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Forget France, Italy, Washington and California. This year, New York is on top.
Last week, Wine Enthusiast magazine named New York State “Wine Region of the Year,” citing quality of wine, industry growth and a vastly improved business climate. The award will be presented during the Wine Star Awards gala dinner on January 26 at the New York Public Library, according to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s office.
“The New York wine industry has made a remarkable comeback in the past 30 years, in terms of the quality of wines, number of wineries and economic impact,” Adam Strum, publisher and editor of Wine Enthusiast, said in a press release last week. “All of those positive indicators have accelerated tremendously during the past four years, making New York State one of the most vibrant and promising wine regions in the world.”
The third-largest wine- and grape-producing state in the nation, New York boasts 37,000 acres of vineyards and more than 375 wineries in 56 counties. The industry has a $4.8 billion economic impact and attracts 5.3 million tourists annually to the state. Last year, New York wineries won more than 700 gold medals at competitions across the world—the most medals earned, in one year, in the state’s history.
“From a riesling in the Finger Lakes to a sauvignon blanc or merlot on Long Island, New York produces some of the best wines in the world,” Mr. Cuomo said in the release. “We’ve worked extremely hard over the past four years to partner with all sectors of our craft beverage industry to roll back archaic regulations, raise awareness of our vineyards and to be actual partners in the industry’s success. I congratulate all the dedicated New Yorkers who work in the wine industry on this substantial accomplishment.”
on Nov 3, 2014