Monday, February 4, 2013

Find Out What Makes A Cool-Climate Wine Tick

"Clouds and Water" by Arthur Dove, Geneva's Foremost Artist

Our very first Wine Symposium of the Finger Lakes, which takes a serious, global view of cool-climate winemaking, is slated for March 23. I’ve been actively involved with the conceptual planning of this event and currently serving as an advisor. We have a great line-up of seminars, led by top-flight experts and a five-star lunch planned. Here’s a breakdown of the day’s schedule:

Overall, the event is aimed at the serious wine enthusiast ready to learn more about this great American region, and stellar regions abroad, famous for their cool-climate bottlings.  The event is a terrific collaboration between Geneva Growth and the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, with support from the New York Wine and Culinary Center, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the City of Geneva and the Geneva Area of Commerce. Held at the beautiful Scandling Campus Center at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, it’s a great opportunity to really delve into what makes a cool-climate wine tick. Iconic wine expert Dan Berger and New York sommelier Thomas Pastuszak will demystify northern reds and whites, including those from Italy, France and Germany.  We will also mix it up with classical and innovative wine and food pairings, led by James Treadwell, one of Canada’s top sommeliers, and co-owner of Treadwell Farm-to-Table cuisine in Port Dalhousie, Ontario.

In the early afternoon, awards will be presented for the Finger Lakes AVA Riesling Challenge.

Following the ceremony, a culinary star from the White House, Chef Walter Scheib, together with five top chefs from the Finger Lakes, will present a five-course luncheon menu, expertly matched with wines selected  by our team of wine professionals. Chef Scheib will also share his personal experiences at the White House, over a span of 11 years, and serving under two presidents.

The day will end with a Finger Lakes Grand Tasting, offering up exciting new releases from the area's finest wineries. Winemakers and proprietors will be on hand to give an in-depth look at their wines and technique.

And fitting to have it all take place in Geneva, an historic lakeside city, that well-known wine writer Alice Feiring (recent Wine Personality of the Year from Imbibe magazine) referred to as the future Napa of the East Coast. With its historic districts and sweeping views of Lake Geneva, home to the early modernist artist Arthur Dove, and the Smith Opera House, one of the oldest operating theaters in the United States, it’s a city experiencing a renaissance.

Tickets and further information can be found at: www.winesymposiumfingerlakes.com

Scott Osborn, Proprietor