Finger Lakes Wine Road Tale: Buttonwood Grove Winery, Cayuga Lake

Buttonwood Grove Winery was a great stop during our vine-filled summer 2021 adventures in the Finger Lakes. Summer in the Finger Lakes is perfect time to explore the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. This east coast wine region has often been compared to Germany's Rhine region because of the similarity in growing conditions. Early Summer vineyards around Cayuga Lake were filled with vines when we dropped by Buttonwood Grove Winery in Romulus.

Buttonwood Grove Winery, Cayuga Lake © Spaswinefood

Buttonwood Grove Winery is in the Cayuga Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA), a sub-region within the Finger Lakes AVA. Besides Buttonwood Grove our summer of 2021 travels brought back memories of other wineries along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. It is here that you will find Thirsty Owl Wine Company, Toro Run Winery, Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery, Homer Winery, Lucas Vineyards, Bellwether Hard Cider and Wine Cellars, Americana Vineyards, Six Mile Creek Vineyard, Goose Watch Winery, King Ferry Winery, Long Point Winery, Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery, Swedish Hill Vineyard, Varick Winery & Vineyard Vineyard, and Knapp Winery. 

Welcome to the Finger Lakes AVA (American Viticultural Area)

Finger Lakes Wine Country is 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. I still vividly remember when Spaswinefood first visited the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York in August 2015. Because I discovered so many good Riesling and other wines in this wine region, I just had to return. return I did.

Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, 2021 © Spaswinefood

The Finger Lakes AVA , established in 1982, is home to over 100 wineries.  This AVA  is centered around eleven glacial lakes, with the majority of vineyards near Canandaigua Lake, Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake. Each of these areas have been described as having unique viticultural characteristics, which result in wines with distinct flavor profiles. In fact Cayuga Lake has been recognized as distinct enough to have its own AVA's. 

Cayuga Lake's Knapp Vineyard, 2021 © Spaswinefood

I still remember a vino limo ride across Cayuga Lake on a perfect 2015 August afternoon. Later I wrote this:

For sure a vino taxi ride is hard to beat. Plus, we were in the fast taxi and so we delighted in waving at the other taxi as we passed. Perhaps it is not surprising to find water taxis on the lake given that Cayuga means "boat landing". Yes, our Cayuga Lake Wine Trail adventure was so much fun however, we had also come to learn about this wine region.

Vino Limo, Cayuga Lake, NY © Spaswinefood

The Cayuga Lake AVA, a sub-region within the Finger Lakes AVA, was established in 1988. The first Cayuga Lake wineries had their beginnings in late 1970's and early1980's. The number of wineries has now grown to 23 wineries. While some of these wineries are brand new others have well established vineyards. Amongst the region's best known wines are Sparkling Wines, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Ice Wine; as well wines made from French-American and Native American grape varietals. The Cayuga Lake AVA wines have distinctive flavor profiles. This is attributed to the soils and the unique micro-climate on the west side of the Cayuga Lake where most of the wineries are found, provide more favorable growing conditions. In addition to the grape varieties mentioned you will also find grapes, such the Cayuga grape, The Cayuga grape was bred specifically for this region by Cornell University. 

Welcome to Buttonwood Grove Winery, Cayuga Lake

While my primary focus was sampling Finger Lakes Riesling wines, my travels along the Cayuga Lake Wine trail allowed me to discover unique wines within the AVA. Cayuga Lake's Buttonwood Winery is just perfect for this.

Buttonwood Grove Winery © Spaswinefood

For sure sitting on the patio was the perfect setting to taste their wines.

Patio, Buttonwood Grove Winery © Spaswinefood

We were welcomed with a glass of rosé wine.

Buttonwood Grove Winery, Rosé © Spaswinefood

Accompanying the wine was a complimentary appetizer of bread, honey, and cheese.

Welcome to Buttonwood Grove Winery © Spaswinefood

We began our tasting with a sparkling wine.

Buttonwood Grove Winery, Antonia Marie Sparkling Wine

Buttonwood Grove Winery, Antonia Marie Sparkling Wine © Spaswinefood

This small batch sparkling wine was both refreshing and delightful.

Next, we tasted a Buttonwood Grove dry Riesling.

Buttonwood Grove Winery, Frances Amelia Riesling 2019

Buttonwood Grove Winery, Frances Amelia Riesling 2019 © Spaswinefood

This award winning dry riesling wine is a good representative of Cayuga Lake's Rieslings 

Not only did we luck out with the wines but also the weather was inviting on that early summer day.

Buttonwood Grove Winery, Summer 2021 © Spaswinefood

Wine Time, Buttonwood Grove Winery © Spaswinefood

I could not help but remember being on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail during Summer 2015 Wine Bloggers Conference. It was then that I first tasted Buttonwood Grove wines. Our first stop was at Thirsty Owl Wine Company. It was here 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). Yes, this was my first introduction to Buttonwood Grove wines. Our final stop on that visit 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, and The Bistro at Thirsty Owl Wine Co.) prepared the most amazing dinner for our group. Fortunately summer of 2021 we returned to dine again at the Knapp Restaurant and we were not disappointed. Indeed the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail is a must!

Thirsty Owl Wine Company, 2021 © Spaswinefood

Indeed last summer I had a Thirsty Owl Riesling. How could I not?

Thirsty Owl Wine Company,  Riesling 2019 © Spaswinefood

And YES, a Goose Watch Riesling, and others too! In fact we ate lunch twice at Knapp's Vineyard Restaurant.

Knapp's Vineyard Restaurant, Summer 2021 © Spaswinefood

Plan Your Wine Country Escape to the Fingers Lakes
Before you plan a trip to the Finger Lakes checkout these sources:
1. Finger Lakes Wine Country,
2. Finger Lakes Wine Alliance,
3. Finger Lakes Tourist Alliance, and
4. Finger Lakes Wine.
Throughout my Finger Lakes visits I have been introduced to many styles of Riesling, including ice wine. If you can not make it to the Finger Lakes check for Finger Lakes Riesling wines at your local wine store, or online sites. If your preference is a still wine do not forget to also try some of sparkling and dessert wines as well, especially the ice wines. Put some Finger Lakes Riesling in your wine glass.

Tasting Riesling © Spaswinefood

Riesling Ice Wine, Finger Lakes © Spaswinefood

YES! Buttonwood Grove is a must on the Cayuga Lake Wine trail. For further insights into the richness of Finger Lakes wines put some Buttonwood Grove wine in you glass. It is time to discover what is special about Finger Lakes Wine Country. I invite you to join me in my Finger Lakes wine country travels and elsewhere  at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook. 

Sharon

Summer 2021

Finger Lakes, New York

© Spaswinefood

Buttonwood Grove Winery © Spaswinefood

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