Recent legislation from Gov. David A. Paterson allows wine to be sold anywhere at this year's state fair. Customers, after making their purchase, can carry their 10-ounce glass of wine anywhere along the fair as do beer drinkers. The wine venue will change this coming year with a new location proposed for the Wine Village near the coliseum. In addition, wine will be sold outside the Grandstand entrance.

The fair wine competition was held in June with the results favorable for wineries along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Six wineries took seven double gold medals and eight of our wineries took 12 gold medals.

Our Double Gold winners are as follows: Americana Vineyards 2007 Riesling, Goose Watch Winery 2007 Viognier and NV Snow Goose, Hosmer Winery 2007 Vintners Reserve Riesling, Long Point Winery 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sheldrake Point Vineyard 2007 Riesling Ice Wine and Swedish Hill Vineyard 2006 Marechal Foch.

The Gold winners are: Americana Vineyard 2007 Americana White, Buttonwood Grove Winery 2007 Blackberry Briar, Hosmer Winery 2007 Riesling and 2006 Cabernet Franc, Knapp Winery NV Curiosity, Long Point Winery 2007 Semi Dry Riesling, Lucas Vineyards 2007 Blues, Sheldrake Point Vineyard 2007 GewÅrztraminer and Swedish Hill Vineyard who took four gold medals for their 2007 Riesling, NV Country Concord, NV Svenska Red and NV Blanc de Blanc.

The Peterson family which owns Swedish Hill Vineyard, Goose Watch Winery and its sister winery on Seneca Lake, Penguin Bay, have taken more than 90 Gold medals so far this year. For a complete list of Cayuga Lake Winery Gold winners, visit cayugawinetrail.com under About Us and then under Awards.

During the month of August, the wine trail is promoting our “Family Days along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.” Each customer receives our special Family Days card, and when you make three different winery purchases on Wednesdays, you'll receive a free ice cream treat up to $5 at the Cayuga Lake Creamery. Children who accompany their parents will receive a mini frisbee, compliments of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.

In other news:

• At Swedish Hill Vineyard, enjoy a limited release wine tasting Aug. 9.

• Six Mile Creek Vineyard is hosting its Healthy Hearts and Sophisticated Living from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 10. Celebrate your senses with food, a massage and live music. And in the evening, join us for a four-course winemaker's dinner at the winery.

• Aug. 23 toast a glass of wine at Knapp Vineyards as it commemorates its 26th anniversary with a barbecue, music and a whole lot of fun.

• Also, join us for our concerts throughout the summer at Americana Vineyards Sunday afternoons and at Buttonwood Grove Winery on selected Friday evenings.

Cathy Millspaugh is the executive director of the Cayuga Wine Trail. To learn more, visit www.cayugawinetrail.com