NY Wine on Sale at Astor Today!

What perfect timing! Today Astor Wine & Spirits is offering all its NY wines for 15% off in-store and online. Here are their top recommendations. Enjoy!

Astor's Top New York Wines

11. Hosmer Dry Riesling, Cayuga Lake - 2007
This tasty Riesling comes from Hosmer, one of the finest Finger Lakes wineries. This is a dry white wine that boasts all the juicy peach fruit and acidity that we love in this regal grape. In the more marginal climes of upstate New York, this white variety does very well.
#10200
Original Price: $12.99
Sale Price: $11.04

10. Schneider Cabernet Franc "Le Breton" - 2007
Schneider's excellent Cabernet Franc shows distinct varietal character, filling the palate with fresh raspberry and redcurrant aromas. Made in a lighter style, it is meant to be consumed young. Tonight, for example - tonight would be great.
#10439
Original Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $16.99

9. Paumanok, Barrel Fermented Chardonnay - 2007
A dry, oak-aged (90% new French) Chardonnay that's creamy in texture and full of pear and white, floral fruit.
#83764
Original Price: $18.99
Sale Price: $16.14

8. Wolffer Rosé - 2008
One of the few wineries on Long Island's South Fork, Wolffer uses Bordeaux grapes (plus a splash of Chardonnay) to create this ultra-fresh, food-friendly rosé. Citrus, strawberries, and a mineral-laden finish will make for a night to remember - even if you're not in the Hamptons.
#13403
Original Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $12.74

7. Ravines Pinot Noir, Finger Lakes - 2007
This lively Pinot is full of cranberry notes on the nose and juicy fruit on the palate. With balanced acidity and little evidence of oak, this light-bodied wine makes a great choice for warm-weather drinking.
#21716
Original Price: $21.99
Sale Price: $18.69

6. Shaw Vineyards Riesling - 2006
This charming Riesling from Seneca Lake has lots to offer on the nose: classic petrol aromas mingling with juicy pineapple notes. The palate is dry with great, juicy, and mouth-watering acidity. A real treat.
#21623
Original Price: $17.99
Sale Price: $15.29

5. Pellegrini East End Chardonnay - 2007
This cool-climate New York Chardonnay has fresh pear and citrus notes. With 70% fermented in stainless steel tanks, it’s a crisp and lovely alternative to California Chardonnay.
#66384
Original Price: $10.99
Sale Price: $9.34

4. Wolffer Chardonnay Reserve - 2006
From the North Fork of Long Island comes this delightful Chardonnay. More Burgundian than New World in style, it shows clean and fresh floral notes. The winemakers have prevented malolactic fermentation, so the acidity is bright and enticing.
#67102
Original Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $12.74

3. Channing Daughters, Rosso Fresco - 2007
The wine has a translucent light red color with purple overtones. It is dry, medium-bodied, balanced, and juicy, showing plum, black cherry, black raspberry, Asian spices, a touch of smoke, and a slight meaty/gamey note.
#18943
Original Price: $17.99
Sale Price: $15.29

2. Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes - 2007
Riesling does very well in the Finger Lakes, and this bottle is no exception. It boasts a beautiful nose of honey and peaches, followed by pear, lemon, and minerality on the palate. Fruit and acidity are in perfect balance, and the finish is silky smooth.
#63123
Original Price: $18.99
Sale Price: $16.14

1. Channing Daughters, Pinot Grigio - 2008
This is made mostly from Pinot Grigio, with a dose of Chardonnay for added body. It's a great white wine from Long Island, and it's a great argument for shopping locally.
#20052
Original Price: $18.99
Sale Price: $16.14

Hamptons Wine Trail

Today I set out on the Hamptons Wine Trail to sample the South Fork of Long Island's 3 wineries. This area is most suited to growing Chardonnay and Bordeaux reds - Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon - but Pinot Gris/Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc also do well here. I stopped at Wolffer Estate first after loving their 2008 Rose last night with oysters and striped bass at Fresno in East Hampton. It's a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, and Chardonnay. Wolffer is gorgeous and you can do your tasting outside on the patio overlooking their many rows of Chardonnay grapes (pictured). I liked their 2007 Chard, which saw some oak but was still fruity and crisp. They also had a nice 2008 Pinot Gris, with mineral peach and citrus.

Next I went to Duck Walk, always charming with its art-deco labels and offering interesting wines at reasonable prices. It also holds a special place in my heart because when I first visited them in 2004 it was the first case of wine I ever got, the inspiration for my buying a wine fridge, and the impetus for my signing up for the Intermediate class at WSET. Duck Walk is the only producer around of 100% Pinot Meunier, a grape that is often blended with Pinot Noir in the Burgundy and Champagne regions of France. I LOVE solo PM, and the 2007 vintage did not disappoint with its elegant texture and flavors of black fruits and bell pepper. Their 2007 Cab Sauv was also great, with fresh black cherry and a luscious chocolate finish.

The last stop was Channing Daughters, where I really liked their 2008 Sauvignon Blanc and 2008 Rose made from 100% Merlot. The Rose had a yummy watermelon flavor that reminded me of the fresh watermelon limeade I had the day before at La Fondita. Finally, their Rosso Fresco 2007 was amazing - a delicious, light summer red blend that would be great for BBQ's.

If you're out in the Hamptons this summer and the sweet life is a little too sweet for you, check out these 3 wineries and relax with their dry wines! Then let me know what you liked best.