Keuka Lake Vineyards

New York
USA
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Keuka Lake Vineyards

New York
USA
USA
PRODUCER
Mel Goldman
ESTABLISHED
1997
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
REGION
New York
USA
CITY / VILLAGE
CLIMATE
Continental
ELEVATION
SIZE

About

Keuka Lake Vineyards, owned by Mel Goldman, is a small estate winery that has earned a reputation as one of the elite producers in the Finger Lakes since Goldman started KLV in 1997. The estate controlled vineyards are situated on the southern slopes of Keuka Lake, the Y-shaped crooked lake, in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Keuka Lake Vineyards farms 53 acres of vines but cherry picks 20 acres for their own wines and sells the rest to neighboring wineries. Keuka Lake Vineyard’s focus is on their four distinct single vineyard bottlings of dry Riesling, but they also produce a benchmark example of Vignoles as well as Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Leon Millot. While KLV’s efforts are essential, it is the depth and size of the Finger Lakes that makes grape growing in the climate of New York State even possible. The summer heat retained by the lakes lengthens the growing season and acts to moderate the extreme cold temperatures of the vineyards in the winter. Come spring, the now frigid waters moderate the warming air temperatures, delaying bud break and lowering the risk of damage by frost. It is the interaction of this temperate climate with the soil and topography of the land surrounding Keuka Lake that gives these vineyard sites their unique terroir. The glacial till topsoils (mixture of glacially laid rocks, sand, silt, and clay) deposited on the lower slopes above Keuka Lake provide for the water drainage that is essential for vine balance and health. The subsoils are predominantly shale, which lends a distinct mineral edge to the wines. The slopes themselves allow crucial cold air drainage during the winter and maximize sun exposure over the growing season.

Products

Cabernet Franc

TYPE
Still / Red
VARIETAL
Cabernet Franc
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. This Cabernet Franc is sourced from Overlook Farms on the western slopes of Seneca Lake and is a site that consistently provides high-quality fruit every year. Fermented in small 1-ton bins at low temp with the cap punched down by hand twice daily to achieve gentle extraction of flavor and tannin. Aged in neutral French oak for 9 months then bottled with no fining. Approx annual production: 250-350 cs.

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Dry Riesling Estate

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Riesling
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. 100% Riesling grown on steep slopes of of Keuka Lake on rocky, glacial till soils with a shale bedrock. A blend of Eastside and Goldman Vineyards. Slow cold fermentation in stainless steel. Aged in steel and naturally cold-stabilized by cold winter weather. Approx annual production: 250-400 cs produced.

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Dry Riesling Eastside Vineyard

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Riesling
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. Sourced from a 5.5 acre, west-facing single vineyard on the steep slopes of Keuka Lake, this is KLV's only vineyard on Keuka Lake's eastern side which receives the more intense afternoon sunshine. Glacial till soils. Eastside has the best airflow of all KLV's single vineyards. Fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures over 5 weeks. 2.95 pH, 7.5 g/L TA, 0.4% RS. 212 cs produced.

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Dry Riesling Evergreen Lek Vineyard

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Riesling
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. 100% Riesling. Located on the western side of Keuka Lake, the Evergreen Lek Vineyard is just under 2 acres and was planted in 1999. Steep slopes with rocky topsoils (glacial till) and a shale subsoil. Hand-harvested. Racked after 2 day cold settling into stainless steel. Fermented over 4 weeks at 64 degrees. Aged in steel for 7 months. Unfined. 211 cs produced

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Semi-Dry Riesling Estate Finger Lakes

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Riesling
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. 100% Riesling grown on steep slopes of of Keuka Lake on rocky, glacial till soils with a shale bedrock. Avg altitude of approx 350 meters. 53% Overlook, 28% Goldman, 15% 20 Rows, 4% Lower Eastside. Each vineyard is harvested and vinified separately. Slow, cold fermentation in stainless steel for for approx 25 days. Aged in steel and naturally cold-stabilized by cold winter weather. Approx annual production: 350-550 cs produced.

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Vignoles

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Vignoles
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. Vignoles, a highly aromatic grape made by crossing two little-known grapes, Seibel and Pinot de Corton, has become associated with the Finger Lakes, a region where it thrives. Grown in KLV's estate vineyards along with their neighbor, Bedient Vineyards. Rocky, gravel soils known as glacial till. Cool, slow fermentation with native yeast in stainless steel over 4 months and naturally cold stabilized. 3.18 pH, 11.1 g/L TA, 1.3% R.S. 452 cs produced.

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Skin-Fermented Vignoles

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Vignoles
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. 100% Vignoles. Sourced from Garden Vineyard and Silvernail Vineyard on the eastern side of Keuka Lake. Grapes from both vineyards were hand-harvested and destemmed/crushed. After 10 days of fermentation on the skins, the juice was pressed into stainless steel tank for 6 weeks. Racked into 2 barrels, one barrel put through malolactic fermentation and one was left with higher acidity. After 7 months barrel aging with lees stirring, the barrels were blended for bottling. No Fining. 66 cs produced

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Vignoles Methode Ancestrale

TYPE
Sparkling / White
VARIETAL
Vignoles
FARMING PRACTICE
Sustainable
DETAILS

Sustainable. Off-dry sparkling wine full of tropical aromas. Produced with 100% estate grown Vignoles from the eastside of their property – specifically Turkey Run, Silvernail, and Garden. The wine is bright and flavorful, with citrus and tropical aromas. Limited production.

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