Ravines is a winery from the Finger Lakes that is producing top quality Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Traditional Method Sparkling Wine.
The Finger Lakes are often overlooked when compared to their old world counterparts such as Mosel, Pfalz, or Wachau, but Ravines is truly in a league of its own.
Most of their vineyards are located on Lake Seneca and their first vineyard and tasting room on Keuka Lake. The land they selected is a limestone base scattered with shale--heaven for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.
What Makes Ravines Special?
Morton and Elise started their project in the 2000s after learning the beauty of Finger Lakes wine production from the famous Dr. Konstantin Frank, with the intention to focus on terroir driven dry Riesling. With a background in astrophysics, studies from Montpelier, Morton made his first vintage with Elise in 2002. Being one of the few serious wineries in the Finger Lakes at the time, they were able to cherry pick the best sites. In our last virtual call, Morton described it like being in Napa in the 60s, getting the very best sites.
All the wines are hand harvested, tank fermented at cool temperatures, and kept under 4 grams of residual sugar. In addition to their standard bottling of all their vineyard sites, they also make a gorgeous single vineyard bottling of their Argetsinger plot, their warmest site with low yields that deliver an incredibly perfumed and savory style of Riesling. Most surprising was their Pinot Noir, of which I tasted the 2016. It was produced whole cluster, with 30% stem inclusion, and a 4-week cold soak. Red flowers and herbs de Provence leapt out of this glass and I was utterly blown away by its complexity and poise.
Ravines would make an incredible (and affordable) selection for an American wine list, as well as a great addition to a personal cellar. #drinkdomestic #fingerlakes
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