Heron Hill Continues Support of Seneca White Deer with $4,500 Donation

Heron Hill Winery presented a donation in the amount of $4,500 to Seneca White Deer, Inc. (SWD) at the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection office on December 6, 2016 in Canandaigua, NY. In May 2016 Heron Hill Winery released a new Riesling-Chardonnay blend under the Save the White Deer label with proceeds from each bottle sold going directly back to SWD. Thanks to our fantastic customers for showing their support of the Seneca White Deer, the wine sold out in less than four months!

Since 2010 Heron Hill has partnered with SWD in an effort to raise awareness and funds to benefit SWD’s work preserving the unique and treasured animals and their habitat. 
"Heron Hill Winery is not only intent on making superior wines but also in giving back to the community. We are very fortunate to have partnered with Heron Hill and we sincerely appreciate this wonderful donation which will be used to further our efforts to protect this unique resource for the world to be able to enjoy," says Dennis Money, president of SWD.

  

 
"A lifelong commitment to conservation and philanthropy from our founders John and Josephine Ingle remains an integral part of our business plan at Heron Hill", stated Eric Frarey, Chief Operating Officer. "The wine and donation program were truly embraced by consumers and our entire production was sold out in a short time," Frarey also noted. 
To learn more about Seneca White Deer, Inc. visit their web site at senecawhitedeer.org or contact the president. Heron Hill Winery is celebrating 40 years of excellence in 2017. Through the decades, Heron Hill has been committed to supporting conservation in the Finger Lakes region. 

13 Wines Win 13 Medals

 
 

Heron Hill Winery submitted thirteen wines in the 2016 New York Wine & Food Classic, and we were proudly awarded thirteen medals!

Double Gold: Ingle Vineyard The Chosen Spot red blend 2013 Ingle Vineyard Riesling 2014 (SOLD OUT) Reserve Pinot Blanc 2015, Morris Vineyard   Gold: Classic Semi-Sweet Riesling 2014

Silver:  Ingle Vineyard Unoaked Chardonnay 2014 Classic Dry Riesling 2014 Classic Semi-Dry Riesling 2014 Classic Pinot Noir 2013 (SOLD OUT) Classic Cabernet Franc 2013 Reserve Chardonnay Unoaked 2013 (not yet released) Bronze: Ingle Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2013 Save the White Deer blend

 

 

Blaufränkisch Takes Root at Ingle Vineyard

John Ingle selected a slope near where he planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot over 15 years ago to clear a site for planting Blaufränkisch (also known as Lemberger). What looks like barely a nub peaking out, is supported by a much larger root system buried in the soil, and should produce grapes in 3-4 years.  It’s important to keep the new planting covered with dirt as much as possible to hold the moisture.

Heron Hill’s history with Blaufränkisch goes back to 2007 when the winemaker at the time, Thomas Laszlo who had live in Hungary, had a fondness for the variety. Since that time Blaufränkisch has developed a following among Heron Hill’s returning visitors and Heron Hill only produces the wine select years bottling it under the Reserve label.  Stay tuned for updates on the progress of this new site!

  

“Buds is the word!” exclaimed John Ingle this week. 

Other lots at Ingle Vineyard look good for this point in the year – we’re counting strong numbers of 40+ healthy, lively buds per vine across Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Interestingly, the vines at Ingle Vineyard are a bit further along with larger buds than the Heron Hill Keuka Lake estate vineyards.

