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Summer Newsletter 2014

Over the past several months, there has been no shortage of exciting accolades for our winery. We finished 2013 with a record 129 gold medals in national and international wine competitions, which is a testament to the quality of our wines. We were also highlighted in prestigious publications such as the New York Times and Wine & Spirits Magazine in late 2013.

2014 has been equally exciting. The number one bestselling wine guide, Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2014, awarded Dr. Frank’s Winery a “Four Star” rating. This is their highest rating given only to the world’s best wineries.

In March, I was honored to receive a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Eastern Winery Exposition in March for Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars pioneering work and commitment to quality.

Perhaps the most exciting news of all these days, however, is that three of our wines were rated “90 Points” in the July issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine (Dr. Frank 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling, Dr. Frank 2012 Riesling Reserve and Dr. Frank 2013 Pinot Noir Dry Rosé).

It has been an absolute pleasure working with my daughter, Meaghan, who is the fourth generation of the Frank family at our winery. Passing on the experience I have received from Willy and Konstantin through the years has been especially rewarding. Meaghan has been representing the winery at many events, tastings and wine seminars. She is very wine knowledgeable and is a great ambassador for the winery and the Finger Lakes.

Two other family members continue the family legacy here at the winery as well. My cousin, Eric Volz, is continuing his father, Walter’s legacy of managing our old vine vineyards. These old vines produce lower yields but reward us with higher quality fruit resulting in great wines. My sister, Barbara, helps us in the New York City region with sales and wine education events along with sparkling winemaking consulting.

I would like to thank you for your continued support and invite you to visit us and taste our gold medal winning wines with our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Our wines are also available at many fine wine shops and restaurants or can be ordered online at www.DrFrankWines.com.

Fred and Meaghan Frank, General Manager

President

Fred with daughters Gretchen and Meaghan as children

Cheers,

WORDS FROM FRED

3 90 Point RatingsIn the July Issue of

2012 Semi-Dry Riesling - “90 Points”The 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling presents a light golden hue and a nose of orange blossom, lavender and pear. A vibrant mouth feel reveals flavors of apple, peach, mandarin oranges and a zesty fruit finish. This vintage is currently out of stock at our winery.

2012 Riesling Reserve - “90 Points”Made in the German Auslese style, a light to medium bodied, slightly sweet wine with crisp acidity. Some of the grapes were harvested with “noble rot” which adds richness and complexity.

2013 Pinot Noir Dry Rosé - “90 Points”The 2013 Rosé reveals delicate aromas of peach, berries and citrus and is accentu-ated by lovely mineral notes.

We were excited to receive news from Wine Enthusiast Magazine that three of our wines scored “90 Point” ratings in the upcoming July issue. While we were thrilled to see that two of our Rieslings were rated so highly, we were incredibly pleased that our Pinot Noir Dry Rosé scored so well. It’s rare for Rosés (especially those from the Finger Lakes) to be given such high ratings. Wine magazines are notoriously picky about giving high scores to this particular style of wine. We encourage you to pick up a copy of the July issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine for more details.

Dr. Frank’s is noted as one of the most “iconic” Riesling producers in the Finger Lakes in the January 2014 issue of Wine Business Monthly. The article also discusses the techniques of one of our winemakers, Peter Weis, as well as our Dr. Frank 2012 Dry Riesling.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars and Chateau Frank earned a record 129 gold medals in 2013. The total was more than we ever won in over fifty years of business and is a reflection of our commitment to quality. Governor Cuomo used the

Super Bowl as an opportunity to promote “Taste NY” prod-ucts and tourism in Upstate New York. New York prod-ucts, such as the Salmon Run Pinot Noir were prominently featured at Super Bowl events throughout the week leading up to the game.

Fred Frank accepted a Lifetime Achievement award at the Eastern Winery Exposition in March on behalf of the four generations of Frank family members that have run Dr. Frank’s winery since 1962. In announcing the award, EWE program director Richard Leahy acknowledged that for the first time the award was being presented “not to a person, but to an institution.”

News and Acclaim

Our winery was given a “four star rating” in Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2014, the number one best-selling wine guide in the world. The book notes that Dr. Frank’s “remains a leader” in the east, with “excellent Riesling”.

In the January 2014 issue of the National Culinary Review, Dr. Frank’s is included as a “notable Finger Lakes producer” of Riesling. The publication calls us a “pioneer in planting vinifera grapes from Europe, including award-winning Riesling.”

The Chateau Frank Célèbre was chosen as one of the “Year’s Best US Sparkling Wines” and also received a 90 Point rating in the December 2013 issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine.

In October 2013, New York Times wine writer Eric Asimov listed the Dr. Frank 2012 Dry Riesling as the top Riesling in the Finger Lakes region after tasting Rieslings from top producers in the area.

In the October 2013 issue of Wine Spectator Magazine, the Dr. Frank 2012 Riesling Reserve received a “90 Point” rating and was described as a “big, plump, off-dry style, with an ample core of creamed yellow apple, anise and peach flavors that pump through the finish.”

In the August 2013 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine, sommeliers from some of New York’s top dining establishments explain why Finger Lakes wines are their “go to” wines. Juliette Pope, sommelier of famed New York restaurant, the Gramercy Tavern, lists the Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli as one of the wines she’s currently pouring at the restaurant.

Being a pioneering winery is a responsibility that Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars takes seriously. The winery “started it all” in the Finger Lakes by introducing vitis vinifera, playing a major role in the development of the region. The winery also introduced methode champenoise sparkling wines made from vitis vinifera to the region and techniques such as grafting. This year, Dr. Frank’s is making the leap to Stelvin screwcaps.

