Across the 14,164 hectares under vine in the 11 American Viticultural Areas that comprise New York state, 2023 was a year defined by its unpredictability.
Shannon Brock from Silver Thread Winery in the Finger Lakes described the season as ‘a wild ride with a soft landing.’ She practices biointensive farming on a 4.05ha estate located on the east hills of Seneca Lake alongside her husband, who is also the winemaker, Paul.
Interestingly, she pointed out that despite the unusual growing season, the wines produced appeared ‘typical’.
Brock commented, ‘I wish wine consumers would consider more deeply that artisanal wine is an agricultural product and mirrors the nuances of nature.’ She highlighted the growing disconnect between consumer perception and the reality faced by wine producers, as traditional expectations of ‘typical’ become increasingly rare.
Silver Thread Winery on Seneca Lake. Credit: Silver Thread