Rochester-FL Craft Beverage Trail nears legal reality

Where we once had only wine trails established to attract visitors to various parts of the state, we now have more and more beverage trails in recognition of the explosion in the number of breweries, distilleries and cideries.

The latest one moved a step closer to reality this week when the State Senate voted to approve a bill to create the Rochester-Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail.

The bill, introduced by State Senator Rich Funke, R-Monroe County, would permit trail signs on designated local roadways. If also OKd by the Assembly and signed by the governor, Funke's legislation would permit Rochester Craft Beverage Trail-branded signage along portions of Interstates 390, 490, 590 and 90, among other designated routes.

The bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle, D- Irondequoit, where it has moved to the Transportation Committee. With Morelle's backing, it seems a slam-dunk to be passed in that house.

 "One of the best things about the Rochester Craft Beverage Trail is that it was born of a grassroots effort to promote an industry that grows jobs and our economy here every day," Funke said in an announcement. "This legislation would do even more to highlight our great local craft beverage makers by establishing the Trail in state law and allowing for signage in key locations across our region."

There are 21 craft beverage businesses on the proposed trail: Black Button Distilling, Rohrbach Brewing, The O'Begley Distillery, Iron Smoke Distillery, Casa Larga Vineyards, VB Brewery, Nedloh Brewing, Heron Hill Vineyards,  Three Huskies Brewing, Blue Toad, Lost Borough Brewing, CB Craft Brewers, Honeoye Falls Distillery, Swiftwater Brewing, 3 Brothers Winery, Naked Dove, Knucklehead Brewing, Genesee Brew House, Apple Country Spirits, Embark Craft Ciderworks, and JD Wine Cellars.

The Trail was launched in 2014 by an informal coalition of craft beverage makers. Funke said that while they have had some success pooling resources to jointly market their businesses, they sought an official state designation "to increase exposure and secure the placement of branded signage throughout the region."

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Adirondack Winery schedules wine blending workshop

Adirondack Winery has something interesting coming up, a hands-on class on wine blending.

"Wine 101: Wine Blending" is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, February 10. It's geared for beginners as well as those more experienced with various wines. Reservations, priced at $30, are available online.

The workshop will cover discussion of why wines are blended, what types work best together, and a chance to blend your own. Tickets cover a wine tasting flight equivalent to two glasses, light food samplings, a souvenir tasting glass, a sensory wheel, and two mini-bottles of wine.

Adirondack Winery is located at 285 Canada Street in Lake George. Phone: (518) 668-9463.

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Niagara beer and wine tasting fest coming up in Lockport

The 6th annual "Niagara Wine & Beer Tasting Fest" is up next weekend, a major fundraiser for the host Kenan Center in the little Niagara County city of Lockport (population 21,165).

The Kenan Center is marking its 50th anniversary this year. Event organizers say there will be "more than 30 wineries, breweries, restaurants and food vendors" involved in the event, which will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available online.

There will be a limit of three tastings per winery and two per brewery. Each attendee will receive a tasting journal and tasting glass. The winery or brewery pourers will stamp or mark pages in the journals when the maximum number of pours is reached. Each beer or wine vendor will pour a sample using only the glasses provided. Wine pour is approximately a half-ounce, and a beer pour three ounces. Each ticket comes with a $5 food voucher.

The Kenan Center, an 1800s Victorian mansion, is located at 433 Locust Street. Phone: (716) 433-2617.

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Save-the-date: 'Roll Out the Barrels'

If you like to be among the first to try something, the Lake Ontario Wine Trail's "Roll Out the Barrels" event on the weekend of April 1-2 should be of some interest.

Visitors will be able to visit various wineries, a distillery and a cidery on a self-guided tour to sample new or unreleased vintages.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Tickets, priced at $15, are available online or at the first venue visited. Visitors select their own starting point.

Participants will be Casa Larga Vineyards, JD Wine Cellars, Young Sommer Winery, Thorpe Vineyard, Colloca Estate Winery, Apple Country Spirits, and  Embark Craft Ciderworks.

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Keuka Wine Trail plans 'Wine & Cheese Lovers Getaway'

The Finger Lakes are known for far more than wines. Cheese, for example. So, the members of the Keuka Wine Trail will be pairing up those products for a "Wine & Cheese Lovers Getaway."

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, February 18-19.

