Returning to New York's Finger Lakes last summer was a special treat. Yes, I was fortunate to spend both memorial day and a late June 2021 weekends in the Finger Lakes Wine Country. Here's why Finger Lakes Wine Country is so special. This wine region has become well known for its world class Riesling. Finger Lakes Riesling wines come in different styles (still, sparkling and ice wine), with a range in sweetness levels (from sweet to dry). There is a Finger Lakes Riesling for every palate. Besides Riesling, this region also produces Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, as well as wines from French-American and native grape varieties. I still vividly remember when Spaswinefood first visited the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York in August 2015. Since then I discovered so many good things about this wine region, I just had to return. Once you put some Finger Lakes Riesling in your wine glass it is hard to resist.
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| Finger Lakes Riesling in the Glass © Spaswinefood |
Finger Lakes AVA (American Viticultural Area)
New York State's Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area (AVA), established in 1982, is centered around eleven glacial lakes, with the majority of vineyards located near Canandaigua Lake, Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake, and Seneca Lake. When you find yourself in the Finger Lakes, it is a wine region filled with amazing opportunities for adventure. Wines from the Finger Lakes AVA in Upstate New York from the different lake areas have been described as having distinct flavor profiles. This has been attributed to the unique viticultural characteristics of each area. In fact the Cayuga and Seneca Lake areas are distinct enough to have their very own AVA's.
Finger Lakes, New York © Spaswinefood
Wine Adventures in the Finger Lakes, NY
Some have compared the Fingers Lakes to Germany's Rhine region because of the similarity in growing conditions. The Finger Lakes, a cold climate wine growing region, is home to over 100 wineries, now producing wines from Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, as well as French-American and native grape varieties. The Finger Lakes has become well known for its world class Riesling. I first visited wineries in the Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake areas in 2015. Fortunately summer 2021 I was able to revisit. Both times, not only was I able to enjoy Finger Lakes wines, but also the equally tempting local food scene. This post will feature vignettes from three areas (Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake).
Some have compared the Fingers Lakes to Germany's Rhine region because of the similarity in growing conditions. The Finger Lakes, a cold climate wine growing region, is home to over 100 wineries, now producing wines from Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, as well as French-American and native grape varieties. The Finger Lakes has become well known for its world class Riesling. I first visited wineries in the Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake areas in 2015. Fortunately summer 2021 I was able to revisit. Both times, not only was I able to enjoy Finger Lakes wines, but also the equally tempting local food scene. This post will feature vignettes from three areas (Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake).
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| Vino Taxi, Finger Lakes, NY © Spaswinefood |
1. Cayuga Lake
A vino limo ride across Cayuga Lake on a perfect summer afternoon is hard to beat. Perhaps it is not surprising to discover water taxis on this lake given that Cayuga means "boat landing". Yes, Cayuga Lake Wine Trail adventures are packed with incredible wine, food and scenery.
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| Thirsty Owl Wine Co., Finger Lakes, NY © Spaswinefood |
Cayuga Lake AVA was established in 1988, as a sub-region within the Finger Lakes AVA. The first Cayuga Lake wineries had their beginnings in late 1970's and early1980's. The number of wineries has grown to over 20 wineries. Most of the wineries are found on the west side of the lake, which provide more favorable growing conditions. In addition to the grape varieties mentioned earlier, you will also find grapes, such the Cayuga grape. The Cayuga grape was bred specifically for this region by Cornell University.
While on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail in 2015 we visited Thirsty Owl Wine Company where we tasted wines from eight members (Toro Run Winery, Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery, Homer Winery, Lucas Vineyards, Bellwether Hard Cider and Wine Cellars, Americana Vineyards and Six Mile Creek Vineyard). Later at the Goose Watch Winery in Romulus, under a tent in the vineyard, eight member wineries offered select tastings (Treleaven by King Ferry Winery, Long Point Winery, Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery, Swedish Hill Vineyard, Varick Winery & Vineyard Vineyard, Knapp Winery and Buttonwood Grove Winery). Our final stop was at Knapp Winery where a team of chefs (Chef John McNabb, Knapp Vineyard Restaurant, Chef Lindsay, Crystal Lake Café at Americana Vineyards and Chef Scott, The Bistro at Thirsty Owl Wine Co.) prepared the most amazing dinner for our group.
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| Knapp Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
Indeed, when I returned summer of 2021, I had to enjoy a Thirsty Owl Riesling. How could I not?
Thirsty Owl Wine Company, Riesling 2019
Thirsty Owl Wine Company, Riesling 2019 © Spaswinefood
Knapp's Vineyard Restaurant, 2021 © Spaswinefood
2. Keuka Lake
One of the highlights from my 2015 visit to the Finger Lakes was a series of mystery dinners at local wineries.
