Saturday, December 9, 2006
ABC LAW in New York State is not as simple as a-b-c, which is why we have just added a new section on our web site to help people navigate through the maze of complexities. The 1998-2006 New York Winery Handbook Update is a current and comprehensive look at recent changes in the Alcohol Beverage Control law which affect wineries, along with several special sections on specific topics like direct interstate shipment and how to start a winery. The Update was created by Charles Cramton of Cornell law school, our legal counsel who also oversaw the creation of the original Handbook in 1989. While neither the Handbook nor Update should be viewed as definitive legal advice, both were developed in conjunction with legal experts at both the Department of Agriculture & Markets and the State Liquor Authority, which have reviewed and approved the web-based copy. The next step is a “Compliance Seminar” at Viticulture 2007 (February 7-9 in Rochester) involving federal and state regulatory officials along with Charles Cramton. The Update project has also been helpful in identifying areas of the law which need to be changed so the industry can grow and contribute more to the economy of New York State. The Handbook/Update is part of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation’s “social responsibility” program for the grape and wine industry. For more information, visit http://www.newyorkwines.org and go to Information Station/Hot Topics.
LAKE ERIE CONCORD GRAPE BELT was officially designated an official heritage area, and the first-ever agricultural heritage area in New York State, on December 1. The Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt spans New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, with 30,000 acres of vineyards and several large grape juice processors. Legislation for the official designation was sponsored by Senator Catharine Young (Chair, Agriculture Committee) and Assemblyman Bill Parment, and signed recently by Governor George Pataki. For the past few years, the area has been actively promoted by the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association. Concord grapes represent about two-thirds of New York’s total acreage and tonnage, with the vast majority grown in this region and used for non-fermented grape juice. In the very near future, the New York Wine & Grape Foundation will begin a major promotion of the health benefits of Concord grape juice to help boost the Concord growers and processors.
MICHIGAN is another grape state, with both grape juice and wine production, including some of the country’s finest Rieslings. It’s also a leader in lots of ways, with active participation in national organizations like WineAmerica and a close working relationship with their state Department of Agriculture. This week the Michigan Wine & Grape Program unveiled an economic impact study by MKF Research showing over $740 million in annual benefits to the state, along with a resolution from the Department of Agriculture to the entire Michigan Congressional delegation urging federal immigration reform legislation as soon as possible. Linda Jones has done a great job directing the Wine & Grape program, and industry leaders like Dave Braganini (St. Julian Winery), Don Coe (Black Star Farms), and Ed O’Keefe (Chateau Grand Traverse) have kept their state actively involved and highly respected.
CONGRATULATIONS to Jessica Chittenden, the fabulous Director of Communications for the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, for national recognition of her excellence in media relations and public communications. For years, Jessica has done a stellar job conveying the message of New York agriculture, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture recently recognized her talent and dedication with a fitting award. Congratulations also to Art & Joyce Hunt of Hunt Country Vineyards on their recognition by the Pride of New York program for their long participation in the annual Harvest Fest and other Pride activities. On a side note, their daughter Suzanne, with World Watch Institute, has become a nationally recognized speaker on biofuels and global warming.
BEDELL CELLARS continues to rack up all kinds of publicity, including the current edition of American Way magazine (on American Airlines) with an article on “Vintage Art”. The focus is on the art of wine labels, and the lead quote is from Michael Lynne, owner of Bedell Cellars which produces a new blend called “Gallery” with a superb label: “The idea was to reference the connection between winemaking and art as creative endeavors that appeal to the senses and engage the individual.” Other recent mentions of Bedell have appeared in Fortune, Out, Edible East End, Elements, The New Yorker, East Hampton Star, Distinction, HamptonStyle, Dan’s Papers, New York Times and Newsday.
LIFESTYLE has often been considered a “confounding” factor in scientific and medical studies on wine consumption and health: Are moderate wine consumers generally healthier because they consume wine, or because they generally have healthier lifestyles than others? Finally, an important study seems to have an answer: It’s the wine. The study examined a population that had only healthy lifestyles, with results indicating that those who consumed wine were healthier than abstainers. The study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that even among very “healthy” men, those consuming 1 to 2 drinks per day had 62% lower risk of heart attack than people with the same healthy lifestyle who did not consume any alcohol. The results refute the common idea that less heart disease among drinkers is due to the lifestyle factors rather than their alcohol consumption. Cheers!
“For most adults, encouraging a glass of wine with dinner every evening may be the best advice a physician can give.”
--Dr. R. Curtis Ellison
A Votre Santé To Your Health
Jim Trezise
JimTrezise@nywgf.org, email
http://www.newyorkwines.org/, web