Visitors can start their tour at any of the wineries, where they'll be given an embossed souvenir tasting glass. Then at each winery, they will be able to taste up to four local wines and sample different cheese-inflected items. Overall, 28 wine samples and more than a dozen food samples are planned.

The current menu, with more items to be added closer to the event:

• McGregor Vineyard: tartiflette (a French potato and brie dish) and dark chocolate cheesecake

• Keuka Spring: tri-color cheese tortellini with vodka sauce and sun-dried tomato pesto, mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette, Valentine's Day chocolate

• Hunt Country: manicotti with red sauce, baguette, chocolate chip cookie cheesecake bars

• Vineyard View: antipasto skewer of Bel Ceillo cheese, olive, and artichoke and mini tomato soup with Red Buddy grilled cheese

• Point of the Bluff: roasted tomato and fennel soup with Parmesan cream 

Ravines  Wine Cellar and Heron Hill Winery also are Trail members.

Ticket prices vary according to package selected. Go here for details and to choose a starting winery.

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Julia Hoyle takes over as Hosmer's head winemaker

Julia Hoyle

Hosmer Winery has made a major change entering the new year, naming Julia Hoyle its head winemaker.

She succeeds Aaron Roisen, who held the position from August 2007 through last month. Says Roisen, "I consider the past nine years that I have been making wine at Hosmer to be the most formative and influential of my winemaking career, and I would certainly not be the winemaker I am today without the support of the Hosmer team.

"I cannot think of a better person to take my place in the cellar than Julia. She is one of the most talented and recognized up and coming winemakers in the Finger Lakes and a perfect fit for Hosmer."

Hoyle was born in Philadelphia, but came to the Finger Lakes to study at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. After graduation, she spent time abroad both in France, teaching English, and in Senegal, west Africa.

Her wine interest was stoked In 2009 when, as a college student, she took a job in the tasting room at Fox Run Vineyards on Seneca Lake. After several years, she spent a harvest in the cellar at Atwater Winery in Burdett before taking a fulltime position as assistant winemaker at Sheldrake Point Winery in Ovid in December 2013.

Hoyle, however, didn't limit her training to the Finger Lakes. She took a brief sabbatical in early 2015 to work as the night shift white winemaker at Yalumba Winery, Australia's oldest family winery. She then returned to Sheldrake Point where she had been until her transition to Hosmer Winery.

Asked to name several things she is looking forward to, Hoyle noted "the extremely diverse and expanding Riesling portfolio" and "our estate red vinifera, especially the Hosmer Cabernet Franc."

Hosmer Winery is open year-round on the west side of Cayuga Lake at 7020 Route 89 in Ovid.

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Celebri-Quotes: Why do you drink Champagne?

"I drink it when I'm happy and when I'm sad.

Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory.

I trifle with it if I'm not hungry, and drink it when I am.

Otherwise, I never touch it -- unless I'm thirsty."

-- Madam Lilly Bollinger,

of the famous Bollinger Champagne house 

Go here for my archive of Celebri-Quotes on Drinking.

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Cuomo moviehouse drinks plan deviates from speech

Beer and wine are sold in this California theater where clip-on trays also holds food items.

UPDATE (1/20/17): In one of his budget speeches this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would propose granting approval for movie theater to serve wine and beer, as well as incentives to encourage them to be sure those are New York State products. The catch -- and isn't there always a catch with government? -- is that Cuomo's actual paperwork reveals that such service would NOT be restricted to wine and beer, and there is no provision for incentives for using state products.

(Originally published 1/18/17)

In New York State you can sip a beer or a glass of wine while watching a standup comic perform live, listen to a lounge singer-pianist or a jazz quintet, or even stroll through a gallery to see an art collection or hear a speaker. If alcohol-friendly Governor Andrew Cuomo has his way, you'll be able to enjoy the same beverages while taking in a movie.

There is a small handful of movie houses in the state allowed to sell such beverages now, a result of a succesful 2011 lawsuit filed by Nitehawk Cinemas seeking such a privilege, but they must have table seating and offer a full restaurant menu. Hardly the same as sitting in your neighborhood moviehouse and sloching back into a comfy overstuffed seat while you take in the latest version of the "Hunger Games" franchise, and hardly a sufficient-sized venue to handle crowds for first-run films.

During his budget address delivered publicly on Tuesday, Cuomo said that in addition to dozens of revenue and regulation recommendations, "We also had a proposal that would allow alcohol and beer to be sold in movie theaters. And, it would be joined with an incentive program, to incentivize the movie theaters to sell New York wine and beer."

