Exit 38
Corning
Elmira
Bath Hammondsport
Watkins Glen
Overlooking the crystal clear waters of Keuka Lake, sits a winery that is rich in history, beauty and the production of world-class wines. Located on the west side of Keuka Lake just a short distance from Hammondsport, NY, Dr. Frank Wine Cellars offers an unforgettable experience for wine lovers and history aficionados alike. Situated in the former home of Dr. Konstantin Frank, our main tasting room is both cozy and welcoming. Vast windows surround the tasting room, providing jaw-dropping views of Keuka Lake and our vineyards. Visitors may also enjoy our newly constructed tasting room located directly next to our main tasting room. Let Dr. Frank’s friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff members lead you through a memorable journey of our history and award-winning wines.
9749 Middle Road Hammondsport, NY 14840
Tyrone
Ithaca
Cortland
Dundee
50
YEARS
Celebrating 800.320.0735 www.drfrankwines.com
New York’s Most Award-Winning Winery Since 1962
Branchport Penn Yan
Map of Keuka Lake Geneva Syracuse
Exit 42 Rochester
Reservations required for groups of 8 or more
Hours: M-Sa: 9am-5pm • Su: 12pm-5pm
About Us
in New York State. Fred Frank, son of Willy Frank and grandson of Dr. Konstantin Frank, took over leadership of the winery in 1993 and expanded production with the introduction of our value brand, Salmon Run. Under Fred, the winery has gained additional recognition as a top Finger Lakes wine producer. Fred looks forward to one day turning over the reins to his daughter Meaghan, who hopes to continue as the fourth generation of Franks at the winery. Meaghan, a recent Cornell graduate, is currently working towards her Masters degree in Wine Business at the University of Adelaide in Australia. Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars is proud of its international winemaking team with each member contributing their particular expertise. The talented group includes winemakers from California, Australia, France and Germany. The focus on world class wines continues with each member of the family and winemaking team living up to the winery’s tradition of excellence.
New York’s most award-winning winery since 1962. Each generation of the Frank family has carried on Dr. Konstantin Frank’s legacy and each has added their own special contribution to the winery. The winery features world-class Dr. Konstantin Frank wines, produced primarily from old vines, such as: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and more. In addition to classic Dr. Frank wines, the winery also features Chateau Frank sparkling wines. Chateau Frank was started by Willy Frank, son of Dr. Konstantin Frank, in the mid 1980’s. Like his father, Willy Frank is often seen as a Finger Lakes wine industry pioneer as he was the first in the region to produce methode champenoise sparkling wines made with the classic champagne grape varieties. Today, we continue Willy’s belief that traditional labor intensive methods lead to the most outstanding sparkling wines. Wine writers feel that Chateau Frank’s sparkling wines are among the most prestigious produced
Visit Us Year Round! Fifty years ago Dr. Konstantin Frank ignited the “Vinifera Revolution”, a movement that forever changed the course of winemaking in the Finger Lakes and the United States. Prior to his arrival to the Finger Lakes in the 1950’s, the only grapes grown in the region were French-American hybrids and native labrusca. It was thought that vinifera could not grow in the Finger Lakes due to the region’s cold winters. Dr. Frank set out to prove this theory wrong and succeeded. Dr. Frank’s original vinifera plantings formed the backbone of the Finger Lakes’ world-class still and sparkling wines. His vision, knowledge and determination are credited with elevating the Finger Lakes wine industry to a level that commands world attention. As a result of Dr. Frank’s teachings, over 100 wineries in the Finger Lakes now produce world-class vinifera wines. Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars continues to be
Frederick Frank
Willy Frank
A Visit to the Winery...
Dr. Konstantin Frank
“Only Excellent. Good Wine is not good enough for Americans—only excellent will do!”
“We have produced sparkling wines that rival some of the finest French Champagnes”
“Quality and value in every vintage”
50
Celebrating
1950’s
After immigrating from Europe to the United States in 1951, Dr. Frank, who held a Ph.D. in viticulture, moved to upstate New York to take a position at Cornell University’s Geneva Experiment Station. It was here that his legacy began. In the 1950’s, few people believed it was possible to grow European grapes in the Finger Lakes region. But Konstantin knew from his years in Ukraine that the lack of proper rootstock, not the cold climate, was the reason for the failure of Vitis vinifera to thrive in the northeastern United States. Determined to bring his dreams to reality, Dr. Konstantin Frank found a sympathetic ear in Charles Fournier, a French Champagne maker and president of nearby Gold Seal Vineyards. Dr. Frank revealed his research on growing delicate European grape varieties in cold climates.
1960’s In 1962, just a decade after arriving in America, Dr. Konstantin Frank founded Vinifera Wine Cellars. The winery quickly earned a reputation for spectacular Rieslings.
