Prefer the old site?Launch →

Dr. Konstantin Frank - Chateau Frank

Dr. Konstantin Frank is quite possibly the best known name in the Finger Lakes. Largely credited with initiating the replacement of native and hybrid vines with vitis vinifera, Frank’s influence is still felt today. Frank, who held a PhD in viticulture, originally hailed from the Ukraine, and came to New York in the 1950s. He eventually made his way upstate to pursue a teaching position at Cornell University. He worked to encourage growers to consider European wine grapes, and ultimately established a vineyard of his own, crushing his first vintage in 1962. Today, the winery remains in family hands, with Frank’s grandson Fred and great-granddaughter Meaghan running the show. They produce a wide range of wines, including several Georgian varieties that Konstantin Frank fingered as ideal for the cold climate decades ago. "We're the Bonny Doon of the East Coast,” Fred joked to me, “the champion of the little known varieties." Stylistically, their wines are extremely well made and are generally quite straightforward. Many lack the depth or complexity demonstrated by some of the smaller, more artisan brands but still, the quality, consistency, and value of the portfolio is undeniable. The sparkling program is especially strong, and marketed under the sister label Chateau Frank.

From Finger Lakes Rising (Jul 2016) by Kelli White

Reviews

Wines

Sort by default

2010 Blanc de Blancs

Release Price: $30

Color: Sparkling White

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.