The Finger Lakes Pioneer Since 1962
Dr. Konstantin Frank earned his Ph.D. in Viticulture from Odessa, Ukraine in 1930 and became a leading expert in his field throughout Eastern Europe. Having survived through two World Wars and the Russian Revolution, Dr. Frank immigrated to New York in 1951 at the age of 52-years-old, with empty pockets and no knowledge of English, in the hope of creating a brighter future for his family.
Dr. Konstantin Frank knew from his experience growing grapes in very cold climates that high quality vinifera wines could be made in New York. With plenty of opposition, Dr. Konstantin Frank pushed forward and made his own way. No one believed him. His techniques and innovations began a revolution in the Finger Lakes that would forever change the region. The proof is in our wines.
Dr Konstantin Frank 2019 Margrit Dry Riesling
You now have FREE access to nearly 300,000 wine, beer and spirit reviews. Cheers!
Sourced from a vineyard on Seneca Lake, this wine offers a stony, earthy core surrounded by citrus and apple tones on the nose. The palate is broad and juicy yet dry in style, with honed lemon, pome fruit and crushed stone elements zipping along. Alexander Peartree
- rating
- Alcohol
- Not rated yet
All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide contextvintage, variety or appellationbut never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.
Ratings reflect what our editors felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read the accompanying tasting note to learn about a products special characteristics.
Dr Konstantin Frank & Sons
Dr Konstantin Frank, the man, is responsible for giving New York wines made from vinifera grapes . He came to the Finger Lakes region in the 1950s and started planting trials of vinifera vines in the early 1960s. This was in a time when there was nothing but native/table grapes being made into cheap, sweeter wines with no complexity and average flavour. Konstantins trials were very successful, though many were still doubtful of the future successes, he decided to start his own winery. He started Dr Konstantin Frank & Sons Vinifera Wine Cellar in 1962 where he planted a whole raft of experimental vines such as Cabernet Franc, Rkatsiteli , Lemberger amongst many more. He also travelled around the states sharing his results and it is due to his confidence and expertise that many other states such as Virginia, Maryland, Washington are now able to make wines before it was often seen as too cold.
Also Check: How To Make Glasses Out Of Wine Bottles
You Deserve Only Excellent
Ladies and Gentlemen. Good grapes varieties are not good enough for Americans. You Americans deserve only excellent, Dr. Konstantin Frank stated when presenting his first wines.
This is my duty, as scientist, and this is my duty, as an American patriot, he continued.
At the age of 63, when most Americans would be thinking of retirement at that age, he was building a winery from the ground up. He introduced grapes to the Finger Lakes from all over the world Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, and so on.
These grapes are excellent. This is the future of America.
He was right.
Dr Konstantin Frank 2019 Chardonnay
You now have FREE access to nearly 300,000 wine, beer and spirit reviews. Cheers!
Bright, crisp aromas of peach, apple and yellow blossoms grace the nose of this deftly balanced Chardonnay. About half sees time in French oak, which adds a slightly creamy texture and a bit of spice to the ripe orchard fruit flavors on the palate. The fruit lingers pleasantly on the close. Alexander Peartree
- rating
- Alcohol
All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide contextvintage, variety or appellationbut never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.
Ratings reflect what our editors felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read the accompanying tasting note to learn about a products special characteristics.
Recommended Reading: Turning Wine Bottles Into Glasses
Dr Konstantin Frank Winery Wins 4th Best Winery Tour In Usa Today Poll
HAMMONDSPORT After a month long of voting, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, located in Hammondsport on Keuka Lake, wins 4th Best Winery Tour and 7th Best Wine Tasting Room in a national poll hosted by USA Today 10Best.
USA Today 10Best empowers their readers to live well and travel smart by providing original, unbiased and experiential content. Nominees in each category are selected by an expert panel in an editorial review and are then voted on by readers over the course of 4 weeks.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, located in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York, previously offered informative group vineyard tours, including barrel tasting events. Since the pandemic, the winery has launched a Progressive Tasting Experience, which 10Best’s Food and Drink Editor Kae Lani Palmisano considers the most interesting and adapted wine tour . The winery provides guided instructional tastings for small groups, with five different tasting stations, each having a theme-related selection of wines, states the USA Today 10Best editorial.