1970’s Vinifera Wine Cellar’s reputation continued to elevate through the 1970’s. In 1978 Dr. Frank Chardonnay was chosen for a formal royal meal in Boston for the Queen of England.
1980’s When Willy Frank took over for his father Konstantin in the 1980’s, he dreamed of continuing Konstantin’s legacy by pioneering the introduction of European style sparkling wines at his own winery, Chateau Frank. What started as a dream eventually turned into Willy’s “labor of love”. Willy amazed the industry in the mid 1980’s when he opened Chateau Frank, which specialized in the production of European style sparkling wines produced in the “methode champenoise”. Willy also served as chairman at Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars from 1984 to 2006.
1990’s Willy’s son, Frederick Frank took over leadership of the winery in 1993 and expanded production with the introduction of our value brand, Salmon Run, which is in honor of the majestic landlocked salmon and beautiful Keuka Lake. Under Fred’s leadership, along with the help of his cousin and vineyard manager, Eric Volz, the winery was able to increase both its production and the number of medals earned. Fred’s sister Barbara Frank, assists with sales in the New York City area In 1995, Dr. Frank Dry Riesling was chosen for a meeting between U.S. president, Bill Clinton and Russian President, Boris Yeltsin. In 1996, Chateau Frank Brut was chosen for a Governor’s dinner at the U.S. White House under the Clinton Administration.
2000 forward Dr. Frank Wine Cellars was named “Winery of the Year” at the NY Wine & Food Classic Competition in 2006. Dr. Frank wine was chosen for a State Luncheon hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011. 2012 marks the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Frank Wine Cellars. We are proud of its legacy in the Finger Lakes wine region. The winery looks forward to continuing Dr. Konstantin Frank’s legacy for years to come.
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Accolades Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars and Chateau Frank earned an impressive 51 gold medals in 2011. Aside from our gold medals in 2011, other accolades include: Chateau Frank’s 2006 Blanc de Noirs was named “New York’s Best Sparkling Wine” by the New York Cork Report in their review of the best wines from 2011. 2006 Blanc de Noirs competed up against many prestigious New York sparkling wines to win the title. Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars was chosen by the U.S. Department of Commerce in early 2012 to host a delegation of Eastern European wine producers. Together with the delegation, Fred Frank hosted an Rkatsiteli vertical tasting featuring multiple vintages from the Dr. Frank library as well as vintages from Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The delegation and members of the U.S. Department of Commerce were quite pleased at the quality of Dr. Frank Rkatsiteli. Dr. Frank 2010 Dry Riesling was featured on a Today Show episode, which forecasted 2012 trends. The show noted that American wines outside of California would be a major trend in 2012. Of the 2010 Dry Riesling, the show noted that, “…the exquisite Dr. Frank’s Riesling from the Finger Lakes region is a fruity, floral delight.” Chateau Frank’s 2006 Blanc de Noirs was recently chosen as one of the “Top 10 American Sparkling wines” in The Gayot Guide to the Good Life. The publication notes, “Made from estate-grown Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes grown in New York’s Finger Lakes region, this full-bodied sparkling wine is rich and complex. It offers a multi-layered bouquet of lime, vanilla, caramel and toast.” Our 2010 Salmon Run Riesling was featured in the November 2011 issue of Real Simple Magazine. The magazine noted that it tasted like, “Apple, peach, and citrus, with an invigorating mineral touch.” In the November 2011 issue of Washingtonian Magazine, our Dr. Frank 2010 Dry Riesling was chosen as one of the magazine’s top picks for during the holidays. Washingtonian noted that, “This bottle’s lush fruitiness is balanced by a bracing acidity.” The Finger Lakes wine region was recently featured in the #1 Best-selling Book, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”. The book gives special attention to favorite places in the Finger Lakes including Keuka Lake and Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars. We were one of the only Finger Lakes wineries mentioned in the book. The number one best-selling wine guide, Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2012, gave Dr. Frank Wine Cellars a “Four Star Rating” and noted the winery as being, “a leader in the East with Excellent Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Noir and fine Chateau Frank sparkling.” Chateau Frank 2006 Blanc de Blancs scored a “90 Point” Rating in the August 2010 issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine. Among the twenty five Finger Lakes wines that scored exceptional ratings in the August 2011 issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine, the Chateau Frank 2006 Blanc de Blancs was the sole sparkling wine to score such a high rating. Our winery was featured in the Fall 2011 issue of Wine & Spirits magazine in a section titled, “Great Performances by Family Wineries.” The magazine chose the Frank family as one of the great families in wine. One of our most prestigious honors in the past year was the opportunity to have Dr. Frank wines featured at a State Luncheon in Washington, D.C. hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in honor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel! The luncheon featured Chateau Frank Célèbre Rosé, Dr. Frank 2010 Grüner Veltliner, Dr. Frank 2010 Semi-Dry Riesling and 2008 Lemberger.