Our Winery
The Press Room
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Wiltberger
Phone: 315-536-3147
KEUKA SPRING VINEYARDS TO HOLD 2ND EVENT IN SUMMER WINE SERIES:
"MERLOT AND MIGNON"
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SUMMER WINE SERIES BEGINS AT KEUKA SPRING VINEYARDS
Summer has officially begun and so has Keuka Spring Vineyards' annual wine education series. The series starts with “Shrimp and Chardonnay” on Saturday, July 10 from 11 am to 5 pm. The event will feature a vertical tasting of award-winning Keuka Spring Chardonnay wines paired with a shrimp appetizer.
In a vertical vintage tasting or library tasting, different vintages (or years) of the same wine varietal are compared and contrasted. This will be the 17th annual Chardonnay library tastng at Keuka Spring Vineyards. Guided tastings will be held in small groups, outside on the winery's hillside terrace overlooking Keuka Lake (weather permitting). Reservations are encouraged but not mandatory. The tasting fee of $12 includes an intimate tasting, shrimp pairing plate, and souvenir wine glass. A special discount for Keuka Spring case club and wine club members applies. Next in the series is “Merlot and Mignon” on August 7.
“We invite visitors to learn about wine concepts--how we grow the grapes here at the vineyard, how the wines we make vary from vintage to vintage, and the effect of aging on our wines, while enjoying the tasting," says Len Wiltberger, co-owner of the winery with his wife Judy. “Our Chardonnay grapes are from the same vineyard, so nuances in winemaking style and year-to-year weather variation make a difference in the finished wine. People get a kick out of what their senses tell them about the wines and that makes it really fun.”
Keuka Spring Vineyards is located at 243 State Route 54, East Lake Road, just outside of Penn Yan on the east side of Keuka Lake. Owners Len and Judy Wiltberger have been committed to producing premium wines since they founded the winery in 1985. For more information about their summer series and photos of events, visit www.keukaspringwinery.com , or contact the winery at 315-536-3147 to make a reservation.
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Keuka Spring Vineyards wins 2 out of 7 Double Gold Medals in Great Lakes International Wine Competition
Keuka Spring Vineyards earned two of the seven Double Gold Medals awarded in the recent 2010 Great Lakes International Wine Competition. The Double Gold-winning wines included their 2009 Semi Sweet Riesling and their 2008 Vignoles Dessert Wine. A Double Gold award indicates a unanimous decision among all the judges that the wine is top in quality. The Great Lakes International Wine Judging has been held for 15 years by the Culinary Studies Institute of Oakland Community College in
Keuka Spring Vineyards is located at 243 State Route 54, East Lake Road, just outside of Penn Yan on the east side of Keuka Lake. Owners Len and Judy Wiltberger have been committed to producing premium wines since they founded the winery in 1985. For more information about their Double Gold Medal winning wines and other wines, visit www.keukaspringwinery.com.
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Keuka Spring Vineyards Judged Best White Wine at Largest Competition of American Wines
Keuka Spring Vineyards' 2008 Gewurztraminer was judged the Best White Wine in the largest competition of American wines in the world. 4,913 American wines were judged by 63 wine experts at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The Gewurztraminer was chosen from all of the white wines as the Sweepstakes winner. “We're thrilled about this award,” said Mark Wiltberger, winemaker at Keuka Spring Vineyards. “When you think about the fact that this competition judged outstanding Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris from across the country, it is extremely gratifying to be recognized.” “Gewurztraminer is a unique varietal. The 2008 Gewurztraminer has strong, bright, tropical fruit character and a hint of spiciness. People are often pleasantly surprised when they try it for the first time. In the Finger Lakes we have the perfect climate for these fresh, lively wines,” Wiltberger said. Keuka Spring Vineyards is located at 243 State Route 54, East Lake Road, Penn Yan, NY. The Wiltberger family celebrates the winery's 25th
anniversary this year. For further information on the 2008 Gewurztraminer and other award-winning wines visit www.KeukaSpringWinery.com or call (315) 536-3147.
