Our USA MAGAZINE

Attention France, Italy, Australia and the rest of the world. There is an astronomical expansion in the wine industry currently taking place and this prosperity is occurring in New York State.

Prior to 2000 New York had ap- proximately 114 wineries. How- ever, the novelty of owning a vineyard and perfecting the product has caught on, and there are now 307 wineries operating in 51 of New York State’s 62 counties, delivering $3.75 billion to the state’s annual economic growth. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the Empire State, and as a native New Yorker, I and many other wine drinkers are elated with our new- found, homespun local businesses. All of the wine industry expansion equates to added tax dollars, a boom to tourism, business invest- ment and business revenue, as reported by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

Some of the major wine regions in New York State include Lake Erie, the Finger Lakes and the Hudson River. Living in the area of the Finger Lakes gives me firsthand knowledge of not only some of the most spectacu- larly beautiful countryside you will ever witness, but also an awareness of what my area offers in the form of quality and simply delicious wine choices. Cayuga, Seneca and Keuka Lakes have the most wineries in the Finger Lakes Region. People not familiar with this locality should know that these lakes were made by a glacier, thus forming viticulture areas due to glacial soil and the wonderful slopping hills.

An interesting fact, and one California may not appreciate, is that New York State has the oldest winery in the country. The Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, NY has operated nonstop since 1839, and is proudly America’s most aged winery.

Want more interesting facts about the magnificent Finger Lakes Region of NY State - get the latest issue of Our USA Magazine.

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