9 min read
Earlier this month, a team of Skurnik sales reps tasted their way through the Finger Lakes. The standouts include mind-blowing wines from Standing Stone, Hermann J. Wiemer, Ravines, and Apollo’s Praise, plus some underrated spirits from FLX Distilling. Consider this your guide to the best bottles from the Finger Lakes.
Standing Stone
Standing Stone Vineyards encompasses 50 acres and is run by Fred Merwarth and Oskar Bynke of Hermann J. Wiemer. There are currently eight varieties grown on the property, one of the most notable being the Georgian grape, Saperavi. This site includes some of the oldest vinifera plantings in the region, and the winemakers ensure the use of low–intervention practices in the cellar and in the vineyards with the goal in mind of making delicious, value-priced wines that are true to the Finger Lakes region.
Our Picks from Standing Stone
“Standing Stone was our first stop, and I was immediately a fan. Their Cabernet Sauvignon might be the first one from New York that I actually responded positively to. Being the less traditional half-sibling of Hermann J. Wiemer, we got to try some unreleased experimental bottles like their Pet Nat with notes of honeycomb and savory herbs like thyme and dried lavender. Ultimately, I was most struck by their Saperavis. It’s such an interesting grape with a fun story and a rich history.” Max Lyons
“One hundred percent. I was really impressed with their experimental unreleased offerings, but I liked the Saperavis the most. Whoever had the kooky idea of planting this uncommon Georgian grape here should get a lot of credit because it seems to love the Finger Lakes. The Saperavi ‘Tenturier’ is very rustic, earthy, almost bloody because it’s so iron-y, but balanced with fresh acidity and velvety texture. Unlike any wine I’ve ever tried from New York.” Pat Hanly
“Agreed. As a rare Georgian grape in the US, this could have gone many directions. The Saperavi ‘Tenturier’ was a deceivingly light, juicy, high-toned red on the nose and palate, but with a velvety tannic mouthfeel to give the finish complexity. It reminded me of the floral and animalistic qualities of Lacrima Nera or Lagrein.” Nikita Hopkins
“Absolutely. The Saperavi ‘Tenturier’ was refreshing but still maintained a nice density of red fruit and herbs. The perfect food wine, if you ask me. I also really loved their experimental skin-fermented Riesling. It tasted like raw, waxy honeycomb and dried orange marmalade—playful and rustic, like your grandmother made it in the backyard.” Sarah Quigley
“Saperavi all day. The Dry Rosé ‘Tenturier’ had mild acid, pretty red and pink fruits on the nose, cranberries, and white flowers. This is what I would reach for with charcuterie boards, a strawberries-and-cream type of dessert, or just a park day with friends!” Destiny Villazana
“For me it’s the Brut Rosé of Saperavi ‘Teinturier’ It’s just a wonderful expression of a lesser-known grape, and what better way to wrap your head around something obscure than to make it bubbly? I loved Fred’s anecdote about the facility looking like a crime scene after this grape had been brought in and crushed because Saperavi is one of the rare varieties with pigmented juice. (In Georgian, Saperavi means “paint” or “dye.”) After that, it’s the Cabernet Sauvignon, like Max said, as it was an absolute hit with our team, giving juicy, layered, and complex Cab aromatics without beating you over the head.” Ian Duncan-Brown
“The Saperavi bottlings we tasted, both still and sparkling, were delicious. But the wine that impressed me the most was the Timeline Riesling. These old plantings of Riesling produce such complex and concentrated wines, and this bottling was all of that. It had a great balance of acid and fruit and just a touch of a confectionary note at the finish to keep me wanting more.” Ryan O’Rourke
Hermann J. Wiemer
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard has been a pioneer in viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes since the 1970s, setting a regional benchmark for quality in both their process and their wines. With a focus on agricultural innovation, they emphasize biodiversity, fostering a healthy ecosystem in the vineyard, and adhere to minimal intervention in the winery, resulting in wines that are distinctive to both Hermann J. Wiemer and the Finger Lakes. In 2023, they attained Demeter certification for their 33-acre biodynamic site, underscoring their commitment to sustainability and becoming the first certified winery east of the Rocky Mountains.
