Labor Day Weekend 2009
September 06, 2009
While not yet up, or risen, the sun is creating some spectacular red and yellow hues on the eastern horizon which along with the haze over the lake is creating a fantastic view for those fortunate to be up at this time. Our temperature along the shores of Seneca and in the vineyards of Glenora is a chilly 52.5 degrees and the wind is out of the west at 2 miles per hour.
In the vineyards—finally a great weather week!! The vineyard teams continue with the planting of cover crop and mulch distribution along with the bird wars. It is always interesting to see the expression on the faces of those not familiar with the sights and sounds that come from the vineyards at this time of year—especially the first time they hear a bird cannon “go off”. Winemaker Steve and Tasha are now spending at least a couple of days each week collecting grape berry samples by which the monitor the ripening process. According to our friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension we are still 5 days behind a “normal” ripening year. There is no question that we are going to need a lot more of the weather that we have had for the past few days to ripen this year’s crop—especially the reds! The was an interesting observation in last Vineyard report from Cornell Extension noting—“The first loads of Aurora grapes were picked today, starting off the 2009 harvest in the Finger Lakes. You only have to experience a harvest season once to know that it can be an intense, exciting, frustrating, nerve-wracking couple of months every year. Best wishes to everyone in the Finger Lakes grape and wine industries for a safe and successful (and warm!) harvest season.”—that really does sum up what will be taking place during the next couple of months in wine country.
In the cellar—For the Knapp Team it was a wine movement week along with lots of filtering and prepping for two days of bottling this coming week. The Glenora Team bottled 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Frankenstein along with making a couple wine delivery runs to Mikey Merlot at the State Fair.
And speaking of the State Fair—there was an interesting news story on one of the Syracuse news stations earlier this week regarding the wine court. The crux of the story focused on; the location—difficult to find; the fact the cow manure floats downhill during rainstorms and the wine tent is located at the bottom of the hill; and the ambience inside the tents—the wineries have done a great job decorating but the fair has done little to add to that, in fact nothing. It is always amazes the editor that “The State” will note how the wine industry is one of the state’s shining stars (growth and its impact on tourism) and yet at the same time seems to do little to support it—other than a few dollars to the Foundation. At one time the wineries had a place of provenience at the State Fair (Center Court) we now have been relegated to a side of the livestock pavilion complete with the sights, sounds, and smells of the same—“perfect for wine tasting”?????????????!!!!!!!
On the brighter side of the Fair Mikey Merlot and his team are reporting some very good sales numbers. While the “crowds” are a bit lighter than in past years, the wine consumer seems to be switching from “slushies” (wine and crushed ice) to varietals—Riesling and Chardonnay which is good for us since we are not producers of the prior.
It is wedding weekend at both Glenora and Knapp! Team Knapp hosted a rehearsal dinner on Friday evening and Team Glenora had one wedding yesterday and another today. Thanks goes out to everyone at Glenora and Knapp for being here this weekend—there is lots going on and it would not happen without the support of everyone!
Short news week—we need more reporters—so some news from Labor Day weekends of days past: 1994—Glenora is named the “official wine and Champagne” of the United States Grand Prix festival”—we still are!; 1995—Glenora’s wines and champagnes are selected as the exclusive wines to be served aboard the sailing schooner “Spirit of AmericA “ (a replica of the most famous racing yacht in US history; 1996—New York Times wine writer Howard Goldberg visits Glenora, the cellar team bottled 2000 cases of 1995 Brut sparkling wine, and the editor made a sales presentation to a NYC distributor, Paramount, this past week; 1998—Harvest has started with Baco’s and GR-7 arriving this past Friday 9/4/98. That is it for the history section this time.
Thought for the week: The Future - Everyone has it in their power to say, “This I am today, that I shall be tomorrow”
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