Shaw Vineyards in The Finger Lakes Is Out To Impress

Shaw Vineyards Gives A Taste Of New York To A Selected Few In Las Vegas

In order to understand Shaw Vineyards we have to take a look at where they are from. The Finger Lakes AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario. The AVA encompass eleven glacial lakes, but the area around Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes contain the vast majority of vineyard plantings in the AVA.

Cayuga and Seneca Lakes each have their own American Viticultural Areas completely contained within the Finger Lakes AVA (Cayuga Lake AVA and Seneca Lake AVA). The Finger Lakes AVA includes 11,000 acres (4,452 ha) of vineyards, making it New York State's largest wine growing region.

Steve Shaw founded the Shaw Vineyard label in 2002 and in 2004 built his production facility and tasting room on the western shore of Seneca Lake near Himrod, NY. He has been a high-quality grape grower in the Finger Lakes for 30 years, contributing to the region’s growth and emergence as a world-class producer of vinifera wines.

Steve Shaw

Shaw Vineyard is dedicated to the production of vinifera wines in a dry, cool-climate style reminiscent of the great European producers. The winery grows most of its own grapes and sources the remainder from the highest-quality Finger Lakes growers. He  employs careful and unique methods in the  production facility, resulting in wines that are complex and full  of bold flavors.

A strong proponent of the theory that the Finger Lakes possesses the soil and climate necessary to produce many of Europe’s great wine varieties, Steve Shaw continues to experiment with his vineyard and his production facility, improving the quality of both his white and red wines. With a dedication to the proper aging of his wines prior to release, Steve Shaw hopes to distinguish himself in the Finger Lakes, a young wine region that shows more and more promise with the passing of each vintage.

Steve Shaw Jr

We started right away with the Libella Pinot Grigo 2010. This lovely Pinot Grigio was crisp and refreshing with surprising citrus notes. Steve stated “The Li Bella is made with the same standards as all other Shaw wines. The grapes are sourced from our Seneca Lake vineyard, and are picked by hand after extended hang time. “He added “ we are excited that  about  first vintage of Li Bella Cabernet Fanc as well”.

Our second wine was the Shaw Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008. This jewel from Shaw is a nice example of an old world style Sauvignon Blanc. It was elegant on both the nose a palate with light, but not overwhelming grassy notes. We ended our intimate tasting with a Pinot Noir from their Shaw vineyard, 2007 vintage. We have traveled to the region often and this Pinot Noir was probably the finest example of a Finger Lakes Pinot Noir that we have tasted.

From what we tasted of their line up at this intimate tasting high above the Las Vegas strip , Shaw Vineyards is “doing it right “ . For a small winery we look for them to continue to make some big noise in the world of  wine.  On any visit to this beautiful region, plan to visit the tasting room. You won’t be disappointed.