Our Picks from HJW
“The Julia Field Study White is super unique. Furmint, Gouais Blanc, Marsanne, Petit Manseng, Petite Arvine, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Roter Veltliner, Rotgipler, Sauvignon Blanc, Silvaner, and Traminer are all packed in here with the expected Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Chardonnay. I didn’t know the Finger Lakes was capable of producing some of these varieties.” Max Lyons
“The Field White and Chardonnay are the two best value wines in the USA book, pound for pound, bar none. For a step up, we love Flower Day. It’s a tightrope walk on the wild side of slightly sweet Riesling.” Ian Duncan-Brown
“I loved this wine before visiting, and I love it even more after. The Flower Day Riesling is everything I love in a white wine—clean, vibrant, well-balanced acidity but with subtle white flower and tropical aromatics. Also, so impressed that this wine is proudly made using biodynamic farming, something very difficult to do in NY, let alone in general. Definitely will be my wine for the rest of the summer.” Pat Hanly
“The 2022 Magdalena Riesling, but especially the 2012, gave the ripe-fruit-balanced-by-crystal-clear-acidity style you’d expect from a good German Riesling. Their biodynamic treatment of the vines all but eliminates the petrol aspect of the 2012, and I could easily see how this age-worthy Reisling will appeal to a broad swath of drinkers—not just Riesling nerds.” Nikita Hopkins
“Magdalena Riesling has that classic garden-hose-Riesling thing going on, which just feels so nostalgic and summery to me. It’s really intriguing to taste these vineyards side by side because they’re so distinctive from each other while being only steps apart. My other favorite here was the 2023 Josef Vineyard Auslese Riesling. Gorgeous velvety texture balanced by electric acidity. Pure and perfect sweet treat!” Sarah Quigley
“The Cabernet Franc classic white label was the wine for me. We tasted a bunch of library wines, barrel samples, and single-vineyard wines, but the Cab Franc was just singing—so fruity and expressive and a wine I want to share with others. There were so many wines that could have overshadowed that wine, but it was so lifted and energetic and just jumped out of the glass. More, please!” Ryan O’Rourke
It’s the Magdalena Cabernet Francs for me. Across all the vintages we tried, the notable spice, perfectly ripe red fruits, and silky texture are what gives FLX Cab Francs the spotlight they deserve. Fruit from the Magdelena vineyard, choosing to only use 25% of whole clusters, paired with Hungarian oak, gives these Cab Francs that bold complexity and keeps the acidity alive to enjoy right away, as soon as possible.” Destiny Villazana
Ravines
Over the last two decades, Ravines has won critical acclaim as a quality-driven winery dedicated to crafting elegant wines with a true sense of place. Today, husband-and-wife duo Morten and Lisa Hallgren produce Dry Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and a Bordeaux Blend, among other bottlings, using Old World winemaking traditions and New World innovation. Their wines are truly alluring in their vibrancy, precision, and minerality—and representative of their unique glacial terroir.
Our Picks from Ravines
“The Brut Methode Classique shows tons of beautiful bottle age (on top of lengthy lees aging), resulting in a deep yellow-gold hue that bespeaks the richness and intensity of the nose and palate. This is the kind of sparkling wine that pushes new boundaries instead of aping Champagne, and with winning results. The Rieslings are deft and expressive, but 16 Falls Dry Riesling is the standout if I must choose. And I’m convinced Maximilien is the most accomplished Bordeaux-style blend from the region. This wine has saved the day on two occasions when I’ve needed a denser, chewier red for my clients.” Ian Duncan-Brown
“Sparkling Riesling! Crispy stone on the nose, a tight bubbly texture to die for, rolling acidity into bright lemon, apple skin, and white flower notes on those first few sips. As the glass went on, it opened into a round and full glass of stone fruit, with a borderline cheesy flavor that was begging to be enjoyed with food.” Destiny Villazana
“I am really excited about the 2024 reds—Cab Franc and Pinot Noir—we tasted from barrel, but the Rieslings were really shining here. It’s hard to pick between the Argetsinger Sparkling Riesling and the 16 Falls Dry Riesling, but I think it was the 16 Falls. It smelled like crushed rocks and stone fruits, and the palate was bright with fresh acid and crispy minerality.” Ryan O’Rourke
“Ravines Argetsinger Vineyard Riesling is cool, steely elegance in a bottle. I would show this to someone who has any doubts about the dynamism of Riesling—clean, floral, and a persistent finish. Lisa was so generous. She passed around a bottle of the unreleased Ravines Flor, which is a Riesling made in the style of Manzanilla sherry, and it absolutely blew my mind! I love how free and creative the winemakers are in the Finger Lakes—taking a risk like this can feel daunting, but it can land you somewhere truly remarkable. I’m now regretting not buying a bottle while I was there… I guess I’ll be going back! Also, shoutout to their miniature donkey, Cotton.” Sarah Quigley
“After tasting the single vineyards side by side and seeing their respective strengths, I felt the core Dry Riesling was just a fantastic blend of those attributes. At 3-4 grams of sugar, this bone-dry Riesling is so much more than an entry-level Riesling.” Nikita Hopkins
“I’ve always been so impressed with their Chardonnay, this time was no different. What makes it so special is its tension—so clean and mineral-driven with just the right amount of weight. Lemony and bright, but it also has the gravitas of a very serious wine. I love the Rieslings and the bubbles, but the Chardonnay is special.” Pat Hanly
Apollo’s Praise
Apollo’s Praise Winery is the passionate endeavor of celebrated Finger Lakes winemakers Kelby James Russell and Julia Rose Hoyle. Production is focused on (but certainly not limited to) Riesling and Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and the first planting of Scheurebe in New York. Together Kelby and Julia are creating dynamic and praise-worthy expressions of single-vineyard and site-specific wines from Seneca Lake that are poised to continue their legacy in the Finger Lakes.
