In 1985, Willy Frank changed the trajectory of East Coast winemaking by releasing the first traditional method sparkling wine in the eastern United States made from the classic vinifera grapes used in the Champagne region.

Forty years later, that pioneering spirit lives on through a sparkling wine program that remains central to the identity of and legacy of Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery , which sits on along the western end of New York’s Seneca Lake, just north of Hammondsport.

This fall, to mark the milestone, the winery has released Brut 2021 Cuvée 85 (SRP $85), a limited-edition 2021 Brut made from 55% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, and 5% Pinot Meunier, with a final dosage drawn from the winery’s inaugural 1985 Brut. The unique blend marries the bright energy of the 2021 vintage with t

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