The Progressive Tasting Experience at Dr. Konstantin Frank was conceived in Spring 2020 as the winery prepared for reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown.
Reservations are highly recommended for all tasting experiences at Dr. Konstantin Frank and can be made online on their website www.drfrankwines.com. Walk-ins are welcome in Eugenias Garden for casual wine flights, wines by the glass, and cheese and charcuterie plates.
Dr Konstantin Frank Week On The Perfect Pair
As some of you may already know, yesterday I received a very generous shipment from Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in New York. Lugging the 23 pound box to my apartment, my insides gurgling with excitement, I wasting no time getting into my apartment and ripping open the package. Reading through the list of the wine included my eyes scanned over 8 wines. 8 wines!
As a service to Katie Cornelius and Fred Frank, I am featuring Dr. Konstantin Frank wines all this week. But before any food is made, I just want to take a minute to tell you a little about the winery.
Overview:
History
Fleeing a destruction ridden Europe during World War II, Dr. Konstantin Frank decided to uproot his family to America. After a short spurt working as a dish washer in New York City the Frank family moved upstate, where Dr. Frank worked for the Gold Seal Vineyard until he started Vinifera Wine Cellars in 1962.
Determined to grow vinifera wines of northern Europe, Dr. Frank helped transform New York from a sweet wine producer of only a few dozen vineyards, to a multimillion-dollar industry of fine wines, currently with over 200 vineyards state wide.
Handed down from generation to generation, Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars is still family owned and operated to this day by Dr. Franks grandson, Fredrick Frank.
Location
Publicity
Wines
Recommended Reading: Stella Rosa Wine Cvs
Dr Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling Finger Lakes
Grown on the rich soils in steep vineyards to the west of the Keuka Lake, here cold air and excellent drainage allow Reisling to thrive. Picked in the morning to retain freshness and fermented with selected yeasts at low temperatures in stainless steel the grapes are fermented slowly to preserve its delicate floral aromatics. Tangy grapefruit and lime on the palate wih a distinctive minerality.
Product code:
Food & Wine Experience
Our most in-depth experience. The 1886 Food & Wine Experience caters to those with a deeper interest in the Dr. Frank winemaking and viticultural program. Visits are available by reservation only and include an in-depth viticultural or cellar experience, followed by a seated educational wine flight paired with creative, small foods.
May – October | Thursday – Sunday | $50 pp | Reservations Only
Don’t Miss: How Much Carbs Does Wine Have
Dr Konstantin Frank 2016 Cabernet Franc
You now have FREE access to nearly 300,000 wine, beer and spirit reviews. Cheers!
This is a light-bodied Cabernet Franc that offers tones of spiced currant and cranberry on the nose and palate, with a delicate framing of green herbs. It is carried by juicy acidity and a line of fine-grained tannins that meld with the tart red-fruit flavors. Drink now for its immediate appeal. Alexander Peartree
- rating
- Alcohol
- Not rated yet
All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide contextvintage, variety or appellationbut never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.
Ratings reflect what our editors felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read the accompanying tasting note to learn about a products special characteristics.
ClassicThe pinnacle of quality
Very GoodOften good value well recommended
GoodSuitable for everyday consumption often good value
Dr Konstantin Frank 2018 Gewrztraminer
You now have FREE access to nearly 300,000 wine, beer and spirit reviews. Cheers!
Bright aromas of grapefruit, white flowers and pink peppercorn meld with a slightly grassy hop note on the nose. The palate is rounded in feel, showing a creamy melon flavor that’s honed by a lick of bitter spice. Alexander Peartree
- rating
- Alcohol
- Not rated yet
All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide contextvintage, variety or appellationbut never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.
Ratings reflect what our editors felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read the accompanying tasting note to learn about a products special characteristics.
ClassicThe pinnacle of quality
Very GoodOften good value well recommended
GoodSuitable for everyday consumption often good value
Ratings reflect what our editors felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read the accompanying tasting note to learn about a products special characteristics.
Recommended Reading: Custom Bridesmaid Wine Labels
