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

 

Keuka Spring Vineyards donates $15,000 to local food banks

Recently Keuka Spring Vineyards donated $15,000 to local food banks.

“In the wine business, we are surrounded by food and wine," said Jeanne Wiltberger, Marketing Director and legacy family member at Keuka Spring Vineyards. "We realize that this isn’t the same for everyone. With inflation and costs of food and basic needs rising, we wanted to contribute to reducing food insecurity in our community to share just some of the abundance we are so grateful to experience." 

$5000 each was given to the local food pantry organizations: the Living Well Misson, the HOPE Center Keuka Food Pantry, and Milly’s Pantry. Located just outside of Penn Yan, the winery made a deliberate effort to support Penn Yan food-specific organizations.

The Living Well's mission is to connect people to solutions so they may thrive. Their programs provide emergency access to food, personal hygiene and cleaning products; funds to prevent utility shut-offs and prescription discontinuation; and support for residents navigating grief and cancer diagnoses.

The HOPE Center Keuka Food Pantry is fighting hunger one day at a time. In addition to regular access to healthy food, with assistance from the Keuka Food Pantry, families are able to prepare a special meal for the holidays.

Milly’s Pantry fosters equal opportunity for success, self-sufficiency, and confidence for all Yates County children by providing nourishment and academic support.

In addition, staff members of Keuka Spring volunteered at the Living Well Mission in December on a Salvation Army Food Box Distribution Day, packing lunches, unloading supplies, and sorting and organizing food donations. As the food boxes were being moved from trucks to The Well, there were several people who noticed the efforts of the volunteers and stopped to request their own food box. The Well was able to support these additional requests for food boxes through supplies in their emergency food pantry. The winery staff look forward to doing more volunteering in the upcoming year.

Jan Rosequist and Jill Rank, Tasting Room staff at Keuka Spring, pack grab and go lunches and food disribution boxes at the Living Well Mission. Bill Laffin and Steve Matteson of Keuka Spring also helped pack food distribution boxes at the Living Well.

Cheryl Darn and Erin Mowry of the HOPE Center Keuka Food Pantry receive a donation from Jeanne Wiltberger of Keuka Spring Vineyards. Some of the tenets of the HOPE Center are outlined on the sign behind them.

Sandi Perl, Executive Director of the Living Well Mission, receives Keuka Spring Vineyards' donation from Jeanne Wiltberger.

Carleen Wilson, Board Vice President of Milly's Pantry, holds a check donated by Keuka Spring Vineyards.

Keuka Spring Vineyards has been producing premium wines since 1985. Awards include Winery of the Year, three Governor’s Cups for best New York State wine, two Best White Wine in America awards, and numerous 90+ point ratings in national wine magazines. The Tasting Room overlooking the east side of Keuka Lake at 243 Route 54, East Lake Road, Penn Yan is open for tastings Friday-Sunday from January to March and then daily in April on.  For more information on tastings, the Vista wine club, upcoming events, or to order their wines, please visit KeukaSpringWinery.com, or contact the winery at 315-536-3147.

Keuka Spring Vineyards donates $1000 to local charities

Judy and Jeanne Wiltberger were on hand recently to donate $1000 to local organizations. Using tasting fees, Keuka Spring was able to raise $500 for The Living Well and $500 for the Humane Society of Yates County.

"There are so many organzations doing great work in our community," said Jeanne. "We're honored to able to contribute." 

The Living Well is a safe place to which Yates County residents can turn in times of need. Founded in Penn Yan in 2014, The Well's mission is to connect people to solutions so that they may thrive. Their programs provide emergency access to food, person hygiene and cleaning products; funds to prevent utility shut-offs and prescription discontinuation; and support for residents navigating grief and cancer diagnoses. Their outreach efforts focus on building a caring community by helping Yates County residents in crises get the services for which they qualify.

Kim Lyons, Outreach Development Coordinator for The Living Well Mission accepts a $500 donation from Judy and Jeanne Wiltberger of Keuka Spring Vineyards

The Humane Society of Yates County is a no-kill shelter which has been increasing the quality of life for companion animals in our community for over 110 years, since 1908. In 202, they took in and adopted over 200 animals. A $500 donation provides one month of food for all shelter animals!

Nathaniel Smart, Shelter Manager at the Humane Society of Yates County, accepts a $500 donation from Judy and Jeanne Wiltberger on behalf of Keuka Spring Vineyards with his dog Woof

Keuka Spring Vineyards has been producing premimum wines since 1985. Awards include Winery of the Year, three Governor's Cups for best New York State wine, two Best White Wine in America awards, and numerous 90+ point ratings in national wine magazines. Owners Len and Judy Wiltberger invite you to visit their tasting room overlooking the east side of Keuka Lake.