That evening began with tasting a Riesling wine from each of the wineries.
Dinner was served on the Manor House veranda, with stunning views of Keuka Lake. Celebrity Chef Brud Holland used locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to prepare dinner. There at Manor House overlooking Keuka Lake this Finger Lakes wine and food event perfectly captured the essence of this beautiful wine country setting.
That evening began with tasting a Riesling wine from each of the wineries.
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| Keuka Lake Riesling Showcase, Finger Lakes © Spaswinefood |
Summer 2021 I just had to visit Dr. Franks. I had heard so much about this winery that I could not leave the Finger Lakes without visiting. I was not disappointed.
Dr. Konstantin Frank, Keuka Lake © Spaswinefood
One of the Riesling wines I tasted was a sparkling wine.
Dr. Konstantin Frank, Riesling Nature 2018
Dr. Konstantin Frank, Riesling Nature 2018 © Spaswinefood
I was delighted to visit Dr. Franks and look forward to writing a post on that visit.
Seneca Lake Wine Trail © Spaswinefood
3. Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA) was established in 2003. It is a sub-region within the larger Finger Lakes AVA because of its uniqueness. Seneca Lake, the deepest of the Finger Lakes, contributes to the climatic conditions around the lake. The result is a longer growing season, plus protection from the freezing winters in Upstate New York. Given the unique viticultural characteristics within the Seneca Lake AVA the wines have been described as having their own distinctive flavor profiles.
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| Villa Bellangelo, Finger Lakes © Spaswinefood |
Summer of 2015 I arrived in the Finger Lakes a day early for a pre-conference trip along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Our first stop was at Villa Bellangelo in Dundee for a welcoming reception where we were introduced to Finger Lakes wines and local foods.
Dinner at Ventosa Vineyards, Geneva focused on Finger Lakes women and wine. The activities included 1) opening remarks by four female winemakers and a female research scientist and 2) a vineyard activity where we did a brixs sampling. Chef Heather prepared the most wonderful dinner, which was served on the patio overlooking Seneca Lake.
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| Ventosa Vineyards, Geneva © Spaswinefood |
Next day we visited Anthony Road Winery, Penn Yan where we toured the vineyard, winery and did a wine tasting.
Our last stop was at Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan. Here we visited the vineyard and winery, followed by an excellent food and wine pairing.
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| Anthony Road Winery, Finger Lakes, NY © Spaswinefood |
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| Fox Run Vineyards, Finger Lakes © Spaswinefood |
Summer of 2021 I returned to Anthony Road and Fox Run wineries once more. I did wine flight tastings at both wineries.
Anthony Road, Sibling Rivalry Flight
Sibling Rivalry Flight, Anthony Road Winery © Spaswinefood
Amongst the wines I tasted in this flight were Rieslings produced in different styles, without skin contact and with some skin contact (skin fermented), and vintages, etc.
Next, at Fox Run we ate lunch and ordered a number of wine flights. For sure their Riesling wines was on my tasting list. The Riesling flight was a great overview of styles, with the 2016 Rieslings illustrating unique terroir.
Riesling Flight, Fox Run Vineyards © Spaswinefood
The List, Fox Run Vineyards © Spaswinefood
Besides the Riesling flight there were others to explore, such as a dry flight.
Dry Flight
Dry Flight, Fox Run Vineyards © Spaswinefood
It is always enlightening to do wine flights during winery visits.
I am always excited to taste Finger Lake wines, especially their Riesling wines. For sure Riesling was not on my wine list until, I discovered the wide range of Riesling wines. Later in Germany's Mosel Valley, and the ClareValley, Australia, another wine region well known for Riesling I was able to develop a deeper appreciation for the amazing range of Riesling wines that are available. For sure after my introduction to Finger Lakes Rieslings in 2015, I became totally jazzed to continue exploring Riesling wines.
Mosel Valley, Germany © Spaswinefood
Visitors planning a Finger Lakes wine adventure will find these websites quite helpful:
Returning summer 2021 I was able to revisit some of my favorite Finger Lakes wineries; so I look forward to doing future posts. For sure, both my 2015 and 2021 visits allowed me to discover what is special about Finger Lakes Wine Country. I invite you to join me in my travels in the Finger Lakes and elsewhere in the sharing of these adventures at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
CHEERS!!
Sharon
Summer 2021
Finger Lakes, New York
© Spaswinefood
A Summer Afternoon 2021, Cayuga Lake © Spaswinefood