If successful, the proposal would be just another step in a long series of moves by the governor to aid the state's wine/spirits/brewing industry by simplifying regulations, expanding tax credits, creating promotional programs, and speeding up licensing.

“It is a very big industry for us," Cuomo said. "We have developed it, it’s going gangbusters, anything we can do to encourage it. It’s especially successful in Upstate New York."

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At Amorici Vineyards, love is in the air -- and on the menu

Owner/winemaker Joe Messina enjoying the non-winter months.

I usually have an aversion to using news releases verbatim. Undoubtedly a throwback to my many decades of journalism during which I was encouraged to nourish a desire to remove hype and adjectives from such communications unless I had personal knowledge of their accuracy.

But, that was then and this is now. So, I can bend the rules a bit. And, sometimes I like to do that for people who send me their hype if it's clever and well written. Take this seasonal item from owner/winemaker/romantic Joe Messina at Amorici Vineyards, located at 637 Colonel Burch Road in Valley Falls, on the border of Washington and Rensselaer counties.

I included his overwrought exclamation points and all, but with a tiny bit of editing for form. Pay attention to the final sentence. I wonder if the author isn't responsible, who is? Nevertheless, you gotta love his rhetoric.

Amorici Valentines Romantic Food and Wine Creations

Select menu available 2/10/17 – 2/14/17

Reservation with Entrée and Soup choice required

 

In the beginning there was sun, then moon then day then night! ... .Then,  Amorici Romance!

Amorici research has shown the following offerings enhance romantic encounters and opportunity!

Welcome enticement: Amorici Love Potion to share
An Amorici original created especially for your pleasure with Hibiscus Flowers and Prosecco. The color of love! We accept no responsibility for personal enhancement that will result!

 

Appetizer
A variety of tastes to tempt your palate,  Smoked Salmon Crostini, Clam Casino, Olive Tapenade and Sun Dried Tomato Crostini, Stuffed Mushroom.

Soup (choice of one)
Oyster Aphrodisiac Stew or Passionate Traditional Onion (Vegetarian)

Salad
Mixed Field Greens with House Yuzu dressing

Entrees

Love me Tenderloin - $ 50  

• Prime beef tenderloin medallions grilled with organic oyster mushrooms, winter truffles, and Cabernet Franc wine reduction. (PS:  Truffles have long been considered aphrodisiac. the essence will take you there!)

Turf loves Surf -  $ 50 

• Turf joins Surf in this passionate dish. Love me Tenderloin Medallion with Cabernet Franc wine reduction paired with butter poached Maine lobster Tail           

Maine Lobster Tails - $ 50 

• Prepared with love as you like - Broiled, Poached, or Scampi.                                    

North Atlantic Cod - $ 40  

• Baked a la Neapolitan, boneless skinless cod filet with lots of omega 3. (Did you wonder why Neapolitans had large families? Grandma made them take cod liver oil! 

Chicken Fricassee  - $ 40  

• Natural Chicken Thigh with garlic, leaks, carrots, mushrooms simmered in Amorici Cayuga wine with added heavy cream.  

Neapolitan Vegetarian Lasagna  - $ 40  

• A holiday tradition with layers of colorful vegetables Lasagna to warm your heart

Vegetarian Medley - $ 40  

• Vegetarian Medley plus spicy meatless meatballs, Spices keep the love alive!

Paella - $60  

• Traditional Spanish Seafood medley with chicken, sausage and olives simmered in seafood broth.(Truly a dish of love ... )
  

**All entrees served with a ratatouille flare, winter truffled mash potatoes, Asian sautéed Kale, Red Rice Pilaf

Dessert Medley - Passion fruit enhanced Fruit Compote, Tiramisu, Chocolate Mousse, and Ricotta Cheesecake

Coffee, tea, Grappa an Amorici Digestif to keep the passion blazing.

• Not Responsible for any typographical errors

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Cuomo seeks OK for beer-and-wine sale in moviehouses

Beer and wine are sold in this California theater where clip-on trays also holds food items.

In New York State you can sip a beer or a glass of wine while watching a standup comic perform live, listen to a lounge singer-pianist or a jazz quintet, or even stroll through a gallery to see an art collection or hear a speaker. If alcohol-friendly Governor Andrew Cuomo has his way, you'll be able to enjoy the same beverages while taking in a movie.

