The Immigrant Who Changed American Wine Forever | Dr. Konstantin Frank Story + Riesling & Saperavi

22/10/2025 15 min
The Immigrant Who Changed American Wine Forever | Dr. Konstantin Frank Story + Riesling & Saperavi

Listen "The Immigrant Who Changed American Wine Forever | Dr. Konstantin Frank Story + Riesling & Saperavi"

Episode Synopsis

What if I told you the future of American wine was shaped by a 52-year-old immigrant who arrived in the U.S. with no money, no English, and no land... just a belief that fine wine could grow in New York?



This is the story of Dr. Konstantin Frank, the man who proved everyone wrong. In the 1950s, while America was drowning in cheap jug wine, Dr. Frank brought European vinifera grapes like Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir to the Finger Lakes, forever changing how, and where, American wine is made.



0:00 Intro

0:50 Intro to the wines we're tasting

1:34 Dr. Frank's Story

7:05 The Finger Lakes

8:48 Tasting the Riesling

11:20 Saperavi Tasting

12:22 What is a Teinturier grape?



Grab a glass (ideally Riesling), hit play, and let’s toast to the man who changed everything!