Dr. Konstantin Frank Semi-Dry Riesling 2024 (750ml)

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Producer	Dr. Konstantin Frank
Country	United States
Region	New York
Subregion	Finger Lakes
Varietal	Riesling
Vintage	2024
Sku	11715
Size	750ml

 

A Black Sea German moved to New York and revolutionized cold climate winemaking.

The founder of the winery, Dr. Konstantin Frank, was a Black Sea German from a family that settled in the Odessa region of the Tsarist Russian Empire. His family was part of a large wave of Germans invited to Russia in the 18th century to cultivate the land and who lived in a German enclave in the area. After surviving the Russian Revolution and World Wars, he immigrated to New York in 1951, where he established his winery, Vinifera Wine Cellars, and introduced European vinifera grapes to the Finger Lakes region. 

In the Finger Lakes, he successfully established the first European vinifera grape varieties in the United States, leading to the "Vinifera Revolution" and transforming the region's wine industry. 

The 2024 vintage opens with an expressive, fruit-driven nose that immediately draws you in with aromas of apricot, honeydew, and juicy pineapple that leap from the glass, accented by delicate floral tones and a subtle mineral edge. On the palate, the wine balances its slight sweetness with vibrant, fresh acidity, creating a mouthwatering tension that keeps each sip lively and refreshing. Ripe stone fruit and tropical notes unfolding in layers, complemented by a gentle lift of citrus zest. The texture is smooth and supple, leading into a long, persistent finish that lingers with hints of fruit and minerality.

Pairs beautifully with spicy Asian dishes like Thai curry or Szechuan noodles, where its sweetness balances the heat. It also complements fresh seafood, such as seared scallops or sushi, enhancing the wine’s bright acidity and fruit.

Riesling was first brought to the Finger Lakes by our founder. Those original vines dating back to 1958 are still in production. Riesling blocks on our Keuka vineyard were planted in 1958, 1962, 1968, 1976, 1999, 2006, and 2012 with various clones (88, 90, 11, 318, 239, 49, 110, 38). Soils here are shallow, shale-based which add minerality, acidity, and elegance. Riesling was planted in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012 on our Seneca estate vineyard with 90 and 356 clones. Temperatures here are a few degrees warmer than Keuka thus providing riper fruit notes. Soils on Seneca are characterized by deep honeoye silt loam.