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon at Ingle Vineyard have experienced much damage after the past three harsh winters. However, we’re seeing more Pinot Noir buds already this year than the last three year total. Although it’s early in the season and even the smallest things such as wasps can have an impact on harvest, John Ingle is hopeful that we’ll see an increase in Pinot Noir yields this year at Ingle Vineyard

Rave Reviews for Heron Hill Rieslings

As we happily hit spring in the Finger Lakes, Heron Hill is pleased to continue the tradition of making world-class Rieslings. Since the beginning of 2016, we've received some excellent score in top wine publications and wine competitions.  Each year Heron Hill’s winemaker makes a full range of Rieslings from dry, single-vineyard wines to sweet, ethereal dessert wine.  What most excites Heron Hill’s owners & staff is when we meet people who have found a favorite style of Heron Hill Riesling and that wine has become their go-to Riesling to pair with certain foods or for particular occasions. Scores and medals still have meaning and we certainly appreciate judges & wine reviewers that have made tasting wine a life's passion. It will always be about people just enjoying our wine and choosing to share Heron Hill wines with their friends & family!

• 91 points Ingle Vineyard Riesling 2012, Wine Enthusiast
• 90 points 'Best Buy' Classic Dry Riesling 2013, Wine Enthusiast
• Best of Class 'New York' Classic Semi-Dry Riesling 2013, Grand Harvest Awards*
• Double Gold, Classic Semi-Sweet Riesling 2014, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

*At the Grand Harvest Awards, judges taste wines with other wines of the same appellation. Established in 1990, it is the only wine-judging event in North America that is based on Terroir

Harvest 2015 Pre-Show at Ingle Vineyard

Early this morning at Ingle Vineyard overlooking the west side of Canandaigua Lake, John Ingle chats with Good Day Rochester's own Hannah Welker about our nature-friendly viticulture practices and all the magic that happens before we begin another grape harvest. This is one of five videos in the series "Vineyard preps for fall harvest," view all on the Good Day Rochester site here >

Here's a report from Don Reisenberger, our vineyard manager overseeing the estate vineyards on Keuka Lake:

After a long cold winter and a wet spring, Summer finally arrived at Heron Hill Winery and Ingle Vineyard. We did experience some bud damage due to the cold winter, but overall it looks like we are going to have an average to above average harvest depending on the variety. When pruning in the winter, we leave extra length on the canes to increase the number of buds that break through in anticipation of some bud kill.

However back-to-back cold winters have depleted the red yields. This is the time of year where you experience warm days and cool nights, and this is begins the process of the grapes ripening. Typically Chardonnay is the first to come in…after, of course, the Seedless Concords for our Heron Hill grape juice. We could be anywhere from three to six weeks out for picking Riesling. We will closely watch the vineyards and check brix levels from multiple vines to determine the best timing for each vineyard site. It’s in Mother Nature’s hands. These recent hot and dry late summer days have been perfect, hopefully She doesn’t dish us more rain in the fall. The berries have already swelled in absorbing moisture; they just need sun to ripen. At Ingle Vineyard, we are beginning to prepare the ground for some new plantings in the coming Spring. This year, it looks like we will again have a select yield of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Ingle Vineyard in additional to our staples of Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. Vidal Blanc will round out the end of harvest in hopes of crafting a luscious Late Harvest wine.

Eclipse Red 2011 Awarded 90 points by Wine Enthusiast

We are very excited to announce that our Eclipse Red 2011 received 90 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine! The full review will be in the May 2015 issue. This Bordeaux-style blend aged 24 months in French oak, Eastern European oak, and American oak barrels. It's round & layered with notes of dark cherry, baking spices, and a hint of cedar. In 2016, Heron Hill Winery will be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of our signature red blend!

The 2011 Eclipse Red blend is composed of 40% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 28% Caberent Franc.

Something about chocolate, even just a bite, is so comforting to me in this cold weather. The Heron Hill team from all three locations, comes together at our Winery in Hammondsport for a monthly Monday morning meeting. Usually there's some tasty baked good served to pair with coffee, tea, and strategy. This month we all loved this Eclipse Red Wine Chocolate Cake. Eric Frarey, our COO and director of sales, and his wife created a delicious dessert recipe featuring Eclipse Red for our February Wine Club newsletter.

ECLIPSE RED WINE CHOCOLATE CAKE
Rich, moist and flavorful, this Eclipse Red Wine cake carries a unique taste and irresistible aroma. The wine makes the chocolate very fudge like with intense flavor. The Merlot in the Eclipse Red wine adds nice cherry notes. As the alcohol does not bake out fully this is the type of dessert you want to make for adults only.

