New York Cork Report

2010 Harvest Update: Leon Millot Harvest at Glorie Farm

By Lenn Thompson

Just received quick word that Glorie Farm Winery has harvested one ton of Leon Millot... that came in last week at 24 brix.

That is some serious sugar for the beginning of September.

2010 Harvest Update: Baco Noir at Benmarl Winery

Benmarl Winery in Marlboro makes some of the best baco noir in the state. In fact, it's achieved what could be considered cult status up in the Hudson Valley.

Today, winemaker Matt Spaccarelli (pictured above) and crew picked 4 tons of baco noir today. It came in at 22.5 brix.

This is Matt's first year as the sole winemaker. I look forward to tasting his first vintage without departed winemaker Kristop Brown.

2010 Harvest Update: Riesling at Peconic Bay Winery

At 7 a.m. this morning, with Hurricane Earl promising to at least bring rain and wind to the North Fork, the riesling harvest started at Peconic Bay Winery.

According to winemaker Greg Gove, "We are picking the riesling just before the rain. At the present level of ripeness the riesling won’t last if we get several inches of rain and high winds. This is the earliest harvest I’ve experienced on the East End."

He also added that their merlot is already at 19 brix.

I'll update this post later today with some harvest data once all the fruit is in.

2010 Harvest Update: Pinot Grigio at Martha Clara Vineyards

Martha Clara Vineyards winemaker Juan Micieli-Martinez reports that the vineyard crew picked 4 tons of pinot grigio today, saying has the "highest brix I have ever seen this early in pinot grigio."

It came in at 22.5 brix with pH of 3.5 and TA of 6.68 g/L.

"We averaged a little over 3 tons to the acre. Our pinot grigio is on 7x4 density plantings which means approximately 1,500 vines per acre. Therefore, the fruit load per vine is very low thus resulting in nice ripe fruit," told me in an email.

This recent 90-plus-degree heat wave has had a big impact. Last Thursday, when assistant winemaker Robin Epperson-McCarthy took samples, the fruit was just under 17 brix.  

 

2010 Harvest Update: Chardonnay for Sparkling at Paumanok Vineyards

Harvest is underway at Paumanok Vineyards on the North Fork where winemaker Kareem Massoud reports that they hand picked 2.67 tons of chardonnay for sparkling wine on August 28.

"Brix came in right where we want it for bubbly: 18.5. pH was also nice at 3.07. Acid good for bubbly at 10.2 g/l," he reports via email.

If you haven't tasted or seen a sparkler from Paumanok, there's a reason for that -- 2010 will be just their second sparkling wine.

"The 2009 will be released in time for the Holidays...of 2013," according to Massoud.