Lake Erie Wine Country - Harvest Wine Weekend - Gourmet's Guide & Recipes

Oct 28, 2019 at 5:04 PM Permalink

Edible Western New York - Nature versus Nuture - In Jennifer's Kitchen

Stephanie Burdo, editor and publisher of Edible Western New York, shares an afternoon in Jennifer Johnson's fall kitchen.....here's her article, complete with photographs by Jill Bornand.

This article includes recipes for quince - the "prehistoric" apple which has been grown in North American since the Colonial days - but alas is not always so easy to find today.  A number of our customers are interested in purchasing quince fruit - and as our quince trees were decimated by fire blight, we have little fruit and not of the quantity or quality which I would feel comfortable selling.  I've contacted three orchards which I thought were likely to have quince - but have struck out so far. 
We'll keep looking for some resources on quince fruit to share.

As Edible Western New York's focus is good, local foods, I would be remiss not to remind readers to visit its website, where one can search articles and events and sign up for the Edible WNY Newsletters.  In addition, three other resources for those who are interested in locally produced
fruit and vegetables as well as meats.

www.postapples.com (North East, PA) - vegetables and apples
www.facebook.com/chautauquaregionfarmtotable
Cornell Cooperative Extension Website - Chautauqua-grown

Oct 15, 2019 at 6:30 PM Permalink

Lake Erie Wine Country Wineries Strike Gold!

April 21, 2019   For Immediate Release                                  Contact Monica Mazur, 877-326-6561
Lake Erie Wine Country Wineries Strike Gold at the 2019 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition  
             
Westfield (NY) – Eight local wineries went up against over 650 competing wineries from all over the world and came away with a disproportionate share of the top honors.  There were over 2800 wines entered in the 19th Finger Lakes International Wine Competition held on April 13th and 14th in Rochester NY. This event has become the largest charitable wine competition in North America, as each of the over 2800 entries contributes over $50 to Camp Good Days and Special Times, a camp dedicated to bringing smiles and memories to children with cancer.   

Of the 64 top honors awarded (Best of Class or Double Golds), twelve were won by the over one-hundred New York and Pennsylvania wineries entering the competition.  Of those twelve Best of Class or Double Gold awards presented, four of them – or one third - were earned by Lake Erie Wine Country wineries!  In addition, the eight LEWC wineries who submitted wines to this competition also earned seven gold medals and multiple silver and bronze recognitions as follows.  Complete results available at https://fliwc-cgd.com/winners-2019.asp.

Summary of Awards Earned by Lake Erie Wine Country Wineries:

21 Brix (Portland, NY) - Best of Class, Sparkling - 2017 Bruttella
Gold - Ella’s White Niagara
7 silver and bronze medals

Johnson Estate Winery (Westfield, NY) - Double Gold – 2017 Freelings Creek Semi-Dry Riesling
Gold - 2017 Freelings Creek Sweet Riesling
Gold - 2017 Maple Liqueur
Gold - 2017 Solstice Sangria
7 silver and bronze medals

Presque Isle Winery (North East, PA) - Double Gold – Eskimo Kisses (dessert wine)
5 silver and bronze medals

Yori Cellars Winery (North East, PA) - Double Gold – Famiglia (red wine)
12 silver and bronze medals

Arrowhead Wine Cellars (North East PA)
Gold - “Midnight Proposal”
3 silver and bronze medals
Lakeview Wine Cellars (North East PA)
Gold – 2017 Traminette
4 silver and bronze medals

Liberty Vineyards & Winery (Sheridan NY)
Gold – “Lucy in the Sky Sweet Rosé”
5 silver and bronze medals

Heritage Wine Cellars (North East PA)
10 silver and bronze medals

Lake Erie Wine Country (LEWC) is a marketing association of 23 wineries located along the shores of Lake Erie in western New York and Pennsylvania amidst 30,000 scenic acres of juice and wine grape vineyards.  Additional information found on the LEWC website, www.LakeErieWineCountry.org.  

Apr 29, 2019 at 11:40 AM Permalink

Photos of Tastes of Germany

TASTES OF GERMANY, April 12-14, 2019 at Johnson ESTATE Winery
Last night's hail storm would not make one believe that we are on the cusp of spring - but here are some other signs!
 

April 12-14, Wine & Cheese Weekend, Lake Erie Wine Country
Johnson Estate Winery featured Flammkuchen, or Flame Cake, paired with Sweet Riesling.


April 13, ESTATE Dinner:  A Taste of Germany - May Wine Release
Featuring Exec. Chef Edward Work, Heirloom Restaurant, Athenaeum Hotel
Tablescape by Mary Marzec
Chocolates from Le Rouge by Aarti, Westport, CT


 

Apr 15, 2019 at 4:21 PM Permalink

Estate Dinner: May Wine Release - A Taste of Germany

ESTATE Dinner:  May Wine Release, A Taste of Germany
 

The evening starts with appetizers in the Tasting Room, followed by a multi-course dinner and wine pairings in the warehouse prepared by Executive Chef, Edward Work of the Heirloom Restaurant (Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua Institution).  Tablescape by Mary Marzec. 
White chocolates from Le Rouge by Aarti, Westport, CT. 

Mar 12, 2019 at 5:03 PM Permalink

Valentine Ice Wines - Two for the Price of One!

Just for Valentine's Day
Ice Wine - Two for the Price of One
Use Code:  VALENTINESDAY
Valentine's Day is just a week away.  Would a bottle of ice wine be a good way to celebrate it? 

Johnson Estate has three vintages of award-winning "frozen by Mother Nature" true ice wines
and is featuring a "Two for the Price of One" sale just for Valentine's Day. 

