Fox Run Gallery and Happenings
News and photos from Fox Run Vineyards in the Finger Lakes.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Some Words on Terroir
Here at Fox Run Vineyards, we have a deep appreciation of the complex interplay between our estate vineyards, management of the vines, the cool-climate of the Finger Lakes - with its levels of sun, wind and rain, and our winemaking process. When we think about terroir, we consider all of the factors that contribute to the wine that we ultimately produce.
Soil plays a primary role in all of this and the soils of our various sites are varied and unique in their composition and configuration. Ancient river deltas and lake shorelines lie under our Lake Dana and Hanging Delta Vineyards. Lake Dana's shale and stone is now hidden by a thick layer of sandy loam. The resulting well-drained soil is ideal for the ripening of Riesling vines. And the Hanging Delta Vineyard Block, once a river outlet, presents alternating bands of clay and sand. The Riesling grapes produced on both of these parcels are so distinctly different; we created the Geology Series to showcase these vines.
And yet, after twenty years of cultivating our estate vines, we have seen extraordinary Rieslings coming from other parcels, clearly due to the particulars of a singular year - therefore that element of surprise is there from year to year. And such is true for our other estate varieties: Chardonnay, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. The positioning of parcels on the slopes leading down to the shores of Seneca Lake, the fine differences between parcel soil composition, our rigorous work in the vineyards and sensitive treatment of vines that receive varying levels of rainfall from season to season, together create an interactive system that we define as terroir, but that which includes the cellar decisions made after the precise timing of the harvest and grape selection.
Scott Osborn, Proprietor
Friday, April 26, 2013
At Our Winery Café, Chef Tony Gullace Creates Garlic-Infused Tapas Menu for August
Every August, we celebrate the
local artisan garlic harvest in a serious way – hosting our 2-day festival of
all things garlic, by bringing together garlic growers and experts, farmers, specialty
food producers, artists musicians, and thousands of visitors. All of this
fantastic garlic action takes place in a village square atmosphere we create
for the occasion, on the spacious lawns behind our winery.
This winter, brainstorming with
my good friend, Chef Tony Gullace, we can up with the idea to extend the
celebration with a garlic-infused tapas menu, and feature it throughout the
month of August at our winery café. Tony Gullace is one of Rochester’s iconic chefs – and he and I have
been friends for over 20 years. His acclaimed restaurants in downtown Rochester are hugely popular,
sought-out culinary destination points and include: Max of Eastman Place, Max Chophouse, Max Sushi Noodles and Max at the Gallery. His passion for cooking is
equally fueled by the utilization of topnotch local ingredients. He has prepared the menus for several Fox Run Garlic
Festivals and for the numerous garlic dinners we used to have on the Saturday
night of the festival. We don’t do the Saturday dinners any more – getting too
old for those late, late nights - as many of you famously remember. But Tony has
returned for recent festivals to create great garlic-infused dishes for
the Glorious Garlic weekend. We are so fortunate to have Tony’s culinary stamp on the festival.
With local garlic as the star
ingredient, Tony created a short but varied tapas menu for the Fox Run café - featuring
a chilled tomato-garlic soup - middle eastern sampler of hummus, tabbouleh and
babaganoush - Lively Run goat cheese (one of his absolute favorites) with
roasted garlic and roasted red peppers and finally, an assortment of olives and
mushrooms in a garlic-parsley sauce. All of these small dishes have been
meticulously paired with our estate wines. Tony is writing up all the recipes
for the home chef and has added a litany of tips for preparing and working with
cool-climate garlic.
Our August visitors will also be
able to purchase local hardneck garlic in our market everyday. Detailed
descriptions for each type will point out the rather incredible differences in
flavor these varieties offer and the interplay between wine and bulb.
Scott Osborn, Proprietor
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.
Scott Osborn, Proprietor
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Tierce Goes to Washington
Tierce
Goes to Washington
Yesterday was such a super day for all of us at Fox Run Vineyards. At
Century Liquor and Wines in Rochester,
U.S. Senator
Charles E. Schumer announced that Tierce Riesling 2010 will be served at the
Presidential Inaugural Luncheon on January 21, 2013. Senator Schumer, Chairman
of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, informed us that
it will be served along with the first course. Thank you Senator Schumer! We are so proud of our senior winemaker Peter
Bell and his winemaking team.
For those who are
not familiar with Tierce (Latin for “third’) - this is a collaborative wine
created by our senior winemaker Peter Bell, with winemakers, Johannes Reinhardt
of Anthony Road and Dave Whiting of Red Newt.
