This past Saturday, Ian Barry of Barry Family Cellars hosted a gathering of "small batch" winemakers in his historic tasting room in Burdette, NY.  My wife and I and some friends had an opportunity to visit this well attended gathering. We're written the stories of four of those winemakers. Here's some pictures we took (with... Continue Reading →

Over a fine lunch that her husband Thijs Verschuuren made for us one recent Saturday afternoon in their Victorian-era house in Montour Falls NY, Katie Cook tells us: “When we were thinking about a name, we originally thought about using a family name or a place name, but 'Cook' was already taken and ‘Verschuuren’ is... Continue Reading →

On thirty-five Cayuga Lake acres, Kelley O'Neill has used his new vineyard and winery to make a purposeful life.  With the help of his wife Angela, he has converted formerly fallow property they bought in 2002 into a vineyard, winery and small tasting room. Randolph O'Neill Vineyard is located just north of Hosmer Winery on... Continue Reading →

Thanks to The Cork Reports 2017 Wines of The Year for including me in their choice of East Coast Wine Writers.  I was happy to be able to select Johannes Reinhardt's Rosé. After I submitted the article I got the following information from the winemaker about this spectacular wine: "(Aged in) All stainless steel! 100% Pinot Noir from our... Continue Reading →

We've captured the story of three winemakers who are "starting a-new".  Follow the links! Ian Barry Mark T. Wiltberger Peter Weis

  By Wayne Schutz, Photo Credits Alice Schutz With a welcoming smile, Ian Barry greeted us at the door of his historic tasting room in Burdett.  Built around 1819, the building serves as a perfect venue for tasting Ian's excellent wines. Located in the heart of the village, just a few miles north of Watkins Glen, the... Continue Reading →

By Wayne Schutz, Photo Credits Alice Schutz Winemaker Mark Wiltberger has come full circle: growing up and leaving the Finger Lakes, traveling, and then returning to make wine at his own winery, Mark T. Wiltberger Cellars on Keuka Lake. The son of nearby Keuka Springs Vineyards owners, Len and Judy Wiltberger, Mark started his own brand in... Continue Reading →

So we finally were able to get to Flatt Rock Wine Cellars in Valois NY on the East Side of Seneca Lake. Its just north of Scale House Brew Pub on the west (lake) side of Rt 414. We were greeted by Darla Flatt, who was gathering Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for a grandchild's birthday party.... Continue Reading →

By Wayne Schutz,  In a rustic red schoolhouse built in 1887 on Keuka Lake, a young German winemaker is fulfilling his destiny. Peter Weis, from the Mosel region in Germany, follows in his father's and grandfather's footsteps, making superb German style wines here in the Finger Lakes. With a philosophy that wine “starts in a... Continue Reading →