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Fall/WinterNewsletter

The 2015 grape harvest looks to be excellent with ideal growing conditions. The ripening of the grapes has been two to three weeks earlier than normal resulting in high sugar levels and excellent flavors. Although smaller in yield, 2015 could be the vintage of the decade in the Finger Lakes for quality.

We are on a record pace having received over 100 gold medals in national and internation-al wine competitions thus far this year. We enter wine competitions because the judging is done blind and there is no bias for or against our Finger Lakes wine. They are judged simply on their quality. I am soon leaving for a visit to Congress where I will be receiving the Jefferson Cup from the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition. The Dr. Frank Riesling, semi-dry, 2014, received their highest award and was judged as the best wine. When the results are in at the end of the year, we should continue as New York’s most award-winning winery. This is getting more competitive every year with now over 300 wineries in New York. When Konstantin started our winery in 1962 there were only 12 wineries.

We also submit our wines to wine magazines for review and they have scored high in this format as well. There is a whole page in the newsletter devoted to this year’s ratings and we are very proud of the results. Of course, the most important rating is from you and we plan to continue to produce the best possible wines from the Finger lakes.

In 2015, we received an avalanche of great press in many prestigious magazines, newspa-pers and books. Our wines were recommended in Wine & Spirits, Wines & Vines, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Town & Country, Better Homes and Gardens, The Washington Post and many others. We were also again rated in the top 100 wineries in the United States by msn.com

My daughter, Meaghan, will be finishing her second Master’s Degree this December from Cornell University in enology while she continues to work at the winery. She previously graduated from the University of Adelaide in Australia with an MBA degree in wine busi-ness. I am really looking forward to her rejoining the winery full time this December. I hope that she doesn’t come to me and say, “Dad, I think I should next get a doctorate degree like Konstantin”. Meaghan is the bright future of the winery and I am sure will continue to improve the wines. We are the only fourth generation family managed winery in the Eastern United States. This continuity and tight control allows us to focus on qual-ity and produce such outstanding wines year after year.

As the holidays approach I hope you will share our wines with your friends and family. I invite you to visit us and taste our Gold Medal winning wines with our friendly knowl-edgeable staff. Our wines are also available at many fine wine shops and restaurants or can be ordered online. Cheers,

Fred FrankPresident

Dr. Frank’s Goes Green

Since 1962, our winery has been a leader in the Finger Lakes region. In 2015, we were proud to help lead the solar movement in the Finger Lakes with our friends at Hunt Country Vineyards, Wagner Vineyards and Eagle Crest Vineyards. Our four wineries teamed up to implement large scale solar energy programs at our respective wineries. Together, our solar energy adds up to nearly half a megawatt of solar or enough energy to power hundreds of homes. The collaborative initiative will result in the removal of about 460 tons of CO2 emissions each year for the life of the systems, estimated at about 25 years, and represents the equivalent of nearly 200 acres of trees planted and about 35 million vehicle miles eliminated during that time period.

Here at Dr. Frank’s, our 51KW installation on our winemaking facility has been spin-ning the electrical meter backwards. Solar energy has taken a huge “load” off of the electrical needs in our winemaking facilities. Just another way we are moving into the future!

2015 saw its fair share of ups and downs weather wise. But mother nature showed some kindness from mid July through the end of September with a long stretch of warm, dry weather and plentiful sun. That stretch of weather allowed for the grapes to ripen and develop. In the end, we started harvest earlier than normal. While yields were lower in the 2015 harvest season, the quality looks to be excellent. In 2014, we actually had a similar harvest with low yields, but excellent quality. The 2014 vintage ended up being superb with a wonderful concentration of flavors. Because 2015 is similar, we expect the quality to be the same, if not higher.

Over the past 54 years, we have become adept at handling the challenges of having a winery in the Finger Lakes. Our cool climate is perfect for northern European varieties in particular. We are fortunate to have one of the best (if not THE best) winemaking teams in the region. Our winemakers are from various areas of the world (California, Germany, Australia and South Africa) and bring their respective expertise to the wine-making program at Dr. Frank’s. This talented team helps “see us through” every vintage!

