Anthony Road Wine Company - We made an unscheduled stop at this winery in Penn Yan, New York. While visiting another winery, we overheard one of the employees telling another customer if they were visiting more wineries in the area, not to miss Anthony Road. We knew we were going to be driving right by it...so we made the decision to stop in. 

It was a Monday, and we found no other customers when we walked into the tasting room. The young lady behind the counter invited us to sample the wines, and we accepted. Anthony Road uses only grapes grown in the Finger Lakes region to make their wine. I found that aspect very appealing and I was anxious to try a few. I ended up sampling five of their wines and started with the Devonian Red....a dry, casual wine that blends Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, Ives, Baco Noir and Rougeon. I found it very pleasant and moved on to three of their semi-sweet wines and finished with Sweet Dream...a late harvest Vignoles. All of their wines seemed to be high-quality, but were still very personable. 

Our hostess was very friendly and accommodating during our tasting. When we inquired about nearby restaurants for dinner, she pulled out a book with local restaurant menus and offered a couple of personal suggestions. After our tasting she thanked us for stopping by and invited us to take a stroll in their gardens before leaving. We were short on time and couldn't walk through the gardens...but I did purchase a bottle of Tony's Blush before we left. It was a lush rose that I thought would be perfect for sipping on my patio.

I'm glad we took the time to make an unexpected stop at Anthony Road Wine Company. Our visit was very enjoyable and their wine was most desirable. Favorite: Tony's Blush. Visited 7/10/2006.  

Arcadian Estate Winery - Not every aspect of this Rock Stream, New York winery works for me...but enough does to make it well-worth stopping by. We pulled up outside the winery on a Monday afternoon. The tasting room is housed in a 170-year old barn. As we walked up the steps...my first impression was that it must be a party winery. There is bench seating around the entire length of their large deck. The deck was empty this particular afternoon, but I imagined many young people gathered with bottles of wine galore. 

When we entered, there were a handful of people gathered around the main tasting counter. There wasn't a lot of room around the counter, and I could see where it could get pretty cramped on a busy day. We walked around the entire u-shaped counter looking at all the varieties on wine along the walls. I found a pear wine that I knew I wanted to try, but decided to wait to read the tasting sheet to choose other wines. When we had walked around the entire room, we stepped up to the counter for sampling.

As we read the tasting sheet, the winery dog (Jake) made himself at home and laid in front of us underneath the counter. He's one of the cutest winery dogs I have come across, and I made a special effort not to move my feet since I was wearing heels. Most of the descriptions told us next to nothing about the wines we would be sampling...but they were the most entertaining wine descriptions we've read. One wine was described as Mozart and The Spice Girls performing a benefit concert in Central Park. I would love to spend an evening drinking wine with the person that came up with these descriptions. I'm sure it would be a riot.

I decided on five different wines to try. It was late in the day and I usually stick to sweeter wines at this point...unless I'm told there is a dry wine that I shouldn't pass up. I chose the Watkins Red, Watkins "Way Cool" Blush, Watkins White, "Shine on Me" Pear and the "Happily Ever After" Berry Port. I didn't expect much with the fun atmosphere they create...but I was pleasantly surprised. All of the wines I sampled were remarkable - especially the Berry Port and the Watkins Red. The Watkins Red was most drinkable....made from the Rosette grape and not overly sweet. It would be wonderful with pasta or even for sipping alone in the evening. We chatted with our young hostess and asked her about restaurants in the area. She didn't seem to know much about them...so we figured we were on our own picking out a place. When we were leaving...almost as an afterthought...she recommended an Italian restaurant in nearby Watkins Glen. I would like to thank her for the recommendation, because it is where we ended up dining that evening and it was excellent.

Overall, I was very pleased with our visit to Arcadian Estate Winery. I left with a bottle of wine that I'm looking very forward to opening. My only words of advice...anyone visiting Arcadian needs to be very careful when descending the steps upon leaving. They are old and steep, and since I was wearing heels, I had to be very careful to place each foot carefully on the way down. I would bet that many a person has taken a tumble down these steps after a few glasses of wine. Favorite: Watkins Red. Visited 7/10/2006.

Blueberry Sky Farm Winery - As we drove up the gravel drive towards this South Ripley, New York winery, I was really excited. This was our first trip to New York, and the building ahead of us looked very nice. As we got closer, I realized that the beautiful building that I thought was the winery was actually a house. We noticed a small building to the side...which didn't have much power to draw us to it. We realized it must be the tasting room. We parked the car near the small building and walked inside.

We walked past a picnic table sitting outside and walked through the door. When we stepped inside, the lights immediately came on. I'm not sure if the woman we saw had been sitting inside in the dark...or if she noticed us drive up and came from somewhere in the back. As we walked toward the tasting counter, I kept trying to figure out what the strange smell was. The woman behind the counter said hello...but then just stood there without saying anything else. Gary and I picked up a tasting sheet and started chatting about the wines. The woman behind the counter finally told us a little bit about the fruit wines they offered...as well as a few cooking wines that they make. That's when I realized that the strange odor that I first noticed was probably a combination of the jalapeno and garlic from the cooking wines they produce. It was the last thing I wanted to smell while wine tasting...but we decided to try a few anyway.

Because of the winery name, I figured we should sample the blueberry wine. We also sampled the Dandelion, Peach, Plum, Elderberry and Rhubarb. I did find the Elderberry quite nice. During the tasting I could tell Gary was freezing (I wore my coat inside). I thought maybe we could go outside and sit in the sun for awhile. I asked if they sold wine by the glass or bottle but the woman told us they were not licensed to sell for on-site consumption. We purchased a bottle of Elderberry wine to take with us and headed for the car. The minute we walked out the door, Gary said he was very happy to get outside because he had never been so cold in his life. I was chilly with a coat on...but Gary froze without one.

This small fruit winery had a couple of nice wines...but during the tasting our hostess hardly said a word and didn't make us feel very welcome...and we were the only customers. It was also freezing inside the tasting room and the odd smells turned us off. We might have actually enjoyed more of their wines in a different atmosphere. Favorite: Elderberry. Visited 10/29/2005.

Bully Hill Vineyards - You can't go wrong with a visit to this Hammondsport, New York winery. Bully Hill is located along the shore of Keuka Lake and offers a full range of terrific wines in a casual atmosphere. The groups tastings are quite a unique experience. The winery also offers a restaurant on-site with exceptional cuisine. 

We visited on a Saturday afternoon, parked our car in their parking area across the street, and started our climb up Bully Hill. The winery is situated on top of the hill and it made me realize how out of shape I am. We followed the signs toward tasting and sales and were greeted by a gentleman outside the tasting room. He was selling tokens for their next tasting for $1.00...and each token was good for five samples. We purchased our tokens and gathered around the large tasting counter with many other people and waited for the next tasting to begin. All of Bully Hill's tastings are conducted on a scheduled basis to a large group of samplers. While we waited (which was only about 5 minutes) I read about the large variety of wines that they offered and tried to decide which wines I wanted to sample. I later found out that the five samples were predetermined and I had no choice in the matter...but that I could purchase a sample of any wine I wanted in the retail sales room for (if I remember correctly) $1.00 a piece.

The group tasting began and the two men behind the counter put on quite a show. You could tell their slap-stick routine had been performed time and time again. This fast-paced witty wine tasting really isn't my style...but it was a refreshing change of pace. A couple of the five predetermined wines were wines that I would have personally chosen to sample. I was particularly fond of the Bulldog Baco Noir...such a bold, smart wine with a great finish. After the group tasting, we walked straight to the retail sales room to sample a few more personal picks. I've always been fond on Chambourcin...and like to sample it wherever I go. I also sampled the Grower's Blush, which I was very impressed with. It's a great fruity wine with just the right touch of sweetness. We also enjoyed the dessert wines Sweet Walter Red and Sweet Walter White...both of which had fantastic flavor.

