Penn Yan winery praises new grape

Cornell-developed varietal to be used for blending

Six years ago, Seneca Shore Wine Cellars in Penn Yan, Yates County, planted small experimental plots of several grape varietals developed by Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, Ontario County.

Given the vigor and disease resistance the varietals have shown since then, Seneca Shore owner David DeMarco is now considering expanding their presence at the winery.

Yet DeMarco doubts that he and Seneca Shore winemaker Shawn Verity will use the grapes for varietal wines -- meaning ones made chiefly from one grape variety -- in the near future. Most of the public is unfamiliar with Geneva Red 7, Corot Noir, Noiret and other newer Cornell varietals the winery grows, so they are better off as components in blended wines for now, DeMarco says.

"We add them to blends because we know that the grapes taste really good," DeMarco says. Having been exhaustively researched and tested by Cornell, the varietals do not require pesticides in order to flourish, he adds.

DeMarco notes that some Cornell-developed grapes, such as Traminette, have become widely known. Seneca Shore produces Traminette, a white wine grape that Cornell released in 1996, as a varietal wine.

But for now, he is weighing his options with other newer varietals.

"It just takes many, many years to figure out ... what goes best with what we do," he says.