Photos include the tasting room for the Stony Lonesome Winery, sign post at Three Brothers Wineries, sign at entrance of Passion Feet Winery, grapes growing along numbered rows and immature grapes.
Tag Finger Lakes
Jimmy Buffett Hunting
We have just returned from another wonderful trip to the wine country of the Finger Lakes Region of New York. The weather was summertime hot with temperatures in the low to mid 90’s. The weather may have been unusual but the welcoming hospitality and the genuine “glad to see you” attitude of the area’s population was unchanged. A boat captain told me that a cold wave in late spring had caused a 50% loss in the grape crop and a loss of nearly all of the cherry harvest this year.
We had set out early on our planned route down the east side of Seneca Lake and it was going great when an unexpected sighting caused me to make a quick U-turn and head back up Rte 414. The parking lot at Hazilitt 1852 Vineyards tasting room was full, which was strange because we had experienced a lighter than normal turn out at the other wineries. We pulled into the lot and parked next to the Tiki sign that pointed the way to the Tiki tent. As we walked to the front door I couldn’t help notice the large rusting propeller guarding the entrance. The music of Radio Margaritaville poured out of the tasting room as we opened the door and the eclectic interior was revealed. After finding our place at the bar we were greeted by Todd, an outgoing and personable young man who no doubt would feel at home in Key West as he does here in the Finger Lakes. Todd takes us through our flight of wines with his knowledgable description of each along with his lighthearted wit and humor. When I ask about the large tattoo on his right arm he proudly told me that it is a reproduction of an original painting he had done and that it will be incorporated into a full sleeve tattoo that he has planned out. After purchasing a bottle of the winery’s signature “Red Cat” wine Todd told us that Hazilitt 1852 had acquired a winery in the nearby town of Naples because they needed its capacity to meet the over 500,000 gallon demand for that wine. We bid everyone goodbye and continued south on Rte 414 looking forward to our next parrothead adventure. Fins Up! Hazilitt 1852 Vineyards can be found at 5712 Rte 414 Hector, New York.
Related articles
- The Finger Lakes Wine Festival 2012 in New York (vinoconvistablog.me)
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Strike Up The Band
One of the most relaxing things that I can think of doing is to take my chair to an outdoor concert and spend the evening sipping wine with my wife and friends. The festive atmosphere created by a musical performance is being used by wineries to attract new customers to their facilities. These concerts range from nationally known acts to local solo artists and they cover just about every known genre of music imaginable.
The Seattle, Washington area is extremely fortunate to have the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery within easy access because this winery presents an outstanding calendar of events each summer. Chateau Ste. Michelle has been hosting live performances since 1984 in an intimate amphitheater setting that has made the Chateau Ste. Michelle Summer Concert Series one of the Pacific Northwest great music venues. Go to www.Ste-Michelle.com for more information.
Traveling east to the Finger Lakes Region of New York you can find music at numerous wineries located around these beautiful glacial lakes. Winestock is a wine, food and music festival that will be celebrated on Saturday, June 16th at Three Brothers Winery on Seneca Lake. If you would like to make plans to attend please go to www.winestock2012.eventbrite.com/ for more detailed information.
Let’s turn south to Western Pennsylvania and the Stone Villa Winery in Acme where you can enjoy a show and a glass of wine next to a picturesque lake on the grounds of the winery. A complete calendar of events and contact information is available at www.StoneVilla.com.
Our final stop will be Greensburg, Pennsylvania where the Summer Sounds Concerts will be held 7:00 every Friday evening from June 1st through August 31st. These free shows are presented at the Robertshaw Pavillion in St. Clair Park thanks to the support of volunteers along with corporate sponsorship and donations from concert goers. Additional information and schedules can be found at www.SummerSounds.com. I sincerely urge you to attend these events and support the businesses and organizations that promote them in your area.
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Picnic Basket Wine
A green wine grape. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I have just finished another enjoyable white wine from the New York Finger Lakes Region. Swedish Hill Vineyards in Romulus produced my latest subject for review and it is Cayuga White 2010. This wine is a light bodied semi dry that is crisp with aromas of apple and floral notes. I think this wine would be a perfect choice for a picnic on a warm summer day. Imagine reaching into a cooler and pulling out a bottle of Cayuga White and pouring a glass while sitting under a large oak tree in a lush meadow. These were probably the same images that the researchers at Cornell University had in mind when they developed the Cayuga White grape for the Finger Lakes Region. What they were thinking is open to debate but what is not in doubt is that they did an excellent job at the NYS Agricultural Station in Geneva, NY when they perfected this variety of wine grape. All I have to say is “Job well done and Thank You”
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Riesling hunting
Ripe grapes of Riesling. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I will be going to the State Store soon to look for a bottle of Riesling. That in itself doesn’t seem like a difficult task but considering the last bottle I bought was a Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Semi-Riesling it may prove to be a challenging search. The Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Winery is the premier Riesling producer in the New York Finger Lakes Region and perhaps the entire country. Riesling is one of the few varietals that is good in all ranges of sweetness. This wine uses its sweetness (2.4 Residual sugar) and acidity to show off its true flavor. It is a good choice for those who can’t seem to decide on a white wine. Fruit forward with a citrus fruit nose and finish makes this a balanced well made wine. The usual pairings include poultry, shellfish and asian dishes. These are all good pairings and you can’t go wrong with any of them but I have found it very drinkable at a family holiday gathering where ham is the main course. I will do my homework and follow my own guidelines that have appeared in previous posts and will try to pick the best Riesling available for my taste. I will let you know if I score a hit or a miss.
Related articles
- Not Your Average Riesling: The Story Behind the 2011 NYCR Finger Lakes Riesling of the Year (newyorkcorkreport.com)
- At Last, My Summer Wines (whywineblog.com)
- Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling 2011 (whywineblog.com)
- Hermann J. Wiemer 2007 Dry Riesling (lennthompson.typepad.com)
- Clean Slate Riesling 2011 (whywineblog.com)
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