By this time it was late afternoon and we were very hungry. We decided to go to the Bully Hill Restaurant for a meal before moving on. It was a beautiful day and we were seated outside on the patio. We had a nice, shady spot and a steady breeze was blowing off Keuka Lake. Gary ordered a Grilled Chicken Sandwich and I ordered one of their specials...a Portabella Mushroom stuffed with Crabmeat and topped with Sea Scallops. I've never been too impressed with the food at most winery restaurants...but our meal was sensational. Gary made the comment, "I know it's just chicken on a bun...but this is the best chicken sandwich I've ever had in my life." Every time I took a bite of my stuffed Portabella Mushroom, I couldn't help but go "...mmmmm". If you get a chance to try this dish - don't pass it up. The taste sensations of the food at Bully Hill actually rival their wine. If Bully Hill had been closer to our hotel, we probably would have eaten there everyday.

The only flaw I found at Bully Hill Vineyards was the "more- than- casual" tasting experience. The show that is performed behind the tasting counter was just a little much for me...but would be absolutely perfect for someone new to wine tasting. I would still highly recommend a visit to this winery to anyone visiting the Finger Lakes region. They have such a wide variety of magnificent wines, no one could possibly leave without falling in love with at least one of them. Even if you're not a wine drinker...don't pass up the restaurant at Bully Hill. It is by far the best food we've had while visiting the Finger Lakes. Favorite: Sweet Walter White. Visited 7/8/2006.

Cascata Winery - There are so many wineries in the Finger Lakes that we deviated from our original plan and made a few extra stops. Our stop at this Watkins Glen, New York winery was one of them. We had driven past it a few times and it always caught my eye. It looked so different than the other wineries in the area. The tasting room was in an old house...which had started to look run down. It seemed so mysterious to me, and we finally pulled in to satisfy my curiosity.

We drove into the parking area and checked out our surroundings. There were some tables and chairs in the side yard...but they had been mowed around instead of moved and the grass around them was very tall. There was also a fire burning in a nearby wooded area. We later found out they were trying to burn some areas that had become overgrown. It basically looked like the place needed some TLC. The winery is also the site of a bed & breakfast...and I was so glad we hadn't booked a room there. I really like to sit outside on summer evenings and I probably couldn't have done that here. 

There were no visitors in the tasting room when we walked in, but a group of eight people walked in right behind us. The surroundings put me in mind of sampling wine in my grandmother's living room. The owner walked out and greeted everyone and called for someone to come out and help. She served as hostess to the group of eight...and John emerged from the back to help us. John didn't seem to know much about the wine. He said he had come to the United States from England for a visit two months ago and never left. He told us that the owner's husband had passed away a couple of years ago and he had been trying to do some work around the place to help get things back in shape. John seemed to really admire the owner - a professor who speaks seven languages and is a gifted artist. We sampled several wines with John...who poured himself almost as many samples as he poured us. All of the wines we tried were quite good. I did pick one out that I like better than the others and bought a bottle to take home.

I think Cascata Winery has had a rough couple of years...but they seem to be making efforts to put things back on track. The place would be absolutely beautiful when taken care of properly. Next time I am in the Finger Lakes region...I'll probably stop by and check things out again. The wine was pretty darn good, and the labels were gorgeous (designed by owner/artist Coralee). With just a little more curb-appeal it could again become one of the most interesting tasting rooms in the Finger Lakes...because I bet it once was. Visited 7/10/2006. Favorite: Awakening.

Castel Grisch Estate Winery - I'll start by setting the scene of this Watkins Glen, New York winery: A long winding drive lined with lights leads you to the top of a hill where you will find a Swiss-Chalet type building. This building houses the Castel Grisch tasting room and restaurant. From this hill top location, you will also find a beautiful view of Seneca Lake and the surrounding countryside. The scene was very original for a Finger Lakes winery, and we were anxious to see what would happen once we stepped inside.

We hadn't originally planned on stopping at this winery...but we heard they had a restaurant and we were looking for someplace to have dinner. We walked in just a few minutes before 5:00 p.m. and soon found out that restaurant and tasting room both closed at 5:00. It was a Monday and they only serve dinner Thursday through Saturday. Since we were already there, we decided to do a wine tasting before heading into the village for dinner.

A woman set a tasting sheet on the counter for us and told us about the two types of tasting they offered. One price for the simple tasting and another for a tasting complete with dessert wines. We were in the mood for something sweet and decided to go for the full tasting. Castel Grisch offered a nice selection of wines. We were a bit confused when our hostess starting pouring red wines and went straight to the dessert wines. She completely skipped over the white wines and I was a bit disappointed. The tasting sheet listed a Niagara/Delaware blend that I would have loved to try. I really think they were in a hurry to get us out of the tasting room since it was closing time.

The reds were alright...but they did have some outstanding ice wines. The most unique being a Chardonnay Ice Wine. We found it slightly lighter-bodied than most ice wines with flavors of honey and pear. It was quite original for the area...so we purchased a bottle and left so that they could close- up shop. Favorite: Chardonnay Ice Wine. Visited 7/10/2006.

Chateau Renaissance Wine Cellars - I was so excited as we pulled up to this winery in Hammondsport, New York. We had heard so many wonderful things about the Finger Lakes wineries... and this was our first stop on a 3-day Finger Lakes winery tour. I practically jumped out of the car and bolted to the door. When I got to the door I impatiently waited for Gary to catch up...he was moving much too slow. 

We walked into the tasting room and a friendly young girl poked her head around the corner. She welcomed us and informed us they were doing the wine tastings in the wine storage area that day. We figured they probably get pretty busy on Saturdays and the tasting room was kind of small. We considered this a good thing, because it is pretty cool to sample wine surrounded by wine barrels. We went to the back where they had set up a long table with all of their wines lined up in a row. Chateau Renaissance produces many, many varieties and the long line seemed a bit intimidating. They also had various snacks set out in bowls. They were still setting a few things up. The winery had only been open for 30 minutes and I think we were there first customers. We started reading the tasting sheet and deciding which wines we wanted to sample. 

Our hostess gave us each a plastic cup (Oh, no!), and asked us what we would like to sample first. I was afraid the plastic cups were a sign of things to come in the Finger Lakes (just for the record...all of the other 24 wineries we visited on this trip offered their tastings in glasses). Since Chateau Renaissance is best known for its Champagne and sparkling wine, I decided to start with Pear Sparkle. It's the driest of their "sparkles" as they call them....which are made from a Champagne base with 100% fruit wine added. It had a lovely pear taste with a little bit of sweetness.  A few others we tried were the Merlot, Vineyard House Red, D'artagnan, Frosty (a white wine sangria) and Dandelion. I've only tried a few Dandelion wines and this was the driest I've sampled...which I enjoyed because it really allowed the true flavor to come through.  

Chateau Renaissance did have the best selection of Champagne and Sparkling Wine we have come across in the Finger Lakes. If this is your thing, you'll want to stop by for sure. They also have a great selection of various other red, white and fruit wines...and they do an excellent job producing them. Everyone is sure to find something they enjoy at this winery. Favorite: Vineyard House Red. Visited 7/8/2006.  

Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars - WOW! We have been visiting wineries for several years now...and we had to attend many, many wine tastings before we were able to tell the difference between a good wine and a truly great wine. In a great wine you will taste quality, pride and extreme dedication...and that's exactly what you will taste at this Hammondsport, New York winery. Not only are the wines outstanding...but the tasting experience offered at Dr. Frank's is the best we have encountered in our travels.

It was a beautiful day on Keuka Lake when we pulled up to the winery. It was sunny and 80 degrees with a light breeze. We noticed a few people outside enjoying a picnic lunch. We walked onto the porch and looked for a sign pointing to the tasting room. A gentleman appeared and without us even asking...he told us which direction to head for wine sampling. We walked around the corner and were greeted at the door by a man who immediately ushered us to our own private hostess for a tasting. It took us a few minutes to figure out what what going on - and when we did - we were quite pleased. As we looked around the tasting room, we realized that everyone that visits Dr. Frank's gets the undivided attention of a winery representative to guide them through their tasting. 

The young lady serving as our hostess spent a few minutes talking with us and finding out what types of wine we enjoyed most. After our conversation, she personally chose which wines we would try. Since Gary and I have different tastes...she poured unique wines for each of us. She started me out with a few of the dry reds and Gary began with some Rieslings. I liked that fact that she didn't give a memorized spiel about each wine she poured...she truly knew about the wines and described them to us. While sampling these superb wines, we asked her questions about the history of the winery, the difference in the wines behind the two labels it produces (Dr. Frank and Salmon Run) and a few question about the Keuka Lake area.

