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The Short Version: As one of the most historic vineyards in the eastern United States, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery offers a perfect date destination for couples. The winery, located in the Finger Lakes area of New York, features the vinifera vines that revolutionized winemaking in the Eastern U.S. It offers 40 different wine varieties for couples to enjoy, and they can book intimate experiences and tours that include unique food pairings. For its romantic setting and high-quality wines that allow couples to connect and relax, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.
When couples plan a perfect romantic evening together, it may include a stroll through a picturesque landscape and a conversation over a good glass of wine.
Walking through a beautiful vineyard can provide that experience, which is why couples often choose Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in the Finger Lakes area of New York as a date destination.
The vineyard is one of the most historic in the region and dates back to 1958 when Dr. Konstantin Frank purchased the property after relocating from Ukraine. Dr. Frank was a researcher and scientist who didn’t know any English or have any contacts in the area when he arrived. But he did have 30 years of experience growing grapes in Eastern Europe.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery teaches couples about the history of winemaking in New York.
“He brought with him a lot of the techniques that he practiced and learned with other researchers. He was shocked there were no European grape varieties in the Finger Lakes and Eastern U.S. He set out to change that,” said his great-granddaughter and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery Vice President Meaghan Frank. “He was a pioneer who changed the way a lot of the Finger Lakes wines were being made and grown.”
Dr. Frank planted the first vines of a European grape variety known as vinifera vines. Its grapes can be used to make Chardonnay, Riesling, or Pinot noir, which few wineries produced back then. It took Dr. Frank a few years to find what worked regionally and what didn’t. In 1962, he received a license to sell wine to the public.
Today, the vineyard offers 40 different wine varieties and a unique experience for couples who enjoy romantic vistas and intimate tastings. For its commitment to making high-quality wine and offering couples a picturesque spot for a date, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.
Dr. Frank grew as many as 66 different European varieties of grapes on his property at one time. As the business was passed down through the generations, it refined its vision to provide the best wines. The fourth generation of Franks currently run the winery.
Meaghan said her grandfather took over from Konstantin in the 1980s. He was a salesperson who was also passionate about sparkling wines. He started a new line of sparkling wines using seven traditional production methods in 1985. Her father joined the team in 1993, and he used his background in business and winemaking that he learned in Germany to further improve the winery.
Today, Dr. Konstantin Frank wines are distributed in 37 states across the U.S. The winery also sells to international retailers. It has a variety called Salmon Run, which pays homage to the landlocked salmon in Keuka Lake.
Visitors can taste the history, as some of the winery’s original vines still produce grapes for the company’s products. Meaghan, who is just 30 years old, earned her Master of Wine Business degree from the University of Adelaide in 2013. She is currently working with her father to bridge the gap between the modern offerings and her family stories of viticulture.
“It’s important that we’re family-owned and family-run. We have a small team with many people who have been here for anywhere from 15 to 25 years,” said Brandon Thomas, Digital Brand Manager for Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery. “Loyalty is really important to us as well.”
Dr. Frank Winery offers experiences throughout the season that are perfect for couples on a date. One of its most popular is the 1886 Food & Wine Experience, which starts again at the end of June. Couples who sign up for the special event receive an in-depth education and tour of the inner workings of the vineyard.
They’ll get to see the sparkling cellar, witness the bottles aging, and enjoy the beautiful views of the winery. Then, they visit the underground barrel cellar, where they can sample from a barrel that’s not ready for release. Couples receive a sampling for four wines paired with foods from a local chef. The seasonal offerings change monthly, meaning couples can repeatedly return for a fresh experience.
The winery offers informative tours and stunning views from the vineyards.
This year, the winery opened a new location called Eugenia’s Garden — another idyllic date destination. This secret garden-style café is located behind the historic home of Dr. Frank and named after his wife. At Eugenia’s Garden, couples can enjoy a private seating area, purchase cheese plates, and choose flights from the vineyard’s extensive selection of wines. The café plans to host pop-up food events on Sundays starting soon.
“That’s a less-guided option for couples to choose wines and enjoy the view. Or they can join a more educational guided tour if they’re looking for history and want to focus on the vineyard,” Meaghan told us. “That tour is called the Progressive Tasting Experience.”
The vineyard is more interested in offering robust education and an intimate experience for couples and families than bringing in busloads of people for more business.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery produces 40 different varieties, and its two most popular are the Dry Riesling and the Sunny Dry Riesling. The Sunny Dry Riesling is made with Gewürztraminer grapes, and winemakers leave the skin intact for a few days before pressing it with a state-of-the-art horizontal pneumatic press.
The vineyard ferments its grapes in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks with selected German yeasts. That allows the full expression of the grape to come through naturally, Meaghan said.
Couples often enjoy the Celeb series of sparkling wines, which is made with 100% Riesling grapes. Meaghan said it’s “right in the middle of the sweetness scale,” so it’s palatable to almost everyone. The Brut Rose, which is drier, is also a popular choice.
“Our winery started with the idea that we want to offer a customer service focus and intimate experience,” she said. “Konstantin would welcome people on the porch of his home and have them there for hours.”
In fact, he was known for gently needling the man in the relationship to find out when he would ask the girl to marry him. That may be why the team at Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery often hears stories from people who have been visiting the vineyard for generations, showing pictures of themselves as babies on Konstantin’s knee.
“He loved the couples. Over the years, we’ve kept that family-oriented, intimate experience,” Meaghan said.
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