In 2006, the Cayuga Wine Trail held its first Greyhound Gathering. The Grapehound Wine Tour is organized by Larry Bowersox of Keystone Greyhounds in conjunction with the trail. Keystone Greyhounds, out of central Pennsylvania, is a rescue organization catering to the hounds and individuals interested in adopting them.

This weekend's tour is bigger and features even more events for greyhounds, their owners and interested visitors.

Last year's event was only a one-day event, but it has expanded to three days this year, beginning on Friday on the east side of the trail at Kings Ferry and Long Point wineries. West side wineries will host the event on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to the extra days, this year's event will feature more vendors and some products that weren't available last year including T-shirts, bandannas for the hounds and posters.

No matter what the weather throws their way, the Greyhound Gathering organizers will be ready.

It rained last year, and it worked out quite nicely - most of the wineries allow dogs and if not they set up tents. Some things will change because of concerts and walks but otherwise everything seemed to work out fine last year,“ recalled Cayuga Wine Trail executive director Cathy Millspaugh. Particularly fun if it rains is Cayuga Ridge's large, greyhound-friendly barn. Last year, according to Millspaugh, it rained during the ice cream social, but 225 people and 200 dogs still had a great time.

Americana Vineyards will offer a special treat for greyhounds and their owners. Vineyard representatives will take photos of the dogs and their owners and make labels to place on purchased bottles.

This year the tour will feature two ice cream socials: one held on Saturday at Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery and the Thirsty Owl Wine Company at 4 p.m. and one on Sunday at Taughannock Falls State Park around 10:15 a.m.

At present there are about 120 attendees for Friday's welcome gathering. Events on Friday from noon to 5 p.m. will include the welcome gathering on the east side of Cayuga Lake at King Ferry and Long Point wineries. In the evening, there will be a concert at Buttonwood Grove Winery performed by the Zydeco Trailriders Band from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Attendees and their hounds are welcome to dine outside at the Lighthouse Restaurant at Kidders, in Interlaken for either lunch or dinner.

Human participants will delight in tasting fine wines and picnic type foods at each of the 16 wineries. In addition they will receive a commemorative Greyhound wine glass plus a wine tour decal. Each greyhound will receive doggie treats, which are handmade by “Simply Treats” from Seneca Falls, the founder of www.greytalk.com.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, greyhound owners and their dogs may visit the west side wineries. On Sunday morning, a grey walk has been planned at Taughannock Falls State Park, the largest falls in New York state.

Vendors and greyhound adoption booths are located at most of the wineries where attendees will be able to purchase T-shirts, bandanas, posters, jewelry and other items of interest. Another point of interest is Six Mile Creek Vineyard for a special drawing where attendees will be eligible to win a one-night stay at the Hampton Inn in Ithaca. When visitors are finished, they fill out and hand in their ticket for another drawing, a one-night stay at the Inn in the Finger Lakes in Auburn.

Advance tickets are $25 (plus handling fee and sales tax). Tickets the day of the event are $30 plus sales tax, and designated driver tickets are available. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to neighboring greyhound adoption groups in New York and Pennsylvania.

If you go

What: Second annual

Greyhound Gathering

When: noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Cayuga Wine Trail

Cost: Advance, $25; at the door, $30, and designated driver, $20

For tickets: Visit Wegmans, www.cayugawinetrail.com or

call (800) 684-5217

For more information: Visit www.grapehounds.com

Note: This event is welcome to all dog owners or non dog

owners but inclusive only to greyhounds; if you have a pet at home, wineries will be happy to provide a doggie treat to go