When we had completed our tasting, our hostess thanked us for coming in and directed us to the retail sales room if we wanted to buy wine to take home. We decided to buy a chilled bottle of wine and enjoy the lovely scenery for awhile. We had both enjoyed the Salmon Run Rainbow Rose. It was light and fruity...the perfect sipping wine for a warm afternoon. We purchased the wine and the winery loaned us a couple of glasses and we headed outside. We found a secluded picnic table with a wonderful view. It was so nice to take a break, share some fantastic wine and enjoy our surroundings for awhile before moving on.

Our experience at Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars is one that we will remember for a lifetime. I wish more wineries did it the Dr. Frank's way. The guidance of a private tasting hostess with true knowledge of the wines made a big impact on us. Samplers are welcomed as special guests and leave with a thorough understanding of the wines they have tasted. We were told by several people to be sure this winery was on our list when we visited the Finger Lakes. The winery website states that they are "regarded as a pillar of the area's fine wine industry", and I completely understand why. Dr. Frank's has a rich history of producing superb quality wines....and their wines are certainly some of the best we have tasted. Favorites: Dr. Frank Cabernet Franc (2004), Dr. Frank Fleur de Pinot Noir, Salmon Run Coho Red and Salmon Run Rainbow Rose. Visited 7/8/2006. 

Earle Estates Meadery - Since 1993, this Penn Yan, New York winery has been producing honey, fruit and grapes wines in the Finger Lakes region. We hadn't planned on stopping here on this trip, but as we were driving by, their building caught our attention. Something told us we should pull in and investigate. I thought their honey wines were very good (which are probably what they are known best for), but I found their fruit wines to be fantastic.  

The winery's tasting room/gift shop is quite beautiful, with lots of woodwork and high ceilings. There are many unique gift items to look at. Before we even approached the tasting counter we spent quite a deal of time browsing around. They had all kinds of neat knick-knacks for sale and Gary was amazed at the very fair prices on most merchandise. When we noticed that they had live bees in a display case we walked right over to check it out. We watched the bees for a long time, trying to figure out how they got air and wondering if any of them could possibly squeeze out. When we decided the bees had mesmerized us long enough, we headed for the tasting counter.

A very nice woman explained their tasting procedure to us (there is a tasting fee, but it is completely refundable with a wine purchase) then gave us a few minutes to decided which wines to try. Since there are very few meadery's out there...I always sample honey wines whenever I get the chance. They had several traditional style meads plus some honey wine/fruit wine blends. I decided to sample a couple of the traditional honey wines, one blend, and two fruit wines. The honey wines were very nice. They all had a very fresh taste with varying levels of sweetness. The blend I sampled was Autumn Harvest. It was a combination of Pear, Raspberry and Mead wines...and it had a wonderfully unique flavor. The fruit wines I chose were the Pear Wine and Peach Perfection. So many wineries use grape wine with fruit flavoring, but Earle Estates produces all of their fruit wines with 100% of the fruit. The Pear Wine tasted exactly like the juice from a can a fruit cocktail, but not quite as syrupy. It was really refreshing. The Peach Perfection tasted just like fresh peaches. They do a fantastic jobs with their fruit wines and I feel they are some of the best wines they offer.

If you're near Seneca Lake, be sure to stop in at Earle Estates Meadery. It was one of our favorite stops on this trip. The tasting room is spacious and beautiful, our hostess was very friendly and made us feel right at home, and their wines are some of the best in the area. I feel the owners of Earle Estates strive for perfection in every aspect of their venture...and I think they've achieved it. Favorite: Peach Perfection. Visited 7/10/2006.

Fox Run Vineyards - We started a new day of wine tasting with a visit to this winery in Penn Yan, New York. We had just finished breakfast and as we were driving along Seneca Lake, we were doing our best to rid our minds of eggs and sausage and turn our thoughts toward wine. Sometimes I find that difficult, but when we pulled up to Fox Run I was ready for some sampling.

The tasting room was bright, spacious, and inviting. We spent a few minutes looking at their gift items before approaching the tasting counter for our first wine of the day. They had a nice selection of wine-related gift items plus some gourmet-type snacks, dips and other various edibles. There was a large map of the Finger Lakes region that caught Gary's eye. He looked at it for a long time and I couldn't figure out why. It was our third day in the area and we pretty much had our bearings by this time. I walked over and urged him to the tasting counter so we could begin our day.

A very hospitable man set out some glasses for us and made us feel welcome while I went to work figuring out which wines I wanted to sample. It was still early and I didn't want to get too crazy with my choices. I went with the Lemberger for a dry red, then decided to go with a few lighter wines - Arctic Fox and Ruby Vixen. All of these were very nice...but nothing stood out until the next wine I tried. Somehow our host convinced me to sample Port first thing in the morning. He told me that if I was a Port drinker, I shouldn't leave without trying theirs because their winemaker does such a fantastic job with them. Even though the Fox Run website shows their Tawny Port sold out right now, I'm pretty sure that's what I sampled in the tasting room. It was fantastic with flavors bursting from every angle...and it was ultra-warming. It was most certainly the best wine I sampled at Fox Run.

Before we left we took one last lap around their gift area. I found myself watching some of the other customers at the tasting counter. All of the customers were happy, smiling, and enjoying their wine tasting experience. I was very impressed with the staff at Fox Run Vineyards. They make an extra effort to provide an enjoyable wine tasting experience for all. Visited: 7/10/2006. 

Fulkerson Winery - I liked this Dundee, New York winery very much. My problem was that I couldn't figure out exactly why. I've been thinking about this quite a bit and I finally realized that there was no "one big reason" that I enjoyed our visit...but there were many little things I liked about this winery. It's all of those little things put together that make Fulkerson Winery stand out from the crowd.

The spacious and airy feeling when you walk into the tasting room was just the beginning. Ultra-high ceilings allow you to breathe, even when it is crowded. There was plenty of room to roam about the racks of wine bottles and gift merchandise without bumping into anyone, yet the room still has a cozy feeling. I'm not sure how they managed the "spacious-cozy" feel, but they did.

We walked over to the large tasting counter, which had plenty of room available. A woman quickly put up some glasses for us and informed us of their tasting procedures. I went to work choosing five wines to try. A decided to keep it sweet. It had been a long day of tasting and they had plenty of sweet wines to choose from. The first wine I sampled was the Delaware. It's always been one of my favorite grapes and Fulkerson does a wonderful job with it. Their '04 Delaware is crisp, clean, and very yummy. Next, I went for their popular Red Zeppelin. It's a fun wine with plenty of fruity flavors. Perfect for serving to unexpected summer guests. The next two wines I sampled were the '05 Matinee and the Centennial. Both of these wines were very unique. The Matinee is made from seedless table grapes. The Centennial is even sweeter and smelled of cherries. Both wines had a touch of mint flavor to them...which I thought was unusual and interesting at the same time. It's always nice to sample something so different. The last wine I sampled was the '03 Vidal Ice Wine. This was the perkiest Ice Wine we sampled in the Finger Lakes. It was nicely balanced with a wonderful apricot flavor and very pleasing to the taste buds.

After our tasting, we couldn't help but wander around the gift area again. They had a wonderful selection of wine-related gift items, t-shirts (which I'm always looking for since my son expects a gift every time I return home), and lots of interesting little tidbits that we didn't find at other winery gift shops. They also offer a nice selection of home wine-making supplies. I always stop to look at them because I've often thought about trying my hand at making some wine...though I don't know when I would ever find the time.

It's all the little things I liked about this winery. The beautiful tasting room, the excellent selection of wines, a superb Ice Wine, and a top-notch gift shop complete with winemaking supplies all add up to make a visit to Fulkerson Winery a wonderful tasting experience. Visited 7/10/2006.

Glenora Wine Cellars - It's become common for me to receive email from our website visitors suggesting wineries we should visit. The most common question we had been receiving is "Why haven't you visited the Finger Lakes yet?". So many visitors suggested we visit this area rich with wineries, that we finally made plans to make the 8-hour trip. One of the first things we do is book accommodations, and when we saw that this Dundee, New York winery offered upscale lodging in a centralized location, we immediately made reservations. 

