The Atwater Times - April 2020
Missing wine country?
Be sure to tune in to our LIVE webcam and visit us from the comfort of your home!
In the Vineyard
Farming does not stop for anything, and we are grateful that we have been designated an "essential” business. In the vineyards, we are well acquainted with social distancing. It is often a solitary job, and even when there are a few of us working, we have a good amount of space between us—we are staying very safe!
Currently, we are working on tying the vines to the "fruit wires.” The wires will carry the weight of the fruit as the grapes ripen. We are also in the process of converting some varieties to "improved" trellis systems, which can make tying a bit challenging. When vines are trained a certain way for a long time, it can be difficult to retrain them. We will get them straightened out with a little time and effort.
READ MORE ABOUT VINE TRELLIS SYSTEMS IN OUR BLOG
On a side note, it’s been fun having help from winemaker Vinny during the past few weeks. He is getting back to his roots! We’ve been discussing our hopes and dreams for the vintage in depth which is always fun and productive.
Wine Cellar Updates
In March, Vinny and George topped the barrels, and now the wine is aging before bottling begins in the summer.
Because wine barrels are porous, the liquid evaporates over time and creates “headspace” which increases the surface area of the wine and makes it vulnerable to oxidation. Topping the barrels replaces the evaporated wine, limiting oxygen contact and inhibiting microbial growth. The winemakers top the barrels with wine held back earlier in the winemaking process.
Pinot Noir 2017
New Release
We destemmed 80% of the hand-picked and hand-sorted pinot noir grapes while leaving 20% in whole clusters. They underwent an eight-day fermentation in open-top bins. The wine was then transferred to neutral French oak barrels where it aged nine months. Its resulting deep ruby red color entices you to inhale aromas of violet, spice and cherry cola. Flavors of juicy ripe cherry and cranberry meld into velvety tannins on the finish.
Pétillant Naturel 2019
New Release
Hand-harvested, estate grown Riesling and Gewürztraminer were whole-cluster pressed together in our wood basket press and fermented using a pied de cuve of indigenous yeasts. At 1.4 brix, the wine was bottled unfiltered and allowed to finish fermentation for carbonation. No sulfur was added and the wine has been left on its lees. Light, natural, and fizzy, it has a refreshing, spontaneous style.
From the Tasting Room
Although we are closed for tastings, we’re still busy preparing orders for pickup, local delivery, and shipping, and our tasting room has been converted to a mini warehouse. We are also now able to ship to Arizona and North Carolina!
Ground Shipping
Our $10 per case ground shipping special lasts through the end of April. Quantity and club discounts apply.
Curbside Pick-up
Order online and choose the "Pickup" option at checkout. When you arrive, park in the marked space and call (607) 546-8463 to let us know you’ve arrived. We'll bring your wine out to you and load it in your vehicle.
Local Delivery
Order wine by noon Monday through Friday for same-day local delivery. Call us at (607) 546-8463 or place an order online and select the "Local Delivery" shipping option. There is a six bottle minimum and a twenty-five-mile radius delivery limit.
Staff Updates
Many of our staff members were out of the area—and Matteo was even out of the country—when the President issued social distancing guidelines. All are healthy, but they’re sheltering in place for the time being. Other employees are staggering shifts and telecommuting to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Some employees working from home have gained new co-workers: four-legged furry friends who don’t necessarily respect office etiquette during video conference calls!
Lily had a prime spot on Aimee’s lap for the Seneca Lake Wine Trail marketing teleconference.
We’ll be bringing you updates on our social media channels about how our staff is weathering the stay-at-home order.
Amanda’s new co-worker, Storm, got tired of watching from the sidelines and decided to take over while Bali was upset her favorite break spot in the sun was occupied.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check out our Events Calendar for the latest events at and around Atwater Vineyards.
Apr 18, 2020 at 7:36 AM
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The Atwater Times - March 2020
Be sure to tune in to our LIVE webcam to watch March transition from a lion to a lamb.
