Bottling Arty in the dead of a mild winter

Being back in the Finger Lakes for the holidays means a reluctant return to dialup. So this event actually occurred several days ago (the 20th to be exact).

I stopped into the ghost town-like winery the other day to inquire about gainful employment that would fuel a couple more weeks in Boston, but quickly learned that no hours were available. Dammit!

However, several days later, I, along with my friend Brittney were given the chance to bottle--something that I have always enjoyed. These days start at 7:30...am(!) and can last about 7 hours. Bottling is tiring, but I have fun working alongside a different group of people, and doing winery chores.
As a result, there is an increasingly larger part of me that wants to incorporate wine into my career.

We got off to a slow start since the bottling line was being its typical self...broken. I passed the time by sweeping the floor, while Brittney cleaned the garage doors.

Bottling itself was uneventful, and eventually the much anticipated 'lunch wrench' (a sister to the magic stick) was put into place. Brittney and I didn't immediately head down to the tasting room for lunch, but instead opted to taste wine with Peter (the winemaker) and his apprentice, Trish. We tasted the 2006 stainless steel Chardonnay, 2006 Dry Riesling, 2006 Gewürztraminer, 2005 Reserve Cabernet Franc, 2005 Meritage, and the 2006 Cabernet Franc.

Being able to taste wines in different stages of the process, as well as with the winemaker made this my most interesting tasting experience. The Chardonnay was still on lees, so it was very cloudy. The Dry Riesling smelled sweet, and had characteristics of tropical fruit that can best be summarized as tangerine. According to Peter (and I would concur), the finish was orange sherbet.

The 2005 Meritage was the most interesting of them all. Unlike your typical Meritage, it wasn’t in your face, but instead, this wine was so fine-tuned that everyone who drinks it should give Peter Bell a kow-tow! His hard work (and Trish's) was evident in every aspect. I was thoroughly impressed and will surely be purchasing as many bottles as my budget can sustain.

After a half hour of tasting, we had lunch, which was delicious as always.

As I look forward to the new year, I realize that my schedule is going to be hectic (but exciting and full of opportunities)--which means that my days at Fox Run are limited. If 12/20/2006 was my last day as a ‘regular’ employee, I have left satisfied and content. I'm grateful for this opportunity because it has truly been a rewarding experience and the best job that I have had thus far!

Merry Christmas!

In search of the elusive Grape Weasel...

Life as a tasting room employee is never boring. Like a bartender, I meet some interesting people with some unusual stories.

One of the most memorable (and absurd) examples took place this past summer.

In addition to working behind the bar, I also gave tours of the vineyards and wine making facility. It was in this more intimate setting where a guest asked me about the growing concern of grape weasels in the Finger Lakes. He had been told by another winery that this obnoxious little creature could destroy acres of grapes. According to him, little is known about these weasels except for their love of grapes and their ability to be domesticated. Sound absurd?

Although I would consider myself fairly knowledgeable regarding the entire process, this was not something that I was aware of. Putting my sleuth hat on (I own many hats), I investigated further. It turns out that this tale had been told by Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, the local party house notorious for stories about ficticious animals such as the jackalop (jack rabbit-deer mix), and now the grape weasel.

Fox Run's response:

Wanted: Grape Weasels. Dead or Alive. $1 bounty to be paid by Fox Run Vineyards.

Oh how I miss my summers in wine country!

You like what you like

At least once a week I would get demands for a tasting of one of our wines that was recently rated—please don’t let glossy magazines such as Wine Spectator tell you what wines you should like. Just because they received a high rating doesn’t mean that you’ll like them—this is just ridiculous. One size does not fit all; everyone has different tastes, and this is what keeps the wine industry profitable.

My Australia-bound co-worker, a Pinot Noir snob, puts it best with her love for Pinot Evil, a wine that costs only $7.

And then that brings me to Harley owners; those big, bad motorcycle riders . Unlike this stereotype would suggest, whenever HOG rallies would make a stop by the winery, the bestselling wine during their visit was Ruby Vixen, our sweetest blush wine.

Also, you shouldn't let tasting fees for wine affect your perception of their quality. The tasting sheet at Fox Run includes 5 free wines and depending on the time of the year, about 7 additional wines that cost between $0.50 and $2.00 a piece to taste. So many people assume that these are better wines—they aren’t! Instead, they are in low supply and the winery wants to hold on to them as long as possible. I have seen some great wines be featured on the free side...

Free does not equal cheap.

This is going to be the start of a beautiful relationship

Having grown up in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York State, I have enjoyed wine for a number of years—and I’m not even 21 yet! Unlike other beverages, wine has numerous benefits—both for the heart and mind.

Given this, the beverage is something that I feel everyone should appreciate; most importantly for its taste, but also for the role that it has played in the development and evolution of society. Naturally, wine’s intoxicating effects have always been enjoyed by all!

As an employee of Fox Run Vineyards, I have dealt with people who appreciate wine for different reasons. I have also dealt with people who have no knowledge of wine and are trying to find something that interests them. With such a huge selection, I am confident that you will find something you enjoy.

Cheers!