The Inn at Glenora is absolutely wonderful. It sits along the shore of Seneca Lake and every room has either a private balcony or patio overlooking the lake and surrounding vineyards. Upon check-in guests are offered a complimentary glass of champagne to welcome them and can also return to the front desk one evening for a complimentary glass of Port. We sipped our welcoming champagne on the balcony of our spacious room. The rooms are so large that I found myself thinking "You mean, I have to walk all the way over there?" one morning when I wanted to get something out of my suitcase. Each room is also equipped with a small refrigerator, which always make Gary very happy. He loves little refrigerators. The bathrooms are extra large and have wonderful mood lighting. I don't think I've come across a nicer hotel bathroom. The Inn at Glenora staff is friendly and courteous. We couldn't have asked for better accommodations.      

Glenora Wine Cellars is also home of Veraisons Restaurant. The restaurant is attached to the inn and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. We dined at Veraisons three times...twice for breakfast (what could be more convenient?) and once for dinner. The best thing about Veraisons is the large outdoor deck. I love dining outdoors whenever possible and we chose to sit on the deck at all three meals. Breakfast outdoors is invigorating. Their breakfast was pretty good, reasonably priced, and always arrived very quickly. The morning staff even remembered us the second morning we walked in. They knew we wanted to sit outside and didn't ask if we needed cream with our coffee. They also automatically brought out water, which we had asked for the previous morning. It's nice to start the morning with a personal touch.

We stayed at Glenora for three nights, and had dinner at Veraisons our second night there. We had received a voucher for a free glass of wine with dinner (they really hand out the freebies when you stay here). I ordered French onion soup and their pork entree and Gary ordered a steak. I really didn't care much for my dinner. My soup came to the table the same time as my meal (which the server apologized for when she brought it out). The pork seemed a little flavorless, but my meal did get cold while I was eating my soup, which could be the reason I found it lacking. Gary said he liked his steak very much. 

Now let's talk about wine. We figured we would get pretty intimate with the wines of Glenora since we would be there for four days. When we checked in, we were even given coupons for free tastings every day. We took advantage of these and eventually sampled every wine that they made. The only problem was that Glenora was open until 9:00 p.m. when most other wineries closed at 5 or 6 o'clock and we ended up visiting their tasting room every evening when we returned to the inn. Because of this Glenora probably didn't get us in their tasting room at our sampling peak. We were usually tired and had been tasting other wines all day. I also noticed that the tasting room staff seemed lack-luster late in the evening, didn't seem very enthused and didn't offer much information to us about the wines were were sampling. When our host or hostess isn't enthused about the wine they are pouring...we have a hard time getting enthused about the wine we are sampling. Because of this I don't think we can make a fair assessment of most of the wines we did sample. We should probably stop at this winery again next time we are in the Finger Lakes. I would like to see if we have a better experience earlier in the day. Regardless there are two wines I would like to mention. We did buy a bottle of Jammin' Red for some friends that wanted a sweeter red wine (but not too sweet). It seemed to fit the bill and they told us they absolutely loved it. I also want to personally mention Glenora's Port. Their Port is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Baco Noir aged in French Oak and fortified with Brandy. I thought it was exquisite. It had a wonderful raspberry flavor and made the perfect ending to our evening. It was certainly one of the best Port wines I have had the pleasure of drinking.

We also had the most memorable experience from our trip take place at Glenora. There's always one experience from every one of our wine trips that we tell all our friends about when we get home. It happened on our last night there. This was the night that we took advantage of the free glass of Port. We just wanted to enjoy our surroundings and relax because we had an 8-hour drive the next day. After our Port was poured, instead of hibernating on our private balcony, we decided to sit in a small garden area outside the main entrance to the inn. There were two tables and a couple of chairs and we thought it would be a great place to drink our Port and do some people watching. It was a lovely evening with a nice breeze blowing. We sat and talked about all the wineries we had visited in the three days we spent touring when we saw a man with a golf cart come down the hill from the winery. He stopped in front of us and pulled two large containers from the back. He said "hello" and told us it had been so dry he wanted to water the flowers. There was a water spigot a couple of feet away from us and he chatted with us while he filled the containers. Suddenly, as one of the containers fills up, water starts spraying all over us. I was so shocked I couldn't get out of my chair....I just sat there like an idiot. I thought the water would turn off any minute....but the man sort of freaked-out when the water started spraying and couldn't get it turned off. Gary didn't move either. We just stared at each other with shocked looks on our faces. When the man finally got the water off, my dress was soaked and my hair was dripping. The only comment Gary could muster up was "I think there's some water in my Port". The man apologized to us over and over again and told us to go the the restaurant and tell them that Gene was buying us each a glass of wine. We did take advantage of his offer and took the wine back to our room where we laughed most of the evening. Some people might be mad about this...but it was one of the best things that happened on our trip. Every time we talk about it we burst into laughter. I have a huge smile on my face just typing this. So...we want to thank Gene for giving us one of our most memorable experiences from our winery adventures. It is an experience we will never forget and will probably be telling friends about for years to come. Sidenote: When I returned home I looked at the Glenora website to see if they had an employee directory. I was curious about the "Gene" that drenched us. I came to find out that it was none other than Gene Pierce, President of Glenora Wine Cellars.          

We would like to return to Glenora Wine Cellars on our next trip to the Finger Lakes. I think their wines deserve more of our attention than the late night samplings we had on this trip. But, I would highly recommend that anyone visiting the area make reservations to stay at the Inn at Glenora. Our stay was absolutely wonderful and our room was even nicer than we expected. It is also a wonderful, centralized location for wine touring in the Finger Lakes. Make your reservations early so that you don't miss out. There are only 30 rooms and I'm sure they book-up quickly, especially on the weekends. Visited 7/8/2006 through 7/10/2006. Favorite: Port. 

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards - This Hector, New York winery certainly doesn't keep a low-profile. Several people told us if we were going to the Finger Lakes, we had to stop by Hazlitt 1852. The general consensus being that "There is always a party going on". We didn't find a party...but we did find several tasty wines.

It was a Sunday afternoon and I wasn't sure what to expect when we pulled into the winery. We easily found a parking space and approached the tasting room. A man was waiting at the doorway to greet us. I got the impression that every visitor to Hazlitt 1852 receives a personal greeting and is ushered to a private tasting host or hostess. I think this is a great concept for busier wineries. Sometimes it's hard to find a spot at the tasting counter on the weekends and I would rather wait in line for my turn than have to bully my way up to the counter. There was no one waiting ahead of us and we were introduced to our host for our wine tasting. 

The whole atmosphere was very casual and relaxed. Our host was warm and friendly and he made us feel quite welcome at the winery. The employees were laughing and joking with each other and the guests. The staff really seem to enjoy working there and they get along well with each other. We felt very at ease as we were looking over the tasting sheet. I decided to sample several of their sweeter varieties. One of my favorites was their White Stag. It was a blend of Cayuga and Ravat 51 and tasted sensational. We also sampled their signature "Red Cat", which is a blend of Catawba and Baco Noir. I love any wine that contains Baco Noir...and this one was no exception. Baco Noir is very versatile and I love it dry, sweet, or blended with another grape. Hazlitt's blend with Catawba was refreshingly sweet and enchanting.

After our tasting we walked into the gift shop. They had a nice selection of fun items to look at. I actually bought one of my favorite winery souvenirs here...a Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards umbrella. I've been needing a new umbrella and this one was so cool. It was red and white with the Hazlitt logo on it. People tease me that I have "wine everything", and now I have a wine umbrella. It was a really nice umbrella on clearance for $5.99...I thought it was quite a steal.

We didn't find a party this particular day. Our host even commented that he had never seen the winery so slow. From what I understand Hazlitt 1852 is usually the place to be for wine, fun, and good times in the Finger Lakes. Even if you're not up for a party...if you would like to sample wine in a relaxed atmosphere where the staff is friendly and the wines are fun and delicious...stop by Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards when you're in the Finger Lakes region. Visited 7/9/2006.

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard - We knew we were near the Finger Lakes, but it was like entering a different world as we drove down the lane to this Dundee, New York winery. There was a sign along the side of the road stating that no busses or limos were permitted...so we knew we were entering a calmer, quieter place. We hadn't originally planned on visiting this winery, but Gary had read good things about it on several blogs, and we kept it in the back of our minds in case we had time. We did find ourselves with some extra time this Sunday afternoon and decided to stop by. There were a handful of cars in the parking area, but everything was silent as we stepped out of the car and we headed for the tasting room to see if all the good things that Gary read were true.