There is a small handful of movie houses in the state allowed to sell such beverages now, a result of a succesful 2011 lawsuit filed by Nitehawk Cinemas seeking such a privilege, but they must have table seating and offer a full restaurant menu. Hardly the same as sitting in your neighborhood moviehouse and sloching back into a comfy overstuffed seat while you take in the latest version of the "Hunger Games" franchise, and hardly a sufficient-sized venue to handle crowds for first-run films.

During his budget address delivered publicly on Tuesday, Cuomo said that in addition to dozens of revenue and regulation recommendations, "We also had a proposal that would allow alcohol and beer to be sold in movie theaters. And, it would be joined with an incentive program, to incentivize the movie theaters to sell New York wine and beer."

If successful, the proposal would be just another step in a long series of moves by the governor to aid the state's wine/spirits/brewing industry by simplifying regulations, expanding tax credits, creating promotional programs, and speeding up licensing.

“It is a very big industry for us," Cuomo said. "We have developed it, it’s going gangbusters, anything we can do to encourage it. It’s especially successful in Upstate New York."

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2 from NY earn 'best of' awards in largest domestic wine test

One way of assessing the viability of a wine competition is by the number of entries it attracts. The just-completed San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition rings in as the nation's largest for domestic wines with 6,850 entries this year.

Of course, it could be argued that it attracts so many entries because it gives out so many awards. But, it also could be argued that it gives out so many awards because it has so many entries to choose from. Your call.

In any event, two New York State wineries emerged from the appraisal of 60 judges with best-of-class awards:

Atwater Estate 2014 Riesling
Merritt Estate Bella Ice

Double Gold medals (unanimous selection by a judging panel) were numerous, including one for Merritt and a "double double" for Penguin Bay:

Penguin Bay Percussion and 2015 Riesling
Merritt Estate Bella Rosa
Anthony Road 2015 Dry Riesling
Bellangelo 2015 Riesling, Gibson Vineyard
Swedish Hill 2015 Riesling
Wagner 2015 Dry Riesling

Gold medals went to 1911 McIntosh Classic Apple Wine; Bellangelo 2015 Dry Riesling; Black Willow 2015 Diamond, and 2015 Bare Cat Blush; Brooklyn Winery 2013 Blanc de Blanc, and 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon; Buttonwood Grove 2015 Riesling; Coyote Moon 2015 LaCrescent, 2015 Concord, and 2015 Niagara; Keuka Spring Vineyards 2015 Riesling Humphreys Vineyards, and 2015 Vignoles; Merritt Estate 2015 Vidal Ice Wine, Edelweiss, and Pinot Grigio; Swedish Bill Blanc de Blanc; and Wagner 2015 Riesling.

You can find the complete list of winners in all categories here but be forewarned. It is immense, so don't be surprised if you end up spending a lot of time on it.

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Cuomo asks sweeping changes to aid NYS craft drinks industry

Governor Cuomo

New York Craft Beverage Week.

It has a nice ring to it and, if our adult-beverage-friendly governor has his way, it will become a reality. And, so will numerous other expansions of the state's drinks industries that have been the darlings of his administration. 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's sweeping proposals outlined in his "State of the State" speeches around the state this week are subject to approval by the State Legislature. Many of them will be included in his Executive Budget proposal, which is due next week.

One of the items submitted in his "State of the State" book is the creation of the craft beverage week to "highlight local beer, wine, cider and distilled spirits on restaurant menus across the state and in advertising," according to the governor's office.

His proposal would have the New York State Restaurant Association and the New York City Hospitality Alliance team up to promote the state's craft beverage industry, and the state government's Taste NY initiative that promotes New York-made beverages and food products partner with the New York State Liquor Store Association to market the week and hold craft beverage tastings.

In addition, there is a financial component to the initiative.

Cuomo is asking for a new grant for craft beverage producers to participate in joint marketing campaigns, and wants to offer stipends to breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries to enter national and international competitions that  could help broaden recognition of the state's beverage products.

Cuomo also wants to establish the "Taste NY Culinary Trail System" that would provide support to the various beverage and food trails. That goes beyond the numerous wine trails that began the consumer-centric effort to encourage consumer involvement by adding regional beer, spirits and cider trails in recent years.

That trail system would assist with statewide promotion of current trails and serve as a one-stop shop within the state's "Taste NY" program. It would coordinate with the state Office of General Services and the Department of Transportation.

