Uncork New York!

Whilst the West Coast of the United States is renowned for its wine production, the vineyards and vintages of the East Coast are a well-kept secret – and New York State leads the way.

From Lake Erie to Long Island, New York wine country spans the entire breadth of New York State. With a history dating back to the 1860’s, New York State is one of America’s oldest commercial wine regions. It is home to native, French-American, and vinifera varietals and is amongst the most diverse wine-growing regions in the world. Spanning lakeside, seashore and river valley vineyards, it is also amongst the most spectacularly scenic.

Over the past 30 years, New York State’s wine industry has expanded from 19 wineries to more than 200. (In total wine production, it ranks second in the US – behind California.) Wineries located across the state have also proved a major draw with tourists, receiving more than 3 million visitors annually. The following are some of the State’s wine-related events and visitor resources.

Celebrate the Grapes at Red, White and Blues Festival
This annual blues bash celebrates the local harvest of red and white grapes in the Allegheny region. Live music and wine tasting continue all weekend at locations throughout the village. There are currently 12 wineries along the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail, which encompass the largest Concord grape growing region in the world. Visit: Festivalsfredonia.com.

Hudson River Valley Winery Map
Home of the oldest winery in the United States (Brotherhood Winery), the Hudson Valley has been producing wine since colonial times. Recently, Clinton Vineyards and Winery won a gold medal and Best of Class at the Wines of the World competition for their cassis. It is one of the region’s 23 wineries featured on the first-ever Hudson River Valley Winery Map. The guide also includes food and wine events, restaurants that serve local wine and major tourism sites.

Thousand Islands Wine Trail
Visitors can follow highway signage featuring the symbol of a grape cluster, to guide them to wineries in the region near the St. Lawrence River and Alexandria Bay. Behling’s Spookhill Farms, Thousand Islands Winery and Otter Creek Winery are currently in operation. Visit Comefarmwithus.com.

For the New York State Winery visit: Nywine.com