A podcast that takes listeners behind the scenes to learn about the people, methods, and stories that have made Hazlitt among leaders in the distinctive collaboration and community friendliness of the Finger Lakes wine region.
They may not be easy to pronounce, but Gewürztraminer and Grüner Veltliner are aromatic white wines that are certainly palate-pleasers! This episode allows listeners to learn all about these unique white wines, including their extensive histories, their best food pairings, and how you can simply enjoy their distinctive qualities during a tasting, especially when soaking in some summer sunshine. Hazlitt's Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy covers these facts and more, including how Gewürztraminer can be enjoyed much more often than with Thanksgiving dinner. And perhaps you've never heard of Grüner Veltliner, one of the most widely-grown varietals in Austria. Michael discusses how it's being increasingly cultivated in the Finger Lakes, and how along with Gewürztraminer, it's rewarding to grow and craft into delicious wines.
21 Jul 2023
Making Beautifully Blended Wines
What do winemaking and cooking have in common? More than you might think! Just as a professional or at-home chef is always looking for the right ingredient to enhance a dish, winemakers are also always considering how they can make a wine exemplify the best of what the harvest offers! However, winemakers can't exactly scour a spice rack to add flavors to their wines, so how do they adjust a wine's flavor profile? Thankfully winemakers can turn to a special tool that's been honed since the earliest days of winemaking—blending wines! Hazlitt's vinifera winemaker Michael Reidy shares his extensive knowledge and experiences related to blending wines, and some tips for finding a blend that fits your palate. Listeners will also get a special "taste" of Hazlitt's newest premium blend, Homestead Reserve Prestige!
6 Oct 2022
Why Hazlitt's Cider Tree Is 'Honest to the Core'
When fall arrives, it's not only time to break out comfy sweaters and watch the leaves change to dazzling colors—for many, it's also time to sip on some crisp and refreshing hard cider! Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards makes a hard cider called Cider Tree that comes in several fun flavors, including the "staff favorites" Citra Hops and Cinnamon Spice (that pairs well with pumpkin pie)! For this podcast episode, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards winemaker Tim Benedict talks about what goes into making Cider Tree from 100 percent New York State Apples. He will also discuss other ways Cider Tree has earned its catchphrase, "honest to the core" and multiple awards, including GOLD at the 2021 Finger Lakes International and NY Spiced Cider Producer of the Year at the 2021 NY International Cider Competition. You can learn more about Cider Tree here: https://hazlitt1852.com/cider-tree/. Referenced in this episode is the "From the Grape to Your Glass" episode which you can find here: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/16713047. Cheers!
8 Jul 2022
Hazlitt’s New Wine Seltzers Make a Splash!
For this episode, learn about Hazlitt’s newest product: wine seltzers! They are made using the winery's most famous wines and include Red Cat Splash, White Cat Splash, Pink Cat Splash, and Red Cat Dark Splash. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Director of Sales and Business Development, Brad Phillips, and winemaker, Tim Benedict, describe the behind-the-scenes work that went into the creation of Splash and why it might just become your favorite summer sipper!
Wines mentioned in this episode also relate to past episodes of this podcast, including Every Barrel Has a Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/every-wine-barrel-has-a-story/id1542407519?i=1000513491011 and Hazlitt's Fabulous Red Cat Fizz & White Cat Fizz https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/hazlitts-fabulous-red-cat-fizz-white-cat-fizz/id1542407519?i=1000549997796
3 Feb 2022
Hazlitt's Fabulous Red Cat Fizz & White Cat Fizz
Bubbly beverages are becoming increasingly popular. They not only glisten beautifully in a glass, but they also provide pleasurable effervescent flavors to any palate. That's why Hazlitt offers bubbly versions of its bestselling wines, Red Cat and White Cat. For this episode, I chat with winemaker Tim Benedict about making Red Cat and White Cat Fizz—the bubbly versions of Red Cat and White Cat. Tim talks about everything from the sustainable methods used to grow the grapes to the process of making them bubbly and the uniquely-shaped Fizz bottles. To learn more about the Fizz products and all of Hazlitt's wines, in addition to visiting the two tasting room locations, you can visit Hazlitt1852.com.
15 Oct 2021
Secrets to Growing and Making a Stellar Finger Lakes Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc or Sauv Blanc is one of the most popular white wines in the world. It is known for its herbal qualities and distinct acidity. While you can find it growing nearly anywhere around the world, Sauv Blanc from the Finger Lakes is known for some unique characteristics. Hazlitt Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy talks about these qualities and what goes into making a Finger Lakes Sauv Blanc. He provides even more need-to-know info about Sauv Blanc, including the best foods to pair it with. Hazlitt's Vineyard Manager John Santos also discusses growing Sauv Blanc in the Finger Lakes, including some of the challenges and how it has a "rambunctious teenage phase." To buy Hazlitt Sauv Blanc made by Michael and John, visit:
► https://store.hazlitt1852.com/hazlitt/storefront.aspx
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23 Jun 2021
Remarkable Finger Lakes Rieslings: What You Need to Know
Riesling has become one of the most popular vinifera grapes in the Finger Lakes. The term "vinifera" means it is a varietal of European origin. It’s believed the grape dates back to around 1435 and was first cultivated in Germany, where it is likely native to the country’s Rhine Valley.
