Annual Alumni Wine Collection Celebrates the Empire State
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The three offerings for 2024—the program’s seventh year—all hail from New York, spanning from Lake Erie to Long Island
By Beth Saulnier
This year’s offerings from Alumni Wine by Cornell Alumni Affairs mark the program’s seventh year—but the first time it’s had a theme. The 2024 collection is punnily dubbed “A New York State of Wine,” showcasing three alumni-made wines from the Empire State.
As in past years, the bottles boast bespoke labels by an alumni artist: this year, they were created by AAP alum Wendy Goldberg ’74, who grew up in New York and New England but now lives in Northern California.
“Seasons on the East Coast have both definition and drama,” observes Goldberg, whose semi-abstract paintings and drawings of rural and urban landscapes are held in numerous private and public collections in the U.S. and abroad.
Here’s a look at the three wines for sale through the program; they can be purchased in quantities ranging from three bottles to 60, and shipped to more than 40 states.
Johnson Estate Winery—2020 Sparkling Wine
Run by four generations of Cornellians since its founding in the early 20th century, the winery is located in Western New York, near Lake Erie and the Pennsylvania border.
Johnson Estate’s 2020 Sparkling White, priced at $28, follows up on a previous fizzy libation that was featured in the 2023 alumni wine collection and proved wildly popular, quickly selling out.
“Crafted using the traditional Champagne method, this brut sparkling wine reveals a creamy, effervescent nose brimming with notes of lemony melon, nougat, and fresh bread,” says its description.
“The palate offers a rich tapestry of flavors including baked pear and orange marmalade, culminating in a clean finish highlighted by a touch of lemon zest.”
Harbes Vineyard—2021 Cabernet Franc
The collection’s red comes from the eastern end of New York: the North Fork of Long Island. There, Dyson School alum Ed Harbes IV ’05 serves as vineyard manager for the winemaking operation founded by his parents, who are 12th-generation family farmers.
Now growing 10 acres of grapes, Harbes is Long Island’s first certified sustainable vineyard.
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“Sourced from estate-grown, newly planted Cabernet Franc, this light-bodied red undergoes a four-month aging process in oak barrels,” says the description of the wine, priced at $32.
“Notes of cedar and vanilla on the nose transition seamlessly to the palate, where they mingle with flavors of black cherry.”
Snowshell Vineyards—2023 Reserve Riesling
When Nova McCune Cadamatre ’06 became a Master of Wine in 2017, she was the first female winemaker in the U.S. to earn the coveted title. She’s also been named to Wine Enthusiast’s “40 under 40” list of top winemakers.
A former senior director at Napa Valley’s Robert Mondavi Winery, Cadamatre has founded three wine brands, including two in the Finger Lakes: Trestle Thirty One and Snowshell Vineyards.
“With a lovely floral aroma of hibiscus on the nose, this Riesling prominently features hints of pear and stone fruit on the palate,” says the description of Snowshell’s entry, priced at $26.
“Refreshingly crisp and bright, this wine captures the essence of summer in a glass, making it a fantastic expression of this varietal.”
(Top: Illustration by Caitlin Cook / Cornell University. All photos in this story provided, unless otherwise indicated.)
Published October 10, 2024
So thrilled to have my artwork on three of the Alumni wines! Very honored!