Spotlight on New York State Wines: The 2015 Finger Lakes Wine Festival

The Finger Lakes Wine Festival is the single largest showcase of wines made in New York State, and it’s just around the corner. The popular annual event takes place in Watkins Glen, NY from Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12, 2015.

<h2>Who’ll Be There?</h2>

The highlight of the Finger Lakes Wine Festival is the wineries, of course. More than 80 New York wineries will be in attendance this year, showing off their products and representing what the state can do, even if it’s not one of the more renowned wine-producing regions in the world.

Over two dozen area restaurants, food trucks, and other purveyors will be there to keep guests’ bellies filled and balance out the alcohol consumption.

In addition, a number of area farms and artisan food vendors will offer samples and sales of their locally grown and made products. There’ll be plenty of tasty cheeses to sample and buy, thanks especially to festival sponsor Yancey’s Fancy: New York’s Artisan Cheese. You can also get your hands on local artisinal sauces, condiments, salad dressings, spice mixes, spiced nuts, honey, oils and vinegars, nut and seed butters, fruit spreads, cookies, crackers, popcorn, jerkies, pet food and treats, and more.

Other vendors will offer non-edible local products, including jewelry, arts, crafts, clothing and accessories, cutlery and other culinary items, wine accessories, cigars, massages, henna tattoos and other body art, all-natural soaps, home and office décor items, personalized teddy bears, hammocks, bamboo pillows, seagrass hats, sheepskin rugs, festival memorabilia, and lots of other good stuff.

<h2>What Else Goes On?</h2>

A festival isn’t really a festival if you just drink, eat, and buy stuff, right? The 2015 Finger Lakes Wine Festival has all sorts of other activities scheduled.

Kick things off Friday starting at 5:00 pm with Yancey’s Fancy Launch of the Lakes, a big toga party with live music, wine, cheese, concessions, and fireworks. This special event is a $20 admission per person. Saturday’s Tasters Banquet starts at 5:30 pm, offering a cash bar, buffet, wine seminar, and dessert for $65 per ticket. For $30 per head, enjoy Great Western Breakfasts Saturday or Sunday morning starting at 9:00 am inside The Glen Club.

There will also be live music during most of the festival, as well as numerous arts, crafts, and cooking demonstrations and classes, plus wine seminars. These run throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.

<h2>Additional Information</h2>

2015 one-day and two-day passes are available for $45 and $50 respectively, or at a $5 discount with advance purchase. There’s also a VIP experience on Saturday for an additional $250 (or $225 with advance purchase). For a complete list of attending wineries and vendors, events schedule, and other information, visit the Finger Lakes Wine Festival website at www.flwinefest.com.