So how did this varietal, which produces a versatile and refreshing white wine, end up being so successful in a place as far away from its origins as the Finger Lakes region of New York state? What could be next for its evolution in the Finger Lakes? And why does Hazlitt now have four Rieslings made in three styles?
We will answer these questions and more today by talking to our two guests: Paul Brady, Sommelier and Michael Reidy, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards' Vinifera Winemaker. Brady is a prominent supporter of New York Wine and he hosts a wine podcast called A Northern Wine Odyssey. He’s also a contributor to The Cork Report, the online publication that produces A Northern Wine Odyssey. It also explores and recognizes the unique places and people of North America’s distinctive wine regions. Additionally, Brady is working on opening an urban winery and retail space in Beacon, NY—check out paulbradywine.com for updates! You can also follow Paul's wine adventures at @paulbradywine and @lakewinesrule.
Brady has received the honor of being named to Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 list which recognizes the young winemakers, brewers, beverage directors, grape growers, and other individuals making major impacts in the beverage industry.
Michael is Hazlitt’s Vinifera Winemaker. He is among the first cohort to graduate from Cornell University’s Enology and Viticulture program. Enology is a science that deals with wine and winemaking. Michael is a longstanding guest on our show and he can you learn more about him and his career with Hazlitt in earlier podcasts.
Paul and Michael are longtime friends and it was wonderful to have both of them on this show! They discuss Riesling in the Finger Lakes and beyond in addition to some other noteworthy cooler-climate wines. So pour yourself a glass and get ready to expand your appreciation of Riesling!
To learn about buying one of Hazlitt's four Riesling options and visiting one of its two tasting room locations, check out hazlitt1852.com.
► Riesling History Source
More info about the local Humane Society Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards supports ► Humane Society of Schuyler County
28 Apr 2021
Sustainable Grape-Growing in the Finger Lakes
In this episode, Hazlitt's highly-regarded Vineyard Manager John Santos discusses current environmental challenges involved in growing grapes for a Finger Lakes winery—and innovative ways of making it more ecologically and economically viable. These methods include:
Implementing the use of cover crops
Using compost made of grape pomace (the pulpy residue left over after the juice is squeezed from the grapes in the winemaking process)
Minimizing pesticide use by utilizing and innovative sprayer
Collecting rainwater from the winery's warehouse roof
► Learn more about these and other initiatives (https://bit.ly/3gYNRuf)
Do your part! Learn how to compost at home from these great resources:
United States EPA (https://bit.ly/3efTbYI)
NPR Radio Segment (https://n.pr/3eTZWhE)
We'd love to hear what you thought of this show! Please feel free to email s.hazlitt93@gmail.com (mailto:s.hazlitt93@gmail.com) with suggestions and feedback. Cheers!
17 Mar 2021
Every Oak Barrel Has a Story
In this episode, you'll learn from Hazlitt’s Co-CEO & Owner Doug Hazlitt (the father of host Shannon Hazlitt Harts) and Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy about the role oak barrels play in making many wines, including Hazlitt's Barrel Fermented Chardonnay. They expertly describe the different types of oak barrels that are used in winemaking and the unique qualities they can impart to wines. In addition, listeners will gain background on the history of oak barrels in general winemaking and at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards—including how Doug Hazlitt snuck the first oak barrels into the production process!
19 Jan 2021
Discover Hazlitt's Dessert Wines: The Solera Sherry and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine
Hope you have your sweet tooth ready! In this episode, we’ll cover the unique processes and incredible flavors in the Hazlitt Solera Sherry and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. First, we'll chat with Tim Benedict, Vice President of Cider and Winemaking. He’s the expert on the Solera Sherry, which is aged in barrels using a special process he’ll explain called The Solera Method. Then we’ll hear from Michael Reidy, Vinifera Winemaker, about the Vidal Blanc ice wine that's made using the traditional method—which involves allowing the grapes to freeze on the vine!
19 Jan 2021
5 Winetasting Tips and Tricks
For this episode of Great Times Behind the Wines, we’ll be diving into some tips and tricks for winetastings with Hazlitt’s Vinifera Winemaker, Michael Reidy—who does it as part of his job! Michael runs through the five S's of winemaking: See, Swirl, Sniff/Smell, Sip, and Savor.
14 Dec 2020
The Hurrah of Harvest!
A behind-the-scenes look at what's involved in harvesting grapes to make the award-winning wines at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards winery! To understand the sights, sounds, processes, and community spirit that are all a part of the harvest season at this winery in New York's Finger Lakes Wine Country, we speak with Tim Benedict, Vice President of Cider and Winemaking, and Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy. To learn more about the story of Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and its products, visit hazlitt1852.com.
6 Nov 2020
From the Grape to Your Glass
Have you ever wondered about the work behind turning grapes growing out in a vineyard into the wine you sip and swirl in your glass? In this introductory episode of Great Times Behind the Wines, you'll learn straight from the vineyard manager and vinifera winemaker at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards about the hard work and teamwork it takes to make every bottle of wine—including Hazlitt's most popular, called Red Cat.
6 Nov 2020
Introducing Great Times Behind the Wines
Learn about how this podcast takes you behind-the-scenes of life at a popular family-owned winery—Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Winery—in the Finger Lakes wine region. This show reveals the people, methods, and stories that have made Hazlitt among the leaders in the distinctive collaboration and community friendliness of the Finger Lakes wine region.
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