Finger Lakes Winemaker Leads Region's Rise as American Wine Region of the Year
Nova Cadamatre, the first female Master of Wine in the United States, helps propel the Finger Lakes onto the national stage while dividing time with Napa Valley.
The Finger Lakes have earned the designation American Wine Region of the Year from Wine Enthusiast, a nod to the area’s rapid ascent from underdog to nationally recognized producer. The award highlights the region’s rising quality, its collaborative community and sustainable practices, as well as the economic and reputational benefits those elements bring to New York state. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office welcomed the recognition, saying it underscores the region’s world-class winemaking, its sustainable practices and its role in defining New York as a global wine destination.
Nova Cadamatre, the first female Master of Wine in the United States, opened Trestle Thirty One winery in 2015 with her husband, Brian. She splits her time between the Finger Lakes and California’s Napa Valley, a dual presence that mirrors the cross-regional ties she sees as essential for growth. Cadamatre notes that Finger Lakes climates bring precipitation year-round, including rain during the growing season, conditions that shape viticulture and winemaking in distinct ways. “Making wine in New York really forces you to be creative and very resourceful because the industry is not as well established as it is in California,” she said. “We’re able to grow different varieties than we did 20 years ago and ripen them more consistently.”
Cadamatre points to Engine Riesling, produced by Trestle Thirty One, as an ambassador for the region, along with Cabernet Franc available through the Fox News Wine Shop. The Engine Riesling is described as versatile—appealing as an aperitif or with a cheese plate and charcuterie, while still dry enough to pair with lighter red meats. She frames these wines as evidence of a Finger Lakes not yet fully defined by its past but increasingly capable of shaping its own identity on a national stage.
Reflecting on the region’s trajectory, Cadamatre compares the Finger Lakes’ current moment to Napa Valley’s emergence in the 1970s, then still proving itself to a broader audience. She says climate change, while destabilizing for many wine regions, has offered a paradoxical benefit here: warmer temperatures are allowing the cultivation of different varieties and more consistent ripening. “The Finger Lakes, right now, is kind of like where Napa was in the 1970s,” she said. This shift, she adds, is supported by the community’s ongoing efforts to tell the region’s story and to expand the reach of its wines.
Wine Enthusiast’s honor arrives amid a growing chorus of regional praise. The Finger Lakes’ elevation to American Wine Region of the Year is framed by officials as a recognition of not only quality but also sustainability, collaboration and the region’s role in strengthening New York’s economy. Hochul’s office noted that the award acknowledges the Finger Lakes’ world-class winemaking, its responsible practices and its contribution to New York’s reputation as a premier viticultural destination, while signaling continued investment in the region’s producers and tourism.
Cadamatre’s achievement as the United States’ first female Master of Wine, earned in 2017, underscores a personal and professional milestone that she describes as the culmination of decades of work. She notes there are about 432 Master of Wine holders worldwide, a figure she regards as a reminder of the certification’s rarity and the discipline required to attain it. “It’s the highest level of certification you can achieve in the world of wine,” she said, underscoring the ongoing pursuit of excellence that characterizes her career and the Finger Lakes’ aspirations.
Looking ahead, Cadamatre remains bullish about the Finger Lakes’ future. She emphasizes the community’s work to expand grape varieties, increase quality, and broaden distribution so that Finger Lakes wines reach more consumers on both coasts. The cross-regional exchange between New York and California, she says, is not just logistical but strategic—allowing winemakers to learn from established markets while showcasing the region’s unique terroir and approach to farming. The effort is paying off as more Finger Lakes wines appear on national platforms, tasting menus and in consumer-focused spaces such as wine clubs and online shops.
Ultimately, Cadamatre’s story mirrors a broader industry trend: a cooler continental climate yielding wines with distinctive character, produced by a generation of winemakers who are increasingly reaching and earning recognition at the highest levels. The Finger Lakes’ ascent—captured by awards, media features and an expanding domestic and international footprint—suggests a regional evolution from an emerging area to a fixture of American viticulture, with Cadamatre and her peers at the helm driving the narrative forward.