OT: Pitt weekend - Finger Lakes vaca questions

[Townie72]

LOL...this is why I drink beer.

Love you Townie.

Mark --- I drank an ocean of the stuff in my mis-spent youth including whatever was on sale at the Chicago Market in Syracuse (UC, Genessee, etc)

All I know is that Coors Light is the best beer in the world. Nothing could be any better. (Let's see if this draws fire from the beer snobs.)

 

[TexanMark]

Mark --- I drank an ocean of the stuff in my mis-spent youth including whatever was on sale at the Chicago Market in Syracuse (UC, Genessee, etc)

All I know is that Coors Light is the best beer in the world. Nothing could be any better. (Let's see if this draws fire from the beer snobs.)

LOL I had a guy in Texas tell me he drank an awesome craft beer in NY called Genesee Cream Ale.

 

[Tom Frey]

I think we can all agree New York State wine is better then New Jersey wine. So suck it Rutgers.

 

[Townie72]

I'll just leave this here...

"Skeptics and cynics would argue that a state rampant with Concord grapes (mainly for grape juice), and saddled with such obscure wines as Seyval, Cayuga, Catawba, Diamond, Vidal and Chancellor cannot seriously use the phrase "world-class."
Such talk is mindless, notably in the face of what New York has accomplished with arguably the world's greatest grape variety, Riesling. Finger Lakes Riesling today holds its own against the best Rieslings in the world, and in numerous blind competitions has come out on top.
Dry Rieslings from the three properties I visited last week, Anthony Road, Fox Run and Red Tail Ridge, are so stellar they should be on every New York City white-tablecloth restaurant wine list. Few are."
http://www.salon.com/2010/07/28/riesling_from_ny/
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120815/WIRE/208151006

From the Salon article, "Riesling, even at its best - meaning Alsatian, is a second flight wine. So who cares? Furthermore, why couldn't a Riesling be produced in NY state? They make the crap by the tanker car full in Germany where the weather is not remarkably different."

Sounds like one guy, Frank, in NYS has figured out how to make a good "second flight" wine.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

IB, this post was very Cali-esque so I'm not sure what you're saying here. But, if you're saying there is not one good restaurant in Skan-town you're nuts. Rosalie's could be considered one of the best in the state.

I wouldn't let my dog eat at Rosalie's, it's garbage, I would say it's overpriced but hey if people are willing to pay for it than so be it. It was decent 10 years ago. I quit going there two years ago, so maybe it has gotten better, I don't know. It's the classic case of a restaurant that has sat on its lazy ass for far too long because it was once very good, failed to change but I am sure the owner's are still making money and good for them. I am not afood snob, I am perfectly happy eating cheesburgers and pizza every night as long as they are prepared well but that place does nothing for me. It's lost somewhere between fine dining and the Olive Garden. They can't even cook pasta there if you are going to pay $30 for an entree in upstate NY it should be prepaared right, pasta coooked correctly.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

From the Salon article, "Riesling, even at its best - meaning Alsatian, is a second flight wine. So who cares? Furthermore, why couldn't a Riesling be produced in NY state? They make the crap by the tanker car full in Germany where the weather is not remarkably different."

Sounds like one guy, Frank, in NYS has figured out how to make a good "second flight" wine.

Agree with you 100%, spanish red as well.

 

[TexanMark]

Agree with you 100%, spanish red as well.

Well IB down in Florida for the USF game we are drinking Shiner...no wine allowed.

 

[690West]

I wouldn't let my dog eat at Rosalie's, it's garbage, I would say it's overpriced but hey if people are willing to pay for it than so be it. It was decent 10 years ago. I quit going there two years ago, so maybe it has gotten better, I don't know. It's the classic case of a restaurant that has sat on its lazy ass for far too long because it was once very good, failed to change but I am sure the owner's are still making money and good for them. I am not afood snob, I am perfectly happy eating cheesburgers and pizza every night as long as they are prepared well but that place does nothing for me. It's lost somewhere between fine dining and the Olive Garden. They can't even cook pasta there

You blasphemous sum bit€h !! Hahaha

 

[retro44]

LOL I had a guy in Texas tell me he drank an awesome craft beer in NY called Genesee Cream Ale.

hey...lol... i just bought a 30 pack of genny for 11.99 and it had a 4.00 dollar rebate at kinny drugs the other day. at that price i should have bought two

 

[Bayside44]

Mark --- I drank an ocean of the stuff in my mis-spent youth including whatever was on sale at the Chicago Market in Syracuse (UC, Genessee, etc)

All I know is that Coors Light is the best beer in the world. Nothing could be any better. (Let's see if this draws fire from the beer snobs.)

Coors Light sucks. You just drink it because it's non-union.

 

[Chip]

With Zak on permantent vacation you've really stepped up your game.

You should let Stan out of the penalty box (or talk him out of retirement) to make a cameo in this topic.

 

[Bayside44]

You should let Stan out of the penalty box (or talk him out of retirement) to make a cameo in this topic.

He made his return on the OT site last week, just in time for the stretch run of the 2012 campaign.

