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EP 978 Finger Lakes Wine Tasting

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes 3 interesting wines from the Finger Lakes of New York. This is a winemaking region that Gary feels doesn’t get enough respect and wants to shed more light on.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2008 Herman Wiemer Semi Dry RieslingNew York Riesling
2008 Dr. Konstantin Frank RkatsiteliNew York White Meritage
2008 Ravines Riesling DryNew York Riesling

Links mentioned in todays episode.


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luca bercelli

91/100

Lines of the day – ‘Pass overall but on a nerd level…a must try’ and ‘Smells like happy hugs’

Absolutely hilarious story about when GV was young and driving with his family. Grandma used to insist in pulling over whenever she saw ‘Root St John’ (Zlitaboy?) so they could stuff bags full of it.

Tags: Finger Lake, new york state, review, Video, white, wine, wines

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  • Randall

    The PNs we like tend to have a lower acidity than the Merloowws and Cabs that c-hassle-oh prefers… that is all…
    😉

  • Anonymous

    I’m tasting the Portuguese beer you gave me. Nice but comes with big burps.

  • Randall

    Long Live The Farrin!!

  • Anonymous

    Don’t you pronounce it differently tho?

  • Anonymous

    It’s going on the wish list.

  • Interesting.. Makes sense, too. thx!

  • Randall

    “Lawn Giland”…
    😉

  • Anonymous

    Unlike!

  • Anonymous

    I love that place. It looks like they’re opening one near me!

  • Anonymous

    saint johns wart?

  • ALLAN

    While on the subject of Belgian Trappist Ales, one really needs to try them all. Westvleteren 12, Rochefort 10, Westmalle Triple, Chimay Blu are some of the best in my humble, humble opinion. Go Explore!

  • Anonymous

    Great, you go to the Met.
    I would be very happy if I could say the same but since I live in Belgium ….. you know.

  • Anonymous

    I never heard of the Finger Lakes.
    But am glad you mentioned it.

    QOTD. can’t say more than I’d love to go back. It’s heaven.

  • Anonymous

    Finger Lakes!! Great EP theme!

    QOTD: I’ve always appreciated what the Finger Lakes region can produce in the realm of colder climate varietal whites such as Riesling.
    ABOUT NY STATE: I could mention NYC, or my family’s vacations to Lake George in the fall, but I have to say that it was my first trip across the Tappan Zee Bridge when I first drove across the USA from RI to LA, CA that will always stay in my memory. Something about that leg of the trip, the verdant countryside, the Pennsylvania Amish rural setting that followed, I will never forget that scenery.

  • EricD

    QOTD: HIP HOP! Hip hop was born at a party hosted by DJ Kool Herc at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx on August 11, 1973.

    Cool episode, the Georgian varietal would be interesting to try. I love WL because it exposes me to wines I’d otherwise never be interested in tasting, and this episode certainly does that.

  • Anonymous

    “This smells likehappy hugs ” classic quote GV!

  • I’ll try to get my hands on some NYC riesling in France, cos’ I agree that Alsatian (I was born there) can be disappointing at times.
    Does anybody know where they can be found in Old Europe?

  • I’ll try to get my hands on some NYC riesling in France, cos’ I agree that Alsatian (I was born there) can be disappointing at times.
    Does anybody know where they can be found in Old Europe?

  • Anonymous

    Hi Neil, I winesearched it and found none in TX. Anyway, for the moment I believe the best wines made in Brazil are Sparkling, not that there aren?t good Reds, but the value today rest with the bubbles. There is a store in Florida that sells a nice Brazilian sparkling, the Casa Valduga Brut. I served at my wedding party. (Link: http://www.67liquor.com/sku302.html) Cheers!

  • Anonymous

    Would like to try a NY Riesling, but limited to wines I can get here in Ontario.
    QOTD: Drove from Ontario to NYC. I enjoyed scenery. Beautiful landscape. Hope to return someday soon.

  • So, I hear Belgium is beautiful. 😀

  • Anonymous

    Now I’m craving me some Thai food and riesling. Thanks!

    QOTD: Bed Bugs.

  • Spoken like true “red” heads. 😛

  • @castello – Only people who live off the island do. Your right. We pronounce it Strong Island. 😀

    I heard that Randall.

    FU Disqus

  • Anonymous

    Gary—

    Best thing about NY IS the Finger Lakes!! Mike and I discovered the region in the late ’90’s. We are ADDICTED to the area—have been doing the wine trails and enjoying the gorgeous scenery multiple times annually (in every season—heading up again at the end of the month-even winter is fabulous there) ever since. I dare say there isn’t a winery we haven’t visited (by the way, it’s pronounced “RaVEENS,” just like the drop off into the woods outside its front door). Hubby is a Riesling fan, and he can attest to the seriousness of Finger Lakes Rieslings. I just adore the tastings and the atmosphere at the individual wineries in general, particularly when it’s not busy and we can really linger at the wine bar and talk at length with the owners/pourers/winemakers. We (and many of our friends) are walking advertisements for the Finger Lakes Wine Country! AWESOME!!

