This year, 2025, is the Dr. Konstantin Frank winery’s 60th anniversary.
On today’s show, we’re headed to New York’s Finger Lakes region, where winemaking dates back to the 1800s. Meaghan Frank is the great granddaughter of Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Ukrainian immigrant credited with pioneering modern winemaking in the Finger Lakes. He is known as the father of vitis vinifera in the East because he taught American vintners how to grow European varietals in the cold climate of the Finger Lakes. Dr. Frank developed and mastered cold weatherproofing farming techniques in Ukraine and he brought that innovation to America and his namesake winery, Dr. Konstantin Frank.
Meaghan Frank inherited quite a legacy, but she’s also brought her own experience and knowledge to the family winery, where she is now in charge of the day-to-day operations.
Meaghan’s family has many milestones to celebrate, including 40 years of making sparkling wine and women playing major roles in the winery’s success and evolution. Riesling wines are a big part of the story. In fact, Dr. Frank’s Riesling Vineyard, planted in 1958, is the oldest Riesling planting in the Eastern United States.
Riesling is one of the most aromatic and versatile white varieties in the world, made in many styles, from bone dry to dessert wine sweet, in both still and sparkling versions. After listening to today’s episode, we hope you’ll be inspired to seek out Riesling in all its styles.
Want to know the best winery to visit in the US? The Dr. Konstantin Frank winery was named the best winery tour in America for the third year in a row in 2024 by the USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards. What’s the secret sauce? Meaghan’s here to tell us all about it.
Follow Dr. Konstantin Frank on Instagram
Wines tasted in this episode:
• 2020 Blanc de Blanc, Finger Lakes
• 2020 Blanc de Noirs, Finger Lakes
• Célèbre NV Riesling Sparkling Wine, Finger Lakes