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Save-the-date: Saratoga wine and beer tasting

Here's a February save-the-date item:

The 13th annual "Winterfest Wine & Beer Tasting" is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, February 3, at the Holiday Inn, 232 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. The event is part of the community-wide Saratoga Winterfest.

Admission is $20 per person at the door, por $30 per couple. That covers sampling of a selection of wines and beers paired with a display of hors d'oeuvres. Proceeds will benefit the Wesley Foundation and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

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No gripes for village's 'Wine About Winter' event

When you live near Lake Ontario in a place like Medina you expect harsh winters.  But, that doesn't mean you have to hide away until spring.

The 9th annual "Wine About Winter" will get people out of their houses from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, February 4, when the Orleans County village comes alive thanks to the sponsoring Medina Business Association.

The walkabout event originated in 2008 when the village, at just 6,065 residents the largest community in the rural county west of Rochester, was pursuing a federal Main Street grant. One of the ideas was to get more people to "discover" more local businesses.

This year, 30 businesses and wineries are scheduled to participate. Tickets are available online, and include VIP and general admission. In addition to members of the Niagara Wine Trail, Three Brothers Wineries and Estates of Geneva has signed up.

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Update: Moratorium-pushing LI supervisor gives it up

Supervisor Russell

UPDATE (1/10/17): Remember the Long Island supervisor who wanted to slap a moratorium on any more wineries, breweries or distilleries in Southold? He has given up the push for the new year. Scott Russell conceded he was fighting an uphill battle against industry forces as well as his own town government, and has withdrawn his proposal.

(Originally published 12/9/16)

• From the North Fork Patch

SOUTHOLD, NY -- Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell wants to set the record straight about his reasons for proposing a moratorium on wineries, breweries and distilleries in town.

Russell, who pitched the plan at the end of October, has gotten some pushback from members of the wine industry. Most recently, Ron Goerler, former president of the Long Island Wine Council, has been questioning his motives for the moratorium on social media, Russell said.

"Ron is one of a few in the winery industry that have been calling me 'anti-winery' for years," Russell said. But that's not accurate, the supervisor said. "First, name one piece of legislation I proposed in 10 years here that was detrimental to the winery industry. He has none."

Go here for the full story.

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National Grape & Wine Policy Conference seats available

WineAmerica and Winegrape Growers of America will reunite in Washington, DC, in April for the 2017 National Grape & Wine Policy Conference.

The April 25–27 industry event will mark the first major event for WineAmerica under new president Jim Trezise who is in the process of transitioning from his role as founding president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

The theme of the conference will be "Raising Awareness of America’s Wine Industry in a New Administration." It will feature speakers and presentations on the politics and policies affecting the industry. It also will include meetings of the WineAmerica Board of Directors and the State and Regional Association Advisory Council, and a “Wines of America” reception on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and their staffs. The tasting will feature wines from more than 20 states.

Registration for the conference is open now, with the schedule and reservation information available online.

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Imbibeable Cartoonery

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Celebri-Quotes: Kevin Zraly

• Founder of the prestigious Windows On the World Wine School and holder of a James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award, Kevin Zraly speaks with authority. This is an excerpt from an interview with the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Speaking to the growth of the Hudson Valley wine region, Zraly, a New Paltz resident, said the region is what got him into wine to start. Older wineries like Benmarl Winery in Marlboro and Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, as well as newer wineries like Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery in Gardiner and Millbrook Winery established the region for its variety of grapes and flavors.

"It is world-class wine. Not local Hudson Valley, not United States. It is world class." 

Go here for my archive of Celebri-Quotes On Drinking.

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Damianos, prominent Long Island winemaker, crash victim

Jason Damianos

Services were held Thursday for Jason Damianos, a prominent member of the Long Island wine industry.

Damianos, 49, owner of Jason's Vineyard in Jamesport, died as a result of a head-on automobile crash on Route 58 in Riverhead last Friday.

He was the son of the late Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos, who founded Pindar Vineyards in Peconic in the early 1980s.

The younger Damianos held a degree in business administration from the University of Hartford and a degree in enology from Fresno State University. He was further educated in France, under the Diplôme National d’Oenologue program at the University of Bordeaux, and worked in several French wine regions. He returned to Long Island in 1996 and planted Jason’s Vineyard and headed winemaking at the family’s vineyards on the East End.

