Fall 2026 Newsletter
Updated: 16 hours ago
TASTING LODGE NEWS
The renovated Tasting Lodge has been busy this Summer, welcoming many new customers (now friends). Many have commented on the beautiful decor and intimate layout of the Tasting Lodge. Come out and see for yourself.
As the seasons change, the Tasting Lodge offers an especially inviting setting for guests who want to slow down, explore our truly unique product portfolio, and learn more about the character and story behind each wine. Fall is also an ideal time to plan a Tasting around a Finger Lakes visit, when the vineyards and surrounding countryside are at their most colorful.
Make your reservations by clicking on the “Schedule A Tasting” link. Our relaxed and intimate Tasting sessions typically last a little over an hour and owner Steve will lead you through a detailed Tasting of these truly unique wines; read the reviews below in Product News.
VINEYARD NEWS
Harvest time is approaching fast and VCL is busy getting ready to Harvest their Estate Riesling and Saperavi. Overall, it’s been a challenging year. Downy Mildew pressure was an ever-present concern due to a wet and humid season. Deer have also been a major problem, as they love grapes as much as people do. We’ve installed netting to help protect the grapes, but the deer remain aggressive. Brenda was working in the Vineyard late last Saturday afternoon, when a group of five (5) Doe stood in the upper driveway and began snorting, stomping their hooves and in general, telling Brenda in no uncertain terms:“Human! We’re hungry! Get out of our vineyard. Now!”For his part, Steve has had to set multiple late-night alarms all month and continues to chase the deer out of the vineyard..
Also, again this year, we have had to deal with the late Spring (killer) frosts that have plagued the Finger Lakes region for the past several seasons. Accordingly, we’ve implemented frost and freeze remediation strategies, which this year included five (5) all-night burn barrel, fan and propane heater vineyard vigils, across three separate late-night frost/freeze events; a tremendous amount of both seen and unseen effort goes into making a great bottle of wine. Whereas many growers from Georgia to Maine lost everything this season, we managed to save approximately 50% of our crop, which given the circumstances, is indeed something to be grateful for, and the good news is that the quality of the remaining grapes appears to be excellent coming into harvest time.
The weeks leading into harvest are among the most important of the growing season. The remaining fruit will continue to be watched closely for ripeness, balance, flavor development, and overall condition so that picking decisions can be made at the right time. While the reduced crop is disappointing, a smaller yield can still provide an opportunity to focus carefully on the quality of the fruit that made it through the season.
WINEMAKING NEWS
We will be bottling our 2025 Estate Saperavi and 2025 Estate Riesling in early 2027. Both are showing excellent flavor and structure development in the tanks.
Over the coming months, both wines will continue their development as they move toward bottling. This patient period is an important part of the winemaking process, allowing the wines to settle, integrate, and reveal more of their final character. We look forward to sharing more details as the 2025 Estate wines move closer to release. And, we can neither confirm nor deny rumors that Rob has been seen late at night, precariously perched atop a tall ladder, staring down into the tanks while repeatedly muttering: “My Precious, My Precious...”
PRODUCT NEWS
The Valkyrie Estate and Geistwein products have been receiving excellent reviews lately. Well-known wine writer Carlo DeVito of East Coast Wineries states,
"This winery is producing some absolutely astonishing boutique wines that will absolutely wow you, and they offer them to you in a unique, sit down setting, served among antiques and collectibles. A truly one of a kind experience. A lot of fun. Super interesting. And very tasty. A completely new experience in opulent wines!"
See his complete review here: East Coast Wineries – Valkyrie Crafted Libations review
Well-respected Sommelier Laura Winter Falk also gave VCL excellent reviews, stating:
“Friends, some of you have discovered Valkyrie Crafted Libations, a new winery on East Seneca right next door to Damiani. They are being discovered for their unique Fortified wines, which are definitely delicious. Yet, one wine that may be getting overlooked, and should not be, is their 2021 Estate Riesling.This is one of the most complex and developed semi-dry Rieslings available in the Finger Lakes right now, hands down. If given to me blind, I would have definitely said it was a Mosel Auslese from a premium producer. At first whiff, you know you are dealing with a serious wine - golden honey and tropical fruits leap out of the glass. On the palate, the honey is joined with parafin wax and sweet pineapple. But it magically finishes dry with searing white grapefruit.This is a formidible wine that has to be tasted before it's gone, because a small amount was produced.”
These reviews are particularly meaningful because they highlight two sides of the VCL experience: the distinctive character of the wines themselves and the personal, seated tasting experience offered at the Tasting Lodge. The response to the 2021 Riesling also illustrates how carefully made Finger Lakes wines can continue to develop complexity and character with time, attention to detail and meticulous tradecraft.
VCL IN THE NEWS
Finger Lakes Times
Wine Business
Recent media coverage is helping introduce more wine enthusiasts to VCL, its distinctive portfolio, and the intimate tasting experience on Seneca Lake.
To taste our wonderful wines, reserve your Tasting by going to “Schedule A Tasting” link. We do encourage scheduling an appointment as this allows us ample time to prepare for and offer you the best possible Tasting experience. We also recognize that circumstances may not allow for scheduling ahead of a visit. If so, when you are in the area, simply stop by or give us a call. We will do our best to accommodate you.
Thank you in advance, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Your friends at Valkyrie Crafted Libations
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