Two pair of NY Finger Lakes Riesling – a winning hand (#WinePW)

Riesling and I hit it off from the start. Now we’re BFFs.

Our friendship started back in 2010 when I made my own wine – from a box – for my first winemaking class. They say that chemistry is everything in a relationship. This was certainly true for Riesling and me.

While some people don’t care for the terpenes responsible for Riesling’s frequently petrol nose, I’ve always been drawn to that aroma – that and the bracing acidity of this grape when grown in cool-climate wine regions.

My homemade boxed Riesling was drinkable – enjoyable even. More important, the experience launched a decade of study and an ongoing fascination with the multifaceted world of wine.

And my first wine region? The NY Finger Lakes – just “down the road” from my Central Pennsylvania home. I met Liz Stamp from Lakewood Vineyards at a wine expo in Lancaster, PA. Her family owns the vineyards and handsome winery on the west side of Seneca Lake, and her husband Chris is the winemaker. Friendly and enthusiastic, Liz immediately invited me to visit the region. Better yet, she offered to connect me with winemakers around the lake.

That’s all it took.

In a self-isolating time, when wineries have been closed and travel ill-advised, I was delighted to receive two samples from Lakewood – as well as two from Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, on the east side of Seneca Lake – to open for the Wine Pairing Weekend event on June 13. If reading this in time, you can join us on Twitter starting at 8 am PT/11 am ET by following the #WinePW hashtag.

Please check out my invitation post for details about the Finger Lakes region. If your idea of summer fun is sipping #roseallday, check out my “Three takes on NY Finger Lakes rosé.” Finally, stay tuned for my third installment on Finger Lakes wine later this month.  

(Please note that while the wines for this post were provided, opinions are my own.)

Lakewood Vineyards
Established in 1988, Lakewood Vineyards is a family-owned and operated farm winery on the west side of Seneca Lake. A run-down peach and apple orchard when the Stamp family purchased the farm in 1951, Lakewood now produces 15 varieties of grapes (including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir) on 85 acres of vineyards. Three generations work together in the business.  

• 2018 Dry Riesling

My tasting notes: Pale yellow in color. A lemon-lime Riesling from nose to palate, with minerality and hints of grapefruit and mango on the palate. Medium+ acidity. Light body. Medium finish. Alcohol: 11.2%. Price: $15.

• 2018 Riesling
  My tasting notes: Pale yellow in color. Lemon-lime nose with a hint of petrol. A juicy palate of lemon/orange rind and hints of lime and grapefruit. Semi-dry and balanced. Medium+ acidity. Light body. Medium finish. Alcohol: 10.9%. Price: $15.

Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars
Now in its third generation on the eastern side of Seneca Lake, the family-owned Lamoreaux Landing produces wines from 20 different estate-grown varieties on 107 acres. Riesling and Chardonnay make up the majority of their vineyards; they also grow Cabernet Franc, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grüner Veltliner, and Muscat Ottonel.

• 2018 Dry Riesling

My tasting notes: Straw in color. Subtle lemon nose with a powerhouse of lemon packed into the palate. Crisp, racy high acidity. Light body. Medium finish. Alcohol: 10.4%. Price: $14.99.

• 2018 Round Rock Vineyard Riesling

My tasting notes: Straw in color. Delicate aromas of grapefruit and lemon, followed by a slatey palate singing of lemon with honey undertone. Semi-dry, balanced, crisp. High acidity. Light body. Medium finish. Alcohol: 11.2%. Price: $23.99.

Pairing this pair of pairs

To me, the name of the pairing game is experimentation. What goes with what, and why? But maybe you prefer a more predictable future when fork meets food. In that case, here is my grab-and-go advice for pairing dry and semi-dry Riesling with food:

• A little bit of residual sugar goes a long way – Suppose you have oranges or honey in the sauce. A dry Riesling will taste harsh, but its semi-dry cousin will blend seamlessly. This was true when I paired an orange and fennel salmon with the two Lakewood Rieslings.
• A little bit of residual sugar goes a long way (reprise) – Which Riesling do you choose to temper the chili heat or curry spices in your dish? Once again, a dry wine will be too “ouch” for the taste buds. Go with the semi-dry Riesling and let sweetness do the heavy lifting. Jalapeño peppers in the salmon dish appreciated the sweeter wine.
• A crisp, dry Riesling lifts the acidity in salads and light-bodied fish – This was the story when we tasted the two Lamoreaux Landing wines with a baked lemon-pepper Barramundi. Both the dry Riesling and the fish benefited from the match of equals.
• Mild cheese takes the edge off a crisp, high-acid white wine – A soft and creamy goat’s cheese or Brie will mellow your dry Riesling. You will almost hear the wine go “ahhhh.”

Have fun reading the posts below and pairing on your own. Hope to see you on the Twitter chat on June 13!  

• Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm is Exploring the Wines of New York’s Finger Lakes Region.
• Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla pairs Bibimbap with Garden Banchan + Forge CellarsClassique Riesling 2017.
• Lori at Dracaena Wines is Delving Into the History of the Finger Lakes with John Wagner.
• David at Cooking Chat shares Finger Lakes Wine Paired with Everyday Favorites.
• Cindy at Grape Experiences posts An Impressive New York Treasure: the Finger Lakes Wine Region.
• Teri at Our Good Life pairs Zero Degree Riesling with Pan Seared Scallops over Cheesy Grits.
• Jeff at Food Wine Click! writes New York Finger Lakes – I Hope You Like Riesling!
• Jill at L’OCCASION gives us New York Finger Lakes: Wine For Summer Pairings.
• Pinny at Chinese Food and Wine Pairings matches New York Finger Lakes Wines – Lonesome Stony Rose andFox Run Rieslings Paired with Quick-Prepped Seafood.
• Jane at Always Ravenous posts Picnic Fare Paired with Finger Lake Wines.
• Rupal at Syrah Queen discusses The Charm Of New York Finger Lakes Rieslings and Three Finger Lakes Rosés For Summer Sipping.
• Robin at Crushed Grape Chronicles pairs Finger Lake Riesling and Alsatian Salmon.
• Gwendolyn at Wine Predator offers two posts: Two Riesling from the Finger Lakes Pairedwith a Potluck and #RoseAllDay for #RoseDay:3 from New York’s Finger Lakes.
• Susannah at Avvinare examines Delightful Wines from the Finger Lakes.
• Jennifer at Vino Travels looks at Wines from Around Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Region.
• Nicole at Somm’s Table hosts Bo Ssäm and a Comparative Riesling Party!
• Finally, Linda at My Full Wine Glass is sharing two posts: Three Takes on Finger Lakes NY Cabernet Franc Rosé and Two Pair of NY Finger Lakes Riesling – A Winning Hand.