FINGER LAKES WINE REGION

THE FINGER LAKES: AMERICA’S PREMIER

COOL-CLIMATE WINE REGION

FINGER LAKES: A BRIEF HISTORY

• 1860: Pleasant Valley Wine Company in Hammondsport,

first US bonded winery

• Dr. Frank promoted Vitis vinifera in New York – hired by

like-minded Charles Fournier (French Champagne maker)

and president of Gold Seal Vineyards

• 1962: Dr. Konstantin Frank creates Vinifera Wine Cellars,

which quickly gains reputation for making excellent Riesling

• 1976: New York Farm Winery Act passed, permitting

wineries to sell directly to public

• Dozens of new wineries begin to pop-up along the

Finger Lakes in the 1980s-1990s, focusing on Vinifera

WINERIES & VINEYARDS TODAY

Over 100 Finger Lakes wineries

9,300 acres of grapes

20% Vinifera

1,900 acres ~ 5,800 tons ~ 350,000 cases

Growing Acreage of Vinifera Plantings

Focus on Riesling & Aromatic Whites

Whites ~65%

VINEYARDS PLANTED ON SLOPING LAKESHORES

BREATHTAKING VINEYARD & LAKE VIEWS

WHERE ARE THE FINGER LAKES?

FINGER LAKES TOPOGRAPHY

VARYING SLOPES AND ASPECTS

WHY DO THE LAKES MATTER?

THE LAKE EFFECT

• Lake Ontario to the North, warm air currents in the

winter, cool air currents in the summer

• Depth of Finger Lakes provide beneficial “lake effect” to

the vineyards planted on the shores

• Warmer Minimum temperatures in Winter

• Cooler Maximum temperatures in Summer

• Helps compensate for Continental Climate

• Elevation of Vineyard & Distance from Water creates

vineyard diversity

RIESLING: KING OF FINGER LAKES WHITES

THE INTERNATIONAL

RIESLING

FOUNDATION’S

RIESLING TASTE

PROFILEwww.drinkriesling.com

•Stylistic Diversity

•Dry, Lean, taut

•Off-Dry, lush, with balanced acidity

•Sweet, dessert-style (Ice Wine & Late-Harvest)

THE FINGER LAKES: AMERICA’S PREMIER COOL-CLIMATE WINE REGION