New York’s Cayuga Lake Wineries
CAYUGA Lake is one of the groups of glacier formed lakes that make up the scenic Finger Lakes region. Located in Western New York, the Finger Lakes have long been known as one of the premiere cool-climate wine producing regions in the United States of America and worldwide. Cayuga Lake is the longest and crown jewel of the Finger Lakes at approximately 40 miles and popular for fishing, pleasure boating and water sports. More importantly, Cayuga Lake is a wine lovers paradise. It is home to the finest and most popular wineries in the Finger Lakes region.
My daughter Patricia decided to celebrate her birthday last Aug. 9 in the Finger Lakes Region. With her family, we had a leisurely a five-hour drive from New York City to the City of Ithaca, home to ivy league Cornell University, Taughannock Falls, 100-plus gorges and waterfalls and gateway to the Finger Lakes region.
I was in Napa Valley Wineries in California many years ago so I was excited to experience the Cayuga Lake Wineries, which is considered the finest in the country. There are 16 listed wineries in the Cayuga Wine Trail guide and over a 100 in the Finger Lakes Region. The vineyards are ideally situated on slopes between gorges that feed into the lakes and the site is blessed with well-drained gravelly glacier soils.
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we hiked the trail to Taughannock Falls, a 215 feet vertical waterfall at the end of wide and wooded three-fourth mile gorge. We then headed to the Finger Lakes Region along the Cayuga Lake amidst breath taking views and rustic sceneries. We have singled out the Sheldrake Point Winery and Simply Red Lakeside Bistro for late brunch (served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.). As we alighted from our Ford Explorer, the blue serene waters of Cayuga Lake and a carpet of vineyards along its slopes welcomed us. A bright and friendly tasting room dominates the place with the award winning wines prominently displayed in open shelves. I browsed the wine racks of refreshing Rieslings, dry aromatic wines, smooth reds and sumptuous Ice Wines. Ice wines are dessert wines produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. Sugar and dissolved solids do not freeze but water does, allowing more concentrated grape juice to be pressed from frozen grapes. They are generally more expensive due to labor intense and risky production process.
The country style Simple Red Bistro offered a sweeping view of the vineyards. One can be seated outdoor or in the air-conditioned dining area. Outdoor seating was not allowed that afternoon due to predicted thunderstorms that never happened. I enjoyed a chilled sparkling glass of semi-sweet Riesling while browsing through the menu. We started with a Charcuterie Board of Sam’s Chicken Liver Pate, Smoked Sweet Italian Sausage, House Made Merquez Sausage served with whole grain mustard, cippolini onions, hard-boiled eggs and baguette. Patricia ordered Mexican Flowers Salad—mixed baby greens, sprouts, chorizo sausage, cheddar cheese, avocado, red onion, banana chips, chili lime pumpkin seeds, in smoked chipotle vinaigrette and served with cornbread. It was a huge serving, which we shared. Our entrees included Saffron Mussels in smoked tomato saffron sauce. Smoked Rib Eye Sandwich with tomato jam-pesto, arugula and aged gouda. Little Sabrina had Chicken Fingers with Smiley Fries and elder brother, Silvian, had Honey Stung Chicken with bistro fries and cornbread. Dessert was classic French Crème Brulee and Strawberry Marsala Trifle—layers of macerated strawberries, Mascarpone cream and lady-fingers strongly flavored with Marsala.
