For our 20th anniversary, we had taken a trip to Napa Valley/Sonoma and had the time of our lives. In the hopes of reliving that experience, we decided to visit the Finger Lakes of New York. I will tell you, it's not Napa Valley, but is beautiful in its own rights. I'm not sure how many of my readers are oenophiles, so I won't talk a lot about the wines, unless someone has some questions. You'll be hard pressed to find many good reds there, but they are known for their Rieslings and ice wines, and those were quite good. We managed to visit 25 wineries on this trip. Don't be too impressed, as many were within a mile or two of each other!
One of our first stops was at Sheldrake Point Winery on Cayuga Lake. The grounds were lovely and the lake was just across the street. They had a lovely bistro called 'Simply Red' where we enjoyed a wonderful anniversary lunch. Husband had a cornmeal crusted catfish and I had the BBQ pork. It included the best red potato salad I've ever eaten.
One of the more picturesque wineries on this particular lake was the Thirsty Owl. I took this photo from the top of the long driveway. We didn't care for their wines, but you couldn't beat their view, right on the lake.
After a long day of driving and visiting wineries, we went to Taughannock Falls. This is the view from the overlook. We saw some folks down below, so asked directions on where to park and hike to the falls.
This was a small set of waterfalls on the walk to the big one. I loved them!
Our first night, we stayed at a bed & breakfast. I am not a fan of B&B's unless you are being housed in separate accomodations, such as cottages or apartments. This place offered a separate house from the main house, with two suites. Fortunately, we had the entire house to ourselves. It was built around 1835 and was completely refurbished.
This is the living area in the house we stayed. It also had a dining room on the main floor, with the two suites upstairs. The hosts were a very sweet couple, around our age. The wife served us a delicious breakfast in the morning in the main house. We had swiss chard and feta omelettes with a fruit cup and some wonderful, crusty bread. We ate with a young couple who are on a quest to view either a sunrise or sunset in all 50 states, plus each continent. It was fun talking to them about their travels.
Day 2 next time!
OK, so the 25 wineries were often close to each other. . . Still, 25 wineries is A LOT of wineries! (What - 3/day, or something like that?)
ReplyDeleteWe love B&Bs; even stayed in one five miles from home, just for the ambience. . .
And your young B&B friends make my goal of swimming in all five Great Lakes and both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (now completed) look a little tame. . .
Oh WOW....I would have LOVED this adventure because I'm a HUGE wine lover and enjoy tasting and learning about the various wines.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm red drinker - white is just too sweet for me. And it's difficult during the hot summer months to find a red that's light, but still full. My favorite reds are Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz.
LOVE the photos of your B&B. How lovely. And how nice that it was separate from the main house.
"We had swiss chard and feta omelettes with a fruit cup and some wonderful, crusty bread."
Oooooo....sounds like HEAVEN!
I look forward to reading Part 2.
Thanks for sharing this!
Do tell more about the wines, we're just starting into 'em and live close enough to make day trips to any and all you would have visited.
ReplyDeleteThere are about 50 wineries around Seneca lake and 30 or so around Cayuga lake. And there are more yet around the other 3 finger lakes. Do come back!!
You are the second couple I've ever met who've done the B&B thing and not preferred it to the alternatives. We love meeting the people and hearing the stories of the buildings, owners, and histories. We do, though, make sure we don't end up sharing a bathroom as is necessary in some. That seems, well, a bit much.
Can't wait to hear more! So far I recognize all the pics.
Best wine you tasted on the trip? Any we shouldn't miss out on?
ReplyDeleteIt looked like a lot of fun!
Sonoma/Napa Valley, wine, then you go to up state new york? (I'm sure there is a salsa joke in there somewhere...)
ReplyDeleteI never got into ice wine, just too sweet. Some of the Rieslings are quite good.
Those photos are breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteHi Bijoux,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip! How beautiful to see the winery along the lake!
I loved reading this and seeing your pics.
I am not a wine expert but, do enjoy a good glass of wine. I love Rieslings and white wines from Alsace, in Eastern France. But, I occasionally enjoy a good red wine.
Thanks for sharing and I am looking forward to Part Deux!
Craig - It was about 8/day! Remember, tastings are just small pourings. No more than a shot glass. Honestly, I never even felt slightly tipsy the entire trip. It wasn't hard liquor!
ReplyDeleteRon - I am a red drinker too, esp. the Pinot Noir. I also like an unoaked Chardonnay. We got to try something neither of has tried before - Lemberger or Blaufränkisch wine.
X - We made it to the three main wine lakes. I will write more about the wines we liked in coming days. You are fortunate to live so close to the area! I like the history and stories behind the B&B's too....it's just when you rarely get to spend the night with your spouse without the kids, you cherish the privacy and the anonymous nature of a hotel.
Leslie - Unfortunately, you have to either order their wines or go there yourself. I don't think you can buy any Finger Lakes wines outside of NY or the surrounding states.
Russ - Yeah, the order should have been reversed. However, being able to reach the area in 6 hours by car was a major selling point, esp. with our kids staying alone for an extended period of time.
SFD - Thanks! More to follow.
Barb - Have you visited an Champagne makers in France?? We went to Korbel in Sonoma County and it was a very interesting tour.
sounds like it was a fun trip doing something you love with someone you love in a beautiful spot. in other words, perfect.
ReplyDeleteAll I really wanna know is did you make it to the Pompous Ass winery? Ordinary wine but great name ..... though why is more of an inside joke for Queenie and I
ReplyDelete@Xavier - I've got a bottle of Fat Bastard chardonnay; it was a gift. . . (I wonder if they were trying to tell me something?)
ReplyDeleteAnd Bijoux, we've had a sweet-ish German red called Gewurtztramiener that we liked. . .
Lime - Thanks, it was loads of fun!
ReplyDeleteX - NO! We heard from numerous people that it was really bad wine, so we didn't bother stopping there. A friend of mine did post a photo of herself in their wood cut out thingy (can't think if there's a name for it).
Craig - Gevertz (for short) is always white, but it is German and sweet. They had plenty of that there. We are just not sweet wine drinkers, for the most part.
True, it's not the greatest wine but it's not quite nasty either .... we keep a bottle around just for fun
ReplyDeleteI actually like B&B's - I'm not sure I've ever stayed at one I haven't enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteGood Rieslings is an oxymoron to me.
Hey, I'm FROM Ithaca! I'm impressed that you correctly spelled Taughannock (just remember to put the emphasis on the second syllable). Glad you had a lovely time in my old hometown hood. Did you try any Ithaca Beer?
ReplyDelete