 

[Townie72]

Coors Light sucks. You just drink it because it's non-union.

I have been a member of a Union twice. My father had a company in which the drivers were union (Teamsters). And I worked for 30 years in a company that had unions in the manufacturing area. A good idea in the 1900's all the way through the 1950's, but a horrible idea in the 2000's. The only people who support unions are those who are union employees (not members) and the looney Left who sees them as a way to improve the American standard of living. That's a hell of a concept. Raise the price of American goods 30% and see how well we compete.

Of course Coors Light sucks. But to the average American, it's what they like ... along with Appleby's and Chili's and the rest of near fast food industry.

But with the rise of the craft brewery we have seen a huge increase in the number and quality of beer available. Now we have developed a who new group of beer gourmands.

It's actually funny. If you know the difference between wines, you are a wine snob. But if you can tell the difference between Coors Light and whatever craft brew you prefer, your just another bright fellow.

 

[OburgOrange]

Well here's my two cents. I love Alsace wines, and as far as red goes, I am partial to Cote du Rohn (sp?), which are blends of the grenache, mouvedre, and shiraz grapes. nice and light on the pallet, and Pinot Noir is making a move on me too. Beer?..... Love Sacketts Harbor Brew Pubs micros, all of them! For swill,....Miller Lite!

 

[Townie72]

Well here's my two cents. I love Alsace wines, and as far as red goes, I am partial to Cote du Rohn (sp?), which are blends of the grenache, mouvedre, and shiraz grapes. nice and light on the pallet, and Pinot Noir is making a move on me too. Beer?..... Love Sacketts Harbor Brew Pubs micros, all of them! For swill,....Miller Lite!

There are a huge number of wines produced in the Cote du Rhone including two of my favorites, Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas. These two are quite "earthy" not "light" and have to be at least 5 yrs old. You would be a good candidate for the Spanish reds and you can save $5 bucks a bottle.

What a luxury for a fan base to discuss something besides our Conference. The Rutgers and UConn people are consumed by worry over it, each thinking they will be left where they are or worse. It's truly is the 800 lb gorilla in the room. Even if they somehow get a TV $$$ bonanza caused by market forces --- and not the actual product they are hoping to sell -- not a one of them believes that they aren't now in C-USA 2.

 

[Millhouse]

What did you think of NY Reisling?

 

[OttoMets]

I'm not sure I am a "complete" idiot. I suspect that you don't know a whole lot about wine.

I live in DC --- which is a relatively sophisticated area --- and there's not a bottle of NYS wine to be had. There are wines from California and Oregon and Chile and Italy and France and Germany and Spain and Portugal. But there is none from NYS. Why do you think that's true?

Just keep drinking that NYS wine. If you don't know the difference, it won't hurt you.

I don't know much about wine, so I don't have a horse in this race. But I do know a bit about Washington, I think, as one who lived there for many years. And that's classic DC right there - in the culture that's consumed with name appeal and who one knows, in a city and region full of starf-----, it comes as no surprise that wines from an upstart area not known for its product don't get any play over popular regions like Sonoma, Napa, France, or Spain. Nothing wrong with that, but the dearth of Finger Lakes wines in Washington bars and restaurants isn't necessarily indicative of their quality.

For what (little) it's worth - again, not a wine guy, and this is a small sample size anyway - I did very much enjoy a Gerwurztraminer (Seneca Lake area, I believe) served at Veritas in Dupont.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

As the old joke says, how are Coors Light and making love in a boat similar? They are both ing close to water. But I digress. Drink what you like whether it's beer or wine. If you like it, who cares what others say. I for one like Weimer Reisling and Guinness. You drink what you like, I'll drink what I like, we'll both get buzzed and we'll both be happy.

 

[Townie72]

I don't know much about wine, so I don't have a horse in this race. But I do know a bit about Washington, I think, as one who lived there for many years. And that's classic DC right there - in the culture that's consumed with name appeal and who one knows, in a city and region full of starf-----, it comes as no surprise that wines from an upstart area not known for its product don't get any play over popular regions like Sonoma, Napa, France, or Spain. Nothing wrong with that, but the dearth of Finger Lakes wines in Washington bars and restaurants isn't necessarily indicative of their quality.

For what (little) it's worth - again, not a wine guy, and this is a small sample size anyway - I did very much enjoy a Gerwurztraminer (Seneca Lake area, I believe) served at Veritas in Dupont.

Whereas I agree with your characterization of much of the DC area --- it is, by and large --- an area where there are a lot of Internationals and a lot of discerning people. They know what's good (food, wine, housing, etc) and they really like it when they can get a deal on it. If NYS wine was a good as some say it is, I can see the smarter retailers jumping on it complete with "sales" and tasting kiosks.

I'll give you an example. Having just gotten back from an Oregon wine trip, I was surprised to see buried in very small type in a newspaper ad from McGruder's near Chevy Chase Circle, a Oregon Pinot Noir (2009) from a well-regarded vineyard on sale ($30 vs $40 - not cheap). So I planned to go by the next morning and get a few bottles.

