Thirsty Owl Wine Company has won many awards over the years. They are a well known producer in the Finger Lakes. But a recent tasting at NY Drinks NY was an absolute eye opener!
First off, they've got a lovely new repackaging going on. Cleaner, more sophisticated. Really attractive. A terrific new rebranding! This may have been happening for some time, but it was the first I'd seen of it. My fellow tasters included.
Shawn Kime is the winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Thirsty Owl. Shawn has been with Thirsty Owl since opening their doors 16 years ago, and he’s been making Thirsty Owl’s signature wines ever since. Originally from Romulus, NY, he attended and has degrees from Morrisville College and Cornell University. Since the age of 14, Shawn has spent most of his life working in agriculture, and got his start in the winemaking industry spending two years working for one of the earliest Finger Lakes Vinifera growers.
“As a Finger Lakes native, I am proud of the fact that we are producing cool climate varietals that are on par with any region in the world. We are subject to seasonal variation here, and I like the fact that we have the opportunity to embrace those variables. Every Vintage is, and will be, different. Our goal is to make changes in the vineyard and winemaking based on the year to produce wines that not only reflect our region but the growing season. I can recall what the weather was like from every year when I think about the wine we made. I don’t think winemakers from California or Australia can say the same thing. My favorite thing about my job? Change. It’s never the same thing from one week to the next. Winemaking and grape growing are very seasonal and cyclical in nature.”
Shawn has done a terrific job at Thirsty Owl, and has had some good backing. I feel that this recent tasting shows a winemaker coming into his own as a master. He has gone from making big, consumer friendly, big selling wines, of a more refined sensibility. That's not a backhanded compliment. Shawn made some stellar wines in his lifetime. But this newest tasting showed a refined, restrained, artufl new winemaker, who has really come into his own as a top maker.
Thirsty Owl Riesling 2017 was lovely. All the right notes for a Riesling to hit. Lovely tropical notes. Lots of green apple. And wonderful acidity. Wonderfully balanced. Complex. Refreshing. Beautiful!
Thirsty Owl Diamond 2017 was as solid as ever. Shawn has always had a way with Diamond. They make the best Diamond in the business. This had layers of lovely fruit notes, and a terrific finish. Fabulous....as always!
Congrats to Shawn, and GM Jon Cupp! And the staff! Terrific stuff from Thirsty Owl!!!!!