Taste of Tuscany in the Finger Lakes

Bud Break Blooms

2011-06-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

So it's getting to be that season where the weather is warming up and we are starting to see tiny grapes pop on the vines. This popping of new growth and foliage on the vines is know as "bud break." Bud break in this area occurs around mid May. Bud break occurred here at Ventosa the week of May 13th.

Since that time, we have had some very warm days which is great for growing grapes. The best season you can have to grape vines is very hot dry weather. The grapes grow very well in this environment because the lack of water, stresses out the vine so that the plant soaks up nutrient from the soil and transports it directly to the grape. For red varieties, the sun and heat is great to ripen the grape so it has a lot of sugar content and the skin of the grape gets very purple so you can have a deep, rich, red wine. In years that we have cool temperatures and more rain, the vines soak up the water in the soil and rather than only getting nutrient to the grape, there is also more water. This is why in rainy, cooler years, red wines are lighter due to the vine soaking up water. The best part of living in the Finger Lakes w

ith two very distinct growing season possibilities, is that the hot dry years are great for red wines for ripening purposes while in cooler and rainy years, the white wines are excellent. Riesling in particular, being from Germany in origin, thrives in those cooler rainier seasons. This similarity in growing conditions is why this area excels in Riesling production.

The sun and heat that we have been experiencing here lately has resulted in new offshoot canes on the vines that have really grown and we're starting to see tiny grape clusters form. The ones featured here are from a Pinot Noir vine. Crazy to think that those tiny little grapes will be large and tasty by October. That's the fun in wine. The grape grows, the flavors in the grape evolve, and then after it's harvested it goes through yet another life process where it goes through fermentation, aging, and becomes the life force that will be in your glass. Cheers!

There's a Reason to Drink Riesling

2011-04-26T09:20:00.001-07:00

So here we are at the tail end of April, and the weather is getting better, but still pretty gloomy. When I drove into the parking lot of Ventosa this morning among the fog, this was the view that greeted me:

Pretty mysterious and cool among vines that are trimmed and ready for the warm weather, and to have buds popping.

Among other news, our 2010 Riesling was tasted and we all agree, it's ready to be released!

The 2010 Riesling is dryer than our last vintage, but still lots of fruit flavors and a touch of acidity. Be sure to stop by this Friday night to get a great combo. Try our 2010 Riesling and enjoy a NO COVER show by the Dirtybirds who are a three piece acoustic rock band playing contemporary hits with vocals, guitar and harmonica! May is Riesling month too, so be sure to kick it off right!

Cheers!

Drink and Be Merry!

2011-03-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

Wondering what our current wine list looks like? Well here it is!

Individual tastings are $2 per person for your selection of 4 wines. Group tastings (10+ people) are $4 per person and there's a predetermined list of 4-5 wines. All tasting fees are refundable on bottle purchases.

White Wines

Saggio series VI: Premium estate blend of Tocai Friulano, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Riesling. $19.95

2009 Chardonnay: Tropical fruit flavors and aromas with a hint of oak. $17.95

2009 Pinot Gris: Clean notes of kiwi and chamomile, and fresh cut honeydew. $15.95

2008 Tocai Friulano: A Ventosa exclusive! Rare Italian variety, light in body, with grapefruit and floral aromas. $15.95

Vino Bianco (NV): A sipping sensation with flavors of pear and honeydew. A blend of Tocai Friulano, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Riesling.

2009 Riesling: Zesty and hip through a melding of pineapple, mango, apricot and a subtle minerality. $16.95

2009 Sweet Riesling: Notes of melon and green apple soaked in honeysuckle and sweet clover nectar. $14.95

Red Wines

2009 Rosato: Fruit forward Sangiovese rose highlighting juicy watermelon and fresh raspberries. $15.95

2007 Pinot Noir: Toasty notes of cinnamon and earth with ripe cherry flavors. $15.95

2008 Vino Rosso: This red blend is crafted from Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese with a nose of vanilla and cardamom, berry medley flavors and a caramel finish. $15.95

2008 Cabernet Franc: Robust layers of cranberry aged in both new and older French oak. $19.95

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon: Jammy with expressions of dark cherries and black currant framed by chewy tannins. $22.95

Saggio series VII: Signature premium Bordeaux blend highlighted with Syrah and Sangiovese grown on our estate. $25.95

Limited Production Wines, Try for $2

2007 Sangiovese: Estate grown Sangiovese with flavors of raspberry and subtle blueberry. Only 100 cases made of this unique varietal. $29.95

2009 Tocaice: Our unique Tocai Friulano iced wine. Flavors of caramelized figs and candied tree fruits. $29.95

Cheers!