A woman was standing inside the entranceway and she told us they were conducting tastings in the back. We walked through the small retails sales room into a room with high ceilings and a number of stainless steel tanks and wine barrels. There was a small tasting counter to the side and we stepped up to it. There were only five or six other visitors there. I can see why they restrict busses and limos...they just don't have the room to accommodate them. As we were standing at the counter...I can't really explain it...but I had the feeling that in those tanks and barrels I was surrounded by some great wine.

I don't know why I had it in my mind that our tasting experience here would be a bit uppity...but I had it all wrong. The woman behind the tasting counter greeted us with a big smile and she was very kind and hospitable. She asked us what types of wine we generally enjoyed and started picking a few out for us. Gary loved that fact that they offer several different Rieslings. It's his favorite grape and he always samples a Riesling at every winery we visit that produces one. The dry and semi-dry Rieslings were remarkable and they also had a couple of Late Harvest Rieslings that were absolutely wonderful. Being a red wine drinker I really enjoyed the Estate Red...a blend of Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Lemberger. All of their wines were very dignified. I may have been wrong about the "uppity" style I expected at the tasting counter, but I was right about one thing...I was surrounded by some great wine.

I encourage anyone visiting the Finger Lakes to stop by the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard tasting room. This winery tends to stay out of the tourist limelight, but true wine enthusiasts should stop in for sampling. His many years of winemaking experience are evident in the elite wines that are produced here. When your tasting is finished, you'll feel as if you've just sampled greatness. Visited 7/9/2006.

Heron Hill Winery - The distant view of this Hammondsport, New York winery is spectacular. It looks like a huge mansion sitting on the hill overlooking Keuka Lake. We turned onto the long driveway in anticipation. Even though it was a Saturday, we easily found a parking space. We got out of the car and noticed a small tour bus pulling in behind us. We had just dealt with this same group of people at the last winery we visited...so we hurried into the building so we could get to the tasting counter before they walked in.

Once inside, we headed straight for the tasting counter...only we went to the wrong one. Heron Hill has two separate counters: one for regular tasting and one for premium tasting. I don't think they were clearly marked, but the young man behind the premium counter explained the situation to us and pointed us toward the counter on the other side of the room. He was very nice and asked us what types of wine we liked. He recommended a few wines that he thought we should try once we arrived at the regular tasting counter.

We walked over the other counter and a woman took our tasting fee and we went to work choosing which wines to sample. With the exception of two late harvest and two ice wines (which are part of the premium tasting), most of Heron Hill's wines are fairly dry. We sampled a Pinot Noir, a Riesling the Eclipse White, Game Bird Red and Game Bird White. All of their wines were good, but nothing really struck us spectacular for our preferences. It may have also been the atmosphere while we were sampling. The tasting was very impersonal. One woman was hopping around between many people. Heron Hill is a large place and they probably stay very busy. I think they are also used to hosting larger groups. Gary and I really didn't get a chance to talk to our hostess or ask any questions about the wine were were sampling...and she offered very little information on her own.

After our tasting we walked over to the gift shop and looked around for awhile then headed out the door. There was live music playing outside and they have a very nice patio with plenty of table and chairs. Heron Hill also has a restaurant, but we were not ready to eat and didn't stop in. The scenery is lovely and the winery is beautiful...but our tasting was pretty uneventful. The winery seems to do things on a grand scale, and they can accommodate a lot of people, but because of this you're probably not going get the personal service that some wineries offer. Visited 7/8/2006.   

Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars - We have had to search for many hard to spot wineries on our winery adventures...but there's no way anyone could miss this winery located in Lodi, New York. The impressive Greek Revival building that houses the winery sits on a hill along Seneca Lake. My jaw dropped as we were approaching and all I could do was point at the building to signal to Gary that was our next stop. I was speechless as we got out of the car. The building is absolutely enchanting and it took me a minute to let the whole scene sink-in before I could walk inside.

The interior is just as breathtaking with lots of wood, huge windows that let in plenty of natural light and high ceilings. We approached the small tasting counter where there was one young lady working. She let us know about their tasting fees ($1.00 to sample all 9 of their regular wines, but extra fees applied if we wanted to try any of their 4 "select" wines). We decided on the regular tasting plus a sample of the 2002 Vidal Ice Wine. Our hostess was very serious. I'm not sure I saw her smile even once. Actually the entire staff was very "business-like". It was a different atmosphere than a lot of the other Finger Lakes wineries.

We had just finished the four whites on the list and were about to start with the five reds (I'm not much for dry white, so I was looking forward to the reds) when a woman and her daughter stood beside me at the counter. I was sampling the Cabernet Franc and told Gary I was picking up floral scents in it, which I thought was odd. Then...the same thing happened with the Pinot Noir. Then...the breeze coming through the windows changed direction and I was overtaken with the smell of flowers. I realized at this point that it wasn't the wine I was smelling...it was the perfume of the woman beside me. It was really strong and had invaded my nasal passages....and it wouldn't leave. The tasting counter was small and there wasn't any place for me to relocate. I've always read that people shouldn't wear perfume or cologne when sampling wine, but this is the first time it actually ruined my tasting experience.

Our last sample was the 2002 Vidal Ice Wine. Of course, I thought it had floral tones (which it didn't)....but Gary said he liked it very much. He bought a bottle to take home with him, so maybe I'll get to sample it again and get a better feel for it some evening if he's in a sharing mood. I think he liked the price too. At $19.99 a bottle, it is one of the more reasonably priced Ice Wines we have found.

The architecture is fabulous at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars. Just viewing the winery, inside and out, is enough of a reason to stop by. But, I think I would like to visit this winery again when I am in the Finger Lakes region. Maybe I'll find better luck...and less perfume...and I'll be able to enjoy a better sampling of the reds they produce. Visited 7/9/2006.

McGregor Vineyard - Imagine walking into a winery, being greeted with a friendly smile, and shown to a table where you will be treated to a sit-down tasting of some of the finest wines in the Finger Lakes. You don't have to imagine...all you need to do is visit this Dundee, New York winery where every visitor is hosted to a sit-down sampling by an attentive staff.

I was extremely exhausted when we arrived at McGregor Vineyard. It was our first of three days in the Finger Lakes. We had traveled a long way the night before and stopped by our first winery of the day early that morning. We made it to McGregor shortly before they closed at 8:00 p.m. and I was worn out. We were greeted by owner, John McGregor. He asked us if we wanted to sit inside or outside. I always choose the outdoors and he escorted us to a picnic table on their patio. The McGregor vineyards run alongside the tasting room. It was such pretty scenery I was glad we were able to sit outdoors. He had some leftover finger foods from an event they had earlier that day...and he brought us a couple of things to snack on during our tasting.

McGregor has been producing premium wines since 1980. Their vineyard is situated on the eastern side of Keuka Lake and the winery offers a nice variety of wines, most of which are produced with estate-grown grapes. Tasting their wines is like sampling "fine artwork"...for every wine they produce is a true work of art. Gary's favorite was the 2005 Late Harvest Vignoles. He commented that it didn't taste as "green" as some of the other Late Harvest Vignoles he has sampled and he thought it had great personality and a wonderful balance. He also enjoyed their 2005 Semi-Dry Riesling, which had a wonderful peach aroma and a delightfully crisp finish. 

After our tasting we took a look around their small gift shop, where they had the most unique selection of wine and grape-themed jewelry. I bought a wonderful silver bracelet, which had a nice cluster of grapes as the focal point. The longer I own this bracelet, the more I like it. Our visit to McGregor was on our first of three days we spent in the Finger Lakes region. For the next two days, someone asked me where I got my bracelet at almost every stop we made. I'm sure McGregor got some extra visitors because of this.

You don't have to imagine a relaxing sit-down tasting and a sampling of some first-rate Finger Lakes wine. You can experience it for yourself at McGregor Vineyard...a winery that stands out from the crowd in the Finger Lakes region. Visited 7/8/2006.

