Following is an interview with Carl Schmitter, owner of Chateau Buffalo Ciderhouse & Winery (formerly Chateau Buffalo on Hertel Avenue). The interview contains news regarding the expansion of the business, news of a move to a new location and product development. We will be following CBCW as the business tests out wines at various outlets in Greater Buffalo. While you’re doing your Easter shopping at The Broadway Market this weekend, be sure to pick up a bottle.
Carl, can you tell me more about the honey wine that you have recently bottled?
Our “Blossom” Honey Wine is a sumptuous dessert wine made with the best locally produced raw honey I can find. The latest bottling is from late summer wildflower honey from Grace Apiaries in Arcade, NY. I work with several producers, so subtle changes in flavor can occur from one batch of wine to another. The current bottling has a sweet taste, followed by earthiness and meadow flower flavors. It’s very different from wines made with grapes. You really have to try the delicious palate it presents.
Is it seasonal?
Blossom Honey Wine is very limited in production. Only a few cases are made at a time during the times of the year when I have nothing else to ferment. My goal is to have something in the fermentation stage at all times, here at the winery
What does it go well with?
The wine pairs well with baked goods, fruit and as an ingredient in desserts. It’s great on its own as a dessert!
Where do you make it?
It’s made here in Buffalo at our winery. We’re in the process of moving everything from our present location on Hertel Avenue to the Niagara Frontier Food Terminal, so current availability of the wine is limited to our location at The Broadway Market. We’ll be offering our wines at our stand at The Broadway Market from now until Easter. After Easter, we sell our wines at the farmers market in North Tonawanda. The North Tonawanda City Market on Robinson Road. We haven’t been accepted at Elmwood-Bidwell after years of applying, so what can I say?
How do you make it?
That’s a secret! Only the purest local raw honey and distilled water are used in the production.
Is this a new product for you?
I’ve been making this wine for six years. It was actually the first wine we produced at Chateau Buffalo!
What other wines are you producing?
We’re producing small batches of many wines at Chateau Buffalo. Right now, I’m bottling some really exciting hard ciders for summer, apple and pear. We have a 2008 Pinot Noir from NY grapes that’s quite delicious. Our white blends are coming into their own right now, we have a Pinot Gris/Chardonnay named B-Lo White. We have developed a following for our “999” sweet red wine! Several dessert fruit wines including Strawberry, Cherry, Blackberry and Plum. Our Cider Ice Wine is to die for!
How much is it?
The “Blossom” Honey Wine is going for $20 for a 375ml bottle.
As I mentioned, Chateau Buffalo is moving to the Niagara Frontier Food Terminal at 1500 Clinton Street, just across from the Clinton-Bailey Market. We hope to open when our license is approved, sometime this summer. The Hertel location is now closed. The new winery will better serve our wholesale clients, as well as the general public during weekends and special events. Until then, Chateau Buffalo can be found until Easter at The Broadway Market, North Tonawanda City Market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and as guests at various area farm markets and festivals. Hope to see you there.
CHATEAU BUFFALO CIDERHOUSE & WINERY
1500 Clinton Street
#175 Niagara Frontier Food Terminal
Buffalo, NY 14206
716-873-0074