Red, Red Wine...

2011-01-31T09:41:00.000-08:00

The end of January its quickly approaching. The frosty weather makes everything seem to slow down. While the wine is still here and available for tasting it isn't flowing as abundantly as it is during the busy season. Though during the week it's slow, the weekends seem to be hopping right along with our music series continuing through the winter. Our music events are a nice change of pace getting people out and about and drawn here to the winery. The cafe is still serving up great food throughout the winter as well. Chef Ernesto is still serving up a wide variety of daily specials. Any of our pizzas are killer with a glass of Vino Rosso, or your choice favorite! Having bottled beer available also means we don't discriminate against those non wine drinkers.

The banquet hall has been pretty calm as well, even though the phone calls keep coming in from future brides checking in to see if their date is still available. The big banquet event of this weekend is our Bridal Extravaganza. It's free to the public and is running from 11-1pm this Saturday, February 5. This is a great way to scope out a potential venue while also having the opportunity to speak with other bridal vendors. It's going to be a great event to get a taste of what any bride's big day could look like.

Jenna's also down in the cellar working away to make great wines out of our excellent 2010 vintage. From the looks and tastes of some of the wines that we've seen samples of, things are going to be very fruity and delicious. Jenna's got plans for a Pinot Noir dry rose which from samples tastes great already even early on. While we're anxiously awaiting the 2010 releases, we're excited that we're getting Chardonnay back on the line up! For those Chardonnay fans, you may know we've been out of our Chardonnay for about 2-3 months. After some barrel aging, and then bottle aging, we're ready to release our 2009 Chard. It's very fruity and even better than the 2008. That was the general consensus among all of us who tried it but we'll let you be the judge! Feel free to leave me some feedback once it's released and what you think.

Cheers!

Visions of Sugarplums

2010-12-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

Well with Christmas right around the corner, all of us here at Ventosa have taken some time to appreciate the great year we've had and what amazing and loyal customers we have among us. I recognize that it's been a tough year for everyone, but every time I speak with a customer and they're interested in learning more about the winery and wines in general, I realize that that's the reason I love the wine industry. When people get excited by wine and where it comes from, it makes having a job in this industry that much more fun and exciting. The foot traffic has definitely slowed down in the tasting room the past couple of weeks. I think it's the blustery cold that makes people not want to come out and taste around the lake. The only upside is that there's been a whirlwind of customers who are ordering on our website. It's great to see our new website getting great traffic from orders. Is there anything that you would improve with our site, or are you happy with it the way it is?

The cafe has had a good number of private parties in both the winery and the La Vista e Bella room in sizes large and small. We've had a number of good talks about future plans for the Cafe. I know this is a teaser, but I don't want to give it away until everything is definite and set in stone. Let's just say, that there's big things in the works for the cafe in a lot of ways. Stay tuned for more information!

Wedding and party bookings are getting tight for 2011. I overheard a phone conversation with RJ and a client about how some months are fully booked for Friday, Saturday and Sunday already. It's crazy to think that the busy season is closer than we think. Sooner rather than later, the winter slow season will be jamming again and all of us will be ready to drink bottles, rather than a glass, of wine after work. Cheers to that and staying busy keeping you out of trouble!

On a serious note, Ventosa wouldn't be anywhere without it's customers and followers so a most sincere thank you to everyone who has helped us have a successful year in 2010. Thank you and cheers to 2010! Happy holidays!

Oh the Weather Outside

2010-12-06T09:06:00.001-08:00

Here we are, much later in the season and I can finally breathe. My apologies again for being forever for not writing. I'm making it my mission to get back on here. So after a long, busy summer, all of us here at Ventosa are prepping for Christmas and welcoming the slightly slower pace. The summer was filled with great events.

