In the tasting room, we often hear customers say, "I don't know anything about wine!" and our response is simply, "you know what you like".  The world of wine can be overly complicated and seem somewhat pretentious for those who do not live and breathe wine.  My thoughts are that most people have a specialty, vast knowledge on a specific subject; they are experts in their own field.  One's skills can range from customer service to chemistry, or from mapmaking to mortgage lending.  However, I have found that there is a certain aura surrounding the wine industry and it is often viewed as prestigious career path and product.  Now, don't misunderstand, there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into farming the grapes and when the growing season doesn't provide us with the ideal climate, which it rarely does, the expertise of a skilled winemaker is needed to basically right the wrongs in the grape crop.  Combating high acid levels, low sugars, faults and flaws, a winemaker with a large portfolio of wines is pulled in many different directions as they strive to bring out the best in every varietal while ensuring the wines are ready for bottling and stable for long-term aging. 

Back to the initial post topic: "What wines should I serve with my Holiday meal?".   I absolutely love food and wine pairing and because I am an expert on Deer Run wines (so says me) I am going to help you choose the very best Deer Run wines for your upcoming gathering.  I recommend you have a variety of wines on hand to satisfy a range of palates! Some people love sweet wine, some prefer dry reds, others won't touch a red wine and will only drink white. Some don't care what their served as long as their glass is filled!  

Follow the flowcharts below to find my recommendations of the Deer Run wines that should grace your Holiday table depending on the main course served and who is coming over for dinner!

I hope these recommendations help you take the guesswork out of food and wine pairing.  It all comes down to what you and what your guests like. Happy holidays to you from all of us here at Deer Run Winery.  May your family be blessed, your bellies be full and your wine glass never go empty!  

This Halloween we have a treats of the adult variety in store for you all weekend!  Saturday October 30th and Sunday October 31st from 12 pm - 6 pm, we will offer Halloween Candy & Wine Flights while supplies last for those looking to adventure out to Livingston County's Conesus Lake.  Our Halloween Candy & Wine flights will include four wine samples complimented by four sweet treats comprised of:

Dry Rosé paired with a white chocolate covered strawberry 
Runway Red paired with a Snickers bar 
Max Black paired with a Reese's peanut butter pumpkin 
Pebble Beach Blush paired with a Kit Kat bar 

Stock up for the season with our Sweet Wine Sale offering mix and match cases (12 bottles) of the following sweet wines for just $99 plus tax:

Max Black, a Niagara based wine with a sweet, grape forward finish
Pebble Beach Blush, a sweet blush with notes of white grape & peach
Moscato, a sweet well-balanced wine with a floral bouquet and ripe nectarine finish

Don't miss this opportunity to refill your wine rack with your favorite wines and satisfy your sweet tooth!  
The Sweet Wine Sale is available in-store only during business hours 12 pm - 6 pm.  

​Mrs. Austyn Morss started working for Deer Run Winery as the Event Coordinator in 2020.  At  the time she was Miss Austyn Simmons, engaged with plans to marry in May 2021 after her 2020 wedding had been postponed due to the shutdown.  During the pandemic her venue went through a change of ownership.  The new owners assured Austyn and her fiancé, Patrick, they would honor the deposit paid to the previous owner and the couple looked forward to holding their wedding in May of 2021.  Unfortunately, due to legal issues with the venue, Austyn and Patrick were informed their venue was unable to host their wedding as scheduled in May 2021.  This left Austyn, an event coordinator who had planned and assisted hundreds of brides over the years, extremely frustrated; again, she was being told she needed to postpone her wedding another year.  Feeling that she and her fiancé were ready to get married, even if it was a small gathering, they decided to hold a small wedding in the vineyard at Deer Run Winery. 

So, what does it look like when an event coordinator gets married? For this gal and her groom, their open-air ceremony followed by cocktail reception in the vineyard was nothing short of magical. Her wedding day began at home where she was met by her make-up artist/hairstylist and photographer.  The bride wore a gorgeous Allure strapless damask bridal gown with a sweep train, and she arrived at Deer Run Winery in style in her father’s convertible BMW.  Austyn carried a bouquet of white calla lilies as we assisted her into the golf cart before Scott drove her into the vineyard out of sight of the guests. 