"Jason was charismatic and passionate about life and wine on the East End. He will be missed by our wine community and it is a shame to have lost him at such a young age," said Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez, of Martha Clara Vineyards. And, said Roman Roth of Wolffer Estate, "He was a passionate and dedicated winemaker and vineyard owner. He always was generous and he loved the Long Island wine region. His passing is a sad loss for all of us."

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Is Bed Bath & ... Baco heading for more parts of NY State?

The corporate folks at the Bed Bath & Beyond chain won't speak publicly about their multi-state foray into alcohol and food sales, but their actions are loud enough to fuel speculation about continued expansion of that niche.

Corporate executives' practice has been to answer questions from the media and the public only at their annual meeting in June. But, down in Brooklyn,  BB&B has just opened in soft mode a restaurant called Bay Market Kitchen where wine and beer are being served. The restaurant is part at BB&B's 120,000-square-foot Liberty View Industrial Plaza store in Sunset Park.

While a number of New York craft beers (Sixpoint, Ommegang, Brooklyn, Greenport Harbor, etc.) and ciders produced by several New York wineries (Applewood, Wolffer Estate) are offered, Bay Market's initial beverage menu ignores New York wines.

The alcohol sales effort for BB&B locations in affluent areas began in the Cleveland suburb of Solon, OH, and the Miami suburb of Aventura, FL, in  2015. Now, work has been sped up on licensing and renovations that will allow sales of wine and beer at BB&B locations in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, IL, and renewal of licenses at many of the Cost Plus World Market subsidiaries in Texas, New Jersey and elsewhere that it acquired in 2012. 

No word at this point about whether the household furnishings chain will be doing anything along those lines with its many other stores throughout New York State, but the odds seem in favor given that so many are located in affluent suburbs.

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Imbibeable Cartoonery

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Seneca Lake Wine Trail holding early 'spring cleaning'

The Seneca Lake Wine Trail is nothing if not imaginative. As evidence, I present details of its annual "Bargain Bash!," scheduled for this Saturday through Monday, January 16. The only thing you need to do to participate is be willing to spend some money.

Most Trail events require paid admissions. This one does not. Visitors merely visit one of the participating wineries that will be doing an early "spring cleaning" to clear out their inventory and drop prices on such select items as wine, wine glasses, clothes and other retail items.

Go here for a list of participating wineries, what they will be selling, and at what discounts. The page will be updated throughout the event.

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24 wineries lined up for Elmira's 'Wine On Ice' festival

The annual "Wine On Ice" festival in Elmira has an impressive lineup of wineries and vendors for the January 20-21 event.

The venue is First Arena, located at 155 North Main Street. Visitors will be able to sample and purchase a variety of New York State wines and specialty foods. The Friday session will run from 6 to 9 p.m., while Saturday will be split in to two sessions -- 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m.

Tickets are available online. Participating will be 24 wineries and a wineries and a distillery:

• Americana Vineyards 
• Ashley Lynn Winery 
• Bagley’s Poplar Ridge Vineyards 
• Casa Larga Vineyards 
• Castel Grisch Winery 
• Coyote Moon Vineyards 
• Crooked Lake Winery 
• Four Flights Distilling 
• Fulkerson Winery 
• Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 
• Lakeland Winery 
• Lime Berry Winery 
• Merritt Estate Winery 
• Miles Wine Cellars 
• Montezuma Winery 
• Pazdar Winery 
• Pleasant Valley Wine Company 
• Rasta Ranch Vineyards 
• Rock Stream Vineyards 
• Six Mile Creek 
• Stoney Ridge Orchard & Winery 
• Thousand Islands Winery 
• Three Brothers Winery 
• Vetter Vineyards 
• Victorianbourg Wine Estate

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Imbibeable Cartoonery

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Bordeaux wines rebound after a 5-year decline

• From Bloomberg

The Bordeaux wine market confirmed its recovery in 2016 after five years of declines that cut prices of the region’s leading wines by more than 40% from their 2011 peak, according to a review from the London-based Liv-ex exchange.

The "Liv-ex Fine Wine 50," comprised of 10 recent vintages of Bordeaux first-growth wines including Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Latour, climbed about 26% for the year, and was heading for its 13th straight monthly gain in December, according to Liv-ex data.

Even with that rebound ... the index remained some 25% below the peak reached ... from 2008 to 2011, according to Liv-ex.

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