Great Times Behind the Wines

They may not be easy to pronounce, but Gewürztraminer and Grüner Veltliner are aromatic white wines that are certainly palate-pleasers! This episode allows listeners to learn all about these unique white wines, including their extensive histories, their best food pairings, and how you can simply enjoy their distinctive qualities during a tasting, especially when soaking in some summer sunshine. Ha...

What do winemaking and cooking have in common? More than you might think! Just as a professional or at-home chef is always looking for the right ingredient to enhance a dish, winemakers are also always considering how they can make a wine exemplify the best of what the harvest offers! However, winemakers can't exactly scour a spice rack to add flavors to their wines, so how do they adjust a wine's...

When fall arrives, it's not only time to break out comfy sweaters and watch the leaves change to dazzling colors—for many, it's also time to sip on some crisp and refreshing hard cider! Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards makes a hard cider called Cider Tree that comes in several fun flavors, including the "staff favorites" Citra Hops and Cinnamon Spice (that pairs well with pumpkin pie)! For this podcast epis...

For this episode, learn about Hazlitt's newest product: wine seltzers! They are made using the winery's most famous wines and include Red Cat Splash, White Cat Splash, Pink Cat Splash, and Red Cat Dark Splash. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Director of Sales and Business Development, Brad Phillips, and winemaker, Tim Benedict, describe the behind-the-scenes work that went into the creation of Splash and w...

Bubbly beverages are becoming increasingly popular. They not only glisten beautifully in a glass, but they also provide pleasurable effervescent flavors to any palate. That's why Hazlitt offers bubbly versions of its bestselling wines, Red Cat and White Cat. For this episode, I chat with winemaker Tim Benedict about making Red Cat and White Cat Fizz—the bubbly versions of Red Cat and White Cat. Ti...

Sauvignon Blanc or Sauv Blanc is one of the most popular white wines in the world. It is known for its herbal qualities and distinct acidity. While you can find it growing nearly anywhere around the world, Sauv Blanc from the Finger Lakes is known for some unique characteristics. Hazlitt Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy talks about these qualities and what goes into making a Finger Lakes Sauv Blan...

Riesling has become one of the most popular vinifera grapes in the Finger Lakes. The term "vinifera" means it is a varietal of European origin. It's believed the grape dates back to around 1435 and was first cultivated in Germany, where it is likely native to the country's  Rhine Valley.  So how did this varietal, which produces a versatile and refreshing white wine, end up being so successful in...

In this episode, Hazlitt's highly-regarded Vineyard Manager John Santos discusses current environmental challenges involved in growing grapes for a Finger Lakes winery—and innovative ways of making it more ecologically and economically viable. These methods include: Implementing the use of cover crops Using compost made of grape pomace (the pulpy residue left over after the juice is squeezed from...

In this episode, you'll learn from Hazlitt's Co-CEO & Owner Doug Hazlitt (the father of host Shannon Hazlitt Harts) and Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy about the role oak barrels play in making many wines, including Hazlitt's Barrel Fermented Chardonnay. They expertly describe the different types of oak barrels that are used in winemaking and the unique qualities they can impart to wines. In addi...

Hope you have your sweet tooth ready! In this episode, we'll cover the unique processes and incredible flavors in the Hazlitt Solera Sherry and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. First, we'll chat with Tim Benedict, Vice President of Cider and Winemaking. He's the expert on the Solera Sherry, which is aged in barrels using a special process he'll explain called The Solera Method. Then we'll hear from Michael R...

For this episode of Great Times Behind the Wines, we'll be diving into some tips and tricks for winetastings with Hazlitt's Vinifera Winemaker, Michael Reidy—who does it as part of his job! Michael runs through the five S's of winemaking: See, Swirl, Sniff/Smell, Sip, and Savor.

A behind-the-scenes look at what's involved in harvesting grapes to make the award-winning wines at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards winery! To understand the sights, sounds, processes, and community spirit that are all a part of the harvest season at this winery in New York's Finger Lakes Wine Country, we speak with Tim Benedict, Vice President of Cider and Winemaking, and Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy....

Have you ever wondered about the work behind turning grapes growing out in a vineyard into the wine you sip and swirl in your glass? In this introductory episode of Great Times Behind the Wines, you'll learn straight from the vineyard manager and vinifera winemaker at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards about the hard work and teamwork it takes to make every bottle of wine—including Hazlitt's most popular, cal...

Learn about how this podcast takes you behind-the-scenes of life at a popular family-owned winery—Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Winery—in the Finger Lakes wine region. This show reveals the people, methods, and stories that have made Hazlitt among the leaders in the distinctive collaboration and community friendliness of the Finger Lakes wine region.