We are back on the road again and on our way to Wagner Vineyards where they have a winery, brewery, restaurant and gift shop. I would like to take this opportunity to advise you to be careful when tasting and driving and also ask you to be sure that you act in a responsible manner to ensure public safety because if you don’t the police around the Finger Lakes will. Wagner is probably the most commercially developed winery around the lakes and should be on your must see list. They produce an extensive variety of wines and if you are fortunate enough to have Bill serve you in the tasting room you will get to experience every one that your heart desires. I asked him for a good red for making Sangria and he suggested the Sunset Red then he gave me his favorite Sangria recipe. I tasted all of their Chardonnay and chose the dry 2011 Barrel Fermented. I didn’t taste at the brewery this trip but I remember that the last time I did their portions were the same as the wine room samples and let’s just say they were more than generous. The Ginny Lee Cafe has a trendy menu and we have had lunch on the deck overlooking the vineyards on several occasions. If you do decide to stop for lunch try one of their wraps, my favorite is the Tuscan. Wagner Vineyards is located at 9322 State Route 414 Lodi, New York.
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Lamoreaux Landing Winery
Lamoreaux Landing (Photo credit: mhaithaca)
My next stop was the award-winning Lamoreaux Landing Winery in Lodi, New York. The first thing that strikes you about this property is just how impressive the facilities are. The grandeur of the main building hints of Roman and Greek inspired architecture. The long stroll up the sidewalk to the main entrance was only a prelude to the truly magnificent view of the lake through the huge windows inside. The view from the beautiful tasting room was one of the finest I have ever experienced in the Finger Lakes. The wine of Lamoreaux Landing are well made and enjoyable. I purchased their Estate Red Table Wine but passed on a very good Chardonnay that I really should have added to the growing collection in the trunk of my car. After looking around the gift shop that is adjacent to the tasting room we left with my bottle of Estate Red and a promise to return soon. Lamoreaux Landing Winery is located at 9224 Rte 414 Lodi, NY.
Related articles
- Lamoreaux Landing 2010 Yellow Dog Vineyard Riesling (lenndevours.com)
- Lamoreaux Landing 2009 Dry Riesling (lenndevours.com)
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Finger Lakes Distilling
Finger Lakes Distilling sits on a hillside along the eastern shore of Seneca Lake so naturally that if not for its sign marking the entrance road you could easily miss it. After climbing the few steps that lead to the rear of the building you enter the tasting room with its view of the lake and the distillery’s impressive still. At the bar you can taste any of their 16 types of spirits and liqueurs. While perusing the tasting room and gift shop I noticed a friendly looking hound lying on the floor, as I approached him all he did was move his eyes to see who it was and then he went back to sleep. I would suggest that you stop at Finger Lakes Distilling even if it is only to take a look around. Finger Lakes Distilling is located at 4676 NYS Rte 414 Burdett, NY.
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Finger Lakes Distilling Photos
The still at the Finger Lakes Distilling distillery.
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Finger Lakes Distilling Photos
Photos of Finger Lakes Distilling sign and barrels in distillery
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Three Brothers Wineries and Estates
The Three Brothers Wineries and Estates are located at 623 Lerch Rd Geneva, NY. It is just a short distance off of NY Rte 96A South at the north end of Seneca Lake. This winery is a collection of three distinctly different wineries (Passion Feet, Stony Lonesome and Bagg Dare) and a brewery (War Horse). We arrived at the property just a day after the conclusion of Winestock, a wine and music festival that had run through the weekend. Three Brothers was the only winery that we visited twice and is a perfect example of the saying “What a difference a day makes”. The first day we visited we were served in the tasting room of the Stony Lonesome Winery by a very well versed young man named Alex. Alex poured our selections and recited the characteristics of each flawlessly and with a friendly ease. That day we would purchase two Riesling: Degree 1 Medium Dry 2010 and Degree 2 Medium Sweet 2010 along with a wine that I was unfamiliar with Estate Reserve Grüner Veltliner 2011. I could have easily have picked up their Barbera, the first to be produced in the Finger Lakes but the promise of the wines in my near future caused me to pass on it. The next afternoon we decided to return to Three Brothers to pick up a bottle of their Pinot Noir and that Barbera that I had passed on the day before. We entered the Stony Lonesome tasting room and stood around until we were finally approached by a small young woman. We asked her several questions about their Pinot Noir and other red wines which she struggled to answer with her limited knowledge of the products. Since the Pinot was to be a gift I asked if she could do me a favor and photo copy the wine list and its tasting notes. She went into the other room only to return and say no and that it could be found on the website (I looked but couldn’t find it there). I bought the 2009 Pinot Noir and forgot about the Barbera.
The wines at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates were probably the best I tasted on this trip but the tasting room experience was surly the most sub-standard that I encountered. The management of this business has to remember that making good wine is important but there is much more to a brand than just that.
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Three Brothers Wineries Photos
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.
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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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Hazilitt 1852 Vineyards
These photos are from the Hazilitt 1852 Vineyards and include the Tiki sign, propeller by the entrance of the tasting room and the wall behind the tasting room bar.
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Free Wine Vintage App
If you have ever been in a store or restaurant and were unsure of which wine to purchase this app can help. M. Shanken Communications, Inc. has released Vintage Chart+ By Wine Spectator so you can carry one of Wine Spectator’s most popular features around in your smart phone. This new version can be very helpful in choosing the right wines from the most popular wine regions of the world. This app has lots of useful information so when you add in the fact that it is free it immediately becomes a must have application. To get it go to the itunes store and search the free apps.
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