Schumer: Democrats and Republicans Will Agree -- Finger Lakes Wine & NY Honey Is Some of the Best Around
Press Release
Today, at Century Liquor and Wines, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Tierce 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling and Rochester's Seaway Trail Honey will be served at the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon on January 21, 2013. Schumer, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, said that the Tierce Riesling will be served along with the first course, while the honey will be served during the third course which includes a Hudson Valley apple pie with sour cream ice cream, aged cheddar and the Seaway Trail honey. Schumer noted that this Dry Riesling is a special example of New York's finest wines because it is made from the superb Finger Lakes 2010 Riesling vintage produced among three Upstate New York vineyards. The three vineyards from the Finger Lakes Region who have collaborated to produce the 2010 Tierce are Anthony Road Winery and Fox Run Vineyards, both from Yates County and Red Newt Cellars from Schuyler County. The choice of Seaway Trail Honey will be a boon for New York's honey industry, which is a significant part of the agricultural economy in Upstate New York, supporting thousands of jobs.
"Serving Tierce 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling wine and Seaway Trail Honey at the Inaugural Luncheon shines a spotlight on two of New York's biggest, and most impressive, agricultural industries," said Schumer. "President Obama, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Cabinet will all get a taste of New York's finest wines with the Tierce 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling. And I'm confident that the luncheon attendees will be buzzing once they've tried this delicious New York honey. I'm pleased to be able to showcase these fantastic New York companies."
"Tierce, a dry Riesling, is a unique collaboration among winemakers from three different Finger Lakes wineries: Anthony Road Winery, Fox Run Vineyards, and Red Newt Cellars," according to Jim Trezise, Executive Director of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation. "Each winery made a batch of Riesling from the superb 2010 vintage, then the winemakers spent a full day tasting different blends until they settled on the one they decided was best. The 2010 Tierce has won awards and accolades around the world, and is symbolic of the spontaneous cooperation among Finger Lakes wine producers."
"It is an honor to have Senator Schumer showcase honey, especially pure New York State honey," said Pat Bono, owner of Seaway Trail Honey. "New York State has a long tradition of producing some of the finest honey in the nation."
Schumer unveiled further details of the Inaugural luncheon in which the products will be featured and was joined by Anthony Road Winery owners John and Ann Martini and Winemaker Johannes Reinhardt, Fox Run Vineyard owner Scott Osborn and Winemaker Peter Bell, Red Newt Cellars owner and Winemaker David Whiting, and Seaway Trail Honey owner Pat Bono.
Tierce has been produced as a collaborative effort between these three wineries since 2005 to showcase the region's world-class wine. Since 2005, each vintage of Tierce has been a Riesling, except for 2007 when they produced a Tierce red. A total of 180 cases of the 2010 Tierce were produced. Schumer today said that the choice of a Finger Lakes wine will be a boon for New York's wineries across the state. New York wineries are a significant part of the agricultural economy in New York, supporting thousands of jobs. The wine will be served during the first course which features a steamed lobster tail with New England clam chowder sauce. With 328 wineries in 53 of its 62 counties New York State is the nation's overall third largest grape and wine producing state, with the Finger Lakes being it's largest wine producing region with 115 wineries. The industry generates $3.75 billion in annual economic activity, including employment, tourism, new investment and sales revenues and encompasses 37,000 acres which annual yield an average of 169,000 tons of grapes. The most recent industry economic impact study commissioned in 2008 revealed the New York wine industry accounted for 17,000 FTE jobs statewide. The industry is growing as evidenced by the fact that of the state's current 328 wineries, 210 were established since 2000 alone.
New York's honey industry is one of the nation's largest, ranking tenth in total production in 2010 and serving as the Northeast's largest beekeeping state. According to the most recently available data, in 2009 New York's honey producers manufactured over 3 million pounds of honey and racked up $5.3 million in sales, all while employing thousands. Seaway Trail Honey is owned by Brighton, NY resident Pat Bono and its bees are located at the honeybee apiary's farm in Pultneyville, Wayne County. Seaway Trail is a honeybee apiary on the historic Seaway Trail by Lake Ontario, NY. This region of Upstate New York is known to produce exceptionally sweet tasting honey due in part to good quality soil that spans across a limestone ridge deposit in Upstate New York. Seaway Trail honey is harvested from apple blossom, locust blossom, and wildflowers and is unpasteurized, chemical free and produced from honey gathered only from the bees at the apiary's farm. Seaway Trail is a member of the approximately 500-member Ontario Finger Lakes Beekeepers Association and was judged Best Honey in New York State at the 2012 New York State Fair.
In addition to the Tierce 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling, and the Seaway Trail Honey, the luncheon menu will feature a number of New York products, including the third course, a Hudson Valley apple pie with sour cream ice cream, aged cheddar cheese, and honey. The apples are from Golden Harvest Orchards in Valatie, Columbia County. Cooperstown Cheese Company, in Otsego, NY, will be supplying the cheese. Crown Maple Syrup of Dutchess County will also be incorporated in the dessert course. Another of the wines to be served also hails from New York. A 2009 merlot from Bedell Cellars, from North Fork of Long Island, will be served alongside the second course.
The luncheon menu reflects Schumer's choice of a theme for the 57th Inaugural Ceremonies. "Faith in America's Future" commemorates the United States' perseverance and unity and marks the sesquicentennial year of the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the new Capitol Dome in 1863. When the Civil War threatened to bring construction of the Dome to a halt, workers pressed onward, even without pay, until Congress approved additional funding to complete the Dome that would become a symbol of unity and democracy to the entire world. The menu features American agricultural products that have long been popular in our cuisine, but with an added modern touch. It is a celebration of American farms and agriculture, with a nod to their bright future and continued place in our culture.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is responsible for the oversight and planning of the Presidential Inauguration and related ceremonies on the U.S. Capitol grounds.
The Joint Committee was authorized by S. Con. Res. 35, which passed the Senate on March 1, 2012, and the House on March 5th. Members of JCCIC are appointed by the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. In accordance with tradition, the Senate representatives on JCCIC are Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rules Committee Chairman Charles E. Schumer, and Rules Committee Ranking Member Lamar Alexander. The House members of JCCIC are Speaker John A. Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
S. Con. Res. 35 established the date of the 2013 Inauguration as Monday, January 21, 2013, since January 20, 2013 falls on a Sunday. This is the seventh time in U.S. history that the constitutionally mandated Inauguration date has fallen on a Sunday. The last time was for President Ronald Reagan's second Inauguration in 1985. When this occurs, the public ceremonies traditionally are held on Monday.
In addition, January 21, 2013 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It will be the second time that this federal holiday has coincided with a Presidential Inauguration. The first was President Bill Clinton's second Inauguration in 1997.
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