|
Geneva, NY - Winestock NY has always meant a fun afternoon of wine, music and education, but this year, for the event's fifth anniversary, the organizing committee has really raised the bar by adding three educational seminars.  Coined "Winestock NY Academy," the three seminars are meant to give attendees a deeper understanding and appreciation of wine, beer and local foods. Each seminar will run 45 minutes, with a half hour class, followed by a 15-minute tasting. The three seminars are "An Introduction to Winemaking and Wine Tasting," "Eat Local, Drink Local" and "Hop, Hop, Hops." "An Introduction to Winemaking and Wine Tasting" will explain wine basics from why wine is best made from grapes to the effect of terroir on the grapes. It will then go into the history of New York wines and how they compete in today's economy. The seminar will end with a wine tasting, complete with a crash course on proper wine tasting techniques. "Eat Local, Drink Local" will introduce participants to the art of wine and food pairing. It will show attendees how to taste wine with their mouth and nose, then go over pairing guidelines and how to pair local foods with local wines, again hailing back to the principles of terroir. The seminar will end with a few wine and local food pairings, putting the principles into practice. "Hop, Hop, Hops" will introduce attendees to Finger Lakes beers and the farmers behind them. The class will review beer basics including what goes into beer and the brewing process. It will then explore the history of beer and brewing before narrowing in on US beers, and specifically New York beers. The seminar will conclude with a beer tasting. The seminars will be led by Laure Missick and Evan Miles. Missick was born and raised in Toulouse, Southern France. While finishing her Masters at the University of Toulouse, Laure interned for Bordeaux Bio Vignerons d'Aquitaine in the Bordeaux region. In the US, she worked for a wine importer in Southern California specializing in small French and Italian producers. She then relocated to the Finger Lakes with her husband Chris, and now helps him at his family-owned winery, Villa Bellangelo. The winery is on the west side of Seneca Lake and is known for their distinct wines, which blend traditional European with modern American winemaking methods. Evan Miles is the third-generation winemaker, viticulturist and now brewer at his family's estate winery Miles Wine Cellars and Miles Vineyards. Evan has also started Miles Craft Ales. Before college, he learned the business at local Finger Lakes wineries including Anthony Road Wine Company, Fox Run Vineyards, and of course his family's winery and vineyards. He studied at Brock University, The University of Western Ontario where he worked at many Southern Ontario wineries and a brewery, and then Niagara College where he began teaching after graduating from there. He came back to the US as a winery and brewery consultant before returning to his family's estate winery and vineyards. Miles Wine Cellars, Miles Vineyards, and Miles Craft Ales are located on the west side of Seneca Lake and are known for their awarding-winning reds and whites, and now their craft beers. The seminars are limited to 40 attendees each to allow for more personalized learning experience.  Says Bill Lutz, owner of Waterloo Container, a major sponsor of Winestock NY 2014, "Winestock NY aligns completely with our goals of education and information. We are proud to be able to lend a hand in supporting not only this event, but the New York Wine Industry Association." Waterloo Container is the top supplier of bottles, corks and closures to wineries in New York, nationally and internationally. Beyond supplying product, they take on an educational role with the wineries, helping them with day-to-day winery management issues as well as long-term business goals. They will have a special industry-focused area at the event where wineries can go for business education and information, and consumers, for wine education. The seminars cost $10 each and tickets are available in advance at or at the door, on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets for the seminar and Winestock NY 2014 are available online at www.winestockny.org.  Winestock NY 2014 is the annual fundraiser for the  New York Wine Industry Association (NYWIA), and will take place in the vineyards of Three Brothers Wineries and Estates on Saturday, June 28 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. |
Â
|
# # #  About Winestock NY 2014: Winestock NY is an annual fundraising event thrown by a group of passionate New York wineries to benefit NYWIA (NY Wine Industry Association) and its mission to promote the stability and advancement of the wine industry in New York through advocacy and public education. The festivities, hosted in the scenic vineyards of Three Brothers Wineries and Estates overlooking Seneca Lake, are an open invitation to the public to come share in an afternoon of "Peace, Love and Wine Understanding." 2014 marks the event's fifth anniversary, and will take place from 12:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday, June 28. New this year is three educational seminars, in keeping with the Association's goal of education. In addition, there will be two stages of live music, 18 plus NYS wineries sampling and selling in the Wine Tents, and local foods and artisans. Tickets are $15 each in advance, and will be available through www.winestockny.org, or $25 at the door. |