To recap, we got our wines in a number of different wholesale locations. It's great to know that through expanding markets, product is in closer proximity to our customers. We reached a number of Rochester liquor stores including Corn Hill Fine Wines and broke into the Syracuse market at Harborview Wines and Spirits. Thank you to those liquor stores in particular as well as the other restaurants and liquor stores that took us on.

The customer traffic was great here this summer. Seeing lots of people from all over has always been something that I've been in awe of. Growing up here in the Finger Lakes, it's always been familiar and home to me. When I hear behind the tasting bar that there's people coming to this area from all over the country and even different continents, I'm always amazed that here in our backyard is such a tourist destination.

We had a number of great events here this season. Weddings galore with lots of happy couples filled the weekends. Our live music events filled up the winery every Wednesday night with free tastings and the Cafe staying open, people took full advantage. As the leaves started to fall, we also hosted our Hayride event. That was a great turn out with people really enjoying the wagon ride with Jenna, our winemaker and trying different wine and cheese pairings. Then, most recently, we had an amazing menu with our Rustic Harvest Winemaker's Dinner. Jenna was there to pair every wine perfectly with our menu items and explain why food and wine pairings make such a difference. Wine being paired with food is completely different than wine all by itself. Everyone was really happy with the menu and the experience as a whole. Now as the snow starts to fly, Christmas spirit is in the air. Christmas parties are being booked and we're all looking forward to the holiday. Cheers to holiday foods paired with your favorite wine.

The next big event we're looking forward to after the holidays is our New Years Eve Gala. Full cash bar, five course prime rib dinner and Andy Stoby and the Greater Finger Lakes Jazz Orchestra, a 22 piece jazz orchestra, playing thoughout the night. It's going to be a great way to ring in the New Year. If you haven't got plans you should definitely think about joining us!

I personally love this time of year. I love getting together with family and friends and this is the perfect time of year to do that. It's a time to celebrate and be thankful and holiday cheer sometimes comes in liquid form as well. That's never a bad thing! So let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, and I'll drink to that! Cheers!

En Vino Veritas

2010-05-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

So..I feel like an apology is necessary. It's been a while since blogging has been on the agenda. Oh Ventosa! You're getting into busy season! Not a bad thing at all. It's great to see more customers coming through the door and looking for their vino. Lots of people must be enjoying the warm weather that upstate New York is experiencing. It's definitely feeling a lot more like summer. The vines are really liking that. Maybe this year will be a good vintage year. Guess the proof is in the bottle, right? En vino veritas.

So May is Riesling month. Kind of a coincidence that Riesling is king in this region. So the winery is running a couple of promos for the month of May with Riesling. We're doing buy 2 bottles of Riesling and get the 3rd free, as well as complimentary tastings of Riesling. To continue the Riesling mindset we have a couple of new Rieslings that will be released as well. Word from Jenna, our winemaker, is that we will be producing and releasing two new Rieslings soon. One being a Riesling similar to the one that we have available now and the o being a sweet style Riesling. Sweeter is how the Germans make their Riesling so why not follow the originators lead? JAHHH! That was my version of a German accent. I know. I'm a dork.

The other cool thing going on here at the winery is that we're having a Mother's Day brunch from 10:00-2:30 Sunday, May 9th. There's everything from 3 carving stations, to a pasta station, to an omlet station, and a whole lot of great desserts. Bargain price too. We researched competitors prices and ours is the lowest in the area. $20.95 for adults and $11.95 for kids ages 5-12. Come on in and load up a plate or two. You know you want to! I had no clue what to get my Mom until recently so this is perfect for those last minute ideas, but gotta make sure you call for a reservation. Apparently this has been a big hit in the past couple years.

Cheers to Mom and summer quickly approaching! Even more so: Cheers to living life Finger Lakes style!

A Little Wine in the Summertime

2010-04-14T12:38:00.001-07:00

So here's all the Ventosa crew just getting amped up for the coming months. We got one of our first big rushes this weekend. We had a group of around 55 for lunch on Saturday. Not that we don't love the group attendance at the winery, we just have an issue getting the coverage from a staff stand point to cover a group that size as well as our regular customer base. A heads up would be great for attendance that size. We're happy, customers are happy, and life is good.

