Born in Odessa (Russia), Dr. Konstantin Frank (1897-1985) studied viticulture in his hometown, and after graduation devoted himself particularly to the cultivation of Vitis vinifera varieties in a cold climate. He emigrated to the USA in 1951 and initially worked at Cornell University ( New York State). Frank propagated the abandonment of French hybrids and advocated the cultivation of Vitis vinifera. This was ridiculed at first, as the hardiness of this species in cold New York was doubted. In 1962, he founded the "Vinifera Wine Cellars" in Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes area and cultivated Pinot Noir. He had success with it, but his ideas were slow to catch on. Today, Frank is considered a pioneer of quality winegrowing on the East Coast. Son Willy Frank continues his work.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien