New York’s Cayuga Lake Wineries – PART 2

THE OLDER the vines, the better the wines. Thirsty Owl Wine Company is home to the oldest vinifera vines in the Cayuga Lake wineries in New York’s

Finger Lakes Region. European Vinifera grape is

arguably the best type for wine making. And the tempering effect of the lakes and the region’s microclimate make Finger Lakes Region one of the

premier cool-climate wine producing regions in America and in the world. There are 11 Finger Lakes, so called since they resemble the fingers of the hand with Cayuga Lake the longest. There are over 100 wineries. The major grape varieties are Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Vidal Blanc, Syrah, and many American native varieties or cultivars.

It was a glorious summer day and we took in the beautiful scenery along the way. We were enjoying our third and last day in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes Region. I was still captivated by the previous day’s adventures, sceneries, good wine and food. The Cayuga Wine Trail (16 wineries) has so much to offer and we were barely touching its surface with a very limited three-day stay.

We wanted to make the most of the day before we embarked on a 5-hour drive back to New York City in the evening. So after a quick breakfast, we took a leisurely drive around the City of Ithaca and checked out the ivy-league Cornell University campus. My grandkids, Silvian and Sabrina, played for a while along the shores of Cayuga Lake before heading to another Cayuga Lake Winery–Thirsty Owl Wine Company and Bistro situated on 150 acres with over a quarter of a mile of lake frontage providing a spectacular view for late brunch.

A well-lighted Tasting Room welcomes guests with friendly and knowledgeable staff who looks forward to pouring Thirsty Owl wines. Thirsty Owl Wines have gained international recognition and prestigious awards, from superb Rieslings to world class Pinot Noir and distinctive blends. The Bistro, which is open seasonally, offers fine casual dining, including soups, salads, sandwiches and house made desserts. The Simply Red Bistro in Sheldrake Point where we dined the day before had more offerings and has been raising the level of culinary competition significantly. We chose to sit outdoor overlooking the finest lakeside scenery in the Finger Lakes. A cold glass of semi-sweet Riesling for me lifted my spirits. I was totally unaware that the beautiful experience will be marred by a painful sting of a bee on my face just below my nose while I enjoyed the food and the wine. Patricia was quick to pull out the sting (from the bee’s tail), which minimized the pain and swelling. Cold compress and an Advil capsule allowed me to enjoy the rest of the day.

For the Shared Plates, we enjoyed Chicken Liver Mousse and Country Pate served with Cornichons, Dijon Mustard and Garlic Toast. Cornichons are crisp tart tiny gherkin cucumbers. We all had open-faced sandwiches with deliciously grilled cheeses on top: Four Cheese with Tomato and Arugula Salad: Zucchini, Plum, Tomato, Mozarella and Arugula Pesto and Roast Beef with Provolone with pickles and horseradish Mayonnaise. Silvian had Tomato-Mozarella on Flatbread while two-and-a-half year old Sabrina had Macaroni & Cheese. Dessert was classic silky Crème Brulee and refreshing Berries with Diamond Custard.