2015 Harvest Report

In June this year, the highly anticipated first ever full biography on the life of Dr. Konstantin Frank was released. Once the book was released, we couldn’t keep copies on the shelf. We were excited to learn that “Finger Lakes Wine and the Legacy of Dr. Konstantin Frank” was one of the best-selling books from Arcadia Publishing and sold out within a month. The book has since gone to reprint and copies of the book continue to fly. We have received many great reviews on the book, but our favorite review so far comes from the President of the New York Wine and Grape Founda-tion, Jim Trezise: “Finger Lakes Wine and the Legacy of Dr. Konstantin Frank, a new book by Tom Russ provides a fascinating look at a visionary who transformed the wine industry not just in the Finger Lakes but the entire eastern United States. The book was unveiled at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Chateau Frank, the dream of Dr. Frank’s son Willy, who has also had a significant impact. Most people know the basic story: Dr. Konstantin Frank fled Ukraine during the war, came to the United States with a Ph D. in viticulture and specialization in cold climates, but couldn’t find work because of conventional wisdom and skepticism that classic European grape varieties could not survive the region’s cold winters (unfortunately, a view also hold by Cornell at that time). Fortunately, he met fellow European Charles Fournier of France, who gave him a chance to prove his point--which indeed he did. But leading up to that story is one even more com-pelling, which also explains and reflects Dr. Franks indomitable grit and determination. Born into a family of privilege, he and his young family endured incredible danger, humiliation, and uncer-tainty as they fled the war and made their way to America. It’s the kind of story that great movies are made of, and author Tom Russ does a great job chronicling it. Dr. Frank’s son Willy also deserves a tremendous amount of credit, not just for creating the adjacent Chateau Frank award-winning sparkling wine producer, but especially for essen-tially rescuing Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars when its founder could no longer effectively manage it. Like his father, Willy was intense and driven, but also more collegial than his father in terms of working with other industry members. Perhaps the best part of the story isn’t covered exten-sively in the book: The future. The third and fourth generations, Fred Frank and his daughter Meaghan, are now carrying on the pioneering legacy of Dr. Frank and Willy Frank, creating “only excellent wines”, winning hundreds of top awards, and achieving much-deserved recognition for Dr. Frank Wines (and the Finger Lakes) around the world. The best is yet to come.”

Buy a case (12 bottles) of wine or more and enjoy 50% off your purchase of this book at www.drfrankwines.com or in our tasting room on

Keuka Lake. Not applicable with any other specials.

The Success of “Finger Lakes Wine and the Legacy of Dr. Konstantin Frank”

Ratings Zone

2013 Semi-Dry RieslingUltimate Wine Challenge: 94 pts, Double GoldLos Angeles Int’l Wine Comp: 90 ptsWine Enthusiast: 90pts, “Best Buy”

2013 Riesling ReserveRobert Parker: 90 ptsUltimate Wine Challenge: 91 ptsSan Francisco Int’l Wine Comp: 93 ptsLos Angeles Int’l Wine Comp: 96 ptsWine Enthusiast: 90 ptsBTI World Value Wine Challenge: 93 pts

2014 Grüner VeltlinerWorld Wine Championships: 91 ptsMonterey Wine Comp: 93 ptsWinemaker Challenge Int’l Wine Comp: 90 pts

2013 Dry RieslingRobert Parker: 90 ptsMonterey Wine Comp: 94 pts

2013 Late Harvest RieslingWine & Spirits : 94 pts BTI World Value Wine Challenge: 93 pts

2013 Pinot GrisUltimate Wine Challenge: 94 pts, Double GoldBTI World Value Wine Challenge: 92 pts, “Best Buy”

2009 Chateau Frank Blanc de BlancsUltimate Wine Challenge: 90 ptsSan Francisco Int’l Wine Comp: 98 pts Los Angeles Int’l Wine Comp: 94 pts

2009 Chateau Frank Blanc de NoirsUltimate Wine Challenge: 91 ptsLos Angeles Int’l Wine Comp: 92 pts

2008 Chateau Frank BrutUltimate Wine Challenge: 91 pts

Chateau Frank CélèbreSan Francisco Int’l Wine Comp: 93 pts

2014 GewürztraminerWorld Wine Championships: 93 pts

2014 Dry RieslingWorld Wine Championships: 92 pts

A listing of our ratings from 2015

The Success of “Finger Lakes Wine and the Legacy of Dr. Konstantin Frank”

“Where to Eat and Drink in the Finger Lakes” - FoodNetwork.com

October 2015 - “Overlooking Keuka Lake and off the main wine route, you’ll stumble upon one of the oldest wineries in the region. It was founded by Dr. Konstantin Frank, who ignited the “Vinifera Revolution” in the 1960s after discovering that the cold climate wasn’t a barrier to growing European grape varieties and that the problem was actually the lack of proper rootstock. In 1962, he founded Vinifera Wine Cellars and quickly became famous for spectacular Rieslings. Today, the winery is still family run, by Konstantin’s great grandson Frederick Frank and his daughter, Meaghan Frank. Riesling isn’t the only wine you’ll want to try in the complimentary tastings. Vinifera’s sparkling wines are all made in the methode champenoise style and should be at the top of your list. For something truly unique try their Rkatsiteli 2013, made from one of the oldest wine grapes known to man, with origins in the Republic of Georgia.”