Once Austyn was in place, in a row of Traminette vines on the arm of her father, instrumental music began to play and the maid of honor, her childhood best friend, walked out from the row of vines and took her place to the left of the arbor.  The sun shone brightly in the sky that Sunday afternoon and it became Austyn’s moment; it was finally her turn to be the bride walking down the aisle.   A breeze lifted her veil as she emerged from the vines to see the familiar faces of her closest friends and family and there waiting for her was Patrick, the man she fell in love with, the man whom she was dedicating her future to.  Patrick stood straight and tall, a brawny man of more than 6 feet; he wore his grandfather’s vintage custom tuxedo made in 1919.  The two exchanged vows and celebrations ensued in the vineyard immediately following the ceremony. 

Tables topped with white hydrangeas and draped with white linen that flowed in the breeze dotted the vineyard’s headlands.  The buffet tables were filled with a spread of finger foods and charcuterie.  A portable bar was set up to serve the guests and while the couple celebrated their toast with a bottle of Dom Perignon, the guests toasted with a specialty lemonade lavender brandy cocktail topped off with a scoop of lemon sorbet.  The dessert table, set against the backdrop of the vineyard, showcased glistening mini fruit tartlets and a modestly garnished almond cake with raspberry filling.  The two-tier wedding cake was decorated in pristine white, crowned with white roses and a custom cake topper prominently displaying the newlywed’s name.  After an hour or so of mingling, the couple and their family took photos in the vineyard and by the pond.  They continued celebrations that evening at Patrick’s family’s country estate with fireworks, an enormous bonfire, and more food and drink. 

Sometimes when the original plan doesn’t work out, the alternative can be even greater.  The couple is hopeful that by 2022 the legal issues with their original venue will be cleared up and they plan to celebrate with their full guest list next year.  In Austyn’s case, for having assisted so many brides in her career, she deserves two weddings!  Her vineyard wedding at Deer Run Winery was intimate and “rustic-chic”.  Now, in true Event Coordinator fashion, she can get to work planning next year’s wedding!
 
Florals: Genesee Valley Florist
Wedding Cake: Sweet Solutions
Wedding Gown: Heart to Heart Bride
Venue: Deer Run Winery
Hair Stylist / Make up Artist: Danielle Willardson
Photographer: LeNovel Photography 
Caterer: Simply Crepes & Wegmans

Every three months, Deer Run Winery holds a wine release for our Wine of the Month Club members.  Wine Club members receive three bottles of pre-selected wines each quarter.  Our Summer 2021 Wine Release will be taking place on June 12th 1pm-4pm under our new pavilion at Deer Run Winery and will feature the following wines:
June's Wine of the Month: Dry Rosé 
July's Wine of the Month: Pebble Beach Blush 
August's Wine of the Month: Moscato​

Savings are just one perk members enjoy; the conversations and friendships made are  additional benefits you will also take away with you.  If you are looking for a fun, relaxed club to be a part of filled with great people and delicious wine to enjoy, you need to look no further!   We look forward to seeing our members again soon for the upcoming 2021 Summer Wine Release which will be held under our pavilion as we enjoy wine, summer and sunshine! 

Deer Run Winery submitted four wines to be scored by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) and each of the wines entered, 2018 Riesling, 2019 Marquette, Conesus White, and Runway Red, garnered a Silver Medal and received the distinction of being "Highly Recommended" and rated a "Best Buy".  BTI is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and has a panel of professional judges who rate spirits, wine and beer.  Blind tastings are performed in a manner of randomly selected flights and judges sample no more than 30 beverages in a climate controlled setting over a  2 to 3 hour period.  The reviews published below are those given by the professional panel of judges at the Beverage Testing Institute covering the 2021 New York Wine Classic:
Deer Run Winery 2018 Riesling - 87 Points, Silver, Highly Recommended, Best Buy
"Straw color. Aromas and flavors of fallen apples and lemons, floral honeycomb, exotic tropical fruits, and radish with a silky, bright, fruity light-to-medium body and a smooth, compelling, medium-long finish displaying suggestions of honeyed dried peach, starfruit, hint of herbs, and minerals with no oak flavor. An intriguingly earthy and uniquely flavorful Riesling that delightfully dances to its own beat."
Deer Run Winery 2019 Marquette - 87 Points, Silver, Highly Recommended, Best Buy
"Ruby black color. Interesting aromas and flavors of honeyed black raspberries, nettles, mace and cinnamon bark, blood and ink, and vanilla extract with a supple, bright, dryish medium body and a tingling, interesting, medium-long finish conveying accents of marinated beets and olives, pomegranate, grilled carrots, and turnip greens and stems with light oak flavor. A dry, super savory red that will excel with game."
Deer Run Winery Conesus White - 88 points, Silver, Highly Recommended, Best Buy
"White gold color. Sweet aromas of white grapes, pineapple slices, watermelon candies, and quince with a supple, vibrant, dry light body and a polished, interesting, medium-length tangy citrus relish and pressed flowers finish with no oak flavor. A outgoingly fruity yet bone dry white that offers crowd-pleasing flavor to all."
Deer Run Winery Runway Red  - 87 Points, Silver, Highly Recommended, Best Buy
"Burnt sienna color. Roasted aromas of melted toffee, caramel macchiato, bubbly berry pie crust, and brown butter with a round, lively, fruity medium body and a tingling, interesting, medium-long artisan pickles, roasted berry and citrus, and spiced nuts finish with crunchy, chewy tannins and light oak flavor. A lively and mouth watering red that will invigorate at the table."

Each of these wines are available for purchase at Deer Run Winery and some may be found in your local liquor store. 

A "Best Buy Four Pack"  which includes each of the wines rated above is available for purchase from Deer Run Winery and may be purchased here.  

January's Wine of the Month is Dry Riesling at Deer Run Winery.  Our 2018 Dry Riesling has notes of Meyer lemon and pickled ginger with a crisp, dry finish.  This versatile white wine can be paired with a myriad of dishes, notably Asian, BBQ, fish, pork and so much more! As owners George and Joan traveled South earlier this month to over-winter, I wanted to prepare a special meal for them the night before they left.  Many of my meals start with the wine and then I work backwards to see what I can make that would pair well and highlight the notes in the wine.  I realize most people pair wine with their already chosen food, but thus is the life of a family who lives, breathes, and sells wine! 

I wanted to focus on our Dry Riesling's citrus notes and decided on lemon-thyme chicken with homemade gnocchi.  I had never made gnocchi before, but read some food blogs and it seemed simple enough.  I also have a potato ricer in my repertoire of kitchen gadgets, so I decided to give it a try! 

The gnocchi recipe I used called for boiling whole potatoes and peeling them afterwards so they avoid becoming waterlogged. I decided to do this step in the morning to break up the amount of work needed to be done in preparation of our dinner.  After peeling the potato, using a knife while holding the potato on the end of a fork, I left the whole potatoes on the counter to cool until the afternoon.  That was a mistake on my part.  It was much more difficult to rice the potato once it had cooled down.  Note that the potato should be pressed through the potato ricer while it is still hot.  Anyhow, I brought the dough together with flour, salt, egg, and potato and rolled out strips as instructed, cut in to small pillows and rounded those over fork tines and, voila, I had homemade gnocchi!  I was quite proud of myself at this point, but I had piled my little pillows on the counter, which was another no-no.  When it came time to throw them in the boiling water, many of the pillows stuck together and I had to tear them apart.  Next time, I will lay them out on a parchment lined sheet pan or on a floured surface. 

