By Blake Jackson
Although New York is often described as an “emerging wine region,” the state’s wine industry is deeply rooted in history, innovation, and scientific advancement. Long before modern acclaim, New York was already a national leader in wine production.
Following Prohibition, the state rebounded quickly, and by the 1940s, it produced more wine than any state except California, while also leading research and technical support through what is now Cornell University.
Today, New York ranks second nationally in wine production, with nearly 30,000 vineyard acres, 11 AVAs, and more than 470 wineries. Many of those producers are building on historical foundations while shaping the future of the state’s wine identity.
At Wölffer Estate Vineyard on Long Island, winemaker Roman Roth credits understanding local terroir as a turning point. “In 2000, we created the first $100 Merlot on the East Coast from our oldest Merlot plantings from 1990,” says Roth. That realization helped elevate Wölffer’s red wines and later helped spark the success of its iconic rosé.
“This bottle created a firestorm and has become an iconic cult wine in the U.S.,” Roth says of Summer in a Bottle Rosé. Looking ahead, Roth believes, “In the future, New York restaurants will proudly feature 10, 15, or 30 New York wines and have special local menu items.”
In the Finger Lakes, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery continues the legacy of its founder, who proved vinifera grapes could thrive in New York. “At a time when most producers relied on native and hybrid grapes for sweet wines, he introduced the practice of grafting cold-hardy, phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks with cold-tolerant European varieties,” says Meaghan Frank. She adds, “The next decade will be one of refinement and collaboration at a time when New York’s distinctive voice in the global wine conversation rings clearer than ever.”
Innovation also defines Martin Family Wineries. “They took a weird path to winemaking,” says winemaker Phil Plummer. That experimental spirit continues today. “We’re revisiting a lot of the stuff that made New York have a wine industry in the first place,” he explains.
Newer wineries like Apollo’s Praise reflect that same blend of heritage and creativity. Co-owner Kelby Russell says, “The Knoll, our prestige cuvèe dry Riesling, is our showpiece Riesling.” Across generations, New York wine continues to honor its past while confidently shaping its future.
Photo Credit: istock-jhvephoto
Categories: New York, General