The third annual Finger Lakes Times Readers’ Choice Awards began with a nomination phase on May 14th, continues with the voting phase through July 3rd, and will conclude with the August 1 special section unvieling the 2020 FLT Readers’ Choice Award winners. There will be no seconds, thirds, or honorable mentions – only winner – in 71 exciting categories, including some new ones this year. As an added bonus, one voter will win, by random from all completed ballots, $250. Voting is unlimited VOTE HERE
-June, 2020/Finger Lakes Times
We reached out to several of our wine-producing friends to get their take on Thanksgiving meal pairings, and their wines that fit the bill. Their answers are included below followed by a list of recommended wines based upon a tour we recently took to find you some great holiday pairing options.
November, 2019
September is generally a high leverage point in our growing
year. The outcome of the season is often very much still in
doubt when we reach Labor Day, and September goes a long
way toward determining the quality of the grapes. Like
2018 before it, 2019 was no exception- the difference being
that while we needed September 2018 to come through for
us, it basically tied our leftfielder’s shoelaces together and
tackled the mascot.
November 8, 2019 / Edited by Tim Martinson and Chris Gerling
It’s looking like the 2019 wine grape harvest in the Finger Lakes will be a good one for the region’s signature wine.
-October, 2019 / Don Cazentre
Wine Business Monthly reveals results of Closure Survey specific to Sauvignon Blanc; winemakers discuss their choices.
-September,2019 / Stacy Briscoe
The wine region — named top wine region in the USA Today10Best Reader’s Choice poll in both 2018 and 2019 — is vast…That’s why I recommend biting off the Finger Lakes in small geographical chunks; you can spend more time enjoying food, wine and recreation and less time driving (even though the drives are amazingly picturesque)…Read More
-September, 2019 / Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
I’ll admit it, when I go to a winery in the Finger Lakes, I’ll always try their Riesling and their Cabernet Franc, the two flagship grapes of the region since they can tell you a lot about the winemaker’s individual approach to production; but, I also love to see where they’ve taken risk, where they are experimenting, and what’s setting them apart from the other wineries. Read More…
July 10, 2019 / Kate Meyers Emery
“…Billsboro Winery on Seneca Lake south of Geneva offers a series of private group wine tastings, with winemaker Vinny Alperti. These explore older vintage or “library” wines,” with explanations of the factors that give each its distinctive “personality.””
-July 3, 2019 / Don Cazentre
Rosés made of Pinot Noir are the stars of this year’s rosé tasting. They’re typically light red in color, fragrant with red cherry and pomegranate scents, medium bodied with good fullness in the mouth, and flavorful with flavors that mirror the bouquet… Billsboro 2018 Rosé of Pinot Noir Finger Lakes ($17) 89 Very pale copper. Revealing minerals and faint red berry scents, this Pinot Noir rosé is crisp on the attack with light flavors of cherry skin and stone fruit. Light but balanced. Handpicked from Sawmill Creek Vineyards on the southeast corner of Seneca Lake, given 6 hours skin contact, cold fermented in stainless steel. RS 1 g/L Alc 13%. Vinny Aliperti is the winemaker… Read More
-June 13, 2019 / International Wine Review
Here’s the secret, it’s 2019, and you want to purchase a Cabernet Sauvignon that’s been aging since 2012, in the Finger Lakes it’s going to cost you around $50 if not more. However, if you bought that Cabernet Sauvignon in 2014 when it was first released, you might have only paid $20 for it. Read More
-May 15, 2019 / Katie Meyers Emery
This winery has always been a favorite of mine. My husband and I had a “date day” and we decided to do an early spring visit to one of my favorite wineries! Why do I love Billsboro Winery? Good wine, good vibes, and the friendliest staff!
