ELFS FARM WINERY INFORMATION PAGE
Wine Tasting
On October 25, 2009 we started the long awaited wine tasting with four wines. The next day we had bottled or labeled three more wines. Currently, we are tasting (seven) five wines. Elfs Farm charges three dollars to taste our selection of wines. You will receive a take home Elf Logo souvenir wine glass and taste our wines. ( The head elf's principle is to give back.) We donate the tasting fee and add up to 10% of our profit to an Autism Fund. Typically, we will have you taste our wines from the driest to the sweetest wine.
Wines
Dry Riesling - CURRENTLY TASTING - Dry white wine with slight fruit aromas including pineapple. Has a nice crisp acidic finish. Pairs well with fish, simple veal and vegetarian dishes.
Cabernet Franc - CURRENTLY TASTING- A nice red with an oaked dry finish. Light tobacco nose and a tobacco and pepper finish. This has paired very well with lamb, steak and roasts.
Semi-dry Riesling -CURRENTLY TASTING- With a slight residual sugar this is less acidic than the dry Riesling and is very well balanced. Slightly more aromatic with some flowery aromas and a pear finish it pairs well with chicken, white fish and light cheese and egg dishes.
Riesling - CURRENTLY TASTING - Finished in Germanic style this wine was pasteurized to reduce alcohol levels and to reduce the amount of sulfites used.
Gewürztraminer - CURRENTLY TASTING - This semi-sweet aromatic white has a slight spice overtone that pairs well with Asian and Spanish dishes. It also works well with smoked salmon, game and cheeses.
The Elfs Winter Red- CURRENTLY CELLARED
Cayuga White - CURRENTLY TASTING-Our first Estate Bottled wine with a 22 case production from fourth year vines. This young vine wine was awarded a Bronze Medal in the 2010 NY Food and Wine Classic. This Cornell developed cool weather grape is a white that has been finished sweet. It is well balanced with typical V. Lambrusca undertones of fruit and floral tastes. This pairs well with non spicy chicken, veal, pork and vegetarian dishes.
Lady Di's - CURRENTLY TASTING -is a 100% Mac Apple wine crafted to be like biting into the world famous Macintosh Apples. It is fruit forward and initially sweet with a tart finish. Lady Di's was awarded a Silver Medal at the 2010 NY Food & Wine Classic.
Apple lachian Trail Apple Wine - CURRENTLY TASTING - This wine was born at the same time as Lady Di's. Pressed from the same Macintosh apples on the same day. Then their existence diverged. Applelachian Trail was submitted to the 2010 NY Food and Wine Classic and took top honors of a double gold medal.
Pear - Honey Melomel - CURRENTLY TASTING - A sweet mead based wine pairs well with pastries, honey buns and coffee cakes.
I DO Blueberry Wine - CURRENTLY TASTING - This desert style wine was crafted specifically to compliment chocolate desserts.
Cold Weather Grapes
Elfs Farm has several types of cold weather grapes under evaluation. We are located in a Zone 4B but enjoy a milder micro-climate due to the proximity of Lake Champlain, Woodruff Pond and the Champlain Valley itself. The micro-climate has enabled us to grow Cayuga White which is marginal in other areas of the Lake Champlain Valley.
Other grapes will be planted this spring to continue the process of finding out which cultivars are best suited for the unique climatic conditions of the Lake Champlain valley.
Lake Champlain Valley grape growing and wineries are in their infancy and have only been possible due to cold weather hybrid grapes that have been developed in recent years. University of Michigan and Elmer Swenson (a private breeder) and Cornell University have been in the forefront of this cold weather grape development.
Some of the more promising grapes for cold zones with late spring frosts, a short growing season, and a low total heat days include:
Frontenac - A cold weather grape out of Minnesota. This is a very vigorous grower and has definite issues with acid levels. The main issues with this seems to be proper crop (fruit) levels and the wine making method. I have an excellent PORT style wine made from Frontenac.
Cayuga White - A cool weather Cornell developed white hybrid. This may be a marginal grape for this area. We lose approximately five percent of our primary buds and about one percent of the vines each winter.
Gr 7- A red hybrid developed by Cornell for the Finger Lakes. It is also a marginal grape for the North Country in our experience. It has been a low producer in years three and four. (Year three we left about ten percent buds and year five about 60%).
Marquette - this is a new planting for 2010. This is a University of Minnesota hybrid that was released in the last few years. We obtained our vine from NE Vine supply in Vermont. Andy Farmer is a young grower who is on top of the cold weather grape scene.
Wine Making
This will be a link (future project) where the head elf will provide insights into making wine with cold weather grapes, apples, and other fruits.
