We recently met some friends for a tour of
Standing Stone Vineyards, in Hector, and then dinner at
Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine, just up the road in
Lodi. Even though we could have done this as a day trip (we were amazed that it
only took a little over an hour to get there), we decided to stay over, so we
could
both enjoy the wine pairings with our meal.
Tom and Marti Macinski are celebrating their 20th
anniversary as vintners of Standing Stone, and they have increased their
production from 800 to 8000 cases over this time. After retiring from working in Binghamton for other people
(Marti as a lawyer, Tom as a chemist), they decided to “retire” and work for themselves. They purchased the 125-acre farm in
1991, and spent three years creating a business plan, with the goal of making
world class Riesling and Gewurtztraminer (Marti admitted they were “incredibly
visionary or totally nuts”).
 |
tasting the reds from the kegs |

They have been successful in both, and their
Merlot grapes are also doing fine, despite Cornell’s recommendation not to
plant this variety because of the cold. They also have 4.5 acres of Saperavi,
the largest planting outside the Republic of Georgia (they just recently
received permission to label the wine as Saperavi). We tasted (and purchased
several bottles) of this “lovely, inky-colored” wine, as well as several Cabernet
Sauvignons and several of the
whites, which also found their way into our mixed
case... Marti explained that the Saperavi is a harder sell, because it doesn’t
meet the popular $10 price point. She also lamented that “the trick is not
making the wine, the trick is selling it.” And price drives volume.
 |
Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine |
After an informative history of winemaking in the Finger
Lakes, Marti gave us a tour and overview of their fermenting and pressing processes. It’s apparent that this is a true labor of love for Marti and Tom
(and their family – their 8-year old granddaughter was working the register),
and they enjoy their craft as much as their success. Over dinner, Tom told us
the twisted New York State process for hiring the pickers (they pick some
grapes by hand, some by machine), most of whom are H-2A workers from Mexico (the
compulsory local hires usually don’t last). His answer to Charlie’s question
about where the wine is bottled was enlightening. They don’t have their own
bottling facility, but a mobile bottler comes to them, so that their label can
truthfully say the wine is bottled on the premises!
Dinner at Suzanne was an experience to be savored (and to
be repeated). Each course was paired with a wine chosen specifically to
complement the complex flavors of the dish, and all of the vegetables were from
their own garden. The preparation and presentation were wonderful, and we were
also able to enjoy the sunset over Seneca Lake.

Our room at the
Fox and the Grapes B&B was comfortable,
and the new owners (who just bought the place in July) made us feel welcome in
their home. Breakfast wasn’t served until 9am, but it was well worth the wait.
We took a meandering route home, by way of:
Myer Farm Distillers, overlooking Cayuga Lake, where we sampled and bought some
interesting gins and vodka;
(passing a Mennonite in horse and buggy along the way)

and
Muranda Cheese Co., where again we sampled and
bought (and learned from the owner that they make 3000 pounds of cheese per week, and in 1997 their cows set the world's record for milk production!).
Watkins Glen and the west side of Seneca
Lake now beckon. So much to do, so little time!
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