“7 Places to Put on Your Travel Bucket List if You Love Wine” - Town and Country Magazine

September 2015 - “What’s good in the Finger Lakes: If you are looking for something off the beaten path, try the Finger Lakes wine region in upstate New York. You’ll find world-class wines (riesling, in particular), unparalleled scenic views around the three lakes, and a burgeoning food scene. This is one of the wine world’s best kept secrets and it won’t remain this way for much longer.” The article suggests visiting Dr. Konstantin Frank’s and notes that it is “one of the region’s most iconic labels”.

“Wine Weekends” - Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

October 2015 - Better Homes and Gardens notes that Riesling is the grape of choice in the Finger Lakes. The article also says that vineyards planted by pioneer Konstantin Frank can be found in the scenic Finger Lakes region of New York.

“Where to try Finger Lakes Riesling, Cab Franc and Brut” - Washington Post

September 2015 - An article written by Dave McIntyre of the Washington Post recently featured Dr. Frank’s and Chateau Frank as brands that could be found in the D.C. area stating, “Dr. Konstantin Frank was a pioneer of traditional vinifera grapes on the East Coast in the 1960s, and his namesake winery, now under the helm of fourth-generation Meaghan Frank, remains the Finger Lakes’ most prominent winery. The Dr. Frank 2014 Semi-Dry Riesling, which is not yet available in the Washington area, won Best of Show in the 2015 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition. I’m also a fan of the winery’s rkatsiteli, a crisp white made from a grape native to Georgia. Chateau Frank is a sister label, under which the winery produces

The Latest Buzz About Dr. Frank’s

consistently delicious sparkling wines in the champagne tradition. ABV: 12.3 percent.

“The History of Wine in 100 Bottles” - Oz ClarkeSeptember 2015 - In his book, prestigious British wine writer, Oz Clarke says, “Frank’s biggest triumph came when his 1961 Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese sweet wine was served at the White House. And the vines that are now making world-class wines in these beautiful lakeside vineyards are Rieslings on some of Dr. Frank’s super-cold climate rootstocks, just as he had predicted.”

“Grüner Veltliner Finds a Home” - Wines & Vines September 2015 - In the September issue of Wines and Vines Magazine, Dr. Frank’s is included among U.S. producers of Grüner Veltliner. The article discusses our Grüner Veltliner program and vineyards on the eastern side of Seneca Lake. Dr. Frank’s has the largest planting of Grüner Veltliner on the east coast.

“94 points for Dr. Frank 2013 Late Harvest Riesling” - Wine & Spirits Magazine

August 2015 - The magazine describes the wine as “a wine with immense complexity - a wonderland of botrytis, pine, saffron, honey, peach, apricot, smoke, honey infused with garrigue herbs... An impressive performance to present at the meal with goat cheese“.

“90 points for Dr. Frank 2013 Semi-Dry Riesling” - Wine Enthusiast

July 2015 - “It’s always a joy to discover a wine as enjoyable as this is priced so reasonably. White peach and yellow cherry flavors are plush and pure, but braced by a stream of lime and lemon zest. Deftly structured, and nuanced by hints of dust and mineral, this is widely accessible yet deeply satisfying.”

“King Riesling. Dr. Frank’s Riesling Rules the World” - Mountain Home Magazine

June 2015 - Mountain Home Magazine talks about the legacy of Konstantin Frank, who “will forever be known as the father of Finger Lakes wine. The Finger Lakes appellation is known worldwide for its white wines, with Riesling proudly leading the pack.”

‘Travel Guide to Finger Lakes, New York” - Decanter Magazine

June 2015 - Decanter Magazine introduces consumers to the area, talking about the region, the topography, the lakes and vineyards. Dr. Konstantin Frank is included in the “My perfect day in the Finger Lakes” suggestions. It highlights the sparkling wines of Chateau Frank and Dr. Frank Rkatsiteli.

The Latest Buzz About Dr. Frank’s

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