Finger Lakes vintners named to wine task force

Several key figures in the Finger Lakes wine industry were named Wednesday to the newly created New York State Wine Grape Task Force.

Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said the task force will examine needs of wine-grape growers and identify problems and regulations that detract from the vitality of the state industry.

Fifteen persons were named to the task force, including four from Penn Yan, one from Dundee and another headquartered in Fairport.

John Martini of Anthony Road Wine Co. and Scott Osborn of Fox Run Vineyards, both of Penn Yan, were named to the task force. So was Jim Finkle, of Fairport's Constellation Wines.

In addition, Jim Bedient of the New York State Wine Grape Growers Inc. and Jim Trezise of the New Wine and Grape Foundation, both located in Penn Yan, were appointed.

The others are Margo Sue Bitner, of the Winery at Marjim Manor, in Appleton; David Bova, of Millbrook Winery, in Millbrook; Joe Gergela, of the Long Island Farm Bureau; Frederick Johnson, of Johnson Estate Winery, in Westfield; Robert Kern, of Martha Clara Vineyards, in Riverhead; Larry Perrine of Channing Daughters Winery, in Bridgehampton; Julie Suarez, of the New York Farm Bureau in Albany, and Mike VonHeckler of Warm Lakes Vineyard and Winery, in Lockport.

Kareem Massoud of Paumonok Vineyards, in Aquebogue, was chosen as chairman of the task force. It will meet several times during the next year to discuss the opportunities and challenges the New York wine industry faces. It will identify ways to enhance marketing and promotion of local wines and address regulations involving other agencies, including the state Liquor Authority.

The first meeting takes place Nov. 20 in Albany at the state Department of Agriculture.

The New York wine, grapes and grape juice industry pumps $3.3 billion into the state economy and provides 36,000 jobs. New York is the nation's third-largest grape and wine producer, with five primary wine producing regions: the Finger Lakes, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Lake Erie and the Niagara Escarpment.

There are 250 wineries statewide, half of which were established less than two decades ago. Production has jumped 50 percent during those 20 years with nearly 200 million bottles of wine produced annually.

New York wineries account for $420 million a year in sales and lure 4 million tourists to visit annually.

Daily Messenger