Taughannock Falls
Finger Lakes, NY
PHOTO BY ANDREA PAGANI
RECENT DISCOVERIES
Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard
WINE TRAILS, NATURE AND DREAMY ACCOMMODATIONS
G
Cara Corridoni
ET ON ROUTE 476, HEAD north and in roughly four and a half hours, you’ll have arrived at the rolling green hills of New York’s famed Finger Lakes region. Once there, navigate winding country roads through acres of vineyards until you glimpse the clear blue of one of the region’s dozen or so slender, appendix-shaped lakes. Congratulations! You’ve arrived at a vacation destination you won’t soon forget. Lush countryside, award-winning wines and oneof-a-kind sights — all under a night sky with a thousand stars. DAY DRINKING We’ll start with wine. While the area’s cool temps make New York an ideal region for rieslings and gewürztraminers, there are plenty of award-winning pinot noirs, cabernet francs and merlots produced here as well. To help you get oriented, note that the area’s wine tasting is centered around three wine trails, one for each of the region’s biggest lakes. Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, the oldest, was established in 1983 as a way to draw visitors to the region. Its success soon 42
prompted Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake vintners to follow suit. While the trails were a 20th-century addition, wine in the region can be traced back to 1866 when the Seneca Lake Grape Wine Company opened the region’s first winery. Thanks to the area’s unique microclimate, that reputation has grown. Today there are hundreds of wineries laying claim to more than 6,000 national and international medals. On Seneca Lake, start your trip at Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard in Dundee. A pioneer in Finger Lakes winemaking, they offer award-winning wines and one of the best winery tours in the region (reservations required). Then head to Penn Yan, home of Fox Run Vineyards, recently named one of the top tasting rooms in the country. Order a flight of their rieslings. If you’re over on Keuka Lake in Hammondsport, try to snag a visit to Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, arguably the region’s most famous winery. While the region is best known for its wines, there are other sipping options. Finger Lakes Distilling, a craft distillery in Burdett, offers high-quality, smallbatch liquors made from farm-fresh
County Lines | July 2022 | CountyLinesMagazine.com
Fox Run Vineyards
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Finger Lakes Distilling
