Tasting wine at Decanter’s London Fine Wine Experience.
America’s most established eastern wine region demonstrated its mastery and appeal in London, displaying what it does best with a selection of Riesling, while at the same time giving attendees a sense of the state’s range and versatility.
While much of the wine world is focused on the US West Coast, the wines of New York have found London and the UK to be vibrant markets. The crowded stand at the London Fine Wine Encounter and the enthusiasm heard by those tasting the wines showed an understanding and appreciation for a climate and place that is undoubtedly cool.
There was a diverse range of wines to discover at the New York Wines stand at Decanter’s London Fine Wine Experience. Credit: Ellen Richardson Photography.
Riesling is the reason
While Riesling may have brought people to the table, wine lovers discovered that alongside the variety that put New York State on the map, there was a diversity of places and wines to discover, offering something for everyone.
The myriad of Rieslings on the table was not a surprise, but the versatility of styles told a story of both the region’s history and a sense of the future. The four Rieslings included wines from the country’s founding winery for the variety, Dr Konstantin Frank, the stalwart top-tier Hermann J. Wiemer, and perhaps New York’s most exciting new brand, Apollo’s Praise.
Apollo’s Praise winemaker and co-owner Kelby James Russell found an eager audience in London. ‘As the event rolled along, word was clearly spreading to other guests, and we kept getting busier and busier,’ said Russell. ‘When do you ever hear people come up to a stand and unprompted ask to try the Rieslings because they have heard so much about them? That was new for me’.
A packed house at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone enjoyed wines from New York State. Credit: Ellen Richardson Photography.
Tremendous variety
Sparkling wines, Cabernet Franc, and an alluring Ramato from Long Island producer Channing Daughters also impressed the London wine cognoscenti. A packed house at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone took particular note of the wines from the Empire State.
‘The diversity on the stand impressed our visitors,’ Russell noted. ‘From sparkling to Ramato to the distinct New York expression of Cabernet Franc, across eight wines, we had something for any consumer and something that positively impressed them.’
‘In London, we find trade and consumers with a fresh perspective and eager tastebuds. We see a market that is consistently impressed by our wines, the European leaning of our styles, and the competitiveness of our price points in the midrange and up. New York wines are more than a curiosity in the UK, and as our exports mature, I think they are destined to be more than a niche,’ Russell concluded.
Wines tasted at the Decanter London Fine Wine Encounter 2024
Empire Estate, Brut Rosé, Finger Lakes, New York State NV
Stockist:Good Wine Good People
Bright and delightful, the Empire Estate Brut Rosé offers a generosity of sweet cherry blossom aromatics with classic notes of bright citrus. The wine blends 95% Riesling with 5% Pinot Noir for colour. On the palate, we see red bramble fruits, piquant blood orange zest, and a dash of stony minerality to finish.
Apollo’s Praise, Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York 2023
Stockists:Divine Cellars and Handford Wines
The inaugural vintage of Apollo’s Praise, the lauded and much-anticipated release from winemakers Julia Hoyle and Kelby James Russell, is made with estate fruit from the well-regarded Lahoma Vineyard in the Finger Lakes. This Dry Riesling shows citrus pith and fresh thyme alongside a saline tone of ocean air. The palate shows a generosity of spirit, with candied peaches, lemon curd and a hint of honeyed ginger buoyed by the fresh, stony mineral finish.
Hermann J. Wiemer, HJW Bio Riesling, Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York 2020
Stockist: Wanderlust Wines…
Source : https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/sponsored/new-york-wines-at-decanters-london-fine-wine-encounter-2024-544693/