IN THE VINEYARDS
We’ve passed the time of year when we expect to get our major cold events and have not seen significant bud damage, so we decided to push through and finish pruning the vineyards. Now we hope we don’t have a frost event after the vines have started to grow in the spring!
With pruning done, we’ve returned to trellis work to get things ready for tying. We’re repairing posts and wires now so that we can then tighten the wires. The canes left after pruning will be wrapped around the wires for support. The wires need to be tight so that they can support the weight of the fruit as the vines grow.
WINE CELLAR UPDATES
Our winemakers have been undertaking blending trials of skin-fermented, barrel-aged Vignoles 2016, Riesling 2016, and Gewürztraminer 2017. Vinny and George are also preparing to bottle our 2019 Vignoles and Stone Bridge White at the end of March.
New Release
Fahrenheit 2016
Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were handpicked and frozen for three weeks then whole-clustered pressed, cold-settled, racked and fermented in stainless steel. After fermentation was stopped, the wine was aged in stainless steel tanks. The wine has aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries, and orange marmalade, intriguing flavors of apricot, honey, allspice, and strawberry jam, and a delightful silky texture.
FROM THE TASTING ROOM
We've rearranged our tasting room to give you more room to sit and enjoy our wines. Please join us for a tasting and see our new look!
Spring holidays are on the horizon, and we will be posting wine cocktail recipes Amanda developed for you to use for brunches and other special events. Our first featured drink is the MoonWalk. Check out our social media in the upcoming weeks for more delicious cocktails.
MoonWalk
Combine:
1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
1 oz. orange liqueur
3 drops rose water
Shake with ice
Top with Sparking Gewürztraminer 2013
CLUB HOUSE
Our annual Wine Club Party will be held on June 13th from 5:00 until sunset. Enjoy hayride tours throughout the vineyards, vertical wine tastings with the winemakers, great music with Aaron Lipp & the Slacktones, catered hors d'oeuvres with a full buffet dinner and delectable desserts. Close the evening by watching the sun set over the vineyards and Seneca Lake. Get your tickets here.
Mar 15, 2020 at 9:04 AM
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The Atwater Times - February 2020
Be sure to tune in to our LIVE webcam to watch the winter weather.
Our vineyard is covered in snow from recent storms, but Punxsutawney Phil predicts we only have six more weeks of winter.
IN THE VINEYARD
Now that we are in the heart of winter, the vineyard staff’s primary activity has been pruning. Although only about a quarter of the way through the vineyards, they are starting to pick up the pace since we will turn the corner toward spring very soon.
It is also a good time to prepare for the upcoming season by doing equipment maintenance and repairs since we don’t use our tractors and equipment as much use this time of year. In the heat of the growing season, it is important to have everything running properly so that we don’t have a breakdown at a critical stage.
WINE CELLAR UPDATES
The 2019 rosés are officially on deck for the first bottling run of 2020 season.
We sent all the rosés through their initial filtration to help clarify and aerate the wine, delivered samples for lab analysis to check the chemistry, and finally ran cold stability trials to ensure their integrity.
If all goes according to plan we should have what is shaping up to be an excellent batch of rosés coming this spring.
FROM THE TASTING ROOM
New Release
2018 Cabernet Franc
Our Cabernet Franc underwent 61% spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tank, 39% fermentation in open top bin and was aged nine months in neutral French oak barrels.
Its grapes produce delicate flavors of red cherry, raspberries, and sweet tobacco.
THE VINEYARD TABLE
We are pleased to announce dates for our greatly anticipated Vineyard Table dinners.
Experience fine dining prepared table-side by acclaimed local chefs Giulietta Racciatti and Rune Hilt of Red Dove Tavern while nestled in Atwater’s beautiful vineyards overlooking Seneca Lake. Giulietta and Rune craft menus that focus on local and seasonal ingredients and are thoughtfully paired with Atwater wines. Meet our winemakers, learn about the chefs and the passion they bring to their craft, and enjoy lively conversation with friends.
Space is limited to 22 guests, so book your experience early to guarantee a spot. Club members receive $10 off per ticket (limit 2).
