For many tourists and residents, the weekend's “Off the Beaten Path” event was a chance to visit several of the new and established wineries on the eastern side of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Ann Bonekemper, of Quakertown Pa., tries the Syrah at Dill's Run Vineyard, in Aurora on Sunday as part of the Valentine's Day wine tour weekend event called “Off the Beaten Path.” This was the fourth winery she and husband Brian visited for their romantic weekend in the Finger Lakes.
Ann Bonekemper, of Quakertown Pa., tries the Syrah at Dill's Run Vineyard, in Aurora on Sunday as part of the Valentine's Day wine tour weekend event called “Off the Beaten Path.” This was the fourth winery she and husband Brian visited for their romantic weekend in the Finger Lakes.
Because most of the region's wineries are on the western side of the lake, Nancy Tisch, owner of Bet the Farm Winery, said many people tend to not spend as much time on the eastern side.
By getting eight wineries from Moravia to Aurora to Skaneateles to come together on Valentine's Day weekend, Tisch, who has been making wines for three years, said she hoped to give people a reason to discover what they have been missing out on.
“It's a nice day to drive around and see new places,” Tisch said. “With 14 wineries on the other side and five here, a lot of people don't spend a lot of time here. Economically, its more convenient for the customer because there are more wineries, but this side of the lake is growing and it is exciting.”
As they sampled a bottle of Hosmer Pinot Noir, Leann Fink and Miles Garrett said Sunday's visit to Bet the Farm Winery was their first trip up the eastern side of the wine trail.
While they tasted and compared some of Tisch's wines to those found on the other side of the lake, the couple got a chance to ask Tisch questions and talk about their own wine experiences. With most wines tasting better warm, Garrett asked if there were any benefits to storing an open bottle of wine in the refrigerator as opposed to leaving it at room temperature.
“Even in the bottle, wine is this living organism,” Tisch said. “Once you open it and expose it to the oxygen, it begins to quickly change the wine. Storing it in a fridge slows that change down.”
At King Ferry Winery, Kathy Gee and Jack Schering said they were returning to visit the region's wineries as they participated in the annual Ithaca Loves Teachers event in Tompkins County.
After visiting wineries all over the nation, the pair said that the wineries in the Finger Lakes offer a unique taste at affordable prices when compared to California.
“The wine makers are a lot friendlier here too,” Gee said. “In Long Island they are not as friendly here. The wine trail is also better organized here. California is well organized too, but the wine is just different here. It's a different style, a different experience.”
With many people traveling the wine trail looking for an enjoyable experience, Tisch said she likes to pair her wine tastings with a side of food. For the weekend's event, Tisch was pairing her wines with olives.
“They change the taste of the wine,” Tisch said. “I don't know if it's the salt or the oils but it changes the wine. Ideally, when your serving a great meal, you want to serve a wine to compliment it. It sounds easy but it's hard.”
After years of experience reading magazine articles and through experimentation, Schering said he has become confident in picking a wine to pair with diner.
“Wine can make a drab meal such as hamburgers and mac and cheese special,” Schering said. “It compliments the flavor of the food if you pick the right wine ... But sometimes you just pick the wine based on what you happen to have available in the fridge at that time.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
By getting eight wineries from Moravia to Aurora to Skaneateles to come together on Valentine's Day weekend, Tisch, who has been making wines for three years, said she hoped to give people a reason to discover what they have been missing out on.
“It's a nice day to drive around and see new places,” Tisch said. “With 14 wineries on the other side and five here, a lot of people don't spend a lot of time here. Economically, its more convenient for the customer because there are more wineries, but this side of the lake is growing and it is exciting.”
As they sampled a bottle of Hosmer Pinot Noir, Leann Fink and Miles Garrett said Sunday's visit to Bet the Farm Winery was their first trip up the eastern side of the wine trail.
While they tasted and compared some of Tisch's wines to those found on the other side of the lake, the couple got a chance to ask Tisch questions and talk about their own wine experiences. With most wines tasting better warm, Garrett asked if there were any benefits to storing an open bottle of wine in the refrigerator as opposed to leaving it at room temperature.
“Even in the bottle, wine is this living organism,” Tisch said. “Once you open it and expose it to the oxygen, it begins to quickly change the wine. Storing it in a fridge slows that change down.”
At King Ferry Winery, Kathy Gee and Jack Schering said they were returning to visit the region's wineries as they participated in the annual Ithaca Loves Teachers event in Tompkins County.
After visiting wineries all over the nation, the pair said that the wineries in the Finger Lakes offer a unique taste at affordable prices when compared to California.
“The wine makers are a lot friendlier here too,” Gee said. “In Long Island they are not as friendly here. The wine trail is also better organized here. California is well organized too, but the wine is just different here. It's a different style, a different experience.”
With many people traveling the wine trail looking for an enjoyable experience, Tisch said she likes to pair her wine tastings with a side of food. For the weekend's event, Tisch was pairing her wines with olives.
“They change the taste of the wine,” Tisch said. “I don't know if it's the salt or the oils but it changes the wine. Ideally, when your serving a great meal, you want to serve a wine to compliment it. It sounds easy but it's hard.”
After years of experience reading magazine articles and through experimentation, Schering said he has become confident in picking a wine to pair with diner.
“Wine can make a drab meal such as hamburgers and mac and cheese special,” Schering said. “It compliments the flavor of the food if you pick the right wine ... But sometimes you just pick the wine based on what you happen to have available in the fridge at that time.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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