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Cab Franc Chronicles's avatar

Perhaps it comes as no surprise that I am 1000% behind this initiative! And what excites me even more is that New York State is the first region in the new world to “officially” adopt Cabernet Franc as their signature grape. This can only mean good things for the future of the grape in the state. I look forward to supporting and being a champion for this initiative and the Cabernet Francs of New York anyway I can.

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Bruce Murray's avatar

Hi Alison. You were onto Cab Franc in a much bigger way than the rest of us. We are just catching up!

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Cab Franc Chronicles's avatar

And the future is bright! It is amazing what can be accomplished when there is a collective effort to work towards excellence. I couldn’t be more excited for the region and the world of Cabernet Franc!!

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Chris Miller's avatar

This is great news. My wife and I are huge fans of Cabernet Franc. We very much enjoy Boundary Breaks 2022 Cabernet Frac.

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Bruce Murray's avatar

Thanks, Chris. The 2022 is nearly gone, but the 2023 is not a re-make of the 2022, but just as good.

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Thomas Horgan's avatar

Good luck on this worthy mission

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Bruce Murray's avatar

Thanks, Thomas. We are on a mission.

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Lauri Ann Soprano's avatar

We love your Cab Franc!

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Bruce Murray's avatar

Thank you, Lauri Ann.

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Richard Travis's avatar

So ultimately how or who makes the declaration that it becomes the “signature” red variant?

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Bruce Murray's avatar

Good question. No single person makes the declaration. The like-minded crowd, I guess. Those of us on the producing side and those of you on the consuming side. But, as I am aware, a lot more of us on the producing side need to prove we can make very drinkable Cab Franc consistently for many, many years.

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Steven Kent Mirassou's avatar

Bruce, I’m very excited about what NY is doing with Cab Franc. We just started the Cab Franc Guild of Livermore Valley - 12 members and growing - believing this greatest grape is the perfect vehicle for the emotional communication wine fosters for our growing area.

If you’re interested our 3rd annual CabFranc-A-Palooza festival will be held in Livermore June 8, 2025. 50+ wineries, 125+ cab francs. We had a number of Finger Lakes wineries this past year but would love to be able to offer an audience of 600+ Cab Franc lovers to more NY appellations. @cabfrancguild #cabfranclovesyou!

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Bruce Murray's avatar

Steven. Yes, we are aware your CabFranc-A-Palooza. We were part of it last year and plan to be part of it this coming year. I will also urge all my colleagues in the Cab Franc Forward group to participate, too.

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Steven Kent Mirassou's avatar

Fantastic, Bruce! We greatly appreciate Kristy Wentz’ help in bringing such a great contingent of NY wineries and look forward to working with your group. Continued success!

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Bill Darcy's avatar

This is a fantastic start, hopefully creating some momentum for what I ignorantly feel is the red grape of the future, not just for FLX but America. Congrats to you & your industry peers & cheers to continued progress 🍷. Maybe one day I can take part in the growth of planted acres on Seneca 😉

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Larry Roux's avatar

While I like Pinot Noir - that one is taken an run with in Oregon. With our weather I doubt we could ever compete at their level on such a thin skinned grape. Blaufrankisch is a wonderful grape and there are Finger Lakes wineries that makes wonderful wines from it. But it has the same recognition crisis that Gewurztraminer has. Cab Franc, though, is unique in our region - with lively acids and is eminently blendable for those years where blending may be necessary. Many of the wineries on the Finger Lakes already grow Cab Franc and make decent to wonderful wine from it (the 2022 Boundary Breaks Cab Franc being an outstanding wine).

I support this effort 100%

Now, how do we get Traminette the official Hybrid grape of New York? :-D

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