New York has one of the most comprehensive wine industries in the United States.
New York’s expansive wine-making industry is a point of pride for the Empire State, and the state ranks as the third-largest producer of wine in the U.S. New York has become well known for white wines like Riesling and Chardonnay, as well as reds like Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.
At one time, New York was not just a source of wine but also a major contributor to America’s brewing game: post-Prohibition, New York City produced more beer than any city except Milwaukee. While it can no longer claim this title, small breweries have been making an impact on the craft beer scene in recent years.
New York is also helping to shape America’s broader spirits culture by producing many notable whiskeys both inside and outside of its famous metropolis.
New York produces more than 40% of America’s wine
- New York State is the third largest wine-producing state, and makes more than 40% of all American wine.
- The majority of New York’s wines are made from Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Merlot grapes.
- While the Finger Lakes region is notably famous for its Riesling and other spectacular white wines grown mainly in the Seneca Lake area, you’ll find plenty of Pinot Noir in the Northern part of Cayuga Lake.
New York is home to some of America’s most well-known wines, including Riesling and Pinot Noir
If you are interested in finding out what New York wine is all about, then this article is for you. There are many great wines available in New York, so we have come up with a list of the best places to start your journey into this world of wine. We will also give some tips on how to find the best wines for your budget and taste preferences.
New York is home to some of America’s most well-known wines, including Riesling and Pinot Noir. These two varietals are grown throughout the state, but there are still many other types of grapes that can be found here as well. The Finger Lakes region produces a wide range of wines from these different grape varietals that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. The Hudson Valley produces some fantastic reds such as Cabernet Franc and Syrah while also offering white varieties like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris.
New York isn’t just known for wine, though, it’s also known for beer and spirits.
While it’s pretty well-known that New York is a great place to visit if you’re into wine, what might surprise you is that it’s also the perfect state for beer and spirits.
Beer is made by fermenting various ingredients, like hops and barley. The drink has been around in one form or another since ancient times, when civilizations in the Middle East learned they could turn their grain into alcohol. Today, there are a wide variety of beers from around the world that use different kinds of ingredients and fermentation processes.
Spirits are distilled grains or fruits, like apples, peaches or grapes. You may have tried some already—vodka comes from fermented potatoes, whiskey from corn mash and rum from fermented molasses. While beer and wines can be vinted on a small scale at home by individuals with the right equipment, distilling spirits at home isn’t currently legal in most states (although some states allow noncommercial home distilling).
Today you can find beer and spirits together at many bars and restaurants across New York State — as well as breweries who make both products!
Other than grape grapes, grapes are also grown in New York.
The majority of the grape production in New York comes from grapes grown for “table consumption” — as in, they’re eaten off the vine, by us. The most prevalent of these are Concord grapes, which aren’t actually a type of grape at all. They’re a hybrid with American heritage (not French!), created by a farmer named Ephraim Wales Bull who made them so palatable that they became an instant hit. They’re the grapes used in Welch’s jelly and juice, and if you live on or near the East Coast, you can get them fresh at a local farmers market through late September.
We also have Niagara grapes and Catawba grapes, both also popular for table consumption but sometimes used for wine too — just not as often as vinifera varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which we’ll get to next!
The Long Island wine region is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of red wine grape. It is a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes were originally known as Petite Vidure, but were renamed in the 18th century by the French botanist François Frédéric Esprit de la Live de Bosc, who after tasting the wine noticed that it resembled Cabernet Franc but was different enough to warrant its own name.
Wine regions of the United States: New York State
The Long Island wine region is well known for producing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines.
New York is home to three American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), including the Finger Lakes AVA, Hudson River Valley AVA and the North Country AVA.
New York is home to three American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), including the Finger Lakes AVA, Hudson River Valley AVA and the North Country AVA. AVAs are not only important for winemaking, but also for defining wine styles, terroir and history. For example: In 2015, Long Island Wine Country was granted its own AVA by the federal government—the first new one in New York State since 2001. The addition of this AVA validated years of research into the unique wines that come from Long Island. The region is known particularly for its Bordeaux varieties—merlot, sauvignon blanc and cabernet franc. The area’s maritime climate and sandy soil match those found in Bordeaux’s Pessac-Léognan appellation in France, hence the similarities between the two regions’ wines.”
This section includes information about America’s best-known regions for wine.
This section includes information about America’s best-known regions for wine. It also includes information about the most famous wines in New York, and famous people who have lived in New York.