Winery president Fred Frank points out that, “As a ‘pioneering winery’, we must always be ‘cutting edge’ and think of ways to improve the way we operate, maybe even making a difference for other wineries along the way by serving as an example.” That’s one of the reasons why this year, Dr. Frank’s is forging ahead with Stelvin screwcaps, the highest quality wine closure on the market.

Quality preservation played the most important role in the winery’s decision. Dr. Frank’s is well known for aromatic northern European grape varieties such as Riesling, Gewürz-traminer and Grüner Veltliner. As Meaghan Frank, the win-ery’s General Manager asserts, “We’ve spent the past fifty years perfecting the art of winemaking and that’s why this year we are making sure that our hard work can be enjoyed consistently for years to come. We want to know that each and every time our customers open a bottle of premium Dr. Frank wine, it will taste the way we intended it to taste.” Meaghan also points out that, “While northern European grape varieties in general are the best fit for Dr. Frank’s and the Finger Lakes, the aromatic threshold for these wines are low, meaning that even a slight exposure to oxygen or cork taint can affect the aroma and flavor profile.” The winery’s international team of winemakers with knowledge and experience with these closures also pushed for the move.

Here in the U.S., screw cap closures are steadily gaining appreciation among wine consumers. Internationally, screw caps are the closure of choice for many winemakers of even the high-est end wines. The benefits of screw caps are many. Compared to cork, screw caps prevent the wine faults of oxidation and of cork taint, and are easier to open. Screw caps have a much lower failure rate than cork, and in theory will allow a wine to reach the customer in perfect condition, with a minimum of bottle variation. International studies have also shown many aging benefits as well.

Dr. Frank’s will gradually be rolling out its 2013 vintage whites (with the exception of Chardonnay) under Stelvin screw caps, the highest quality screw cap on the market. Natural cork will continue to be used for the winery’s red wines.

Superior Quality Deserves Superior Closures

Keeping the Pioneering Spirit Going

Grüner Veltliner

What it is...

One of Austria’s flagship grape varieties. It accounts for one third of Austria’s vineyards. German word pronounced groona feltleena.

• Delicate grape that excels in cool climates such as the Finger Lakes.• Ripens later than Riesling.• Lessacidic than Riesling.• Elegant, dry light to medium bodied • Generally aged in stainless steel.• A very food-friendlywinethat is often a sommelier favorite in New York City.• Typical notes: white pepper, pear, herbal with rounded mouth feel.

At Dr. Frank...

StyleDry with textural mouth feelBodyLight bodiedMaincharactersPear, stone fruits with expressive spicy pep-pery notesPairingSushi and dill or fennel dishes.

Explore These Unique Varieties

Rkatsiteli

What it is...

One of the oldest vinifera grapes known to man. Pronounced er-ka-tsee-tely, this grape originates from the Republic of Georgia.

• Delicatevariety resistant to cold winter conditions.• It always retains goodacidity levels, even in warmer growing seasons.• Veryversatile grape that is able to produce table wines, sparkling, sweet and fortified styles.• Typical notes: Crisp green apple with hints of white peach and light spiciness.

At Dr. Frank...

StyleDry with crisp mouth feel.BodyLight bodiedMaincharactersCitrus and fresh herbs with tight mineral palate.PairingAsian dishes or seafood.

Main Varieties Planted Here: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Saperavi

Keuka Lake Vineyards

Seneca Lake Vineyards

The vineyards located around our winery on the west side of Keuka Lake were first planted by Dr. Konstantin Frank in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Some of the vinifera vines located on this property are among the oldest in the United States. The age of these vines plays a vital role in the complex-ity associated with certain varieties at the winery such as Pinot Noir. Volz Vineyards, located less than a mile north of our estate vineyards on the west side of Keuka Lake are an impor-tant part of our vineyard portfolio as well. The vineyards were planted by Walter Volz, Dr. Konstantin Frank’s vineyard manager and son in law. Volz vineyards are now run by Wal-ter’s son, Eric Volz, grandson of Konstantin Frank. We also have vineyards planted around Chateau Frank, our sparkling winemaking facility just south of our tasting room. Grapes sourced from this location are used for our sparkling wines.SoilMake-UpattheseSites: Shallow, shale based soils with high natural acidity.InfluenceonWines:Pronounced minerality and acid structure found in our dry white wines in particular. The climate at our Keuka vineyards is typically cooler than that of our Seneca Lake Vineyards, which lends itself to a more aus-tere style of Riesling. The Dr. Frank Dry Riesling is perhaps the best example of Keuka lake terroir.

Main Varieties Planted Here: Rkatsiteli, Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Lemberger, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

We prize our vineyards in Hector, NY along the east side of Seneca Lake for the bright, zestful, fruit driven wines they produce. Our Hector vineyards are located along the what is often referred to in the Finger Lakes as the “banana belt” of Seneca Lake. This area of the lake experiences higher than average temperatures as well as more sun exposure than other areas of the Finger Lakes. The vineyard is an asset for the winery as the growing season there is a bit longer, allowing us to achieve the most optimal ripeness for the varieties grown there. The level of ripeness achieved there lends a lot to the fruit forward nature of some of our wines.SoilMake-UpattheseSites: Deep honeoye silt loam.InfluenceonWines:Pronounced fruit aromatics. The Dr. Frank Semi-Dry Riesling is perhaps the best example of terroir at this site. In our tasting room, we often use the Dr. Frank Dry Riesling and Semi-Dry Riesling as a study in contrast between our Keuka and Seneca vineyards.

Terroir and the Wines of Dr. Frank

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