Liking wine so much and being a volunteer for the LIWA (Long Island Wine Ambassador) does have its advantages. Tuesday, August 5, I had the opportunity to help pour some wonderful wines at the seminars and Grand Tasting Reception at the Symposium entitled “The Art of Balance: Cool Climate / Maritime Wines in a Global Context”, conducted at the Stony Brook University Center for Wine, Food, and Culture at the University’s Southampton Campus. Sponsored by the University, Long Island Wine Council (LIWC), and New York Wine and Grape Foundation (Un-Cork NY).
All in all the seminars were very informative, educational, and definitely “global”. The speakers included Alessio Dorigo (owner/winemaker, Dorigo, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Italy); Günter Künstler (owner/winemaker, Weingut Künstler, Rheingau, Germany); Thomas Laszlo (VP winemaking operations, Heron Hill Winery, Finger Lakes, NY); and Katia Alvarez (winemaker, Martin Cödax, Rïas Baixas, Spain).
The date marked the 20 year anniversary of the first groundbreaking symposium of its kind on Long Island, “Maritime Climate Wine Growing; Bringing Bordeaux to Long Island”. Back than they thought that the “flagship” red grape of Long Island would be Merlot, some Long Island winemakers still believe Merlot will be the region’s “flagship” red grape. But who would have thought twenty years later someone would be growing Barbera on Long Island and someone will be producing a Barbera wine?
Salute