PURCHASE VINEYARD TABLE TICKETS NOW
SHIPPING NEWS
We are pleased to announce that we are now able to ship orders to customers in Arizona!
CLUB HOUSE
FEBRUARY PICK-UP PARTY
Thank you to our Wine Club members who came out for the first pick-up party of 2020! From our cozy tasting room, we watched the snow hide Seneca Lake while tasting an array of wines including pre-releases and library wines and enjoying small bites. George brought winemaking equipment and barrel samples from the cellar for show-and-tell. Our next wine club shipment and party is in May.
ANNUAL WINE CLUB PARTY
Save the Date: June 13th
Our annual Wine Club Party will be held on June 13th from 5:00 until sunset. Enjoy hayride tours throughout the vineyards, vertical wine tastings with the winemakers, great music with Aaron Lipp & the Slacktones, catered hors d'oeuvres with a full buffet dinner and delectable desserts. Close the evening by watching the sun set over the vineyards and Seneca Lake.
If you are not yet a member, please join our wine-loving community! Visit our website for more details.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check out our Events Calendar for the latest events at and around Atwater Vineyards.
Feb 17, 2020 at 3:46 PM
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The Atwater Times - January 2020
Be sure to tune in to our LIVE webcam to watch the winter weather.
2020 marks Atwater’s 20th anniversary.
We are excited to meet this milestone and hope you will join us in celebrating throughout the year.
IN THE VINEYARD
On cold days, we've begun pruning our hardier varieties which is ideal since we can bundle up and stay warm. Each vine is pruned by hand so that we can assess how it is doing. Proper pruning is the foundation for managing the growth, crop load, and health of our vines. On January 31, we will be participating in the second annual Felco East Pruning Competition at Anthony Road Winery for a friendly test of our pruning skills.
Warmer weather during December and January, however, has allowed us to keep doing trellis work, which we need to have more dexterity (i.e., thinner gloves) for. It has also been wet, which makes it hard to get tractors into the vineyard. Even so, we’ve already gotten much more tractor work in than average for this time of year.
IN THE WINERY
The winemakers are closing in on most of the major blending decisions for the 2019 whites and rosés, with only a few more adjustments as we head toward the bottling season. In the barrel room, our reds are just finishing up malolactic fermentation and will soon be ready for their winter hibernation. With the benefit of time, we can report with more confidence that the wine quality of last fall’s vintage appears quite strong across the board.
FROM THE TASTING ROOM
Cheese Plates and Charcuterie Boards
Cheese plates and charcuterie boards are available throughout the winter and are perfect to enjoy with a glass of wine or with one of our tantalizing wine cocktails in our cozy tasting room overlooking the sleeping vineyards.
SLWT Bargain Bash
Held January 11-20 after the busy holiday, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail’s Bargain Bash is an inventory reduction and clearance sale with many wineries providing discounts on wine and a variety of retail items. It is free to attend and no tickets are required. We will be offering can’t-miss deals such as:
Dry Rosé of Blaufränkisch 2017: $7 per bottle
Atwater White: $6.50 per bottle
Finger Lakes Wine Glasses (Set of 12): $35 normally $70
Available in tasting room only while supplies last. No additional discounts apply.
SLWT Global Eats and Local Wine
International flavor comes to Seneca Lake during the Global Eats and Local Wine event! Enjoy a tour around Seneca Lake while exploring the unique, delicious pairings of Seneca Lake wines with foods from a variety of nations and cultures at twenty-one participating Seneca Lake Wine Trail wineries. At Atwater, we are pairing Apple Butter Rugelach, a taste of Poland, with our Riesling 2015. Tickets, available through the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, are $40 per person, $20 for designated drivers.
SLWT Wine Weekday Passports
Seneca Lake Wine Trail Wine Weekday Passports are available in our tasting room or through the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Good through June 30, 2020, these passports allow one guest a tasting at each of fifteen participating wineries and are valid Monday through Friday during regular business hours. They can be used in a single week or over the course of several and provide a convenient way to enjoy many of the wineries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check out our Events Calendar for the latest events at and around Atwater Vineyards.
Jan 15, 2020 at 11:11 AM
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