This weekend is our first wedding taking place right on site. I believe that the wedding ceremony will be held on the terrace. A wedding overlooking the vineyard and Seneca Lake. Not bad at all. I'm sure it will be beautiful. I can just imagine. That's always been my goal wedding. Working in the wine industry for 5 years now I can't imagine a more beautiful, and romantic setting for a wedding. The only thing that would make it better in my eyes is in the fall when the colors start to change on the trees and the foliage on the vines. That and smelling grapes being crushed in the distance. I could seriously go for that as wedding ambiance. Not to mention "en vino veritas." Good way to start a marriage.

The weather is keeping up here on the east side of the lake as well. It's still great to see that we have 60 degree weather and it's not as cold as it was. It's still something that makes me nervous with bud break on the vines. Those initial buds and berries are starting to appear on the vines, so if we get a cold burst that could really do damage and end up killing vine growth. Not a good thing. So let's just keep our fingers crossed that we're out of the woods on the super cold weather.

So from here on out things are looking on the up and up. I just sent out flyers today to let some of our local bus and limo companies that we're running a deal for both large group buffets as well as box lunches for those groups that are in a hurry. Busy season is coming around and things should get quite interesting.

Cheers to having a wedding among the vines!

Young at Heart

2010-04-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

So it was a great weekend here at Ventosa Vineyards. We welcomed Sarah and Joe Mull to the vineyard and they had a great showing. A great number of their fans came out and showed love and support and a lot of people ended up enjoying glasses if not bottles of the awesome wine we have available. The show was out on the terrace so everyone got to soak up all that warm weather and sunshine. Perfect setting for a great show. Now that I've seen them, we could definitely classify Sarah and Joe as contemporary hit music with Sarah on vocals and Joe on acoustic guitar. Definitely a sing along type of style.

Today is the kind of day you don't want to get out of bed here on Seneca Lake. It's cold and gray and been raining most of the day. I miss this past weekend's weather already. It does make the work week go a little quicker though with cruddy weather rather than nice sunny weather that makes me wish I wasn't inside. So I'm ok with rain this week. I think it's supposed to be rainy a couple, if not 3 times this week. Wednesday is looking like the only exceptional day this week. Warm and sunny. Oh well. Either way we'll take the good with the bad. We do live in upstate New York so it's not something that we're not used to.

Cheers to Sarah and Joe Mull for a great show and Cliff McCann who's coming to preform this coming Friday from 5-8pm and no cover for that show either!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like...SPRING!

2010-04-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Totally ok with this mid 50 and even higher weather pattern we've been experiencing. Not good for the vineyard if buds start popping out sooner than we want, but definitely great to see that warm weather has hit central New York and gets people out and about some more. It was great even last night. After the winery closed up I sat on the terrace with a couple friends, RJ our general manager, and Melinda our assistant tasting room manager, and enjoyed taking in the view of the lake, vineyard, and sipped on some of the Tocai Friulano. We're the only Finger Lakes producer that makes a wine out of that Italian variety and one of 2 New York producers even. It's really a great wine. Reminds me of Riesling flavors with a nice crisp acid balance. Drink up those unique wines. Ventosa even grows and produces a Sangiovese. Unique right? Not a lot of New York producers grow or make that variety either. Definitely need to snag myself a bottle of that for sure. Haven't tried it yet but can't be bad.

Tonight at the vineyard we've got a couple musicians coming to preform live music from 5-8. No cover for this. Should be a lot of fun and apparently Sarah and Joe Mull (the musicians) have quite the following. Sounds like it's going to be a great crowd. Maybe I'll see one of you here for it! You can grab a glass or bottle of wine, or some food from Cafe Toscana. Come on...you know you want to!

I'll definitely let you know how that event plays out if I don't end up seeing you. If anything it should be a great weekend here in the Finger Lakes with the warm weather, awesome wine all around, and great friends to spend some time with. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Cheers to Tocai and warm weather!