprised of 29 members and 15 affiliated businesses and vendors, and it is guided by a board of directors comprised of principals representing all four wine trails and non-wine trail wineries of the Finger Lakes. With its glacier-sculpted landscapes, ideal microclimates and gifted winegrowers, the Finger Lakes region is home to over 100 wineries that produce exceptional cool-climate wines and world-class Rieslings. For more information, visit www.fingerlakeswinealliance.com, call 315.791.2359 or connect on Facebook or Twitter.