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Wine Bible

Region · New York, USA

Finger Lakes

FING-ger layks

Riesling, lakes, and winter

Vineyard landscape
Vineyard landscape
Atlas plate of the looping Mosel
New York, USA — vintage atlas plate.

New York's serious cellar: deep glacial lakes that store heat, Riesling that can be dry or off-dry, and a cool-climate Cabernet Franc.

  • lime
  • slate
  • green apple
  • petrol
  • red currant

Seneca, Cayuga, and Keuka moderate a climate that would otherwise be too cold. Riesling is the flagship — often closer to Germany than to Australia. Cabernet Franc and sparkling are the supporting actors worth watching.

Hybrid grapes still matter for volume. The bottles that travel are mostly vinifera, and they travel better every vintage.

Trout, pork, and spicy takeout.

At the table

Service

Riesling 45–48 °F (7–9 °C); Franc 55–59 °F (13–15 °C).

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