Keuka Spring's Dan Bissell Approaches Each Vintage Individually

To learn more about the winemaking style of our Head Winemaker, Dan Bissell, Blaufränkisch as a Finger Lakes wine, and our Best New York State Red wine award, we recommend checking out this article.

"Blaufränkisch is a variety that we really believe in for the region," says Dan Bissell, head winemaker for Keuka Spring Winery in the Finger Lakes....

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Our 2022 Blaufränkisch is now available!

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Sparling Zweigelt, our first ever Traditional Method wine, is released!

Winemaking team members Rob Degner, Jim Cerullo, Dan Bissell (Head Winemaker), and Rosa Bissell hold bottles of just bottled Traditional Method Sparkling Wine

After nearly three years in the making, and many years in our minds, our first ever true sparkling wine is released! 

Vista Wine Club members have had the exclusive opportunity to purchase this wine and were able to taste it at the June Vista Wine Club Picnic.

The 2020 Sparkling Zweigelt is made with the Méthode Champenoise, or Traditional Method. After an excellent 2020 harvest, the grapes were gently whole cluster pressed to extract the ripest juice, leaving phenolics behind. The wine was bottled in April of 2021 after the first fermentation, and then spent 22 months in tirage.

The Traditional Method involves use of a secondary, in-bottle fermentation. This second yeast addition is what creates carbonation, resulting in finely textured bubbles in the finished wine. Bottles must be turned by hand on a riddling rack, and care is taken to extract in-bottle lees that develop during the course of the secondary fermentation (disgorging). Basically, great care was taken in growing, harvesting, pressing, fermenting, and making this wine!

Zweigelt is a red-skinned, red-fleshed grape. Yet this wine can be termed a Blanc de Noir--white wine from red grapes. The grapes hail from Harry Humphreys meticulously cared for vineyard. The Zweigelt grape has been around just over 100 years. It was created in Austria in 1922 from Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent parentage.

This dry sparkling wine is elegant and lively, with faint raspberry and fresh vanilla. Enjoy it with so many foods! Some ideas are soft and nutty cheeses, macadamia-crusted haibut, and pork tenerloin. We're so thrilled with the final result of this wine!

We've only made 70 cases of this wine, and it can be purchased by the bottle for $42.99 each. What is left will open up for purchase by non-members at our Zweigles and Zweigelt event August 19.

Sparkling Zweigelt

 

2021 Blaufränkisch (Lemberger) awarded Best New York State Red Wine!

Our 2021 Blaufränkisch was awarded the Best Red Wine in New York State for 2023!

The annual New York Wine Classic competition judges a diverse selection of world-class wines, consisting of nearly 750 entries from 108 wineries across the state. There are just six Best of Category winners: Best White Wine, Best Sparkling Wine, Best Red Wine, Best Pink Wine, Best Dessert Wine, and Best Specialty Wine. We were thrilled that our 2021 Blaufränkisch was judged the Best Red Wine in New York State!

Head Winemaker, Dan Bissell, with the Best NYS Red wine

"With all of the amazing wines being produced across the state, it's a huge honor to be recognized for this award and one that we share with all our hardworking growers and amazing staff," stated Dan Bissell, our Head Winemaker. "These results really highlight how diverse we can be stylistically in this region. We are so proud to be a part of that story and want to congratulate everyone else who was recognized."

The following Keuka Spring wines were awarded in the competition:

• 2021 Blaufränkisch/Lemberger, Best Red Wine, Best Lemberger/Blaufränkisch, Platinum Medal, & 97 pts.
• 2020 Traditional Method Sparkling Zweigelt, 90 pts. & Gold Medal
• 2021 Classic Chardonnay, 90 pts. & Gold Medal
• 2021 Classic Riesling, 91 pts. & Gold Medal
• 2022 Bubbly Vignoles, 93 pts. & Gold Medal
• 2021 Epic Reserve, 88 pts. & Silver Medal
• 2021 Humphreys Vineyard Riesling, 89 pts. & Silver Medal
• 2022 Vignoles, 87 pts. & Silver Medal

Many of these wines are available to order today! Why not put yourself together an six or twelve pack of award winners, with free shipping? We are so excited to be a part of the fantastic wines being produced in New York State. Cheers!

See the full list of 2023 New York Wine Classic Award Winners

Further reading:

Strong showing for Finger Lakes Wineries at New York Wine Classic competition

Governor Hochul Announces Winners of the 2023 New York Wine Classic

New York's best wines and top winery for 2023: And the winners are...

Finger Lakes vineyards recognized in state competition