Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli 2024 750ml

Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli — Finger Lakes, New York 2024

Dr. Konstantin Frank is the founding father of the American vinifera movement — the visionary who, in 1957, planted the first European vinifera vines in the Eastern United States on the southwestern hills of Keuka Lake and ignited a revolution that forever changed New York wine. Four generations later, the Frank family remains the benchmark for Finger Lakes winemaking — and this Rkatsiteli is their most ancient and extraordinary expression. Rkatsiteli is a Georgian grape variety dating back to 3000 B.C., making it one of the oldest known cultivated grapes in the world. The 2024 is crafted as an amber wine with one month of skin contact — a nod to the ancient Georgian qvevri tradition — resulting in a wine of striking complexity, texture, and depth. 

The nose is arresting and aromatic: toasted orange peel, macerated apricot, orchard blossoms, fresh ginger, and cardamom. On the palate, zesty citrus unfolds with layers of stone fruit, framed by a gentle tannic grip reminiscent of a light red. Full-bodied with subtle warmth, this amber wine balances texture, spice, and freshness in a style that is genuinely unlike anything else in the glass.

• Producer: Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Keuka Lake, Finger Lakes, New York
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Finger Lakes AVA
• Varietal: Rkatsiteli — Georgian grape, origins c. 3000 B.C.
• Style: Amber wine — one month skin contact
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Toasted orange peel, macerated apricot, orchard blossom, ginger, cardamom, stone fruit, gentle tannins
• Best Paired With: Middle Eastern & Mediterranean cuisine, roasted root vegetables, spiced poultry, aged cheeses, olives, sushi, grilled white meats

A 3,000-year-old Georgian grape grown in the Finger Lakes by America’s vinifera pioneer — Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli is the benchmark for what amber wine can be in New York.