Miles Wine Cellars - A beautiful Greek Revival home is also home to this Himrod, New York winery. We truly felt like we were stepping back in time when we arrived at the Miles tasting room, which sits right on the edge of Seneca Lake. When we got out of the car, the beautiful home and the lovely lake breeze beckoned us to come closer. We were anxious to see what was waiting for us inside.

Once inside the first thing I wanted to locate was a restroom. I needed to use the restroom before we left the last winery we stopped at, but I decided to wait until our arrival here. I was horrified when I saw a sign that said "no public restrooms". A very nice lady behind the tasting counter greeted us. I told her we needed to make it a quick tasting because I needed to use the restroom. It was a Monday and we were the only people there. I was quite pleased when she made arrangements for me to use their facilities, since there were no other customers. Since that dilemma was out of the way, we could now enjoy our sampling of their wines.

Miles Wine Cellars produces a short list of mostly dry wines...and we decided to sample all they had to offer. All of their wines were quite delicious, but I particularly enjoyed their reds. Their award-winning Pinot Noir was outstanding. Barrel fermented it French Oak...it had the wonderful aroma of cherries and a hint of vanilla. Their "Call Me A Cab" blend is a slightly sweeter blend of Cabernet and Pinot Noir, and had a wonderful aftertaste that just begged me to drink some more. Gary preferred their whites, especially the Willow, which was light, delicious and fruity.

When we returned home from the Finger Lakes, I remembered that before our trip I had read on one of the winery websites that their tasting room was haunted. I couldn't remember which one it was, and had forgotten about it while we were there. I got on the internet to investigate and it was Miles Wine Cellars. They seem to have quite a haunted history. There's a very interesting story on their website worth checking out. I'm glad I didn't remember this while we were there, because I probably wouldn't have ventured to the restroom by myself. I get pretty freaked-out by the idea of ghosts and wouldn't know what I would do if I actually saw something.

If the idea of tasting fine wines in a haunted tasting room is appealing to you, then you should certainly stop by Miles Wine Cellars. They also have a prime location right on the shore of Seneca Lake and a gorgeous view. Visited: 7/10/2006.

Penguin Bay Winery & Champagne House - Formerly known as the Finger Lakes Champagne House, this Hector, New York winery changed its name to Penguin Bay and began offering still wines in addition to sparkling varieties. Penguin Bay also offers champagnes from Goose Watch Winery and Swedish Hill Winery for sampling in their tasting room. They are situated on the eastern side of Seneca Lake, and we visited on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

The tasting room was fairly warm when we walked inside. The doors and windows were open, and there were fans blowing, but it was still warm. We walked up to the tasting counter and a woman set a tasting sheet and a pencil in front of us. She was very brief and to the point as she explained the tasting procedure and fees. As we were marking the six wines we each wanted to try, she came back by and told us we could just share one tasting if we wanted the same wines. We decided to do that and Gary told me he would just sample whatever I wanted.

I chose three sparkling wines (Swedish Hill Blanc de Blanc Champagne, Goose Watch Golden Spumante Champagne and Swedish Hill Spumante Blush Champagne) and three still wines (Penguin Bay Riesling, Penguin Bay Tuxedo White and Penguin Bay Tuxedo Red). I thought we should try some of the champagnes since it has been their claim to fame...but I usually find sampling sparking wines in a tasting room to be a waste of time. So often they become flat in a tasting room setting, probably from being open for awhile and poured out in small quantities. It was no exception this particular day and we couldn't get a good feel for these award-winning champagnes, which were slightly flat and not served at the optimum temperature. The still wines were pretty good...but none stood out as outstanding. I think my favorite part of the experience was looking at all the Penguin Bay labels. There were cute little penguins in different scenes on each bottle. I just love penguins and I think the labels themselves could sell the wine.

I would bet that the sparkling wines we sampled would receive rave reviews from us, if we were to sample them in a different atmosphere. Sparklers are often so flat in the tasting room, you usually have to buy a full bottle...or receive a sample from a freshly opened bottle to get the best results. Visited 7/9/2006.

Pleasant Valley Wine Company - A long winemaking history stands behind the wines of this Hammondsport, New York winery. They are the oldest winery in the Finger Lakes region and hold the distinction of U.S. Bonded Winery No. 1. Founded in 1860, Pleasant Valley has been producing wines for well over a century. With such a rich history, we were excited by the idea of sampling their wines on our first day touring the Finger Lakes.

We pulled into the parking lot and were a little disappointed by our surroundings. The tasting room was housed in what looked like a factory building. There were block buildings and pipes running everywhere. From visiting their website, I had expected more than this. As we were getting out of the car, a large tour bus pulled up to the door. People were filing into the winery and we got mixed up with them when we walked inside. We went to the tasting counter, but we quickly realized there was no way we were going to get a tasting with so many people around. We decided to step back for awhile and wait for the tour group to finish. We walked toward the door and a woman approached us. She said she greets all the visitors that come in, but she thought we were part of the group. She asked if we would like to go on the next tour of the winery...but that would have taken too long and our schedule wouldn't permit it. We decided to walk around the adjacent Great Western Winery Visitor Center, where visitors can go on a self-guided tour to learn the history of winemaking in the area. We figured by the time we were done, the tour group would be gone. When we were finally able to approach the tasting counter, a woman asked us to scoot to the end. They had another tour bus coming in and they didn't want us standing in the middle of the counter. I got the impression that they catered to tour groups and that individuals stopping in for a tasting just get in their way. 

There seemed to be about a million wines to choose from on their tasting list. In reality, there are approximately 50 wines and it was hard to choose a handful to try. We finally succeeded in making our selections, and the woman came back to pour our first wine. We chose mostly sweeter wines and judging from the residual sugar listed on the tasting sheet, I knew exactly what order I wanted to taste them in. When the woman came back to pour our second wine, she said I should save my second choice for later in the tasting. When I chose a another wine she didn't like that choice either. I knew what order I wanted to taste them and I didn't care for her telling me what to do. Gary got really quiet. He knew I was getting upset and I might blow at any second. When she finally reviewed all my choices, she realized I was right and poured them in the order I wanted.

All of the wines we sampled were pretty good, especially when you take into account their low prices. I guess a volume producer can offer these kinds of savings. The most interesting wine we sampled was the Chocolate Lab...a concord with chocolate flavor. It would be great to offer in place of a dessert after dinner. I also enjoyed their Marsala. Pleasant Valley is the first winery we have come across offering a Marsala wine and I thought theirs was quite good.

There's a lot of history behind Pleasant Valley Wine Company...but I guess you have to take the 45-minute tour to experience it. There are old, beautiful buildings pictured on their website, but I never saw them. I believe they were across the street somewhere. Visiting the tasting room was like visiting a wine factory. Our visit was not at all what I expected after looking at their website. I was pretty disappointed in the tasting room atmosphere. Visited 7/8/2006.

Prejean Winery - You won't find a big, extravagant building...or anything else flashy at this Penn Yan, New York winery. The tasting room is small,  the decor is simple...and it is perfect just the way it is. Our stop at Prejean was like a breath of fresh air. We had been to so many of the larger Finger Lakes wineries, that we were really craving a different experience...and we found it here. The charming atmosphere and the warmth and friendliness of the staff were just what we needed.

As we walked up the steps to the tasting room door, I noticed what a nice deck they had outside. I wished we had allowed ourselves more time on this trip to sit and enjoy some of the beautiful scenery surrounding the wineries. We had traveled so far and we were not sure how long it would be before we could visit the Finger Lakes again, so we packed our schedule pretty tight. We visited many wineries, but didn't stay after our samplings to enjoy a glass of wine...which we often do. If we had more time, I certainly would have stayed for a glass of Prejean wine on their deck. The vineyards were gorgeous and it was so peaceful. I probably would have wanted to stay all day.

The minute we walked into the tasting room, the woman behind the counter invited us up for a tasting. She was super-friendly and made us feel like we were truly welcome. As we sampled, we chatted about not only the wines, but many other things. Our hostess was originally from West Virginia and traveled through our hometown in southern Ohio many times. We talked about our hometown and about how our hostess found herself presently living in New York. It was easy conversation and we felt comfortable...like we had stopped in to visit a good friend.

