Geneva, N.Y.—“Diversity is our strength; Unity is our power” is New York Wine and Grape Foundation’s slogan to convey the overriding need for the state’s wine and grape industry to work together to achieve success. Each year the NYWGF holds a Unity Banquet and presents awards to those who have made important contributions to the New York industry. The 2011 Unity Banquet was held at the Belhurst in Geneva, N.Y., as the final event in the foundation’s annual seminar. Jim Trezise, NYWGF president, presented nine awards.

The Unity Award has been given for 20 years. This year, Peter Saltonstall, co-owner of 10,000-case King Ferry Winery in King Ferry, N.Y., was honored for his leadership role in the long and ultimately successful legal and legislative battle to allow direct shipment of wine in New York state. Presenting the award, Trezise noted that Saltonstall put his own winery at risk to spearhead the contentious campaign.

Established in 1985, the NYWGF is a private nonprofit trade organization providing funds for the state’s wine and grape industry. At that time Patrick Hooker, winner of the 2011 Industry Award, was working at the New York Farm Bureau, where he later became director of government affairs. His contributions to the industry continued when former Gov. Eliot Spitzer appointed him commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Approximately one-third of the money distributed by the foundation supports grape and wine research. This year’s Research Award went to entomologist Greg Loeb at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in recognition of his many past achievements. With the brown marmorated stink bug invading northeastern vineyards, “The industry needs him now more than ever,” Trezise said.

Jim Joy, field services specialist for National Grape Cooperative in the Lake Erie and Finger Lakes regions, received the Grower Award. The Winery Award went to 10,000-case Red Newt Cellars & Bistro in Hector, N.Y., where David Whiting is the winemaker and Debra Whiting the chef who specializes in fresh local foods. Both are regular participants in the annual New York Farm Day celebration in Washington, D.C.

Recognition for many contributors
The Restaurant Award recognizes a restaurant doing a superior job of promoting and serving a broad array of New York state wines. This year’s recipient was Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine, a small restaurant run by Suzanne Stack on the east side of Seneca Lake.

Other aspects of the industry also are honored. The Retailer Award went to The Wine Room, operated by Neil Kratzer in the Village of Williamsville, an eastern Buffalo suburb. The Distributor Award was given to Upstate Wine Co. and its president Kevin Faehndrich, who distributes upstate New York wines in New York City, concentrating on “outstanding local wines that focus on environmental responsibility.”

Nor are consumers neglected. The Consumer Award for “enthusiastic support of the New York wine industry” this year went to wine writer, former winery owner and avid consumer Thomas Pellechia.

Approximately 100 people attended this year’s Unity Banquet. The annual affair seems to engender a palpable sense of closeness and identity, the same sense of unity that the foundation promotes as a key to the success of the New York wine and grape industry.