INGREDIENTS:
1 ½ cups of all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp of baking powder
½ tsp of salt
½ tsp of ground cinnamon
1 cup of softened butter
1 ¼ cup of granulated sugar
½ cup of dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups of Eclipse Red wine

TO PREPARE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 cup bundt pan, set aside.
In a medium bowl sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside. In a mixer bowl beat together butter and sugar on medium high for 3-4 minutes until fluffy, beat in eggs one at a time until combined.
Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl as necessary, beat in vanilla extract.On low speed, beat in or fold by hand the flour mixture in three additions, alternating it with the wine in two additions, starting and ending with the flour.  Do not over mix.

Pour into bundt pan, bake 45 mins or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack, then turn it out to cool completely. Dust the cake with powdered sugar.

 

Budding up with the Vineyard Manager

Last week the mornings were bright, and the vineyards and lake glittered with snow along the west side of Keuka Lake. Trimming stiff vines in single-digit temperatures, doesn’t evoke the same romantic image as handpicking juicy, ripe bunches of grapes under the golden light of harvest.  However after spending some time with our vineyard manager, I found myself completely fascinated by the process of pruning the vines. Despite tending my own small garden and plants, and growing up in wine country, it still seems miraculous to learn how much life will sprout out of one tiny bud in less than 6 months. From each bud a cane will grown and support multiple clusters of grapes.

Don Riesenberger joined the Heron Hill team last summer as vineyard manager on Keuka Lake. He’s very at ease and confident in the vineyard explaining to me why it looks like he’s cutting back so much and how he’s keeping extra buds on the canes this year.  From recognizing a strong spur at the base of the vine to removing just the right amount of new growth, it quickly becomes clear how critical this stage is to maximize the potential of the individual vine. We have control over pruning techniques; we don’t control Mother Nature.

“When you look at a vine, you consider what happened last year, what will be different this year, and plan for next year, ” demonstrated Don.

Don grew up in nearby Naples and has early memories of tying when he was just tall enough to reach the low growth in his father’s vineyards. For 28 years, Don worked as a warehouse manager for Constellation Brands in Canandaigua—and now he’s enjoying spending most of his days outside. Don and his wife live on a hillside between Naples & Canandaigua, and have one son currently in college. Heron Hill is very happy to have him around and welcomes his experience, humor, and professionalism.

Eric, Don, & Erin checking buds                  Don pruning young Riesling vines.

Heron Hill has approximately 12.5 acres planted in front of the Winery on the west side of Keuka Lake.  The vineyards primarily consists of Riesling ranging from young vines just 1 year old to well established 10 year old vines. Don is also in regular contact with our crew at Ingle Vineyard located on the west side of Canandaigua Lake where some of the vines are over 40 years old. Across the Finger Lakes this winter the fluctuating temperatures, with “arctic blasts” below 0 degrees, have caused concern for vinifera vineyards of all ages. Don explained the different roles of the primary bud, secondary and tertiary bud. We have checked cane samples weekly, although we’re seeing healthy signs of green now, it’s still too early to tell how fruitful the vines will be this vintage.

I chatted with Don today on this grey, rainy Friday where we’re expecting the temperature to reach nearly 50 degree.  This pop of warmth will prove perfect for starting the flow of maple sap, but it’s potentially dangerous for vulnerable fruit buds when next week’s forecast predicts frigid temperatures again.

“What’s you’re favorite season?” I asked Don. “I actually really enjoy tying in the Spring” Don replied. “There’s something about when everything is starting to bloom and working outside while the birds are singing…” Pruning will continue into March, then after the support posts are checked and wires are tightened, tying will begin.  The more I learn about grape growing and wine making, the more I appreciate the process and respect the risk people take in this industry. There’s no question, everyone’s eagerly awaiting the arrival of Spring this Year!