When I got there at 11:00am, they were sold out. Two cases gone in an hour. I was stunned. Most people don't even know they make wine in Oregon ... so I don't know how much cache it has. This reinforced my opinion that this is a pretty knowledgeable wine market.

If you like NYS gewurztraminer, that's fine. The whites aren't the place you are going to see huge differences anyway. But it might be very good stuff. Afterall in Europe it comes from the colder parts of France and western Germany (Alsace and Moselle).

 

[Townie72]

What did you think of NY Reisling?

You know, when I read the words "New York State" and "best wine". it touched a nerve.

I've politely tried a bunch of the reds which I vividly remember (A finish reminiscent of "cough syrup" sticks in my mind). So while I'm sure the wine tastings included whites, all I remember where the reds. Or maybe we were just tasting reds for whatever reason.

Whites like Rieslings aren't the most complex of wines. And they do grow and make white wine in the Moselle valley and in Alsace which are the coldest climates they grow grapes in in Europe. So it might work. I doubt I'd buy any if I could. Why take a chance when you know what you are going to get with a white from Alsace or Moselle.

But I will stipulate that it is entirely possible that some of the Rieslings and even Gerwurzatraminers from NYS might be as good as what you get from France. I don;t know. I was reacting to a lame attempt at Pinot Noir.

 

[TexanMark]

hey...lol... i just bought a 30 pack of genny for 11.99 and it had a 4.00 dollar rebate at kinny drugs the other day. at that price i should have bought two

You know...I smell a theme here. Maybe we do a retro tailgate heavy on the beers we drank as 18 year olds. Genny, Utica Club, PBR, Miller Lite, Molson Golden, do they still make OV's in the 7 ounce splits?

Townie when are you coming up for a game and tailgate with us? What is your favorite beer?

 

[Townie72]

You know...I smell a theme here. Maybe we do a retro tailgate heavy on the beers we drank as 18 year olds. Genny, Utica Club, PBR, Miller Lite, Molson Golden, do they still make OV's in the 7 ounce splits?

Townie when are you coming up for a game and tailgate with us? What is your favorite beer?

I like Amstel Light since it is most like my all time favorite, Rheingold. But I had some Dogfish Head 90 the other day and I'm starting to re-think my position on craft beers.

The tailgating sounds attractive, my Fall dance card gets pretty full. But who knows. Could happen.

I am, however, waiting with great anticipation for SU @ Maryland, SU @ Virginia and even SU @ VT, UNC, WF .

Especially in basketball, it will be good to have SU at Maryland in front of a huge crowd ... while Georgetown labors away vs. SMU in a 2/3rds empty Verizon Center.

 

[Toga]

You know...I smell a theme here. Maybe we do a retro tailgate heavy on the beers we drank as 18 year olds. Genny, Utica Club, PBR, Miller Lite, Molson Golden, do they still make OV's in the 7 ounce splits?

Townie when are you coming up for a game and tailgate with us? What is your favorite beer?

Reingold and Schlitz - both cheap both horrible

 

[Townie72]

Reingold and Schlitz - both cheap both horrible

OK, Toga," that's like just your opinion, man". In order to qualify you as a judge, you first have to answer few questions:

1. What beer were Bert and Harry the spokes people for? ("Bert and Harry" not "Bert and Ernie")
2. What was "the one beer to have when you are having more than one"?
3. What beer sponsored a Miss (Name of Beer") Contest and had posters showing all the contestants located in bars and taverns?
4. What beer was the "three ring sign" associated with? (Purity, Body and Flavor were the interlocked rings)

If you pass the test, you no doubt know that Schlitz and Rheingold were two completely different animals. At the time (Pre-1970), Schlitz was a national brewer; like Budweiser, and was a "premium" beer at $7 a case.

Rheingold was less expansive ($5 a case). A regional brewer out of NYC, it was very "dry" with some bitterness. It was advertised as the "Dry Beer". It had a core of devotees as did Shaeffer and Piel's in NYC and Ballantine and Schmidts in Philadelphia.

This was before the beer industry decided that they'd make all the beers in one big brewery and just put it in different bottles. Then it all tasted the same ... so the uniqueness of the regional brews disappeared. SO if your experience is after the collapse of the regional brewers and the sale of their labels to large companies, I'd say you were right. But you weren't drinking real Rheingold. You were drinking generic beer in a can with a Rheingold label.

Thus setting the stage for the current fad of craft beers which are a reaction to the "one beer fits all" strategy of the major brewers.

After writing that I feel exactly like "Cliff Clavin" must have felt after pontificating.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Consider going down the west side of Seneca lake to hit the wineries and then walking *down* Watkins Glen. After that you can make it to Ithaca or Skaneateles for dinner.

What I do is take the Thruway west, get off at the top of Cayuga Lake (Rt 95?), and drive down the western side of Cayuga to about Knapp - my first stop - and then I cut across to the east side of Seneca lake, going down toward Watkins Glen. The view of that northwestern end of Cayuga lake is the best drive in the Finger Lakes. You are literally right on the water for about 4 miles. Spectacular view.