We *Heart* the Finger Lakes

Nearly two years ago, we got married among the falling leaves of Lake Seneca in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The area has become a hot spot for us: we've spent numerous trips there, enjoying time away from the hustle and bustle of NYC. It's a great place to get away, take the time to enjoy the slow drive between wineries and the views from the hills overlooking the lakes,

the historic towns,

and farms. 

We love the small wineries of the region, small producers close to the land. While the wineries don't have the age and history of the Californian producers, there are opportunities for these small wineries to really focus on their craftsmanship and highlight some very different styles of wine. And of course, since the region is lesser known, the costs of everything from the wines, to the accommodations, to the tastings themselves are a great value, especially compared to Napa and Sonoma Counties. We look forward to something new every trip we take up there.

This trip, we let the wind take us where it may to help us select the wineries. We had just a couple of days in the area, so we looked over the map of the Finger Lakes wine trail and tried to pick a range of places. We had to visit Belhurst, to relive our wedding day, and, given the expectations of the 2010 Rieslings, we knew we had to visit Dr. Konstantin Frank's, but otherwise we just picked a path, and selected places to visit as we travelled. In all we visited nine wineries:

• Dr. Frank’s Vinefera Wine Cellar {http://www.drfrankwines.com/}
• Wilhelmus Estate Winery {http://www.wilhelmusestate.com/}
• Hunt Country Vineyard {http://www.huntwines.com/}
• Belhurst Winery {http://www.belhurst.com/winery-at-belhurst.html}
• Silver Springs Winery {http://www.silverspringswinery.com/}
• Red Newt Cellars {http://rednewt.com/ww2/}
• Leidenfrost Vineyard {http://www.leidenfrostwine.com/}
• Thirsty Owl Wine Company {http://www.thirstyowl.com/}
• Swedish Hill Winery {http://www.swedishhill.com/}

This entire week we're writing about our recent trip to the Finger Lakes. Check back for more!