Vidal Blanc Ice Wine,  $49.49 (375ml)
        Honey and peach flavors - try it with goat cheese and honey toast.
Chambourcin Ice Wine,  $49.49 (375ml)
        Hints of berry and raisin - pair with chocolate, cinnamon, and walnuts.
Sparkling Rosé Ice Wine,  $49.49 (375ml)
        Fine mousse-like bubbles with mild strawberry flavors.
Sparkling Rosé Ice Wine,  $69.49 (750ml)
        Perfect for that Valentine's Day party (serves eight +).

We also have:
Birch Boxes - Especially made for our ice wine boxes
Austrian Hazelnuts or Cinnamon Walnuts to pair with ice wines.

Feb 8, 2019 at 5:14 PM Permalink

Mid-Winter Diversions - Burns' Night Supper

Robert Burns' Night Supper
   
Johnson Estate Winery's owners, Fred and Jennifer Johnson, have celebrated many Burns' Night Suppers over the years, beginning when they lived in Canada.  And right, most of the guests are not Scottish!  While Fred doesn't own a kilt, those dinners have included guests who did wear them.  Jennifer swears that the best reason to attend annual Burns' Night Dinner at the The Caledonian Society in Cincinnati is to see gentlemen dressed in kilts and jackets with elaborate ruffled shirts.   These dinners were always fun - and as described in this "how to", always included poetry readings and sometimes bagpipes and dancing.  Mostly celebrated with friends in Cincinnati and in western New York, some of them Scottish or of Scottish descent, our menu of the dinner hosted with friends, varied little from the one listed below. 

We've added wine pairings, but please know that Scotch is always served.  These days,
we might serve a Hudson Valley Single Malt Whiskey, now sold in the winery
(we're sorry, we do not have the license to ship this product to your home).

Appetizer: 
Paté of Westfield Fisheries’ Smoked White Fish
Pair with sparkling or still Traminette

First Course:
Cock-a-Leekie Soup or Leek and Potato Soup
Pair with Toasted Oak Chardonnay or Pinot Noir

Main Course:
Haggis, Tatties & Neeps  (Mashed Potatoes & Mashed Turnips)
Colçannon (Mashed Potatoes with Leeks & Cabbage)
Vintner's Cabernet Sauvignon or Founders' Red

Cheese Course:
Scottish Oat Cakes, Cheddar & Stilton Cheeses
Cream Sherry or Ruby Port

Dessert Course:
“Cranachan” - Toasted Oats with Whipped Cream & Fresh Raspberries
with a drizzle of Scotch Whiskey

Jan 25, 2019 at 10:01 AM Permalink

Sips and Tips, The Science of Shape and Stemware

Sips and Tips, The Science of Shape and Stemware, Edible WesternNY, Winter 2018
by Matt Robbins

Here's how the article begins:
The holidays are upon us.  You toiled over a hot stove for hours creating culinary perfection, researched the perfect wines to pair with the meal, and now your guests' stomachs are grumbling.  You set the table - a seasonal table-cloth, the good china, and the beautiful centerpiece you made, pulling the whole things together.  But then you go to the cabinet full of 50 different types of glassware you got from from relatives at your wedding and the panic sets in.  Which one do I use?  Does it matter?

Author, Matt Robbins, thinks it does.  His knowledge of glassware and the interplay between them and the taste of wine is shared in this article for the Winter 2018 Issue of Edible Western NY. 
Matt Robbins is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (aka the mad scientist).  He works at Johnson Estate Winery in the tasting room as well in the winery laboratory with winemaker, Jeff Murphy and regularly educates customers and winery staff (!) about things we did not know.  Here's the whole article!

Dec 14, 2018 at 10:28 AM Permalink

Centennial Celebrations

Centennial Celebrations at Johnson Estate Winery

100th anniversary of Armistice Day (November 11, 1918-2018) 
and Century Farm Award from NY Agricultural Society

A Toast to Veterans and Those Currently Serving Our Country
Beginning on Armistice/Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2018 and for the rest of November, Johnson Estate Winery will be offering free tastings for veterans and those serving in the military.  Come taste our special wine honoring Maréchal Foch (Marshall and Commander-in-Chief of Allied Armies). 

For Groups of Eight Or More: Please call Mary the winery at 716-326-2191 to make a reservation; please note that the winery is wheel chair accessible. 

Centennial Dinner, December 8th, 2018
A French-inspired dinner to be held at Johnson Estate winery to feature Maréchal Foch and other red wines. Reservations ($65/person) may be made here. 

Centennial News Release Here - for additional details about both Maréchal Foch and the grape variety named after him.

Oct 28, 2018 at 7:50 PM Permalink

Ratings in 2018 - GOLDS!

Each year, Winemaker, Jeff Murphy, enters some of our wines into competitions or to rating agencies.  One of his preferred judging agencies is Tastings.com or the Beverage Testing Institute - and it is a favorite because the ratings and tastings are completed "blind".  That is, the tasting judges do not know the producer nor the region for the wines which they taste and then judge - helping to insure a good level of unbiased or neutral assessments of our wines. 
Here are their latest ratings for Johnson Estate wines - click on links for additional details:

91 Points, GOLD-Exceptional, Best Buy, Tastings.com, August 2018.
2017 Chambourcin Ice Wine

90 Points, GOLD-Exceptional, Best Buy, Tastings.com, September 2018.
2016 Freelings Creek Reserve Founders' Red

90 Points, GOLD-Exceptional, Best Buy, Tastings.com, September 2018.
2017 Ruby Dry Rosé

90 Points, GOLD-Exceptional, Best Buy, Tastings.com, September 2018.
2016 Freelings Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Oct 5, 2018 at 7:47 PM Permalink