Fairport, NY - Casa Larga Vineyards is releasing new wines next week that are exciting not only for the winery, but also for their larger implication within the local wine industry. The springtime wines include 3 brand new wines and 5 new vintages. Among the new wines are a new ice wine, Negative 8, and new Rieslings - 2014 Wild Ferment Riesling and 2014 Micro Climate Riesling.
As the signature wine of the Finger Lakes, Riesling is an important part of wine production at Casa Larga. Their Riesling vines are amongst the oldest in the 41-year-old vineyards. Those vines were planted as the first vinifera after late founder Andrew Colaruotolo ripped out his original planting of labrusca vines. Today, Winemaker Matt Cassavaugh continues the winery's commitment to growing top quality fruit in order to create many types of Riesling. With these two new Riesling and another coming soon, Casa Larga will now produce 7 types of Riesling wines.
"It's so exciting to watch the New York State wine industry grow, and to watch our winery grow along with it," says Andrea Colaruotolo-O'Neill, Director of Marketing at Casa Larga. "Riesling is a huge point of pride for New York, a premier wine with worldwide recognition. We enjoy producing all of our wines, but the true art of wine production comes in when you are taking a grape like Riesling and producing a wine from it 7 different ways."
Wild Ferment Riesling is a wine named after its own winemaking process. The wine was allowed to ferment on its own, instead of carefully controlling fermentation to steer the wine toward a particular flavor profile. The result is a deliciously untamed wine.
Working with a nearby, but different, terroir resulted in the Micro Climate Riesling. The micro climate used in this wine is located on part of Seneca Lake known as the "banana belt." Grapes from the Banana Belt are exposed to slightly warmer temperatures and have a bright, ripe fruit character and underlying minerality.
Negative 8 is a blended ice wine made with Vidal Blanc, Riesling and Gewurztraminer grapes frozen naturally on the vine. The wine began as two individual batches of ice wine that were later combined to make the new ice wine. A Gewurztraminer/Riesling field blend makes up 40% of the wine, while the other 60% is a Vidal ice wine fortified with Tree Vodka from Apple Country Spirits.
"Making these wines has been an exciting process," comments Winemaker Matt Cassavaugh. "I really enjoyed experimenting with the wild yeast and letting it run its course on the wine. And collaborating with our neighbors in the Banana Belt and with Apple Country Spirits. The wines we made with each of them have a uniqueness and individuality."
The wines will be available for tasting and purchase in the Fairport wine shop during the April New Wine Release Party. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. April 24-26. An early event for Wine Lover Club Members will be April 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets to the event are $10 per person, which includes samples of a selection of new wines paired with food samples.
2014 Wild Ferment Riesling, $24.99
Grapes selected from Block 2 of our estate vineyard were fermented using only indigenous, wild yeast to ensure expression of our unique terroir. This deliciously untamed wine has aromas of green apple, quince, apricot, gooseberry, lime and slate.
2014 Micro Climate Riesling, $24.99 (limited release, 50 cases)
Aromas of stone fruit, citrus blossom and granny smith apple. This wine carries a lively acidity that is a trademark of the 2014 Finger Lakes vintage.
Negative 8, $59.99
This new ice wine has the aromatic characteristics and intensity of a traditional ice wine as well as many of the characteristics of a port-style wine. It works well as a dessert wine, after dinner wine, aperitif or as part of creative cocktails.
2014 Dry Riesling, $13.99
A food-friendly, cool-climate Finger Lakes Riesling. Smooth and well-balanced with hints of lime and grapefruit.
2014 Medium Dry Riesling, $13.99
A food-friendly, cool-climate, Finger Lakes Riesling with a floral and ripe peach nose.
2014 Vidal Blanc, $11.99
Non-oaked, crisp, light-bodied wine with fragrant floral notes and a citrus finish.
2014 Dry Rose, $11.99
Light-bodied with dark cherry and watermelon characteristics, subtle flavors of tart apples and a soft finish. Once a less popular wine, dry rose is in its peak season when we hit warmer weather.
Chard-Riesling, $13.99
Medium dry and light-bodied, this wine is fruit-forward with hints of citrus and green apples. This wine is a combination of the Finger Lakes signature grape (Riesling) and the Casa Larga family's favorite (Chardonnay).
