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Get Your First Taste of Spring on the Lake Ontario Wine Trail

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2019-03-25 06:38:00

Along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, between Sodus Bay and Rochester, lies a region of lush farmland that’s been both a top agricultural producer and a recreational hotspot for generations. But this region, often referred to as the “apple capital” of New York State, is a wonderland for wine lovers as well. To taste for yourself, and get a head start on spring, take an afternoon or a whole weekend to go exploring along the Lake Ontario Wine Trail.
 

The Lake Ontario Wine Trail offers more than just grapes. The trail includes member wineries Casa Larga Vineyards, Colloca Estate Winery, JD Wine Cellars, Thorpe Vineyard, and Young Sommer Winery, as well as distillery Apple Country Spirits and cideries Embark Craft Ciderworks and Old Goat Cidery at The Apple Shed. Between them all, you can try dozens of different wines, ciders and spirits, many of which are made from local grapes, apples and grains.


Local fruit farms also produce pears, peaches, cherries and other delicious fruits whose flavors you may find in your glass. Between all eight stops, there are hundreds of types of wine, cider and spirits waiting to be tasted, and many of those have won awards in competitions across the state, across the country and beyond.
 

You can visit the trail any time of year, but April is a great time if you want to see what’s new. That’s because the trail’s annual Roll Out the Barrels event takes place as spring begins to creep in each year; in 2019, it’ll be held Saturday and Sunday April 13 and 14. The unique event gives you the chance to sample the season’s newest wines, cocktails, ciders and other tasty concoctions from each stop along the trail. It’s self-guided, so you can go at your own pace and choose which places you want to stay longer at; you just need a ticket, which is $15 online in advance or $20 if you grab it at your first stop, and is good at all 8 stops on both days of the event.
 

The wine trail’s location makes it a good stop for travelers coming from all over Upstate New York--your visit can be an afternoon getaway, a day trip or an overnight “wine-cation”. In addition to the eight member wineries, the Lake Ontario Wine Trail includes restaurants, delis and grills, bed and breakfasts, inns and campgrounds, farm markets, gift shops offering up everything from antiques to pottery to souvenirs and specialty items, and plenty of other attractions and activities in the area.
 

Whether you want to sip your drink while soaking up views or take a tour that starts in a vineyard and ends in an adventure, there’s plenty to do, taste, see, and discover along the Lake Ontario Wine Trail—it’s just waiting for you to find it!


All Photos by Lake Ontarion Wine Trail

 

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