Our Picks from Apollo’s Praise
“Tough call between Lahoma Vineyard Dry Riesling and Kabinett, so I’ll choose both. Outrageous quality to price ratio for both of these wines. The Dry is the idyllic Riesling for me, especially in these summer months—bone dry, ripping acidity, lean, mean, and clean. The Kabinett was probably my standout, as I don’t usually go for off-dry Riesling, but its balance of tropical fruit, pristine acid, and just the right amount of RS makes it addictive.” Pat Hanly
“Same here. In term of value, it’s a tossup between the two—they’re both stunning value, with a killer deep price on 2 cases. I will split the difference and just say that either one is perfect for any given pairing application, but hold a gun to my head and it’s the Kabinett that I’d reach for more—such a judiciously sweet, balanced expression that brings out the best in anything from pork chops to chicken liver pate to soft cheese (and yes, I have test-driven all 3 of those pairings). But the Chardonnay is low-key the closest to my heart. An absolute stunner with a touch of that matchstick reduction we enjoy in the best-of-the-best Bourgogne and Jura, but much more affordable. Ian Duncan-Brown
“I find Kelby and Julia’s wines to be so expressive on the nose and jump right out of the glass, and the 2024 Riesling ‘Kabinett’ was no exception. It was hot and sunny, and this off-dry style was fresh, fruity, vibrant and so refreshing. The lingering acid kept you wanting more.” Ryan O’Rourke
“It was so hot in the vineyard, but their unreleased Grüner Veltliner was the perfect remedy. Also, the Knoll Riesling is a stunning Austrian-style from a prized parcel with such a clear voice.” Nikita Hopkins
“Nearly every wine felt like a highlight at Apollo’s Praise. The crispy cold and green Grüner Veltliner that saved us all from melting in the heat of the vineyard. The Knoll Riesling!? Can I live on The Knoll?? I know it already gets tons of acclaim, but let me add to the chorus: this wine is LIGHTS OUT. I feel really proud to be representing these young winemakers who are honing their craft, year after year.” Sarah Quigley
“The unreleased Lovejoy blend was such a treat in the lineup of everything we tried. This blend of Grüner, Chardonnay, and Riesling gave it some great zest and zing and a full mouthfeel with some limestone and fleshy fruits. Knowing that Kelby and Julia craft their own cuvées under Apollo’s Praise, it was really special to learn that this is a collaboration that they worked on together.” Destiny Villazana
Finger Lakes Distilling
Finger Lakes Distilling is one of the oldest distilleries in New York State. They use all-natural, locally grown fruits and grains to create handcrafted spirits, including vodka, gin, brandy, grappa, liqueur, and their flagship line of McKenzie Whiskeys.
Our Picks from FLX Distilling
“I have long been a fan of McKenzie Bourbon, an enduring classic from my retail days. Priced much lower than its obvious NY state competitors (whom I refuse to name), it outperformed them all. Beyond the entry-level Bourbon, the wheated Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was a clear highlight of our tasting. But the true revelatory moment came when I tried Mac’s Vodka. This corn-based distillate is replete with flavors of vanilla and pistachio, along with a dense, oily texture. When it comes to a vodka-based drink that incorporates chocolate and coffee flavors (we all know the one I mean), a base like this means the difference between flat and luscious. This affordably priced liter is my new go-to in the category.” Ian Duncan-Brown
“I loved the whiskies, but to my surprise (and delight) I really enjoyed Mac’s Vodka too! Super creamy with great pillowy texture, I was really pleasantly surprised!” Pat Hanly
“Yes! Mac’s Vodka had amazing floral notes. Definitely rare to see a vodka with so much character that can carry the weight of the Espresso Martini epidemic and fit the look of any bar so well.” Destiny Villazana
“Yes to all of the above, but I have to say, the McKenzie Bottled in Bond 6 Year Rye is a New York classic. It tastes the way cracked pepper sounds!” Nikita Hopkins
“I was surprised by Mac’s Rum; it had a good amount of molasses funk, which I tend to like. I would love to add a splash of pineapple and some lime wedges to that for a summer refresher.” Ryan O’Rourke
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