Dr. Konstantin Frank named to list of Top 100 wineries in the world

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery has been named one of the top 100 wineries in the world for 2019 by Wine & Spirits magazine.

The magazine released its list over the weekend, including wineries from around the globe, with one-third of them coming from the United States; Frank is the only one from New York’s Finger Lakes region.

The winery sits on the west side of Keuka Lake, north of Hammondsport.

“We took a different approach to our tasting this year by focusing on specific regions and delving deeper into them,” said Joshua Greene, editor of Wine & Spirits magazine. “Our concentrated tastings led to fiercer competition among the great wines of the world to earn a spot in our Top 100.”

Wines from the top wineries will be featured in a tasting event in San Francisco Oct. 10.

“We are honored to be in the Top 100 wineries in the world for a second time in 2019,” said third- generation owner and President Fred Frank. “This is a true testament to our dedicated vineyard and winery team who are committed to the highest uncompromising quality of our fruit.”

The winery was also listed in the Top 100 in 2016.

Vice President Meaghan Frank, a fourth-generation owner, added, “I like to think Konstantin would be proud to see how far we’ve come in the last 60 years. Our goal is to keep moving forward; that means embracing new technology and equipment, continuing to develop estate vineyards and investing in the people that make our winery so special.”

The winery’s vineyards were established more than 60 years ago by Meaghan Frank’s great-grandfather, Konstantin Frank, who was instrumental in developing techniques to grow the European vinifera grape varieties in the United States, where conditions were hostile to them.

“In 2018 we spent a year going through old documents written by Dr. Konstantin and his first vineyard manager Walter Volz,” said Brand Manager Brandon Thomas. “One of the major influences to the success of our wines is our old vines. They are more adapted to our environment, and the roots dig much deeper into the soil to pull out more nutrients which in turn develops more complexity in the wines.”

Research confirmed that the winery’s original vineyard on Keuka Lake has 61-year-old Pinot Noir and  Riesling vines, 57-year-old Chardonnay, 51-year-old Gewurztraminer and the second-oldest Pinot Noir vines in the country, planted in 1958.

Winemakers and vineyard managers at Frank attributed part of their success to growing conditions in key years as well as constant management of the vines.

“The 2016 and 2017 vintages were picture-perfect for us,” said Mark Veraguth, head winemaker for more than 30 years. “2016 brought bold flavors and beautiful ripe tannins in the reds while in 2017 we had clean, delightful aromas with perfect acidity levels from the moderate temperature weather.” The winery’s sparkling wine – the 2014 Brut — was also a standout, earning a score of 92 from the magazine.

This year Konstantin Frank has remodeled its tasting rooms, and expanded tasting menus to include all of the winery’s wines, including reserve and single-vineyard products. In 2018, Frank was named a Wine & Spirits All Star (a list of just 50 wineries worldwide,) Winery of the Year by the New York Wine Classic, one of the 10 Best Tasting Rooms by USA Today, and one of 11 best U.S. wineries by Men’s Journal.

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