– / flxfinest
Despite the fact that the Finger Lakes is gaining renown for being a top wine region to visit, there still seems to be a misconception that you cannot find great red wine here. Comments like “oh, but they only make Riesling,” or “it’s too bad they don’t produce dry wine,” seem to be fairly common despite the fact that dozens of wineries have a focus on drier styles and produce amazing reds. Read More
As owners of Billsboro Winery, we are proud that our hard work has led to us having the distinct honor of being awarded the Governor’s Cup in 2016. The Governor’s Cup is a competition among more than 400 New York wineries across the state – a competition that Finger Lakes wines have won repeatedly. The New York wine industry is booming and our vineyards continue to produce some of the finest wine, not just in New York, but across the entire nation. We are now stepping onto the world stage as an internationally acclaimed wine region. But if Gov. Andrew Cuomo doesn’t sign the “Finger Lakes Community Act of 2019,” that will all be at risk… Read More
-April 17, 2019 / Kim and Vinny Aliperti
I first discovered the Finger Lakes in 2011 on a return visit from a road trip to the East Coast. Needing to break up the drive to Chicago, we were looking for interesting places to stop and came across references to wine in the Finger Lakes of New York. Given that I am an avid Winetraveler, I didn’t need convincing. We ended up staying a day longer than planned, bouncing from Cayuga, Seneca and Keuka Lakes’ numerous wineries and what we discovered were not only great wines, but an incredible wine community… Read More
Billsboro Winery has always held a special place in my heart. The winery opened eleven years ago on the west side of Seneca Lake, the same year that I turned 21 and could enjoy the local wine trails. While most wineries were assuming that I, a newly legal taster, was there to drink sweet wines, Billsboro Winery did not. They helped me learn more about the process and production of wine, they helped hone my wine tasting vocabulary, and they set me down a path towards becoming a more confident taster. Read More
– January 10, 2019 / Katie Meyers Emery
Are you in the trade and looking for a distributor of Billsboro wine?
If so, please contact the following distributors
V.O.S. Selections is an importer and distributor of fine wines, spirits and sake in the New York and New Jersey markets. If you would like to place an order or to request a price list, V.O.S. Selections can be reached at: wine@vosselections.com
Director of Sales: Rebekah Kennedy (646)336-0135.
Website: vosselections.com
Cultivating a wine collection to connect terroir, people, food and culture. Now in their sixth year, Artisan’s Cellar has cultivated a portfolio distributing wines selected by eight importers, our own hand-picked direct imports, and wine in other formats.
Owner: Scott Braunschweig scott@theartisanscellar.com
Phone: 610-430-3500/Fax: 610-430-3600.
Website: www.theartisanscellar.com.
With a fervent passion for customer service and employee morale, the corporation now services fourteen counties in Western New York. Wright Beverage Distributing has received numerous national awards including the Coors Founders Award and theGuinness Golden Bar Award ,which is given to the National Distributor of the year, and has been featured countless times on Rochester’s Top 100 companies.
Wine and Spirits Brand Manager: Walter Berkstresser (585) 427 2880
Website: http://wrightbev.com/
The Twelve Wines of Christmas– Mountain Home Magazine
Toast the holidays with Finger Lakes wines – Finger Lakes Times
Orange Wine Review – Delve Into the Colors of the Season with Tart & Funky Orange Wine
You Should Try Orange Wine This Autumn
The Perfect Orange Wines To Drink While Watching The ‘OITNB’ Season Premiere
Billsboro sparkles; Heron Hill supports white deer; summer deals – NewYorkUpstate.com
2015 Rosé of Pinot Noir: Top Pick of they Day
Finger Lakes Wine Tasting Trip, Discover Dry Rosé
Review of the 2013 Cabernet Franc – The Four Top Cabernet Franc Wines of 2013
Edible Finger Lakes Review of 2014 Leidenfrost Dry Riesling – Edible Finger Lakes
Wine Enthusiast Review of 2013 Dry Riesling, 90 points – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast Review of 2013 Riesling, 87 points – Wine Enthusiast
Review of 2013 Sauvignon Blanc – CapeGazette.com
Review of the 2014 Rose of Pinot Noir – Everything’s Coming Up Rosé
Review of Billsboro Winery – Decanter travel guide: Finger Lakes, New York State
Review of the 2014 Rose of Pinot Noir – This Summer, Everything’s Coming Up Rosé – Wall Street Journal July 16th
Review of 2012 Pinot Noir – New York Cork Report
1st Barrel Fermented Dry Riesling Press Release
Billsboro Winery Release Two New Dry Rosés
Billsboro Winery Release their First Sparkling Wine, 2015 Mousseux