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"The Empty Bottle Collection"
The "Empty Bottles" that traveled the world and ended up in Westfield, NY
On Display at the Patterson Library, Westfield, NY
Made in England or Holland and filled with wine or alcohol, traveled on sailing vessels to the New World and South America in the 1700s, were dumped into the river by sailors, and then collected 200+ years later by a Westfield man.... who was working in British Guyana and had them shipped by plane to NYC/Buffalo/Westfield in the 1970s.
In the 1950s through the 1970s, Frederick S. Johnson worked in many South American countries as an agricultural consultant. He and his family lived in Venezuela for about ten years until his father died and they moved back to Western New York in 1961. He collected a wide assortment of wine and distilled beverage bottles while working in British Guiana and many may have come from Dutch Guiana (Surinam). Here’s an excerpt from an article published in the Buffalo News in 1979:
Fred was intrigued to learn that the nets of native fishermen were bringing up old bottles from the Demerara River and the ocean channels where the river meets the Atlantic. Mr. Johnson learned that these bottles had contained wine shipped to colonists of British and Dutch Guiana/Suriname back in the 17th century. These early settlers built their settlements closest to the rivers and found it handy to toss empty bottles into the water. Sand and silt, swept downstream by the water, buried the bottles and then uncovered them as channels changed....They come from a time when bottles were hand-blown, when the size and thickness of the glass varied.......The color of the glass bottles from Surinam varies from dark-green to brown-green. Many of the bottles still contain dirt and gravel… Mr. Johnson shipped scores of bottles home to Westfield, NY from South America.
Nov 30, 2021 at 3:08 PM
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Wine Duos - Act II
As many know, Winemaker Jeff Murphy has been with us for nearly two decades and continues to introduce award-winning wines to our portfolio. In November 2020, we wrote a blog about "pairs" or duos of wines made from the same grapes. These included Maréchal Foch and Ruby Dry Rosé as well as Pinot Noir and Dry Rosé of Pinot Noir. Same grapes, but very different wines. Sometimes the duos are similar but have differing subtle characteristics which result from a new vintage year or perhaps just a new - or old - idea for using wine grapes. Small differences - as in the sweetness levels of our Rieslings - can have bigger than expected impacts on flavor.
This year, Jeff requested that some of our Estate-grown Pinot Noir, which was ripening well, be harvested very late when the grapes were partially dry to make an "amarone" Italian-inspired red wine. We will see how that goes next year when it is released! In the meantime, we have other wine "pairs" which merit your attention so that YOU can choose your favorites and decide!
Brut and Sparkling Traminette
(same "methode champenoise, but different grapes. Brut, a dry sparkling, is made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes)
Seyval Blanc and Hand-Picked Seyval Blanc
(machine-harvested, regular pressing versus hand-picked, frozen, and then pressed)
Toasted Oak Chardonnay and Bright Steel Chardonnay
(two different Chardonnay grape clones, one oaked, one not)
Black Locust, Dry, Semi-Dry, and Sweet Riesling
(different levels of sweetness, Black Locust also aged in acacia/black locust barrels)
Old Oak Ruby and Ruby Port
(the same grapes; the Old Oak is aged in Bourbon barrels for a year)
Old Oak Gold (SOLD OUT) and Cream Sherry
(the same grapes; the Old Oak Gold is aged in Bourbon barrels outside for a year)
Nov 28, 2021 at 8:03 AM
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The Sparkling Pair
Celebrate Christmas and Welcome the New Year with Two Sparkling Wines
Here are two wines which are perfect for toasting your friends and family!
Celebrate the season with Johnson Estate's Sparkling Traminette and newly-released Brut. These two sparkling wines, made from estate-grapes using the traditional French "methode champenoise", are a welcome addition to any holiday celebration.
Includes the gift box and complimentary gift card if you like!
ADD TO YOUR CART $44.48
Oct 22, 2021 at 12:14 PM
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A Taste of the Holidays
Here's the perfect gift for your friends and family - to thank the host/hostess or to serve at your own Thanksgiving gathering. Pair estate-made quince paste and sharp cheddar with our Provençal-style dry rosé made from estate-grown Pinot Noir grapes for a delicious bite!
Includes the gift box and complimentary gift card if you like!
ADD TO YOUR CART $27.47
Oct 22, 2021 at 12:05 PM
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Early Bird Holiday Gift Guide
Sep 24, 2021 at 8:56 AM
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Anniversary Discounts on Brut & Founders' Red
Johnson ESTATE: Celebrating 60 Years
Founders' Red & Brut (click on individual products to purchase) - 20% Anniversary Discount -
From September 2-26th: Use Promotion Code - 60YEARS
ONE-CLICK ANNIVERSARY BOXES:
Remember to use Promotion Code 60 YEARS for 20% discount!
Two Founders' Red + One Brut
Four Founders' Red + Two Brut
Sep 14, 2021 at 1:18 PM
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FLIGHT - Our New Outdoor Wine & Cheese/Charcuterie
FLIGHT IS OPEN!
FLIGHT, our premier outdoor wine & food pairings location, is now open!
Take in beautiful vineyard vistas and the sights and smells of harvest while savoring flights of wine, wines by the glass, and carefully curated cheese & charcuterie boards that feature thoughtfully-sourced and seasonal fruits, nuts, crisps, spreads, and more! Here's the menu.
