Finger Lakes wine country Tucker Kautz

What are the Finger Lakes? Finger Lakes, group of 11 long, narrow lakes, central New York State, lying generally parallel to each other in a northern-southern direction. The lakes are situated in a region of forested rolling hills that is noted for its scenic beauty and vacation resorts such as Watkins Glen. On the sloping shores of the lake are grown fruits and vegetables, notably grapes for wine making. The larger lakes are the ones that are used for the wineries, mainly Seneca, Cayuga, and Keuka Lakes.

Wine Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of grapes Grapes are naturally chemically balanced to ferment completely without requiring extra sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients added Non-grape wines are called fruit wine or country wine

History of Finger Lakes wine Hammondsport is known as the birthplace of the Finger Lakes wine industry 1829 Rev. William Bostwick planted a few grapevines near the shores of Keuka Lake He transplanted the vines from the Hudson Valley to make sacramental wine for his parishioners at St. James Episcopal Church in Hammondsport Area proved to be more than ideal, and wineries started to flourish, and continue to grow today Now recognized by the federal government as the official "Finger Lakes Wine District.”

An area made for wine The deep lakes provide protection for growing grapes from the climate by moderating temperatures along their shores. Retreating glaciers create the lakes, but they also created ideal conditions for growing grapes by depositing a shallow layer of topsoil on sloping shale beds above the lakes

Some facts Over 80 Wineries located in the finger lakes 3 major wines trails, one around each of the major lakes Huge Tourist attraction Over 1 million visitors per year Constantly increasing attraction

Bringing people together one drink at a time Wine tastings Huge social aspect Many people make it annual trips to wine country Most people go in groups on a prearranged tour Get a limo, get drunk, get back safely

Why so successful? Very scenic area Many other area attractions Promoted very well Able to maintain a clean yet festive image Goes very well with other area events

Finger Lakes Wine Festival Held annually at the Watkins Glen International Racetrack All the major wineries show up Over 500 different wines available for testing Arts, Crafts, live entertainment “launch of the lakes” Very light and happy atmosphere

Wine Tasting An art of its own! Tasting wine is meant to be a pleasurable experience 1-Enjoy the color 2-Take in the aroma 3-Tasting First impression: This is where the wine awakens your senses Taste: Slosh the wine around and draw in some air (mostly just to look funny). Is it light or rich? Smooth or harsh? Aftertaste: The taste that remains in your mouth after you have swallowed the wine. How long did the taste last? Was it pleasant? After tasting the wine, take a moment to value its overall flavor and balance

Other Area attractions Watkins Glen International Racetrack Area gorges and waterfalls Many local parks Finger Lake boat cruises Lakefront festivals Local historical buildings and museums