For the chicken, I heated a cast iron skillet and browned the chicken thighs on both sides which had been sprinkled with sea salt and cracked black pepper.  I removed the chicken from the pan then added butter, chopped garlic, thyme, lemon peel zest and the juice from one lemon and stirred that up to bubbling.  I deglazed the pan with Dry Riesling (about 1/4 cup) and let it simmer to cook out the alcohol.  I then added flour to soak up all the butter and liquid in the pan and whisked in chicken stock and bit of half and half to make a cream sauce.  I added the chicken to the pan and set it aside.  After quickly cooking the gnocchi in boiling water ( it takes less than 1 minute to cook), I combined the gnocchi with the chicken and lemon-thyme cream sauce.  Dinner was ready! The 2018 Dry Riesling paired incredibly well with this dish and I had Joan ooh-ing and aah-ing at the table so much that George had to tell her to quiet down! 

I share this with the hope that you carve out a night of cooking a new dish with a friend or a loved one.  When you are indulging on the "fruits" of your labor we hope you pair it with the fruit of ours!  Cheers and Enjoy! 

Find the Lemon-Thyme Chicken Recipe I loosely followed here.
Find the Gnocchi recipe I used here.  
Purchase Deer Run's 2018 Dry Riesling or semi-dry Riesling here! 

 As we are approaching Valentine's Day, a popular day for proposals, we wanted to highlight some of the very best reasons that make Deer Run Winery such a wonderful place to hold a wedding!  If you are dreaming of your future wedding, then this post is for you! 

1. Beautiful Grounds – There is no need to find a separate location for stunning wedding photos. Our wedding couples have access to our picturesque vineyard all day, so your photographer can capture the moments you will want to cherish forever! Deer Run Winery also has beautifully maintained gardens and a pond, making for a gorgeous, natural setting.
 
After your vineyard ceremony, guests will make their way to our outdoor pavilion for the reception, combing the ambience of a tent with a barn-like style. Beautiful woodwork, stone flooring, and romantic bistro lighting bring the term “Country-Chic” to a whole new level!
 
2. Convenient & Unique Location- It is no secret that Deer Run Winery is the oldest operating winery on beautiful Conesus Lake.  We offer a country-style wedding venue, located minutes from the beautiful historic village of Geneseo, NY.  Deer Run winery is conveniently located near 390, making it easy for guests to travel in from Rochester and Buffalo! There are plenty of excursions nearby that your guests can enjoy while in town visiting, such as Letchworth State Park. We also offer shuttle and hotel recommendations should you be looking to house guests traveling in for your special day!
 
3. Delicious Award-winning Wines – With the local beverage industry booming, give your guests a taste of what New York State has to offer! Deer Run Winery offers bar packages solely showcasing NYS craft items. Start your bar off with 6 of our best-selling Deer Run wines, then expand to add in special select craft beer & spirits! While many wedding venues are limited to mainstream, bulk sold items, we give our couples the opportunity to be creative and customize their bar package.
 
4. Flexibility to Choose your Own Caterer –The food is a particularly important part of a wedding. We want to make sure our couples choose what works best for them and for their guests! After all, you know your guests better than we do! While we do supply a recommended list of caterers, we allow you to select one of your choosing. Feel free to select a caterer that provides the cuisine you enjoy most and what works best within your budget! Served, buffet, stations, and food trucks…we have had it all! Let our Deer Run Event Team act as the liaison between you and your caterer. We will work with them to ensure your dining experience is flawless with no stress on your end!
 
5. Experienced Event Team – Hospitality is our passion! With combined experience totaling nearly 40 years, our team has perfected the planning process and execution of weddings & events. We will guide you through the planning process step by step, from start to finish to ensure no detail is missed! We will meet with our couples throughout the planning period and coordinate the “run of show” day of!  We will assist with setting out décor, ensure we are keeping to a timeline, and maintain open communication with your vendors throughout the day. Our mission is to make your dream wedding come to life!

If you are interested in scheduling a tour of Deer Run Winery, please email sales@deerrunwinery.com; we would love to meet you!   