HOURS - WEATHER PERMITTING
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 3pm
NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED
Aug 31, 2021 at 2:32 PM
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Recent Award News!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2021 CONTACT: Jennifer Johnson 513-502-0123
Johnson ESTATE Winery: Celebrating the Onset of Spring with Golden Awards
Results from two recent competitions reaffirm Johnson Estate’s commitment to producing quality wines
Westfield, (NY) – Pandemic or no, farms wineries, like Johnson Estate, do not stop growing grapes, nor making wine, nor receiving accolades for the good ones! We're grateful for our region’s special “Lake Effect” microclimate which plays an important role in permitting us to grow excellent grapes and to produce award-winning wines.
2021 NY Wine Classic – Gold Medal for Freelings Creek Traminette
We are pleased to announce that in the 2021 NY Wine Classic, which will be celebrated online this year on Friday, March 19th at 6pm, Johnson Estate’s semi-dry Freelings Creek Traminette was awarded the Best of Class designation. Traminette, developed by Cornell University, is a wine grape variety whose parentage includes Gewurtztraminer and Seyval Blanc. The grape makes wines similar to Gewurtztraminer with floral lycheé aromas and a spicy finish. .
2021 Eastern International Wine Competition – Five Gold Medals, Two Best of Class
Johnson Estate Winemaker Jeff Murphy, 2017 Ice Wine Harvest
The results of the 2021 Eastern Int’l Wine Competition were just announced this week and the medals which Johnson Estate’s wines received recognize the quality of the wines produced – both dry and sweet. Five wines were awarded five gold medals, including two with Best of Class designations:
2017 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Gold & Best of Class & Best Dessert/Late Harvest, 93 Points
2019 Pink Catawba, Gold & Best of Class, 90 Points
2019 Concord, Gold, 92 Points
2019 Niagara, Gold, 90 Points
2019 Seyval Blanc, Gold, 92 Points
Winemaker Jeff Murphy, whose contributions to the winery’s portfolio of award-winning wines are too numerous to count, is depicted above during the 2017 ice wine harvest. The vintage year was a good one. This vintage of Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, which is still for sale in the winery, has been awarded four other gold medals and the 2017 Chambourcin Ice Wine (now sold out) also earned 98 Points at the 2019 Eastern Int’l Wine Competition.
2021 Beverage Testing Institute, 2019 Chambourcin Ice Wine, 94 Points
Winemaker Jeff Murphy has high regard for the evaluations of the Beverage Testing Institute. They just awarded our 2019 Chambourcin Ice Wine 94 Points, Exceptional: “An outstanding expression of Chambourcin; this is a great Ice Wine to let the grape’s best characteristics shine”.
Johnson Estate Winery, with over one hundred acres of vineyards, is the oldest estate winery in New York State and a founding member of the Lake Erie Wine Country. For more information please visit www.johnsonwinery.com, or www.facebook.com/johnsonwinery, or call 716-326-2191.
Mar 16, 2021 at 12:18 PM
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Come See Our Christmas Tree
Some years ago, at the Westfield Farmer's Market, I saw some pretty paper ornaments made by Brenda McCutheon. I got the idea of decorating the whole tree in the winery with wine-label ornaments - getting rid of the "fake Chinese brass" ornaments - and "dressing" the winery tree in something unique for our tasting room Brenda was able to accommodate by making dozens of ornaments - and you see the beautiful tree as a result on the right.
And yes, the ornaments have been so popular that we have asked Brenda to make additional ones so that we may sell them in the winery (S=$15.00, M=$17.50, L=$20.00) - they are a great substitute for gift bows!
We would be remiss not to add that this year, our twelve-foot Fraser fir tree was purchased from Bear Lake Christmas Tree Farm - worth a visit if you still need a tree! Bruce has beautifully shaped trees in all sizes ready to be freshly cut.
Merry Christmas!
Dec 7, 2020 at 3:15 PM
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Fredonia State - College Lodge Forest
Chautauqua County is defined by its beautiful agricultural and forest vistas and landscapes. One of the special ones is the College Lodge Forest - and here's an opportunity to help preserve it.
The College Lodge Forest in Chautauqua County near Fredonia is one of the most exquisite natural areas remaining in Western New York. The heart of the forest is anchored by a large grove of towering old-growth trees, hundreds of years old. This is extremely rare in Western New York. Trillium, orchids, and lilies cover the forest floor. The forest is part of a major flyway for migratory birds that come from as far south as the Amazon rainforest in the spring, and from as far north as the Arctic tundra in the fall.
But the land is threatened, and the old-growth trees could be logged. Thanks to the dedication of people who have fought to protect this land, the Western New York Land Conservancy has an opportunity to purchase it right now. When the land is protected by the Land Conservancy, it will be protected forever from logging and open to the public.
Would you consider donating to ensure the College Lodge Forest is protected forever? You can donate with this link (When you donate, note "College Lodge Forest" in the dropdown menu) or by sending a check to Western New York Land Conservancy, P.O. Box 471 East Aurora, NY 14052.
Be sure to stop at College Lodge Forest for a beautiful walk, next time you are near Fredonia.
https://www.wnylc.org/college-lodge-forest
Thank you Elyse Perruchon for writing this summary of the College Forest!
Dec 7, 2020 at 12:14 PM
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