Selections from Buttonwood Winery
Once the weather improves in Central New York, there’s lots of options for outdoor spaces. What if one friend wants to sit outside somewhere with a scenic view, another wants to head to a nursery for flowers, and another wants to try local wines? You can satisfy all those requests at Crazy Daisies – a quirky, welcoming, family-run business that is equal parts botanical, epicurean, musical, and boozy. On a recent rainy night (I know it feels like every night has been rainy this spring), Kathy, Kate, Pam, Carolyn and special guest Amanda headed up for a night of wine tasting and lively conversation. Amanda, a self-proclaimed fan of quirkiness, was in town from Boise, Idaho, on Micron business and couldn’t resist the invitation to join in some wine tasting.
We decided to taste two wines from the Buttonwood Grove Winery in Romulus, New York: The Farm: White Blend and the Buttonwood Rose. According to the website, one of the owners of the winery grew up working at his family’s business, Beak & Skiff Apple Farm in Lafayette. Not surprisingly he started in apple wines and, after a degree in Agriculture from Cornell and more than a decade of experience, the winery “has established a reputation for producing some of the most noteworthy wines in the Finger Lakes.” Buttonwood Grove Winery Website: buttonwoodgrove.com
White blends sometimes get a bad rap but wine expert Devin Parr argues that “[p]referring wine blends over varietal types of white wines makes sense.” In part, using different types of grapes allows a winemaker to create an appealing flavor. “When a single grape variety is standing on its own, all aspects that make a great wine need to be there from the get-go. However, in periods of problematic weather events, low-yield harvests, uneven ripening, or just plain finicky grapes, it helps a winemaker to have several levers to pull to create an ideal wine. Where one grape is overly acidic, another might bring softness. Where another is aromatic but lacking structure, another might bring a much-needed burst of freshness.” Devin Parr, “The Best White Wine Blends for Any Budget,” Chowhound, June, 2024. While a purist might prefer a single type of grape, the blend allows for delicious combinations.
When it comes to Rosé, James Suckling, American Wine Critic and former European Bureau Chief of Wine Spectator, explains that “[r]osé is a type of wine made from red wine grapes, produced in a similar manner to red wine, but with reduced time fermenting with grape skins. This reduced skin contact gives rosé a pink hue and lighter flavor than that of red wine. Rosé is produced around the world, as it can be made from any red wine grape cultivated in any wine-growing region.” James Suckling, Learn About Rose: The Essential Guide to Rose Wine, Masterclass, July 2021. See our June 2024 Article for more.
Now that we’ve discussed white blends and rosé varieties, let’s turn to the tasting.
To recap our novice approach to tasting: none of us is a wine expert but we know what we like and are happy to share our unbiased opinion with you. To keep things consistent, we developed our own unique rating system: pass, glass, bottle, case; you can interpret it as 1, 2, 3, and 4 stars. To be thorough, we’ll include the winemaker’s description at the end. But remember, they made the wine and want to sell the wine. You might like our non-biased reactions better.
The Farm, White Blend
Buttonwood Grove (FINGER LAKES, NEW YORK)
Generally, people liked the white, while noting that the flavor was a bit mild. Carolyn appreciated that this wine was balanced and easy to drink while Kate described it as a “little boring but smooth and refreshing.” Kathy added that this wine “could compliment most foods on a hot day.” Amanda summed it up saying “it’s probably not the most sophisticated wine but feels like a ‘good with anything’ option.”
Winemaker: A delightful balance of fruit, herbs, and floral notes, with a refreshing acidity; neither too sweet or too dry.
Blend of Chardonnay (35%), Reisling (35%), Melody (18%), and Cayuga White (12%) grapes.
Retail Cost: $17.99
Rating: Buy a BOTTLE.
Buttonwood Rosé
Buttonwood Grove (FINGER LAKES, NEW YORK)
The Rosé was the group’s favorite. Amanda described it as refreshing with a “fruity but not too sweet” taste. Kate was already picturing herself “enjoying this wine on the porch listening to a good band.” Kathy found the wine crisp with a slight burst of flavor and a smooth ending.”
Winemaker: on the nose comes hints of red delicious apple and strawberry which follow through on the palate. Nuances of watermelon and nectarine complement the appealing acidity making this a food friendly wine.
Retail Cost: $34.
Rating: Buy a BOTTLE OR TWO.
Cheers to all from Kathy, Kate, Pam, Carolyn, and Amanda!
