The jazz trumpets and saxophones echo melodic tunes against glass bottles and wooden barrels. Visions of New Orleans Mardi Gras parades swirl through glasses of Finger Lakes' finest.
The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail will be hosting its sixth annual Mardi Gras celebration Saturday, where patrons can wine, dine and possibly receive some astonishing prizes.
A few changes will be in effect this year. The journey will begin an hour earlier at 9 a.m., and King Ferry and Long Point wineries will distribute a few extra trinkets in light of Super Bowl season. Fans will be pleased to receive football Mardi Gras beads.
The trail will visit 16 wineries, where random prize drawings will be held, and everyone receives a souvenir wine glass. Wineries will serve foods reminiscent of New Orleans, including one particular meal being served at Knapp winery of Cajun roast pork loin. Bellwether Hard Cider will be serving its famous Mardi Gras Beignets, and Thirsty Owl will be serving spicy seared chicken on Mardi Gras rice.
Spirited guests who take the initiative to dress up and give flavor to the Mardi Gras tradition will have the chance to be crowned king or queen. At a special reception in the spring, the royal couple will be crowned and will receive tickets to all 2008 Cayuga Wine Trail events and tickets to the 2008 Finger Lakes Wine Festival plus a one night stay in a King's Suite at the Aurora Inn on the east side of Cayuga Lake.
At the conclusion of the event, the last winery will collect tickets, each attendee will then have a chance to win one of this year's three grand prizes, which include a two-night stay at A Wicher Garden Bed & Breakfast in Auburn, redeemable during our Holiday Shopping Spree event, a $50 dinner gift certificate from Maxi's Supper Club and Oyster Bar in Ithaca plus a wine refrigerator stocked with 15 of our wines and a Hard Cider.
If you go
What: Mardi Gras
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2
Where: Cayuga Wine Trail
Cost: $20
For details: Call (800) 684-5217
A few changes will be in effect this year. The journey will begin an hour earlier at 9 a.m., and King Ferry and Long Point wineries will distribute a few extra trinkets in light of Super Bowl season. Fans will be pleased to receive football Mardi Gras beads.
The trail will visit 16 wineries, where random prize drawings will be held, and everyone receives a souvenir wine glass. Wineries will serve foods reminiscent of New Orleans, including one particular meal being served at Knapp winery of Cajun roast pork loin. Bellwether Hard Cider will be serving its famous Mardi Gras Beignets, and Thirsty Owl will be serving spicy seared chicken on Mardi Gras rice.
Spirited guests who take the initiative to dress up and give flavor to the Mardi Gras tradition will have the chance to be crowned king or queen. At a special reception in the spring, the royal couple will be crowned and will receive tickets to all 2008 Cayuga Wine Trail events and tickets to the 2008 Finger Lakes Wine Festival plus a one night stay in a King's Suite at the Aurora Inn on the east side of Cayuga Lake.
At the conclusion of the event, the last winery will collect tickets, each attendee will then have a chance to win one of this year's three grand prizes, which include a two-night stay at A Wicher Garden Bed & Breakfast in Auburn, redeemable during our Holiday Shopping Spree event, a $50 dinner gift certificate from Maxi's Supper Club and Oyster Bar in Ithaca plus a wine refrigerator stocked with 15 of our wines and a Hard Cider.
If you go
What: Mardi Gras
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2
Where: Cayuga Wine Trail
Cost: $20
For details: Call (800) 684-5217
