Finger Lakes Wine Festival

Finger Lakes Wine Festival. The festival is held annually at Watkins Glen International in New York, showcasing the best of Finger Lakes wines, with over 90 wineries, breweries, and distilleries participating, including Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Fox Run Vineyards, and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery. The event features a wide range of wines, from Riesling and Chardonnay to Merlot and Cabernet Franc, as well as live music performances by artists like The Doobie Brothers and Blues Traveler. The festival also highlights the region's culinary delights, with food vendors offering dishes from The New York Times-acclaimed restaurants like The Red Cat and Dano's Heuriger.

History and origins

The festival has its roots in the early 1990s, when Tom Higgins, a local wine enthusiast, and Jim Trezise, the president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, collaborated to create an event that would promote the region's wine industry, similar to the Sonoma County Wine Festival and the Napa Valley Wine Auction. The first festival was held in 1995, with around 20 wineries participating, including Taylor Wine Company and Bully Hill Vineyards. Over the years, the event has grown in popularity, attracting visitors from across the United States, including California, Oregon, and Washington (state), as well as from Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. The festival has also been recognized by Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast as one of the top wine festivals in the country, alongside the Austin Food + Wine Festival and the Asheville Wine & Food Festival.

Event features and activities

The festival features a variety of activities, including wine tastings, live music performances, and culinary demonstrations by chefs like Mario Batali and Bobby Flay. Visitors can also participate in wine seminars and workshops, led by experts like Jancis Robinson and Kevin Zraly, and take part in grape-stomping competitions, similar to those found at the California State Fair and the Iowa State Fair. The event also includes a grand tasting tent, where visitors can sample wines from participating wineries, including Ravines Wine Cellars and Hosmer Winery. Additionally, the festival features a beer and spirits garden, with craft beers from breweries like Ithaca Beer Company and Southern Tier Brewing Company, and spirits from distilleries like Finger Lakes Distilling and Black Button Distilling.

Participating wineries and regions

The festival showcases wines from over 90 wineries, breweries, and distilleries from the Finger Lakes region, including Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, and Keuka Lake. Participating wineries include Atwater Vineyards, Castel Grisch, and Red Tail Ridge Winery, as well as King Ferry Winery and Buttonwood Grove Winery. The event also features wines from other regions, including Long Island, Hudson Valley, and Niagara Escarpment, with wineries like Wölffer Estate Vineyard and Millbrook Winery. Visitors can also explore the festival's wine shop, which offers a selection of wines from participating wineries, including Riesling and Gewürztraminer from Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Fox Run Vineyards.

Economic and cultural impact

The festival has a significant economic impact on the Finger Lakes region, generating revenue for local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and shops, like The Watkins Glen Grand Prix and The Glenora Wine Cellars. The event also promotes the region's wine industry, attracting visitors and encouraging them to explore the local wine trails, such as the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. The festival has also become an important cultural event, celebrating the region's heritage and community, with live music performances by local artists like The Sim Redmond Band and The Burns Sisters. The event has also been recognized by The New York Times and USA Today as one of the top wine festivals in the country, alongside the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and the Maine Lobster Festival.

Planning and visitor information

Visitors can plan their trip to the festival by booking accommodations at local hotels, like The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel and The Inn at Taughannock, or by exploring nearby attractions, such as Watkins Glen State Park and Taughannock Falls State Park. The festival offers a variety of ticket options, including single-day and multi-day passes, as well as VIP packages, which include access to exclusive wine tastings and seminars, led by experts like Oz Clarke and Karen MacNeil. Visitors can also take advantage of the festival's shuttle service, which runs between the festival grounds and nearby parking areas, like The Watkins Glen International Parking Lot. For more information, visitors can check the festival's website or contact the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance or the Schuyler County Chamber of Commerce. Category:Wine festivals in the United States