Premier: Wine Made Easy

A lovely crisp and light wine offering hints of mineral and citrus peel and a hint of mint on the finish. Enjoy at the start of a meal with a salad or on its own.

Our customers who have friended us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter already know the high opinion our Wine Associates have of Damiani wines, as evidenced by the multitude of posts and tweets before their arrival. As with many Seneca Lake wineries, their lineup offers world class wines from our own back yard and (when compared with delicious wines from other cool climate regions) great value. Our first order of business upon expanding our New York wall was to get these wines for our customers, who embraced them with open arms at our first Tasting Center event! Damiani’s 2009 Riesling was my favorite, offering bracing acidic structure and intense fruit balanced perfectly in a semi-dry Riesling. Aromatic and flavorful, offering generous flavors of Empire apples with a touch of sweetness and a lasting, mouthwatering finish for which Finger Lakes wines have become noted!

An elegant wine with a full nose of spice, showing nice balance between the fruit and acidity in the mouth, with some pretty mineral character.

The Premier Group started carrying Eagle Crest wines a year ago, after we met owner Will Ouweleen at an industry event in Albany. Shortly thereafter my family and I visited the vineyards, originally founded as O-Neh-Da Vineyard in 1872 by Bishop Bernard McQuaid, located about an hour from Orchard Park. We were treated to a wonderful tour of the estate and experienced the privilege of tasting his delicious, 100% Finger Lakes wine. This was one of the Draves family’s favorites, a 100% pure grape wine (no sugar added) offering tropical fruit on the nose, followed by pineapple and citrus notes, with mouthwatering grapefruity acidity on the finish. It is an off-dry, fruity, crisp wine that is pleasant enough for a party yet not out of place on the dinner table.

Ample scents of fresh berry on the nose carry through on the palate with just a touch of smooth tannins, this is truly a great expression of Rhône Syrah. Drink now or cellar for a few years.

Now that even West Coast wine critics and publications are recognizing New York’s beautiful Finger Lakes Rieslings and Pinot Noirs as being some of the best at their price point, I think it is time to shed a little light on another great New York region, the Niagara Escarpment. This area, only a half hour from downtown Buffalo, has amazing potential for great vinifera (classic European grapes), already realized by Eveningside, Arrowhead Spring and Freedom Run. Just off the Escarpment lies Leonard Oakes, a fantastic winery with one of New York’s finest winemakers, Jonathan Oakes. Jonathan is keenly aware of the food-friendly character of New York’s wines when the natural acidity present in our cool climate grapes is properly utilized. In the Escape Red we have a wine where Jonathan’s signature great acidic structure has made one of New York’s finest sweet red wines. Showing powerful berry fruit and mild sweetness, but tempered and lightened by mouthwatering acidity, this is a wine fruity enough to satisfy a sweet wine lover, yet sophisticated enough to serve a wine loving friend. You can even serve it at a picnic or party.

Owned by West Seneca native Randy Biehl, Eveningside Vineyards is one of the superstar wineries of the Niagara Escarpment (in my opinion, the East Coast’s most exciting wine region). Randy started his winery only about 10 years ago, but thanks to a strong relationship with top Canadian producer Cave Springs, he can call upon decades of experience with the Niagara Region. The resulting wines are nothing short of fantastic, as evidenced by the Reserve Chardonnay 2010. Randy ages the wine for five months in new American and French barrels, balancing the delicious fruit with just the right amount of oak. Spice and lemon/lime overtones greet you on the nose, joined by a hint of vanilla on the palate and lingering lemony acidity on the finish. This wine would be great with Thanksgiving turkey or any poultry dish.

The world-class Rieslings of New York’s Finger Lakes region have been the focal point of local wine enjoyment for more than a generation. Our cool climate is ideally suited to the noble grape of Germany, and our neighbors to the east have won acclaim and international awards for their delicious wines. In Western New York, we have made tremendous strides in the past decade as well. Both Chautauqua and Niagara Escarpment can boast of great wines and wineries. One such winery is Eveningside Winery in Cambria, owned by West Seneca native Randy Biehl. Eveningside makes remarkable Chardonnays that we have proudly carried, but I’d like to draw your attention to their 2009 Riesling. It is a wine that will always be special to the staff at Prestige. Randy was kind enough to let our wine staff assist in the taste trials of the wine, and that experience has given us a Riesling that is ideally suited to what our customers enjoy. Offering ample citrus notes and stone fruit without being too sweet or acidic, this wine is ideally suited to a favorite meal, yet does not require food. An extremely versatile wine from New York’s new up-and-coming region.

A sweet, fruity, fun red wine to enjoy with friends and good times. Open at your next party.

A sweet, fruity, fun red wine to enjoy with friends and good times. Open at your next party.

Governor’s Cup winning winemaker Tim Miller has crafted this white blend exclusively for the award winning stores of The Premier Group. This 100% New York wine is approachable and friendly, yet deep and complex with perfect balance. We invite you to make our house white wine, yours.

A delicious fruit wine offering, you guessed it, gobs of rich raspberry flavor. Rich enough to pair with your favorite dessert, or for a special treat, pour it over vanilla ice cream.

From the steep slopes of the mighty Mosel River in Germany comes one of our best values. Offers luscious orange, grapefruit, tangerine and lime, mixed with ripe peach and mineral overtones and finishing with fantastic grapefruit acidity. Make this your next “go to” German Riesling.

A sweet, full-bodied, lambrusco-style red, perfect for parties and for people with a sweet tooth.

A sweet, full-bodied, lambrusco-style red, perfect for parties and for people with a sweet tooth.

From the hillsides (up to 400 meters!) at the bottom of the Dentelles de Montmirail, facing northwest and overhanging the village of Gigondas, hails this blend of Grenache (60%), Syrah (20%), and Mourvèdre (20%). The nose shows red fruits and spicy aromas, mint and oaky vanilla scents. The flavors of this wine are robust yet smooth, generous, with fine silky tannins combining with licorice and peppery sensations. The finish is long, with hints of smoke and vanilla. Very well balanced, it makes the perfect match to braised beef and potatoes.

Offering generous candied citrus flavors and having ample acidity, this summertime favorite has just a faint hint of sweetness to carry it. Enjoy on its own or with lighter, summer offerings from the garden.

Delicious French Cab Franc, offering subtle but abundant ripe overtones of sweet black and raspberry fruit wrapped around a core of cranberry and saddle leather.

The fresh, grapey aromas and flavors and semi-sweet finish make this fruity wine perfect for those who do not like the “puckery” taste of traditional dry, oaky red wines. For a refreshing treat, try it chilled with fresh berries or raspberry sherbet.

The fresh, grapey aromas and flavors and semi-sweet finish make this fruity wine perfect for those who do not like the “puckery” taste of traditional dry, oaky red wines. For a refreshing treat, try it chilled with fresh berries or raspberry sherbet.

The fresh, grapey aromas and flavors and semi-sweet finish make this fruity wine perfect for those who do not like the “puckery” taste of traditional dry, oaky red wines. For a refreshing treat, try it chilled with fresh berries or raspberry sherbet.