A limited production wine, with approximately 300 cases made each year,
this innovative, “shared” venture brings into play complexities and nuances
that set it apart from all other bottlings coming from single wineries – making
it uniquely Finger Lakes. Says Peter, “It's a one-third each blend of
Riesling lots from each winery. It's all done by a series of punishing
tastings. And ultimately we're looking for an austere style. We talk about
minerality, electricity and tension. Can you quantify them? No, but we know
what we're looking for.” Since the first vintage of Tierce, in 2004, it has
gone on to be recognized as one of the iconic wines of the Finger
Lakes wine region.
As Jim Trezise,
President of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation pointed out - "The
Inaugural Luncheon is the ultimate power lunch in the world, with the President
hosting his Cabinet, leaders of Congress, Supreme Court justices, diplomats,
and others who wield global influence--and who will experience the fine wines
and foods New York now produces."
I’d like to extend
a very special thanks to Jim Trezise, for making this all possible. And Jim
stated it so well. “The 2010 Tierce has won awards and accolades around the
world, and is symbolic of the spontaneous cooperation among Finger
Lakes wine producers.”
Other outstanding
producers from across this great state will be represented at the luncheon as
well, including Bedell Cellars 2009
Merlot, from the North Fork of Long Island, to Rochester’s
Crown Maple Syrup and apples from Golden Harvest Orchards in Otsego, NY.
“The luncheon menu reflects Schumer’s choice of a theme for the 57th Inaugural
Ceremonies. Faith in America’s
Future commemorates the United
States’ perseverance and unity and marks the
sesquicentennial year of the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the new
Capital Dome in 1863.”
A great day, a
great achievement – and what a superb way to start the New Year!
The "Tierce Brothers" with Senator Schumer, from left to right: Peter Bell, Dave Whiting and Johannes Reinhardt. |
Peter Bell and I listen to Senator Schumer announcing the great news. |
Scott Osborn, Proprietor
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
December - A Time for Celebration and Appreciation.
Our estate vines in winter. |
December is a time for
celebration and appreciation. To all of our special customers and friends, we
joyously extend our warmest wishes for the 2012 Holiday Season. Thank you for
your business and valued friendship.
And what a landmark year
this was for Fox Run. In January, we became a family-owned winery - a dream
that has been 20 years in the making. We have always been about vinting our
estate wines with perfection and passion. But now, with this pivotal change in
place, we are pushing our creative boundaries even further. 2012 saw the launch
of an exciting Riesling trilogy - the Lake Dana Vineyard Geology Series: three wines, three
groundbreaking styles. These distinct and aromatic Rieslings express the beauty
of our winemaking, our terroir and the geological profile of our unique soils.
And known for our iconic cool-climate port series, we introduced Hedonia, a white port crafted from exotic Traminette grapes.
Our 20th Annual Garlic
Festival took place this past August. It’s considered the reigning heirloom
garlic festival on the East Coast. And, as in every year, thousands of
epicureans, wine lovers, vacationers and fans descended upon our scenic winery
grounds overlooking Seneca Lake, enjoying all of the fun and deliciousness of this great event.
Chatting with wine buyers in Hong Kong. |
2012 was also a year of
important travel overseas. Ruth and I crossed the Atlantic for Fox Run’s launch
in the United Kingdom.
We visited our importers in Belgium
and Denmark as well, and saw
how much wine drinkers in Europe are appreciating the distinctive flavors of New York’s Finger Lakes cool-climate
wines. In November, I took my first trip to Hong Kong,
an exciting wine market growing at an electrifying pace, where I poured Fox Run
wines for influential sommeliers and beverage directors. The affinity between
Asian food and Finger Lakes Riesling is so perfect that I’m expecting to have a
very good problem - keeping up with
the demand.
A great year from start to
finish.
From all of us at Fox Run
Vineyards, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and all best wishes for a very happy
and healthy 2013.
Scott Osborn, Proprietor
Thursday, July 28, 2011
If Your Refrigerator Could Talk
by Ben Peacock, President, Tousey Winery
Dieticians would say that you can tell a lot about a person from a peek inside their fridge. I would argue you can tell just as much from what's on the outside. For reasons unknown to me, people seem desperate to reveal and express themselves via the white and chrome vastness of this kitchen utility's outer surfaces. All of which are ready to be scanned and analyzed by covert fridge scanners like me. There's the snotty nose kid on a bicycle, the reminder of a dentist appointment and more often than not, a green takeout menu.
Dieticians would say that you can tell a lot about a person from a peek inside their fridge. I would argue you can tell just as much from what's on the outside. For reasons unknown to me, people seem desperate to reveal and express themselves via the white and chrome vastness of this kitchen utility's outer surfaces. All of which are ready to be scanned and analyzed by covert fridge scanners like me. There's the snotty nose kid on a bicycle, the reminder of a dentist appointment and more often than not, a green takeout menu.
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