Chronicle-Express: Tierce Bros. Go to Washington, DC

The Tierce Brothers go to Washington — or at least their celebrated Seneca Lake wine is going. Tierce 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling will be served at the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon on Jan. 21, 2013

Tierce 'Brothers' go to Washington...or at least their wine does

Chronicle-Express   Jan. 15, 2013 2:53 pm

Sen. Chuck Schumer (third from left) with Tierce winemakers (from left) Peter Bell, David Whiting and Johannas Reinhardt at the announcement that the Tierce 2010 Dry Riesling will be served at the Jan. 21 Inauguration Luncheon.

Seneca Lake   --  The Tierce Brothers go to Washington — or at least their celebrated Seneca Lake wine is going. Tierce 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling will be served at the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon on Jan. 21, 2013.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, made the announcement at Century Liquor and Wines in Rochester Jan. 9, saying Tierce Riesling will be served with the first course; a steamed lobster tail with New England clam chowder sauce.

Schumer noted that this Dry Riesling is a special example of New York's finest wines because it is made from the superb Finger Lakes 2010 Riesling vintage produced among three Upstate New York vineyards: Anthony Road Winery and Fox Run Vineyards, both from Yates County, and Red Newt Cellars from Schuyler County. The choice will be a boon for New York's wine industry, which is a significant part of the agricultural economy in Upstate New York, supporting thousands of jobs.

Anthony Road owner John Martini says Schumer contacted Jim Trezise, executive director of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation based in Canandaigua, to choose a broad range of wines from all over New York for consideration by a committee made up of the spouses of senators and representatives and the chefs who would be preparing the luncheon. After weighing the menu, only the very best of wines were chosen. Once the selection was made, the three wineries volunteered to donate eight cases of the wine for the inauguration.

"We're very excited that Tierce was chosen," says Martini, "first because it is a feather in the cap for all Finger Lakes wines, and second because it is such a collaborative effort between our winemakers. Too bad the Congress can't collaborate like our wineries can," he adds with a wry chuckle.

Martini says that despite the recognition and the fact that Tierce is always a very limited production, they have no intention of raising the price at the wineries. Schumer said that the choice of a Finger Lakes wine will be a boon for New York's wineries across the state. New York wineries are a significant part of the agricultural economy in New York, supporting thousands of jobs.

President Obama, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Cabinet will all get a taste of New York's finest wines with the Tierce 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling. I'm pleased to be able to showcase these fantastic New York companies," said Schumer last week.

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