Finger Lakes wines go with an abundant array of foods; meats, poultry, seafood, and yes, also some history. History is nourishing to our minds, a different kind of food that keeps us informed about where we’re from, who we are, and where we’re going.
When stepping into their historic structure, which was a house built in 1853 with original stucco, wine barrel furniture, and just a few feet away from Canandaigua Lake itself, you are taken back in time. A time to where steamboats were the only method of travel before the back roads were built, a time when the only grapes that were picked were Concord, and a time where a tradition began.
Boyd and Karen Kuenen remember picking up grapes in high school, where they first met. Boyd Kuenen had been picking up grapes at the tender age of seven; this caused him to become a serious wine maker after his retirement. Karen has a background working with Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They moved back in the Finger Lakes in 1995 and began Wilhelmus Estate Winery a few years ago.
Boyd and Karen Kuenen from Wilhelmus Estate Winery
When asked, they can take you back with a pleasant history lesson, explaining the areas where grapes grow, plus other landmarks filled with history; some with intriguing names such as Vine Valley and Whiskey Point. I asked them if they were prepared for operating a winery themselves. Karen smiles and nods.
“I really enjoy people, I never knew we would be meeting people from around the world,” Karen says.
The welcome from Boyd and Karen, along with their famous highly publicized dog, Duke, is warm and pleasant. Tourists and locals love the wine and the atmosphere.
The boutique winery is a farm winery, they pick the grapes, measure the “brix” (sugar content), and specialize in Cab Franc, Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Karen’s favorite white is their Cayuga, which is surprisingly dry, and her favorite red is Noiret, which goes great with steaks and lamb. This is one of my favorites too. Across the board, all Wilhelmus wines sell well.
They are especially proud of Traminette Free Run Dry, a wine that is produced by a process that Boyd learned from his father, to which the winery is named. They pick the grapes at their ripest, when they are about to burst; the juice released is natural and never been processed. This has the highest concentration of esters, very low in tannins, and some will claim the sweetest juice from the grapes. In addition to the wines they are known for their champagnes.
There is also a gift area in the tasting room where they sell rhinestone wine t-shirts, hand knitted fruit hats, photography by Karen Kuenen herself, and other Finger Lakes gifts. The winery is open Tuesday through Sunday, May through December–weekends and special occasions only in the months of January through April. Buses are welcomed, and wine packages and gift sets are also available.
If you happen to stop by Saturday or Sunday enjoy the strawberries that are dipped in Cabernet fondue with dark chocolate that goes along with tastings.
Wilhelmus Estate Winery
3627 East Lake Road
Canandaigua, NY 14424
585-394-2860
http://www.wilhelmusestate.com/
