Seneca Lake Wine & Food Event Today, Tomorrow

Seneca Lake Wine & Food event going on today and tomorrow.

Go to http://senecalakewineandfood.com/index.php?utm_campaign=Seneca+Lake+Wine+Trail&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=98650 for more info.

Today is Wine Tourism Day in the Finger Lakes

Check out http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/Wine-Tourism-Day.aspx for more information.

Love of Finger Lakes Wines Finally Catching On in NYC

Check out http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2013/05/lover_for_finger_lakes_wines_is_spreading_in_new_york_city.html this story from syracuse.com

Signage Needed To Help NY Wine Trails, Wineries, Grow Even More

Here's more news from Jim Tresize of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation:

Wine trails have been a major reason that wine country tourist visits have mushroomed from 340,000 in 1985 to over 5,000,000 today.

And a big part of wine trails' success has been standardized highway signage (green grape cluster symbols) leading visitors to and through the trails.

It's classic economic development: small investment, huge return.

Most wine trails are all set, but there are several (Niagara, Long Island, Adirondack Coast, Upper Hudson) that need either entirely new legislation to officially create the trial to allow signage or amend legislation to expand and improve signs.

For many years, the state Department of Transportation was difficult to deal with on this issue, but now the department is absolutely great. The governor supports the program, the state Senate has passed legislation but unfortunately, the bill has stalled in an Assembly committee.

So, thanks to coordination by Julie Suarez of New York Farm Bureau, I and several wine trail representatives spent April 30 in Albany trying to shake things loose.

Timing is key -- if the legislation is passed by the Assembly in the next two months, it will be lost for another year. It's a lose-lose situation for the trails wineries, tourists, local communities and the state of New York.

Spring Wine and Cheese Festival at Seneca Lake Wine Trail April 26-28

The Spring Wine and Cheese Festival along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail is scheduled for April 26-28.

The more than 30 wineries along the trail will combine classic tastes of wine and cheese during this event. During the self-guided tour around the lake, visit the wineries and sips wines paired with a sample of a cheese-themed dish the winery has prepared.

The event is co-sponsored by the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail.

The event is open 1 to 5 p.m. April 26 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 27 and 28. Admission is $35 per person. Call 877-536-2717 or go to www.senecalakewine.com to buy tickets.