April 2008

Forget the Big Apple – Grape Is the Word

With nearly 20,000 acres of vineyards, New York’s Chautauqua County is the largest grape growing county outside of California.  In fact, New York is the largest grape producing state in America (maybe New York City should be the Big Grape, not the Big Apple!).  Whatever you call it, if it’s in New York, it’s grape – err – great!

 

So what makes New York wine stand out from the competition?  It’s all about climate.  Arctic air masses flow directly toward the Lake Erie region, and the water-warmed air is trapped by the Allegheny Plateau. This protects the vines from temperature extremes.

 

Uncork what New York has for you!

 

Blueberry Sky Farm Winery

Family owned and operated, Blueberry Sky Farm Winery lies on a 70-acre farm on the shores of Lake Erie.  Located on Route 6 in Ripley, Blueberry Sky Farm wines include blueberry, blackberry, elderberry, strawberry, plum, peach, rhubarb and dandelion!  At its farm tasting room, you can sample unique and delicious wines in a cozy atmosphere.  In addition to samples of wine, there are samples of wine jellies, herb vinegar and wine accessories.  It’s not just about wine, either!  The winery is well known for its large tasty blueberries that are ready to eat right off the bush (they’re grown pesticide-free), so you can pick your own berries to take home!  For more information, call (716) 252-6535 or visit www.blueberryskyfarm.com.

 

Woodbury Vineyards

Since 1979, Woodbury Vineyards, located at 3215 South Roberts Road in Fredonia, has been making savory wine.  Since then, its wine has been recognized for its outstanding quality with an impressive number of awards and medals.  Taste these wines for yourself when you visit the winery and don’t forget to take in the sweeping views.  If you can’t make it to the vineyard for a tour, you can stop at one of its two tasting rooms –– one at the original winery in Fredonia and the second on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes Region.  For more information, call (716) 679-9463 or visit www.woodburyvineyards.com.

 

Johnson Estate Winery

The oldest winery in New York, Johnson Estate Winery is the home of award-winning Vinifera, American Heirloom and premium Ice Wines.  Take a tour through some of the 125-acres of vineyards and learn about the history, varieties, upkeep and microclimate that make this winery a top pick (and don’t forget to sample its wine!).  What makes this estate different from other wineries is the fact that it uses only grapes grown in its own vineyards, something no other large winery can match, and you can taste that difference.  Johnson Estate Winery is located at 8419 West Main Street in Westfield; for more information, call (716) 326-2191 or visit www.johnsonwinery.com.

 

Quincy Cellars

Located in a 127-year-old barn, Quincy Cellars is deep rooted in heritage – in fact, its name comes from the former name of a small village near the winery.  Located at 10606 Route 20 in Ripley, Quincy takes advantage of the barn, using its stone cellar as the tasting room while the main floor is home to an elegant restaurant with delectable treats.  Walk up to the upper level of the barn onto a spacious catwalk and take in spectacular views of the farmstead.  For more information, visit www.quincycellars.com.

 
Follow the grapes – literally – to Chautauqua Lake Wine Trail!  For more information, visit www.chautauquawinetrail.org.