Last weekend we welcomed guests for our annual Candlelight Night event, but this year instead of folks mingling and walking from station to station for their five food and wine pairings, we had each group seated in our event room and tasting room.  Our staff served up five courses to guests seated at their tables and a good time out was enjoyed by all!  Some people enjoyed the pairings and asked for recipes, the number one requested recipe was the Creamy Mushroom Soup which I have shared with the public before.  This is a delicious soup, even if you don't love mushrooms, you will love this soup!  It pairs perfectly with our 2018 Traminette.  Don't skimp on the fresh thyme.  Fresh herb are best and lend a wonderful aroma and flavor to this soup that would be lost with dried thyme.  Where the recipe calls for wine, I used Deer Run's 2018 Chardonnay.  Chardonnay and mushrooms are a win-win combination!  
The Jalapeno Popper Corn Dip served with tortilla chips and Conesus White also struck a chord with many who sampled it!  I did reduce the number of jalapenos and used a combination of fresh jalapenos and canned green chiles which imparted great flavor without making it too spicy.  If I was making this for a group of friends, I would have used straight jalapenos, but I always hear my mother in law, Joan Kuyon's, voice in my head whenever I am cooking something for large groups, "Don't make it too hot-spicy!"   I added the scallions right into the crockpot, to allow those flavors to meld a bit while keeping warm in the crockpot.  This is an easy appetizer to serve to a group and the ease of having it in a crockpot means it stays warm on the counter.  In the blog post the author mentions using sour cream or mayonnaise,  I opted for sour cream in my version. 
For the Gorgonzola-stuffed prosciutto-wrapped dates, the ingredients are all listed in the name, making this one a no-brainer, but I will expand on how to pit and stuff a date for those who may have no prior experience with handling dates, just like me!  I had never purchased dates and didn't even know they contained a pit, so I had to cut a slit in the date lengthwise and push the ends together like one would do to open up a coin purse and push out the pit with my gloved finger.  The date opens up easily and is the consistency of a large raisin, sharing that sweetness level as well.  Just a side note, I was not certain if the dates needed to be washed or not, so I did rinse them off well and I would recommend a good rinse before cutting into them.  For the cheese stuffing, I used 1 part cream cheese, 1 part blue cheese crumbles and 1 part Borgonzola (a creamy Gorgonzola Brie).  Scott, my husband and winemaker, thought "Borgonzola" sounded like a cheese from Star Trek made by Borgs.... Anyhow, I whipped the three cheeses together in a stand mixer until light and fluffy.  Using a mason jar lined with a sandwich baggie, I scooped the mixture into the sandwich baggie and readied my home-made piping bag.  The dates have a natural pocket, once you remove the pit, which is perfect for stuffing and you can use a myriad of ingredients to make cute appetizers for your next party.  They are bite-size and don't crumble (depending on your filling) making them a good appetize in my book!  I piped the mixture into the date and wrapped with a third of a slice of prosciutto.  Done and easy!  This is a great recipe to pair with Deer Run's Vignoles and overall I would say it was a hit or miss appetizer with the crowd.  Some guests loved it and some didn't eat it.  Ah well, dates are unique and blue cheese can be a turn off, hence why I creamed it with cream cheese, but I did try one myself and they really were a nice balance of sweet, tang and salt and pretty darn tasty!   
Sliced beef on crostini paired with Deer Run's 2019 Marquette was a nice and easy appetizer as well.   This is a perfect recipe for those who want to serve cute appetizers, but are short on time and cooking space.  Take crostini, spread with Cabot Horseradish cheddar spread and top with thinly sliced roast beef.  We sell Cabot horseradish spread in our tasting room!  Crostini can be purchased at the store or you can make your own by slicing baguette bread, arranging the slices on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil , salt and pepper bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes and, voila, you have crostini! Now you can easily assemble this no frills, delicious appetizer and if you want to make it a bit more fancy, add caramelized onions to the top and omit the roast beef for the vegetarians in your group!  Easy and delicious! 
For the flourless chocolate cake, I cheated and purchased this one at the store.  For my own sanity, I would say it was worth it and everyone loved it.  When hosting a large dinner or party you have to decide when its necessary to make it from scratch or to purchase at the store.  In this case, the cake was deliciously rich and fudgy and paired incredibly with our red dessert wine, Dockside - no one was disappointed!