We sampled several of their wines, including the Proprietor's Red...which wasn't too dry and had a fruity taste with a perfect finish. My favorite had to be the Tiger Lily. It was certainly unique with a floral nose and a grapefruit-like finish. It was such a light, refreshing wine for summer. I don't think I've ever had anything like it before, so I was sure to buy some to bring home with me. 

If you need a break from some of the larger, noisy tasting rooms on your winery adventure, Prejean Winery is a great place to stop. They'll make you feel right at home in their cozy tasting room and you can sample a few wines from the wide variety of wines they offer. Make sure your have enough time to enjoy a glass of wine on the deck so you can appreciate the beautiful scenery and peaceful surroundings. Favorite: Tiger Lily. Visited 7/10/2006.   

Red Newt Cellars - There was a small crowd gathered outside the entrance of this Hector, New York winery when we arrived. A limo tour had congregated outside the door finishing up glasses of wine before going on their way. They all seem to have had quite a bit to drink already on this Sunday afternoon, so we walked around the side so we could get behind them and enter the winery. The tasting room was pretty desolate when we walked in. A young man greeted us and pointed out a woman behind the tasting counter who could pour some wines for us to sample. 

The woman was friendly toward us...but she certainly let it be known that she was irritated with one of her co-workers. One of the younger boys behind the counter apparently got a $20 tip from the limo group and was flaunting it. She went on and on through most of the tasting about how unprofessional he was and how she was going to tell the manager about him. He wasn't disturbing us at all. We just wished she would forget about it and start telling us more about the wines she was pouring instead of talking about co-worker.

We sampled a good bit of the wines they produce. At one point we attempted to stop our hostess from pouring another wine, because we had already sampled the number of wines we were allotted with our tasting. She said she wasn't counting and poured a couple extra that she thought we must try. I would expect that this isn't a usual occurrence...but the tasting room was very slow that day. I was particularly fond of the Cabernet Sauvignon, which surprised me. This was one of the extra "must try" wines that our hostess poured. I'm glad I sampled it because I rarely find a Cabernet Sauvignon that I enjoy...but I found Red Newt's quite extraordinary. We were told it would taste even better after a couple of years of aging. Gary favored the Blue Newt White...a sweeter fruity wine in a blue bottle. 

We heard from several people that the Red Newt Bistro had spectacular food. Their menu changes weekly and many of the Finger Lakes wineries told us it was a fabulous dining experience...but our schedule didn't permit us to take in a meal at Red Newt. Next time we visit the Finger Lakes, dinner at the Red Newt Bistro will certainly be on our agenda. Visited 7/9/2006.

Schloss Doepken Winery - It is safe to say, that our visit to this Ripley, New York winery was one of the strangest wine tasting experiences we've ever had. The winery is housed in an old farmhouse in the New York countryside. We realized that they must not get as many visitors as some of the other wineries in the area...because there were only two parking spaces at the entrance. We got out of the car and approached the farmhouse...commenting that it didn't look like there would be too many photo opportunities to be had at this stop on our winery adventure.

We were stopped as soon as we entered the door and soon realized that no one was going to step foot in the tasting room without signing the guest book. We signed the book like we were asked then took a seat at the tasting counter. Our hostess asked us what types of wine we liked. I told her that I preferred dry reds and sweeter reds and whites...and that Gary usually enjoyed just the sweeter wines. She handed each of us a plastic cup and explained to us that at Schloss Doepken...there would be no spitting or dumping of the wine. If we did not finish a sample, we could not have any more. That wasn't a problem for us...I don't think we've ever spit or dumped...but I thought it was a strange policy. 

Here's where is gets really strange: Our hostess handed me a bottle of wine and asked me to read the back of the label out loud to Gary. I'm not sure if this was a sobriety test (though it was still morning when we visited) or if this was an intelligence indicator. I'm a good reader...but with words like "Schloss Doepken", "Vinifera", "Gravelly", and "Fledgling" on the label...I'm quite sure this could become embarrassing for some. Gary tends to get tongue-tied, so he was probably breathing a sigh or relief that she asked me to read and not him. I just didn't understand the purpose of the whole production.

She then proceeded to pour dry whites (which we had told her were not our favorites). I soon realized that we were going to be poured samples of all the wines...or none at all. There were seven or eight wines in all. Most had a very unique flavor that we didn't much care for. One even tasted of campfire to me (an oaked Chardonnay), and I had to struggle to finish the sample. The last two that we sampled seemed to be the best...an Apple Crisp and a Winter Spice...both of which were served warm.

When we were finished tasting, we took a walk through an adjoining room where they sold gift items. I ended up purchasing a jar of wine jelly and a bottle of Winter Spice. While I was paying for the purchase, Gary went to the restroom and an older gentleman walked in (I'm assuming the winemaker). I said hello...but he was having furnace problems and the only thing he wanted to know was if the man in the restroom was an electrician. I told him no...that we both worked for a newspaper and didn't know anything about electricity. Just then...some new visitors came in the door. As they were signing the guest book, the man asked if any of them were electricians. One of the young men offered to take a look at his furnace before leaving.

We left Schloss Doepken winery amazed...and a little confused. We had never experienced anything like this before. If you are in the mood for something a little unusual, you might want to stop in to this small winery. I promise...it won't be your typical wine tasting. Favorite: Winter Spice. Visited 10/29/2005.

Sheldrake Point Vineyard - Our visit to the Ovid, New York winery was our first stop on a beautiful Sunday morning. Sheldrake Point is located on the western shore of Cayuga Lake. We were pleasantly surprised by how close it was to the lake. Most Finger Lakes wineries seem to sit back from the water a bit. We were very enthusiastic about our first visit to a Cayuga Lake tasting room and the lovely scene of the winery on the lake was very appealing.

The tasting room was very quiet when we arrived. There was only one other couple at the counter doing some sampling. I guess 11:00 on a Sunday morning isn't the optimum time for drinking wine. The room was pristine and there were plenty of huge windows to let the sunlight in. We took a short walk around the room to check over the different varieties of wine they offered before approaching the tasting counter. Looking back I think we were merely procrastinating. Sometimes we find it difficult to sample wine so soon after breakfast.

After our walk around the room, we found we had reached the tasting counter. A young girl was helping the other couple, but a man came out to help us. We chose a few wines to sample, and he simply poured them and stepped back. He didn't seem too excited to be there and didn't tell us anything about the wines we were sampling. We attempted to listen to the girl that was helping the other couple. She was very lively and the other couple seemed very excited about the wines they were sampling. At this time of the morning...it helps to have an enthusiastic host or hostess. Our favorites from Sheldrake Point were their "Summer Series" wines. They offer a Summer Red, Summer White and a Summer Blush. These semi-sweet wines fit-in perfectly with the lake atmosphere. All are light and fruity and would be excellent enjoyed outside on the patio. They even offer these wines in a 3-pack at a special price. After our regular tasting, I thought long and hard about paying a little extra for a sample of their Cabernet Franc Ice Wine. I saw the bottle behind the counter and the red glow in the sunlight seemed to be calling my name. I probably would have gone for it, had our host been even slightly enthusiastic during our tasting....but he failed to entice us to try any more.

We stepped away from the counter and went to pick out some wine to take home with us. I stood at the cash register for a long time before someone from the back came out and said the register was closed and we should pay at the tasting counter. The people at the tasting counter could see me standing there, and I wondered why they didn't say something to me. No one else had come in after us and they were not busy. 

I think the best thing about Sheldrake Point Vineyard is their prime location on the shore of Cayuga Lake. The view is beautiful, and it would be a great place to hold a special event. We also really enjoyed their Summer Series wines. Their light, fruity character makes them a perfect choice during warm weather. Favorite: Summer Blush. Visited 7/9/2006.   

Thirsty Owl Wine Company - The name of this Ovid, New York winery reminded me of a dive bar in my hometown, which made me apprehensive about adding this winery to our list of wineries to visit while in the Finger Lakes region. We received an email from the Thirsty Owl asking us to stop by...so we added them to our agenda. Once we arrived, I soon realized I had no reason to be apprehensive. It certainly wasn't a dive...but one of the most enchanting wineries we visited on our trip.

When we pulled into the long drive, we felt compelled to stop the car and take in the beautiful scenery. The winery sits on the edge of Cayuga Lake and the distant view of the winery building, surrounded by vineyards, with the calm lake in the background was breathtaking. We decided we would stop on the way out for a few photo opportunities.  

