Winery Tour in Watkins Glen, NY

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toolboxdiver

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Apr 3, 2005
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Yesterday I went on a little road trip to a few wineries up by Watkins Glen, NY and went to Torrey Ridge Winery, Earle Estates Winery and Meadery, Fulkersons Winery, and 4 Chimneys Totally Organic Winery. Here is a breakdown of what I thought from the wines I sampled
Torrey Ridge Winery:
The nicest wine I sampled there was a Strawberry Rhubarb and Honey Blend. The flavor was exceptional and the RS was at 7%. The aroma was good and the fruit came through nicely

Earle Estates Winery and Meadery:
The Semi Dry Mead was nice, the sweet mead was also nice. I was disappointed with the Fruit Meads as they were a blend of fruit wine and traditional mead, and not a traditional Melomel, or Cyser, the Apple Cyser was a blend of Apple wine and traditional Mead like 70%, 30% and I was really disappointed in that, my Cyser is much better

Fulkersons Winery
The Best wine there was called Red Zeppelin it had a hint of oak flavor and was about a 5% RS. The Dry wines were too dry for me but were good. They did have a full service home winemaking area and sold everything from chemicals to carboys and also did mail order through a catolog for winemaking supplies to different juices they pressed to order.

4 Chimneys Totally Organic Winery
This was my favorite of the 4 I visited. They had some really unique wines like a Honeydew Melon wine which was really smooth, a red grape wine sweetened with honey which I purchaced, and some really nice blueberry wines. They also had a Garlic flavor cooking wine which I also bought and a Hot pepper cooking wine that were really unique as well as there own Balsamic Vinegar. The people there were really friendly and I will be going back there soon as they are saving empty wine bottles for me.
 
Diver,

Sounds like a great road trip! When I lived in NYC, I never made it upstate very often -- much to my loss, as I see by your account. Keep us informed of your purchases and explorations in the future!

-David
 
Thanks Bronx, I may go back in a few weeks there are 28 wineries just on the map of Seneca lake, not counting the small wineries not on the map and a whole bunch more on the other finger lakes. I only did 4 and was starting to get a buzz hehehe doing the whole group would have me plastered lol. I'm no wine expert like you or Oskaar but I am learning and do enjoy seeing the differences between what I make and how the pro's do it.
 
toolboxdiver said:
Thanks Bronx, I may go back in a few weeks there are 28 wineries just on the map of Seneca lake, not counting the small wineries not on the map and a whole bunch more on the other finger lakes. I only did 4 and was starting to get a buzz hehehe doing the whole group would have me plastered lol. I'm no wine expert like you or Oskaar but I am learning and do enjoy seeing the differences between what I make and how the pro's do it.

Oh Diver, if I can ever hold even half a candle to Oskaar's knowledge of wines and meads, I'll be right proud of myself. I appreciate the thought though. ;)

That area of New York is supposed to be beautiful. You might want to look at bed & breakfast places thereabouts, so you can go visit a couple of wineries, go back to your room and sleep it off, then visit a few more wineries, go back and sleep it off, etc. :D

-David
 
thats a good idea, I'm thinking of doing a weekend trip in a week or two, there are so many to see. Yes the area is beautiful, I found a Dive shop that runs Dive trips out on the lake so a Vacation may be in order as well. As the weather needs to warm up first though.
 
Diver,

My wife and I went there 2 years ago for our anniversary. I think it was more of a treat for me but she also enjoyed herself. We started at Prejean and worked out way south. We hit 13 from noon til 5. Buzzed is definately true.

If you haven't gone, try a place named Arcadia. They have some different wines like dandilion, pear and such. The day we were there, the music was so loud we couldn't hear ourselves talk. A very nice "party" atmosphere. PreJean has a chardonnay port, which is very powerful.

Thanks for helpping me bring back some great memories.

Dave
 
wolfe said:
Diver,

My wife and I went there 2 years ago for our anniversary. I think it was more of a treat for me but she also enjoyed herself. We started at Prejean and worked out way south. We hit 13 from noon til 5. Buzzed is definately true.

If you haven't gone, try a place named Arcadia. They have some different wines like dandilion, pear and such. The day we were there, the music was so loud we couldn't hear ourselves talk. A very nice "party" atmosphere. PreJean has a chardonnay port, which is very powerful.

Thanks for helpping me bring back some great memories.

Dave


Dave, you are welcome, I think I'm going back in 2 weeks for the weekend 1 day just doesn't cut it for that many wineries. I will check out Arcadia it is real close to the organic winery I really enjoyed and they are saving me a few cases of bottles, I have about 30 gallons that will be ready to bottle this summer
 
Diver,

I am not sure of the location to the organic winery but I don't think it can be too far. The name is actually Arcadian and is about halfway between Watkins Glen and Dundee on Rt 14. It will be on the right hand side when heading north. It is in an old barn.

Have fun.

Dave
 
wolfe said:
Diver,

I am not sure of the location to the organic winery but I don't think it can be too far. The name is actually Arcadian and is about halfway between Watkins Glen and Dundee on Rt 14. It will be on the right hand side when heading north. It is in an old barn.

Have fun.

Dave


Yes I have a map of the fingerlakes region, and I found it, its called Arcadian Estates Winery and its only about 4 miles from Four Chimneys Organic Winery they are on the same side of Seneca Lake just off 14. I am planning on going to both of them. and I picked out about 10 for the weekend. Up 14 to Geneva across 5 to Seneca falls and down 414 back to Watkins Glen I'll be able to hit wineries on Seneca, and Cayuga Lake and do a little sight seeing as well. Theree are some awsome waterfalls to see in the area, and I want to stop at the dive shop to look into a dive trip in Seneca for when the water warms a tad...lol
 
Sounds like a good tour. We didn't make it that far north. We did watch a laser show on the rock face in the gorge at Watkins Glen. Not as great as we expected but okay. We also hiked through the same place, it was only about 2 miles.

There is a nice restaurant at the south end of Seneca lake in Watkins Glen. The name escapes me at the moment, but for dessert I had a glass of Cherry wine with dark chocolate bars.
 
wolfe said:
Sounds like a good tour. We didn't make it that far north. We did watch a laser show on the rock face in the gorge at Watkins Glen. Not as great as we expected but okay. We also hiked through the same place, it was only about 2 miles.

There is a nice restaurant at the south end of Seneca lake in Watkins Glen. The name escapes me at the moment, but for dessert I had a glass of Cherry wine with dark chocolate bars.

when I was there the Glen wasn't open yet as too much water on the trail maybe next week I do enjoy hiking and want to catch some scenery also. Have a great day :)