"June is a time when the vineyardist thins and trains shoots, which seem to grow inches a day. During thinning and training one learns intimately about the personality of the grapevine. It is a strange creature, and one can see why in ancient Greece and Rome it represented the cycles of life. The bark on the main trunk tends to be cracked and crumpled, hanging in threads in some places, and reminiscent of a withered old man. It's not pretty to look at. But the vine comes to life in the smooth brown canes that were young growth the year before, and then in the tender, rubbery green shoots of the current season."

In 1998, Gary and Rosemary Barletta purchased seven acres of land on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. Descending to the west from the state route that runs along on the ridge overlooking the lake, the land was fertile, rich with shalestone and limestone bedrock, and exposed to moderating air currents from the lake. It was the perfect place to establish a vineyard, and the Barlettas immediately began to plant their vines and build the winery about which they had dreamed for years.

The Barlettas' story, as John C. Hartsock tells it, is a window onto the world of contemporary craft winemaking, from the harsh realities of business plans, vineyard pests, and brutal weather to the excitement of producing the first vintage, greeting enthusiastic visitors on a vineyard tour, and winning a gold medal from the American Wine Society for a Cabernet Franc. Above all, Seasons of a Finger Lakes Winery describes the connection forged among the vintner, the vine, and terroir. This ancient bond, when tended across the cycle of seasons, results in excellent wines and the satisfaction, on the part of the winemaker and the wine enthusiast, of tasting a perfect harvest in a single glass.

Today, Long Point Winery sits on seventy-two acres (eight of which are under cultivation with vinifera grapes) and produces sixteen varieties of wine, a number of which are estate wines made from grapes grown on their property. With interest in winemaking continuing to grow, the Barlettas' experience of making award-winning wines offers both practical advice for anyone running (or thinking of running) their own winery, whether in the Finger Lakes or elsewhere, as well as insights into the challenges and joys of pursuing a dream.

About the Author

John C. Hartsock has worked as a staff reporter for United Press International and various newspapers, including the Rochester Democrat-Chronicle, and his freelance work has appeared in Audubon and the San Francisco Examiner. He resides in Homer, New York, in the Finger Lakes region, and he teaches communication studies at SUNY Cortland.

Reviews

Everyone who savors the flavor of a fine glass of wine likely has at one time or another dreamt of producing their own.... Organizing his book by season, John C. Hartsock shares vignettes that illustrate the hard work and perseverance required as well as the heartbreak that comes when one tiny mistake ruins a year's output. This detailed book... will be of great interest to those contemplating the winery business, even if just someday to tinker in their basement.

* Library Journal *

"Harstock writes for an intelligent but nonexpert reader. His journalistic background lets him use dialogue and scene development to carry the story forwardbut his strength is in teaching the reader a great deal about vineyards and making wines without seeming pedantic. Tucked into these pages are short yet illuminating explanations of vine biologythe economics of small wineriesthe chemistry of fermentationhistoric and modern trellising systemstechniques of pruningaccounts of grape diseasesstories of ancient Greek wine partiesand even the ramifications of the modern wine bottle (which emerged in 1760).-Zachary Nowak

* Gastronomica *


Awards
Winner of Winner, 2011 Gourmand World Cookbook Award (Drinks.



Book Information
ISBN 9780801448812
Author John C. Hartsock
Format Hardback
Page Count 200
Imprint Cornell University Press
Publisher Cornell University Press
Weight(grams) 454g