I first visited the Finger Lakes wine region of upstate New York in the early Spring on my way to visit Niagara Falls. We stayed two nights at a darling BnB on the shores of the one of the lakes, and I remember thinking that it was one of the most beautiful wine regions in America, with the vineyards planted along the gently slopping hillsides of the lake. We spent three days there visiting different wineries and enjoying not only the lovely rieslings and cabernet franc wines, but the many rare wines made from Native American grapes, such as Catawba, Concord and Niagara. The memory of my time here has always been filled with beauty and delight.
So fast forward many years, when I had a chance to interview Meaghan Frank, currently Vice-President of Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery – one of the best ones I visited on that long ago trip. She shared the joys and challenges of being the first female in her family to run the winery, and also shipped me some of their exquisite wines to sample. Following is my conversation with Meaghan, as well as tasting notes on 5 of my favorite wines. Please note that portions of this article were previously published on Forbes.com.
Meaghan on Becoming Vice President of Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Growing up on Long Island, New York, Meaghan Frank never imagined that she would one day manage the family business, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, located in Upstate New York. She believed her brother would eventually take over the winery, just like her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had before her.
But fate stepped in and today Meaghan is Vice President of the winery, managing all wine production, marketing/sales, and over 50 employees. Her father, Fred Frank, still maintains the title of President and oversees vineyard operations. He also serves as a trusted mentor to Meaghan as she prepares to lead all operations when he eventually retires.
Together, the two lead Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery and farm 135 acres of vineyards, producing 60,000 cases of NY wine ranging from $12.99 to $59.99 per bottle. Specializing in riesling, sparkling wine, pinot noir and unusual varietals, such as saperavi and amur, the winery has won hundreds of awards and medals over the years, including the Wine & Spirits Top 100 Award three times: in 2016, 2019, and 2023.
“My great-grandfather, Dr. Konstantin Frank, established the winery in 1962 and is credited with introducing vitis vinifera vines from Europe to New York,” stated Meaghan when I interviewed her recently via Zoom. “When he arrived, there were only 12 wineries in New York, and today there are over 450.”
The vineyards and winery are located in the famous Finger Lakes AVA of New York. It is a very popular place for visitors given its strategic location on the gently sloping hillside of Keuka Lake.
First Woman In The Family To Run The Winery
“Growing up we knew that our family hoped that one of us – my brother, sister or me – would join the family business, but I decided to study Communications at Cornell. Then one semester I decided to take a viticulture class as an elective and I was hooked,” explained Meaghan.
That experience changed her career trajectory, and she went on to obtain a Masters in Enology from Cornell and an MBA in Wine Business from the University of Adelaide in Australia. In the meantime, her brother is pursuing a career in technology, and her sister is a lawyer.
“My Dad Fred has been very encouraging in my wine industry journey. He advised me to move to Australia to earn a graduate degree and work at other wineries. While it was only for a few years, this helped me gain a deeper understanding of the global wine market and international wine community,” stated Meaghan.
The Joys & Challenges Of Managing The Winery
Today Meaghan has been running the winery as vice-president for 6 years, after being promoted from general manager. Part of the joy of the job is the ability to initiate some innovative changes at the winery. These include revamping the wine club to a subscription model, which has increased both members and revenue.
Meaghan also spearheaded updates to the website during Covid, which has allowed the company to increase their DTC (direct-to-consumer) revenue through digital marketing.
She oversaw the renovation of the 1886 stone house on the property (Chateau Frank), making it part of one of their popular tasting venues. In addition, she created a company garden and administered a program to encourage more visitors to taste wine with an affordable $15 fee for a taste of five wines.
To honor other women in the family, Meaghan created a new line of special wines crafted from some of the original vineyard sites. Named the ‘Helm Series,’ each wine honors a female ancestor, including Eugenia, Hilda, Lena, and Margrit, to date.
Meaghan admits that a challenge has been the extreme weather fluctuations of climate change, which have impacted the vineyards and production.
“Two years ago we had a spring frost that killed most of the crop. It was the worst cold we had in over 60 years. One day it was 60 degrees and the vines started budbreak, and then it was below freezing,” she reported.
This caused the winery to cut production drastically and not be able to meet commitments with distributors and retailers. “It was very challenging financially. You spend so much time and energy building different markets, and then we had to pull back,” said Meaghan.
“However, this past harvest was one of the best, so we are back up to our regular production levels,” she added.
Tasting The Wines Of Dr. Konstantin Frank
Dr. Konstantin Frank offers over 40 different wines at different price points. The entry-level line is called Salmon Run; whereas the more premium wines are part of their Reserve, Sparkling, Dessert, or Helm line.
The signature varietal is riesling, and they offer many styles, ranging from bone dry to sweet. These rieslings consistently win medals at major wine competitions, and are always a good choice. The sparkling wines are also delicious, as well as the cabernet franc. Following are a few wines that stood out for me during a recent tasting.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2023 – A classic riesling with notes of white peach, zesty lemon, and a hint of NY dusty minerality. Fresh, crisp, bone dry, and invigorating. 91 points, $19.99.
Eugenia Dry Riesling 2023 – Unique and sophisticated, this single vineyard riesling opens with complex mineral notes, citrus and hints of green melon. Medium-bodied with great intensity on the palate and crisp acidity, it speaks of the land with its dusty bone dry finish. 92 points, $39.99.
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2021 Sparkling Brut – Elegant and vibrant, it captivates with an aromatic nose of ripe apple, pear and a hint of white flowers. Silky delicate bubbles, bright lemon zest and hints of toast and yeast. Aged 2 years in bottle. 93 points, $30. (Also listed in Forbes as one of America’s Spectacular Sparkling Wines.)
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2020 Sparkling Blanc De Noirs – A very sophisticated bubbly with toast, red apple, and citrus notes. Full-bodied and complex, it has creamy seductive bubbles and a very long finish. Aged 3.5 years in bottle, 100% pinot noir. 94 points, $49.99.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Cabernet Franc 2021 – An Old World style cabernet franc with green herbs, black currant, earth and spice. Aged 16 months in French Oak, it is medium bodied with polished tannins. 90 points, $27.99.