We were welcomed with the friendliest smile by the man behind the tasting counter, Matthew. He invited us to sample their wines and immediately set some glasses on the counter. Even though we had been asked to visit, we didn't announce our arrival. We wanted to receive the same treatment that any other visitor would get at the Thirsty Owl. The gentleman serving as our host was warm, inviting, and we could tell he was very proud of the wine he was pouring. A host like this makes all the difference in the world to visitors. Because of him, I think I had a smile on my face the whole time we were there.

We ended up sampling all of their reds and most of their whites. With every new sample came a lot of information about each wine...compliments of our host. He was quite knowledgeable about every wine they had to offer. Among our favorites were the 2005 Snow Owl (an engaging white wine with a nice fruitiness to it); the Merlot (made from 100% Merlot - full bodied and a soft finish - very enjoyable); the 2004 Pinot Noir (very dry, but flavorful and gratifying); and the 2005 Diamond (one of Gary's favorite grapes - a refreshingly sweet and flavorful wine). Actually, all of their wines were quite respectable...some of the finer wines we sampled while in the Finger Lakes. 

Our visit to the Thirsty Owl Wine Company was quite a treat. The tasting room staff was well-acquainted with the wines they were pouring and were very welcoming to visitors. Our host seemed especially knowledgeable and enthusiastic...which made us enthusiastic about the wines we were sampling. Before leaving we asked to have our photo taken with the famous "Thirsty Owl" out on their back deck overlooking the lake. After our photo we came in an made a few purchases (including a Thirsty Owl t-shirt for my son) before heading on our way. Anyone visiting the Finger Lakes would be making a huge mistake if they were to pass up a visit to the Thirsty Owl. Favorites: Snow Owl, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Diamond. Visited 7/9/2006.

Torrey Ridge Winery - This Penn Yan, New York winery absolutely hit our "sweet spot". If you like sweeter wines, Torrey Ridge produces some of the most flavorful sweet wines we've come across in our wine travels. They offer a huge selection of grape and other natural fruit wines...and all delicious and quite spirited.

We hadn't originally planned on stopping at Torrey Ridge, but as we were driving the road along Seneca Lake, we saw a huge building with a blue roof appearing in the distance. As we got closer and closer, we decided we might want to stop and take a look. The huge building is home to Torrey Ridge Winery and its sister winery Earle Estates Meadery. Each is a separate winery with a separate entrance, but they are both in the same building. We decided to check out Torrey Ridge before going over to Earle Estates.

The tasting room is spacious and airy, with high ceilings and an additional tasting counter on the second floor for busy weekends. We visited on a Monday, so the stairs were roped off. I read on the website about the gorgeous view from the second floor balcony, but we were not allowed to go up and look around. We even mentioned to a staff member what a nice view it would be from up there and it would be a great place to sip some wine. We were told that a few weeks before our visit the owner "actually let" someone picnic on the balcony, but it was a long-time customer. The website made it sound like the balcony was open to anyone...so I'm not sure what to think about that.

We chose several of the sweeter wines to try. All of the wines we sampled were bursting with flavor. Their fruit wines (which are made from 100% of the fruit) were all so fresh and sweet. Gary absolutely loved their Niagara. He said it was one of the best Niagara wines he's had from New York. My favorite was the Bandit Red...a sweet Baco Noir. I'm actually drinking a glass at home right now while I'm typing. It starts out with a full, grapey flavor...then I can actually taste the traditional Baco Noir taste that I love...and then it has a tiny bit of a dry finish. It's an absolutely wonderful evening sipping wine.

Our young hostess was pretty lack-luster. She gave me the impression she would rather be anywhere else but in the tasting room pouring wines...but the wines at Torrey Ridge made up for the mediocre tasting experience. There was a nice breeze outside, and we probably would have stayed to enjoy a glass of wine...if we thought they would have let us up on the balcony. Favorites: Niagara and Bandit Red. Visited 7/10/2006.

Vetter Vineyards - We stopped into this boutique winery in Westfield, NY on a Tuesday afternoon. We were on our way home from a family vacation to Niagara Falls, and I couldn't help but stop at one winery on the route back. They had a very nice tasting room and it was free of other visitors while we were there...but that would be typical of just about any winery on a Tuesday. One of the owners welcomed us in and invited us to sample their wine. They offered a fantastic selection and I had a hard time choosing a few wines to sample. I didn't want to sample too many since my son was with us.

I felt compelled to start with their Chambourcin, since it is one of my favorite grapes. Gary and I both sampled the Barcelona White, Brig Niagara, Concord and Sweet Cherry (which was sampled with dark chocolate). Our hostess informed us that we could sample the Niagara, but they didn't have any in the tasting room to purchase. Her husband was actually bottling it that day. There were two other wines I wanted to try before I left...the Blueberry Chambourcin Port and the Late Harvest Vignoles. All of the wines we sampled were very nice, though I found the Blueberry Chambourcin Port to be magnificent. The flavor of this wine was just wonderful and it gave me a nice, warm feeling inside. It's definitely the "must try" wine at Vetter Vineyards, even if you're not usually a Port drinker.    

Our hostess was very friendly and welcoming. She even made my son feel welcome and had a nice chat with him about the video games he likes to play. You can tell that Vetter Vineyards enjoys visitors and gladly welcomes wine lovers into their tasting room. We were also happy when her husband walked in and put a few freshly bottle of Brig Niagara on the shelf. It was one of my favorites and I was hoping to take some home.

Our visit to Vetter Vineyards was very pleasurable. We enjoyed a relaxing tasting in a friendly atmosphere. Their passion shows in their wine and I feel there are many great things to come from this small New York winery. Favorites: Blueberry Chambourcin Port and Brig Niagara. Visited 6/6/2006.  

Willow Creek Winery - At first glance, we were not expecting much from this Sheridan, NY winery. It didn't look like much from the outside. They had a gravel parking area and the tasting room was in what appeared to be an old house. We were on our way to Niagara Falls, so I had my 8-year old son with me. We decided to stop at one New York winery on the way to Canada, and we chose Willow Creek. It would be my son's first experience in a winery. He has been wondering what mom actually does when she travels. As we got out of the car, I was wondering how impressed he was going to be at his first winery.

A man was outside and shouted hello to us as he walked toward the tasting room. He said that there was a swing set out back if my son Morgan wanted to play while we were inside. Morgan was a little uneasy and opted to stay with me for the time being. We went into the small room and looked through their wine selection in the retail area. The man said to come on back to the tasting bar whenever we were ready. When we went back to taste, there were two wine glasses and a plastic cup set out. Morgan was poured a generous sampling of Hawaiian Punch while we decided which wine to start with. We worked our way through several of the wines, which were all very good....nothing spectacular....but all well-worth drinking. Morgan got bored at one point and went outside to check out the swing set. We continued to sample and talk with our host...who was very friendly. He told us about some other area wineries that were worth visiting and mapped us out easier directions to get back on the interstate. 

We wanted to purchase a bottle of wine to drink in the hotel room that night in Niagara Falls. We decided on Willow Creek's Concord. It was a different color than most Concords...more of a red with no purple tones. It wasn't overly sweet and was very light and quite drinkable. We purchased our wine and took off outside. When we rounded the corner of the tasting room, we were quite astonished. This is where all the beauty was hidden at Willow Creek. There was a swing set right behind the tasting room...but there was also a small lake, a beautiful gazebo, and vineyards in the distance. There was also a huge, covered pavilion for large groups. We decided to take a walk out to the gazebo and the vineyards. We had been in the car for a long time and it was a good opportunity to stretch our legs. The three of us took a leisurely stroll and relaxed at the gazebo for awhile before heading back to the car.

If you're planning a stop at Willow Creek Winery, you might want to bring a picnic lunch. Besides the gazebo...there are several picnic tables near the lake. It's the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat accompanied by a bottle of New York Wine. You can't always judge a book by its cover...and you definitely shouldn't judge this awesome winery by its appearance from the road. And for my son's first impression of a winery: He said if all wineries had Hawaiian Punch and swing sets...we could stop at as many wineries as we wanted. Favorite: Concord. Visited. 6/3/2006.