Nov 30 – This show is all about Dr. Konstantin Frank winery in the magnificent Finger Lakes of New York.
Meaghan, Beth, Karen, Tod and Guy
On a recent visit to Ithaca New York to visit my oldest son who is working on his Masters Degree at Cornell, we took some time and went to the nearby Finger Lakes to revisit some old friends and make new ones. A unique place to grow grapes and make wine that you should add to your bucket list. One of my favorite wineries is Dr. Frank’s. Located North of Hammondsport on the West side of Keuka Lake.
Dr. Konstantin Frank ignited the “Vinifera Revolution” a movement that forever changed the course of wine growing in the Finger Lakes and the United States. Dr. Frank’s vision, knowledge and determination are credited with elevating the New York wine industry from a state of happy mediocrity to a level that today commands world attention.
The Frank family wine legacy that started with Dr. Konstantin Frank in the early 1960’s has continued into its fourth generation with Meaghan Frank as the winery’s General Manager. Meaghan is the daughter of current winery president, Fred Frank and the great granddaughter of Dr. Konstantin Frank.
Meaghan received her MBA from the University of Adelaide in Australia, which has one of the top wine business programs in the world. Most recently, Meaghan received her Master’s Degree in Oenology from Cornell University. With combined expertise in wine business and winemaking, Meaghan plans to revolutionize the way the winery is run as well as the quality of the wines. Already, Meaghan has brought many innovative ideas to the winery, including the 1886 Reserve Tasting Room and a single vineyard series named after the Frank women.
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2018 Dr. Frank Dry Riesling
100% Riesling, stainless fermented. A subtle style with notes of minerality, grapefruit, lime, candied citrus and soft apricot. The crisp lime-driven acidity enhances the distinct Keuka Lake minerality, rounded by stone fruit and ginger.
This wine is available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road!
Nov 23 – This show is great fun as we get to know Chef Bill Crites
Bill was the executive chef at 37West Café at Koch Industries global headquarters in Wichita, KS. He has worked as the Chef at YaYa’s, worked with Dempsey’s Burger Pub and now is the executive chef at Hooray Ranch – a luxury hunting lodge in central Kansas
Bill got his culinary start in Austin, TX, graduating from culinary school and working in a few restaurants across the town. Not long after graduating, Bill bought a one-way ticket to Barcelona and spent the next two years expanding his culinary education across the country. Bill even spent one of those years working on a farm learning to raise animals and perfecting classic French charcuterie techniques including sausage making, rillettes, pates, and terrines. A few restaurants and a few years later, Bill returned to the states and began his career with Eurest as a sous chef at Café Koch in Wichita. When Bill started with Eurest, Koch was breaking ground for a new building on their campus which would include the new 37West Café. Bill opened the café as executive chef and is dedicated to evolving the cuisine at each and every meal and making as much as he and his team can from scratch. A talented Chef with great potential that we hope to be seeing more of here in the Midwest!
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2018 Dr. Frank Grüner Veltliner
100% Grüner Veltliner from the estate Seneca Lake property planted in 2007 by Fred Frank. Located on the southeast part of the lake known as the ‘banana belt’ in an area with higher than average temperatures and more sun exposure, which translates into a longer growing season that facilitates higher levels of ripeness. An expressive wine with dominant characters of grapefruit, & honeysuckle, finishing with notes of lime. The mineral backbone is enhanced by a crisp acidity, giving the wine superb complexity, and making it a food friendly style.
Available from the winery direct www.drfrankwines.com