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TASTE UPCOMING VINTAGES AT KEUKA SPRING VINEYARDS' Ever wonder how those freshly harvested grapes become fine wines in bottles? Go behind the scenes at Keuka Spring Vineyards’ barrel tasting Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6. The day will feature exclusive, small group barrel tastings in the tank room with the winemaking team, comparing bottled vintages with barrel samples of the upcoming 2009 vintage. “Along with the library tastings we have in the summer, this is a way for people to have a really fun and interactive experience learning about our wine and the winemaking process behind it,” says Len Wiltberger, owner of Keuka Spring Vineyards. “The barreled wines are the early versions of next year’s vintages. By hosting a barrel tasting just after harvest, we offer visitors the chance to learn more about the process that transforms fresh, ripe grapes into wine.” A small fee includes the barrel tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and a complementary wine glass. Reservations are required. Those participating in the barrel tasting will have the opportunity to purchase special pre-released vintages. The tasting room, open for regular business, will also feature special holiday discounts on wines and gifts that day. Keuka Spring Vineyards is located at 243 State Route 54 (East Lake Road) just outside of Penn Yan on the east side of Keuka Lake. Owners Len and Judy Wiltberger have been committed to producing premium wines since they founded the winery in 1985. To make reservations, contact the winery at 315-536-3147. For more information, visit www.keukaspringwinery.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"HOLIDAY BARREL TASTING"
RED WINE & CHOCOLATE TASTING AT KEUKA SPRING VINEYARDS
No doubt a scrumptious, if unusual, pairing and favorite of many: red wine and chocolate. Join Keuka Spring Vineyards on Saturday, September 26 from 11 am to 5 pm to savor the rich delights of chocolate and red wine. Keuka Spring Vineyards will feature a number of their award-winning red wines paired with chocolate as the third event in their summer wine series. Guided tastings will be held in small groups on the winery's terrace overlooking Keuka Lake (weather permitting.) This year's event will feature fabulous creations made by Butterwood Desserts in West Falls, New York (www.butterwooddesserts.com). There will be live music from 1 pm to 3 pm. Reservations are suggested but not mandatory. An $8 fee covers the tasting, chocolate pairing plate, and souvenir wine glass. Special discounts for Keuka Spring case club and wine club members apply. Keuka Spring Vineyards is located at 243 State Route 54 (East Lake Road) just outside of Penn Yan on the east side of Keuka Lake. Owners Len and Judy Wiltberger have been committed to producing premium wines since they founded the winery in 1985. For more information about the Red Wine and Chocolate visit www.keukaspringwinery.com or contact the winery at 315-536-3147 to make reservations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visitors enjoying Keuka Spring Vineyards' annual Red Wine & Chocolate Tasting
Kickin' Back with Kickin' Back
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Read our profile from the Democrat and Chronicle's Finger Lakes Wine website:
Keuka Spring Winery
Len Wiltberger shares a taste for adventure with his wife, Judy.
So when he decided to leave behind a 30-year career at Eastman Kodak Co. in the 1980s, Judy was game for the change.
Taking that risk has paid off for the Wiltbergers, owners of Keuka Spring Vineyards in Penn Yan, Yates County.
With help from their kids and 13 staffers, the couple now produces 20,000 gallons of wine annually and manages 10 acres of vineyards.
With more than 15 selections available for sampling, a visit to Keuka Spring feels like taking a crash course in the breadth of Finger Lakes wines. Options range from the 2006 Seyval ($9.99), a crisp white wine with Granny Smith apple and citrus flavors, to the 2006 Lemberger ($18.99), a medium-bodied red boasting notes of smoke and berries.
Events featuring food and wine parings have proved critical to the winery’s success, Len says. Two of the most popular are the annual “Shrimp and Chardonnay” in July and “Merlot and Mignon” in August.
Len also attributes part of the winery’s success to the experience he gained as a systems analyst and strategic planner for Kodak.
“One of things that (working at) Kodak did was it helped me to see all the dimensions of a large business – everything from marketing to production to distribution,” he says.
Judy says her prior career as a teacher for the Rochester City School District helps her keep the tasting room staff prepared to answer visitors’ questions.
“We’re finding that people (visiting) like to have fun, and they also like to really learn about wine and walk away with some new thoughts and knowledge,” she says.
Len says that he’s thrilled with the 2007 vintage, even at this early stage.
“Even though they’re so young and they might be a little rough at this point, we like the color, the bouquets and the mouth-feel we’re getting right now,” he says.
To illustrate their confidence in the vintage, the Wiltbergers hosted a barrel tasting in early December. Participants were to taste two whites and three reds from 2007 in the winery’s tank room and then compare them to selections from 2006.
The cost ($10) included hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary wine glass.
Keuka Spring Vineyards, 243 Route 54 (East Lake Road) in Penn Yan, Yates County, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, from Dec. 1 to 23. Open January through March by appointment. Hours in April are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Open daily from May 1 through Nov. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (315) 536-3147. Web: www.keukaspringwinery.com. No tasting fee to sample five wines. Wheelchair-accessible.
By Sheila Livadas, for www.fingerlakeswine.com
