Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

On The Road: Ithaca

If you drive alongside Cayuga Lake, you can't miss all of the wineries.

The Cayuga Wine Trail features 15 wineries, 1 cidery, one meadery and four distilleries.

"Some of the wineries offer different tours where they can show you how they make the wine. Also, how they do the whole process, from the beginning working out in the vineyards and off until they start doing the tanks and bottling the wine," said Cathy Millspaugh, Cayuga Wine Trail.

Other wineries offer restaurants at their locations so you can pair a fine meal with fine wines.

The wineries have 5,300 national and international awards over the years. Also, they have won 6 Governor's Cups, which is the "Oscars" of wineries.

The Wine Trail's "Vino Visa" allows you different specials at each of the stops. Also, if you join the Wine Trail's e-mail list you will be entered to win a $25 gas card.

You can find out more about the wineries at Cayuga Wine Trail

Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes. You can ride the rivers on board the Cayuga Lake Cruises. They offer 3 trips a day: a lunch cruise, an afternoon sight seeing cruise and a dinner cruise.

"By far the dinner cruise is the most popular. You get to see more of the lake. Some more of the stately homes and the waterfalls and the other things the lake has to offer," said B.J. Bliss, President of Cayuga Lake Cruises.

The cruises sell-out fast so get your tickets to enjoy the sights of Cayuga Lake and learn the history of the waters. All cruises leave from the M/V Columbia Pier on West Buffalo Street.

For more information, times and dates, Cayuga Lake Cruises

Once you hop off the boat, you can enjoy a glass of wine at Corks and More right next door. Bliss also owns the high-end wine bar lounge and he says it's the most unique place you're going to find in Ithaca.

"Everything works off of a tasting card, which is the size of a business card, it turns into a debit card. You come in and put whatever denomination on the card. For the card, there's 10 different wine stations scattered throughout the bar," said Bliss.

Every wine station features four bottles of wine, which vary by season. Corks and More was the first establishment in New York to use this technology.

The bar also offers comfy outdoor seating, tapas and live music.

For a wine list, tasting menu and more information, Corks and More

If you're looking for some entertainment for the kids this summer, go to Cornell. Cornell's Sports School brings in 4500 kids in the summer from ages 7 to 18. Kids come from 40 different states.

Celebrate Finger Lakes Sparkling Wine at Bubbly! | Wine Tips and More!

Corning, NY (Vocus) February 12, 2010

Finger Lakes Wine Country is celebrating Finger Lakes sparkling wine on Saturday, February 20 from 6-9PM at Bubbly! The Finger Lakes Sparkling Wine Party. Sixteen of the region’s sparkling wine producers and one distillery will be pouring over thirty-five sparkling wines and sparkling wine cocktails. It is the first time this many Finger Lakes sparkling wines have been available for tasting at one event.

Participating sparkling wine producers include Chateau Frank (Keuka Lake), Pleasant Valley Wine Company (Keuka Lake), Lakewood Vineyards (Seneca Lake), Red Tail Ridge Winery (Seneca Lake), Hermann J. Wiemer (Seneca Lake), Atwater Vineyards (Seneca Lake), Glenora Wine Cellars (Seneca Lake), Damiani Wine Cellars (Seneca Lake), Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars (Seneca Lake), Knapp Vineyard (Cayuga Lake), Hosmer Winery (Cayuga Lake), Lucas Vineyards (Cayuga Lake), Heart & Hands Wine Company (Cayuga Lake), Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery (Cayuga Lake), Goose Watch Winery (Cayuga Lake), and Swedish Hill Vineyard (Cayuga Lake). In addition, Finger Lakes Distilling with be featuring its fruit liquors in blended sparkling wine cocktails. A selection of hors d’oeuvres, cheeses, and desserts will also be served to accompany the sparkling wines. Tickets are $ 40 per person or $ 75 per couple and can be purchased by calling 800-813-2958.

The idea for this event began on the Finger Lakes Wine Country Facebook fan page in early December as a way to generate more fan interest in Finger Lakes Wine Country. The tourism marketing association announced on Facebook that if the page grew from 8,500 to 10,000 fans by the end of the year then the organization would host a sparkling wine event to celebrate. As of February 11, the Facebook fan page has grown an additional 50% to over 15,000 fans. Morgen McLaughlin, president of Finger Lakes Wine Country, said “we are thrilled with the fan growth and interaction on our Facebook page and are excited to offer this event as a thank you to everyone who loves the region.” View the Finger Lakes Wine Country fan page at http://www.facebook.com/fingerlakeswinecountry.

Finger Lakes Wine Country, NY is one of the most affordable and beautiful wine country destinations in North America with three wine trails including the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, Seneca Lake Wine Trail Cayuga Lake Wine Trail; over 100 wineries including Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars, Fox Run Vineyards, Glenora Wine Cellars, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Heron Hill Winery, Rooster Hill Vineyards, Shaw Vineyard and over 400 unique things to do including shopping and dining experiences, world-class museums like The Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art; and a local culture that is both warm and welcoming. For further information on Winter Wine Weekends and Bubbly! visit http://www.FingerLakesWineCountry.com or http://www.WinterWineWeekend.com.

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