Dr. Frank's Rkatsiteli Wins the Grand Star Award

For years Rkatsiteli (pronounced "are-cat-see-tell-ee"; Georgian; literally "red stem") has been a favorite of many Dr. Frank wine lovers. The 2006 vintage of Dr. Frank's Rkatsiteli won the Grand Star Best of Show award and a Gold Medal from the Lone Star International Wine Competition!

Dr. Konstantin Frank introduced this historic varietal to the United States over forty years ago and its origins can be traced back to 3000 BC. As one of the few producers of Rkatsiteli in the U.S., Dr. Frank's Winery is pleased to receive so many awards for this extraordinary wine. It won a Double Gold at the Big E Wine Competition, Best of Class and a Gold Medal at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, Best of Class and a Gold Medal at the New World International Competition, a Gold Medal at the International Eastern Wine Competition, and another Gold Medal at the Tasters Guild International.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal praised Dr. Frank's Rkatsiteli. "It's crisp and floral, with peaches, kiwi and lychee and a shake of white pepper. It's planted throughout Eastern Europe, but is very rare in the U.S. This has been a little specialty of this New York winery for years."

Eric Asimov of the New York Times gave great credit to Dr. Frank's Rkatsiteli. It's "one of the best and most unusual New York State wines. It's a lovely wine that seems almost like a combination of sauvignon blanc and riesling, with flavors of lemon confit and minerals."

Northern Virginia Magazine was also enamored with the "naturally spicy white grape, with bright tropical and wild strawberry flavors." The rarity of this grape also adds appeal. "The prodigious varietal remains a virtual secret outside its native home within the former Soviet Union. Dr. Frank's descendants may be tending the only Rkatsiteli plantings in this part of the world."
Its spicy, floral nose (reminiscent of aromatic riesling & gerwurztraminer) and its acidic balanced flavors of citrus, spice and minerals have enticed consumers for years. This wine pairs perfectly with cold seafood, sushi, smoked salmon, shrimp, lobster and spicy dishes like Thai and Indian.

Located on Keuka Lake a few miles north of Hammondsport, Dr. Frank's has long been associated with the New York wine revolution. Its founder, Dr. Konstantin Frank, was the first to cultivate the European vitis vinifera grapevines in the eastern United States, the varieties used in virtually all of the world's finest wines. For more information, please contact Frederick Frank at (800) 320-0735 or visit the website at www.drfrankwines.com.