    ThunderCruise Karen

  • Anonymous

    Hey Gary, another interesting show. I don’t know much about Reislings, but now I’m going to expand my palate, starting with the ones from the Finger Lakes. QOTD: I’ve never been to NY state. Maybe I’ll get into Reislings and make a road trip there someday.

  • Randall

    I guess they’re … ok… not TOO bad… serviceable at best. Not as good as Coors Light, though…

    :D!!
    p.s. Let’s not forget other great companies like D’Achouffe and Rodenbach…

  • When will Oz show up?

    QOTD: Never been to New York (or USA), but would love to.

  • it will be hard, its hard to find them in the US

  • 😉

  • Great ANSWER!

  • st john’s wort yup!

  • I am an avid visitor of the Finger Lakes wineries, and Ravine Cellars is by far my most favorite. I couldn’t agree more with the rating and comments on their Dry Riesling, I would also encourage those entertaining the thought of visiting the Keuka Lake wineries to try all Ravine’s wines – they keep you coming back for more!

  • Anonymous

    Smells like happy hugs. That has got to go down as a memorable quote. Only have had one Finger Lake Riesling ever. Didn’t make that much of an impression on me. When I think of New York, I think of my early childhood and now my son who lives in Brooklyn.

  • “Tremendous” is our favorite word out of your mouth. I wonder if the minty flavor that you were trying to come up with is eucalyptus or elderflower? We love all your (russian) anecdotes. Interesting aromas on that first wine. Incredible how the Finger Lakes have established themselves as a strong denomination, and continue to grow stronger, more sought after, and also more expensive. The wines you presented are very well priced. QOTD: Finger Lakes wines are one of my favorite New York State items. Also Billy Joel, though he’s more associated with New York City.

  • Anonymous

    Best thing about New York state is probably the Adirondacks and NYC. I’ve not had NY Riesling but I would imagine it can be in the same ballpark as Niagara Rieslings which I fell in love with when I went there a few weeks ago, so will try to score some definitely.
    Had some with raclette this w-e and it was the perfect combo.

  • Piss and Armpit Hair. I cannot stop laughing this episode.

  • and the right one is? Are you a kriek fan perhaps 🙂

  • Never had a chance to try wines from NY State, I live and work in Thailand, all I can do is agree with the fact that most rieslings, whether from france, germany, new zealand or usa, go very well with thai food (green curries, sweet-sour-spicy dishes like tom yum kung, fried or roasted fish with lime, ginger and such). the only good US riesling i could find is the 2007 Radog Santa Lucia Highlands from Napa Valley, which i like.

    NY gives you life… aofd

  • Svenska = Swedish

  • Anonymous

    Very interesting show now I really look forward to trying some of these and going up to the Finger Lakes region.

    OTD: For me without a doubt it’s diversity, from landscapes, to people.

  • I found some in my home country. So I think you should be able to track some down too.
    http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/hermann+j+wiemer/1/europe

  • Lots of beer but no goverment 🙂

  • its a good white wine thingy, sort, type …, but syrah is the best grape and thats it!

  • Seriously Gary, thank you thank you thank you for highlighting this region. I grew up in Canandaigua (the index finger of the Finger Lakes) and have been waiting for this show for a while.

    Canandaigua just recently opened up an awesome Wine & Culinary Center. My friend Aron works in the wine room so tell him you know me if/when you stop by.

    My favorite thing about the region is getting ice cream at Scoops and walking around the Canandaigua Pier at sunset. Nothing better in the world.

  • Anonymous

    One of my first times I spent a day visiting wineries was in the Finger Lakes 28 years ago. There were a lot of funky set-ups in barns and very friendly people. Dr. Frank’s Riesling is one of my standards. You can’t beat the value. I live on Long Island, and do think our coast is one of the best parts about the state, but the cost to produce LI wines keeps them from having value–though many have good quality.

    Funny show–you are the best at wine descriptors.

  • Anonymous

    YEAH OZZZZZZZZ CLARKE! We All Wannts a Bit of OZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! Get Him On! Get Him On NOW!

  • Anonymous

    Randall is right, I’m just say’n! No Merlow, No Syrah or Shiraz, Cabs maybe, and it is not that I am looking at this “Sideways”. ;P

  • Anonymous

    You have intimate knowledge of Melbas Bra? How is it?

  • Globex

    absolutely loved hearing your story as a 9 yr old, great memories to have!!! I too ran out of deodorant once and used my wifes, Dove Original Clean. That was 3 years ago and I’m hooked on the stuff!

    QOTD: we’ve never had Finger Lake wines, but going to order that Herman Wiemer… especially after my wife said “ooh, that sounds good” while she passed thru the theatre room last night while I was watching this.

    QOTD2: its the peeps of NY that we love.

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