Returning to New York's Finger Lakes took us to Cayuga Lake's Knapp Winery. Here we tasted wines and dined in their Vineyard Restaurant. We were fortunate to spend two weekends in the Finger Lakes Wine Country last year. Besides Riesling, the Finger Lakes also produces Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, as well as several French-American and native varieties. For sure, our visit to Knapp Winery included discovering wines made with less common grape varieties.
Knapp Vineyard Restaurant, Cayuga Lake, Finger Lakes AVA © Spaswinefood
Finger Lakes AVA (American Viticultural Area)
Finger Lakes Wine Country is special. This wine region has become well known for its world class Riesling. Finger Lakes Riesling wines come in different styles (still, sparkling and ice wine), with a range in sweetness levels (from sweet to dry). There is a Finger Lakes Riesling for every palate. I still vividly remember when Spaswinefood first visited the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York in August 2015. Because I discovered so many good Riesling and other wines in this wine region, I just had to return.
Knapp Vineyard, Cayuga Lake © Spaswinefood
This east coast wine region has often been compared to Germany's Rhine region because of the similarity in growing conditions. The Finger Lakes AVA , established in 1982, is home to over 100 wineries. The AVA is centered around eleven glacial lakes, with the majority of vineyards near Canandaigua Lake, Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake. Each of these areas have been described as having unique viticultural characteristics, which result in wines with distinct flavor profiles. In fact the Cayuga and Seneca Lake areas have been recognized as distinct enough to have their own AVA's. Knapp Winery is located in the Cayuga Lake area. Knapp Vineyard , Cayuga Lake © Spaswinefood
Cayuga Lake
While during my primary focus was sampling Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake AVA Riesling wines, my Knapp visit allowed me to checkout some unique local varietals.
Knapp Dry Riesling (left) on The Table © Spaswinefood
I still remember a vino limo ride across Cayuga Lake on a perfect 2015 August afternoon. Late I wrote this:
For sure a vino taxi ride is hard to beat. Plus, we were in the fast taxi and so we delighted in waving at the other taxi as we passed. Perhaps it is not surprising to find water taxis on the lake given that Cayuga means "boat landing". Yes, our Cayuga Lake Wine Trail adventure was so much fun however, we had also come to learn about this wine region.
 |
| Vino Limo, Cayuga Lake, NY © Spaswinefood |
The Cayuga Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA) established in 1988, is a sub-region within the Finger Lakes AVA. The first Cayuga Lake wineries had their beginnings in late 1970's and early1980's. The number of wineries has now grown to 23 wineries. While some of these wineries are brand new others have well established vineyards. Amongst the region's best known wines are Sparkling Wines, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Ice Wine; as well wines made from French-American and Native American grape varietals. The Cayuga Lake AVA wines have distinctive flavor profiles. This is attributed to the soils and the unique micro-climate on the west side of the Cayuga Lake where most of the wineries are found, provide more favorable growing conditions. In addition to the grape varieties mentioned you will also find grapes, such the Cayuga grape, The Cayuga grape was bred specifically for this region by Cornell University. Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
Dining and Wine Tasting at Knapp
Knapp Vineyard Restaurant is open May through October on Thursday through Sunday. They describe their menu as eclectic, casual, gourmet meals. They offer wine to pair with the various menu offerings that use local ingredients. During our recent visits we choose to dine on the outside patio overlooking the estate vineyard.
Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
Given we ate lunch twice at Knapp's Vineyard Restaurant. We began each visit with wine flights of rosé and red wines.
Their rosé wine flight included :
1. Knapp Dry Rosé
2. Zugibe Dry Rosé
3. Hosmer Dry Rosé
Rosé Wine Flight, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
The red wine flight included:
1. Knapp Heritage
2. Glenora Syrah
3. Hosmer Cabernet Franc
Red Wine Flight, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
let's take a look at our lunch. Now for a peek at the delicious food options we selected.Mac & Cheese, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
Veggie Burger, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
Salad, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
Beefing it Up, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant © Spaswinefood
These visits to Knapp for lunches and wine tasting were delightful outings.
Wine Tasting, Knapp Winery © Spaswinefood
During one of our visits we did a wine tasting. Knapp Winery produces primarily white, red and sweet wines. Their white wines include Riesling, Chardonnay, Cayuga White, Vignoles and Siegerrebre. Red wine offerings include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lemberger, Pasta Red (red wine blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and red hybrid). Their sweet wine list has Niagara, Vignoles, Catawba, and a number of sweet berry wines.
Spring Vineyard, Knapp Winery © Spaswinefood
Two wines, Vignoles and Siegerrebe, on the above list call for further discussion. Since my visit I have discovered that Vignoles has a long history in the Finger Lakes. In 1970 the Finger Lakes Wine Growers Association gave Ravat 51 the name Vignoles. This grape was originally named after J.F. Ravat, a French vine breeder in the 1930’s. For a long time, it was thought that the parents of Vignoles were Siebel and Pinot Noir however, the latest genetic testing has proven that false. Its parentage is still unknown. The Knapp wine making team, when deciding on a 35th Anniversary special wine, Vignoles came to mind because of its history in the Finger Lakes, and most importantly its presence at Knapp. In 1993, a Late Harvest Vignoles won the coveted New York Governors Cup. Knapp has over six acres of Vignoles and has generally produced it in a semi-sweet to late harvest styles. 2020 was the first time they produced a dry Vignoles.
On another note, Knapp Winery has the only plantings of Siegerrebe in the United States. Their 2019 Siegerrebe was one of the first grapes the Knapp team harvested for that vintage. For this first vintage the grapes were lightly pressed before being fermented in stainless steel tanks with German yeast. This wine can be described as having a pungent "grapey" aroma, with honeysuckle and orange blossom aromatics; a medium-dry Siegerrebe, which on the palate has hints of pear and meyer lemons.
During my visit I also took a little time to checkout the vines.
Knapp Vineyard Springtime Vines © Spaswinefood
The vines were already budding on our last spring visit.Early Buds, Knapp Winery, © Spaswinefood
Remembering the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
I still remember being on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail summer 2015 when we visited Thirsty Owl Wine Company. Here we tasted wines from eight members (Toro Run Winery, Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery, Homer Winery, Lucas Vineyards, Bellwether Hard Cider and Wine Cellars, Americana Vineyards and Six Mile Creek Vineyard). Later at the Goose Watch Winery in Romulus, under a tent in the vineyard, eight member wineries offered select tastings (Treleaven by King Ferry Winery, Long Point Winery, Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery, Swedish Hill Vineyard, Varick Winery & Vineyard Vineyard, Knapp Winery and Buttonwood Grove Winery). Our final stop was at Knapp Winery where a team of chefs (Chef John McNabb, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant, Chef Lindsay, Crystal Lake Café at Americana Vineyards and Chef Scott, and The Bistro at Thirsty Owl Wine Co.) prepared the most amazing dinner for our group. Fortunately the summer of 2021 we returned to dine again at the Knapp Restaurant and taste their wines. We were not disappointed.
Knapp's Vineyard Restaurant, 2021 © Spaswinefood
Your Fingers Lakes Wine Country Escape
Welcome to Knapp Winery © Spaswinefood
No comments:
Post a Comment