Wines of New York State Masterclass

We’re thrilled to be able to put on a Masterclass looking at the astonishingly good wines being made in New York State.

It can come as a surprise to many that in the league table of production by state in the USA, New York State comes third, with only California and Washington making more wine. It can also come as a surprise to discover just how good the wines are, and, thanks to the cool climate, how different they are from the high-octane styles you often find on the West Coast.

The tasting will focus on wines from the Finger Lakes, where Riesling thrives, but where Cabernet Franc also performs extremely well. There’ll be three of the former and two of the latter. There’ll also be examples of two hybrid grapes, which are becoming increasingly important in a world of climate change. Ever tried Vignoles? Probably not. It’s a grape of French origin with Pinot Noir as a parent, but is used here for gentle, pithy dry whites (we’ll try one) and some sweet wines too. You may have come across Seyval Blanc before through English wineries (Breaky Bottom in Sussex is the benchmark) but now’s your chance to try a sparkling version from across the pond. And there’ll be a second sparkler, made in the traditional method on North Fork Long Island from the familiar Champagne grapes.

So eight wines in total, with an average retail price of £30+, plus some cheese to nibble alongside, and thanks to the generosity of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, we’re able to offer this for just £45 a ticket. Any downside? Only that there’s just one bottle of each of the wines, so places are limited. Or to put it another way, book now, or you’ll miss out!