Staff

EDITORS

Denice Karamardian, Editor (Brews News, Watkins Glen, Brewery Profile)
Denice has enjoyed extensive careers in concert, theater, radio broadcast, and innkeeping, as well as 40 years of vocal teaching. She also worked for the Finger Lakes Wine Gazette for twenty years as contributor and ad manager, and has supported various blogs and organizations with hospitality columns and theater reviews. She has just published ODAR, a Trilogy of three books, releasing in April, June, and August. The historical novels are based on the true story of a Middle Eastern immigrant family (from which she descends). Info available at www.DeniceKaramardian.com
ODAR

Nancy Tisch, Wine Editor (Wine Press, B.E.V. NY, FB Wine Aficionados)
Though we usually find Nancy in the tasting room of Bet the Farm Winery, which she co-owns with Kit Kalfs, the path to the Trumansburg vineyard was not a straight line. She moved to the Finger Lakes in 1998 to assume a post-doctoral position at Cornell University and, after five years of job-searching in academia, she took a left turn to work in hospitality at the Aurora Inn. In 2006 she founded Bet the Farm Winery, a unique business that sold Finger Lakes Wines and foods. Nancy began making wine under the mentorship of Lou Damiani and Phil Davis of Damiani Wine Cellars. When the Great Recession occurred in 2008, Nancy was fortunate to find a part-time position at GENEX working as a research scientist. (For curious minds, GENEX is a company that makes cryopreserved straws of semen for artificial insemination of dairy and beef cattle). In 2012, Nancy’s partner Kit Kalfs was able to assume a more active role at Bet the Farm, and Nancy went full-time with GENEX. In June of 2021, the Ithaca facility permanently closed. The timing coincided with Nancy’s personal journey from technical to journalistic endeavors and she was excited to brainstorm for the birth of Finger Lakes Libations. Nancy’s participation in the launch process has been pivotal; in turn, providing her an opportunity to continue writing. Wineries, look for Nancy’s call for news and don’t forget to respond so we can include your business on our pages.


CURRENT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sarah Blagg (DEI and Wine)
Sarah Blagg has her Level II Wine & Spirits Education Trust certification and has worked in wine for about four years. She’s been in her role as Marketing & Hospitality Coordinator at Silver Thread Vineyard for two of those years. Sarah sits on the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance Marketing Committee and serves as Director of Special Projects for the Finger Lakes Chapter of Women for Winesense. She is an avid podcast listener and home baker, a dedicated auntie, a casual gardener, and a proud dog mom to Maisy Jo, the cattle dog/hound mix who helps Sarah get her steps in on a daily basis.

Demi Perry
Demi Perry is a PhD Candidate at Cornell University working with Dr. Gavin Sacks. She has worked in the wine industry in varying capacities: as a tasting room associate at Vintages Fine Wine in Arlington Heights, IL; as a cellar assistant at Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery in Centre Hall, PA; and as a cellar assistant with responsibilities in the laboratory and vineyard at Heart & Hands Wine Company in Union Springs, NY on the East Side of Cayuga Lake. Demi received her Master’s degree from Penn State in Food Science studying consumer perception of odorants found in Vitis labruscana grapes. The main goal of her PhD work is to produce a premium red wine from Concord grapes by selectively removing the grape-derived compounds that give Concord its distinct flavor. In her spare time, Demi enjoys hiking, cooking, and gardening, all with her dog, Pretzel.

Georgiana Saroka
Georgiana is a Higher Education professional and Ph.D. student with a passion for FLX wine. Amidst her academic endeavors, Georgiana immerses herself in the world of wine and she is pursuing WSET credentials to deepen her expertise. As she pursues her doctorate, her journey intertwines the art of education and writing with the love of the finger lakes, creating a rich tapestry where learning meets the vibrant flavors of the region's renowned wines. Follow her wine adventures on Instagram @fingerlakes.wine

Erin Scherer (Bio intensive Group, Low Intervention Group)
Erin Scherer has been covering the Finger Lakes gastrotourism industry for Western and Central New York publications for nearly a decade. Her current focus is on minimal intervention in winegrowing and winemaking in the region as part of a long term project. She previously wrote for the wine column in Finger Lakes Wine Gazette. She lives in Geneva.

Jen Littlefield (Forge Cellars)
Jen Littlefield moved to Ithaca in 2017 to learn how to make wine. She joined the Sheldrake Point harvest team in the fall and stayed on through the winter pruning, tying, barreling, and bottling season as well. During that time, she fell in love with the Finger Lakes and its community, and bought the Black Walnut Bed & Breakfast on Covert Rd. Her new favorite thing is to make sure guests leave the Inn with a full belly and the perfect tasting itinerary to show off our great wines and beautiful scenery. Jen has completed WSET Level 3.

Kit Kalfs (Ports of New York)
Kit moved to the Finger Lakes region after visiting as a wine tourist for many years. In 2001, he started working the tasting room at Sheldrake Point and by year’s end he assumed the Tasting Room Manager role. In 2012, Kit joined his partner Nancy Tisch at Bet the Farm Winery. His role at Bet the Farm includes managing the tasting room, working in the winery, and managing the vineyard. Or as he likes to say “lots of hats!”

Dee Calvasina (Hammondsport)
Dee is the author of Beyond the Fence, The Amazing World of Deer Haven Park, a freelance writer, and monthly columnist for the Finger Lakes Times. A Finger Lakes native, Dee presides in upstate New York with her husband and two furry canines.

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS - Fall 2024

  • Derek Edinger
  • Patrice DiLorenzo
  • Patricia Hawley

Jeff at the tanks at Summerhill Brewing in Locke, NY - photo by Cathy Shipos

Erica Merwin and Dominic Costa Cidermaking at Black Diamond Farm and Cidery in Trumansburg, NY - photo courtesy of Black Diamond Farm and Cidery

Bully Hill Vineyards, Keuka Lake - photo courtesy of fingerlakeslibations.com

Winery Cask at O-neh-da vineyard in Conesus, NY - photo courtesy of O-neh-da Vineyard

Bottling 32oz at Salt Point Brewing Co. in Lansing, NY - photo courtesy of Salt Point Brewing

NEW GUEST WRITERS
IN EVERY ISSUE!

Finger Lakes Libations is always looking for new writers and contributors.
Contact Denice if you are interested in becoming part of our team.

The Tasting Room at Once Finger Lakes in Penn Yan, NY - photo courtesy of Once Finger Lakes