You’re Invited to a Wine Pairing Weekend featuring the NY Finger Lakes (#WinePW)

Friendly, down-to-earth people. Small, family-owned businesses. Crisp, cool-climate wines and stunning scenery. It’s easy to say “I love New York” when you visit the Finger Lakes.

As a native New Yorker and lifelong Easterner, I like to think of the Finger Lakes as home turf. When I’m longing for nature and wine, the Finger Lakes is my happy place – a destination within reach, where I can explore back-country roads, hike the gorgeous gorges, and visit the wineries strung like pearls around the region’s long, deep glacial lakes.

You’re invited to join the #WinePW bloggers and me on a virtual taste-testing trip to the Finger Lakes on Saturday, June 13, via Twitter. Our chat begins at 8 am PT/11 am ET. Everyone is welcome!

Easy-peasy instructions

If you’re posting to your blog, please send me your title by Tuesday, June 9, at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET. I will post the preview on Wednesday, June 10. You can DM me on Twitter @linda_lbwcsw or respond in this thread on the Wine Pairing Weekend Facebook page. Please include your name, title of your post, link to your blog, and Twitter and other any social media handles when you sign up.

Publish your post sometime Friday, June 12, or early Saturday, June 13. You can always schedule your post in advance if you will be tied up that morning. Include links to the other #WinePW participants in your post and a description of what the event is about. I’ll provide the links in my preview post. Then update to everyone’s #WinePW posts when the new list is available no later than Sunday, June 14. Finally, get social! After the posts go live, please visit your fellow bloggers posts’ to comment and share.

Finger Lakes facts

Finger Lakes producers are proud of their farming roots and a grape-growing history stretching back to the early 19^th century.

But it wasn’t until Dr. Konstantin Frank moved to the area from Ukraine and opened his Vinifera Wine Cellars in 1962 that the “vinifera revolution” took off. Dr. Frank was convinced it was lack of proper rootstock, not the cool climate, that kept vinifera grapes like Riesling and Cabernet Franc from finding a home in this region. He found a sympathetic ear in Charles Fournier, a French champagne maker. Together, they changed the course of Finger Lakes wine forever.

To this day, Finger Lakes winemakers are supportive of one another and collaborate on various projects. People are generous with their time and passionate about their wines. What’s not to love!

Here are some basic facts about the region:

• Some 10,000 years ago, successive waves of glaciers carved out 11 long narrow lakes known as the Finger Lakes located in central New York State.
• These lakes have a huge influence on the climate and terroir. During the winter, cold air drains naturally from the sloping vineyards to the lakes. In spring, cool air delays the start of the growing season so that the tender shoots are not injured by late frosts. In the fall, the lakes prevent early frosts and extend the growing season.
• Currently, there are seven wineries on Canandaigua Lake, 25 on Cayuga Lake, 19 on Keuka Lake, and 61 on Seneca Lake.
• The Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area (AVA) was established in October 1982 and is the largest wine-growing region in New York State. Two other AVAs within the region are the Cayuga Lake AVA and the Seneca Lake AVA.
• The most significant vinifera grapes include Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc.
• The region is especially well known for producing aromatic whites such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer.
• The Finger Lakes is home to over 200 Riesling brands.
• The average producer makes two to three styles of Riesling a year.(Source: Finger Lakes Alliance)

Can’t wait to read your posts and chat about this world-class wine region!