Support Sustainable Saratoga and participate in a special tasting of Finger Lakes wines from the comfort of home!

Please join us for Sustainable Saratoga’s Virtual Wine Tasting fundraiser on Wednesday, July 15 at 6 pm.

The event will feature the award-winning wines of the Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, located in New York’s Finger Lakes wine region.

Barbara Frank, Consulting Winemaker and Regional Sales Manager of the Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, will take us on a virtual tasting experience of some of the Dr. Konstantin Frank wines and talk about the winery, including some of their sustainability efforts. Wine & Spirits Magazine named the Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery one of the top 100 Wineries in the World in 2019. Taste for yourself why these wines receive so many accolades.

Choose between 2 wine packages*

  • For a $75 donation, you will receive two bottles of wine (Dry Riesling and Cabernet Franc) & some added goodies
  • For a $125 donation, you will receive four bottles of wine (Gruner Veltliner, Dry Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc) & some added goodies**

*All wine packages come in a reusable canvas bag and will be accompanied by a delicious dark chocolate bar from Barkeater Chocolates in North Creek, NY, and a Sustainable Saratoga window cling.

** While supplies last, the four-bottle wine package will also include a super-soft Sustainable Saratoga T-shirt.

You can pick up your wine package at Caffè Lena from 4 to 7 pm on either July 13 or 14th. Caffè Lena has generously offered their atrium for a centralized pick up location.  

Quantities are limited, so reserve your wine package today!

About the winery:

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is a family-run winery on the southwestern hills of Keuka Lake. The founder, Dr. Konstantin Frank, immigrated to the United States in 1951. Within 10 years, Dr. Frank founded Vinifera Wine Cellars, a winery that quickly gained a reputation for spectacular Rieslings. His ability to produce European varieties of wine in the cool climate of the Finger Lakes revolutionized the East Coast wine industry. The Frank family has carried the legacy of Dr. Konstantin Frank on through four generations.

The winery has generously donated a portion of the wines for this event, and all proceeds from the event go directly to helping fund the sustainability efforts of Sustainable Saratoga.

Information about the wines available for tasting (you can find even more detailed information on the winery’s website):

2018 Gruner Veltliner

Herbaceous on the nose, this wine has grassy notes paired with candied lemon zest, bright citrus, crisp red apple, light stone fruit & a dominant undertone of slate & mineral aromas. The mouthfeel is rounder & softer than the previous vintage offering a wine with more body.

Food pairings:

Asparagus (grilled); fresh goat, blue, rich & stinky cheeses; dishes focused on fresh herbs; vegetarian dishes; salads; smoked ham & fish; pork (grilled or fried); scallops (sauteed); sushi; Thai cuisine (spicy but not too hot); fried chicken.

2018 Dry Riesling

Subtle notes of minerality, grapefruit, lime, candied citrus & soft apricot on the nose. The crisp lime-driven acidity enhances the distinct Keuka Lake minerality, rounded by stone fruit & ginger.

Food pairings:

Humboldt fog, slightly aged cow & sheep milk cheeses; crab cakes; lobster; chicken (poached, lightly prepared); salads (green fruits or seafood); smoked ham & fish; vegetarian & egg dishes; sushi.

2018 Chardonnay

Medium to full bodied intensity with vibrant acidity & fruit dominant characters of citrus, creamed honey, Macintosh apple & minerality. The fruit & acidity are perfectly balanced with a hint of oak & a crisp citrus finish.

Food pairings:

Nutty cow’s milk Alpine cheeses (especially gruyere, double and triple-crème cheeses, washed-rind cheese); hard aged cheeses; moderately aged goat’s milk cheeses; roast & grilled chicken; white fish; salmon; scallops; lobster; butter, cream & mustard-based sauces; Caesar salad.

2016 Cabernet Franc

Medium intensity with cranberry, raspberry, cracked pepper, dark cherry & slight toastiness from oak. Soft earthy tannins are balanced perfectly with vibrant acidity. The combination of European & American oak adds layers of spicy flavors.

Food pairings:

Fresh or aged goat’s milk cheeses; nutty cow’s milk Alpine cheeses; washed & bloomy rind cheeses; tomato-based dishes; stuffed bell peppers; pork tenderloin; ribs; roast beef; chimichurri; chocolate fondue; Barkeater chocolate.