Posted on 10/10/2002 2:27:29 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
DUNDEE - New Yorkers getting acquainted with New Yorkers.
That's the purpose of a one-day tour of the Finger Lakes wine region, which will be hosted by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the New York State Wine & Grape Foundation Tuesday.
The event is meant to spotlight New York state's world-class food and wine.
"We're very excited and appreciative that Senator Clinton has really taken New York agriculture on, including New York wine and grapes, as a cause," said Jim Trezise, president of the New York State Wine & Grape Foundation.
"She believes in the agriculture industry and in our wines and really thinks a connection needs to be made between New York City and upstate New York."
The tour will take participants to two Seneca Lake wineries - Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee and Anthony Road Wine Co. in Penn Yan - which will set up showcases of food and wine from across the state.
Trezise said the day will start at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, where about 50 tour participants - including prominent restaurateurs, retailers, food critics and chefs - will gather to fly to Rochester.
Restaurateur Drew Nieporent, owner of The Myriad Restaurant Group that includes celebrated restaurants Montrachet, Nobu and Tribecca Grill, is expected to attend. Other participants include Peter Morrell, chairman of New York City's famed wine retailer Morrell & Co.; Michael Lamonico, award-winning chef at the newly opened Noche restaurant in Manhattan; and Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine.
The group will board a motor coach and proceed to Glenora Wine Cellars for a four-course luncheon of New York state cuisine, created by local executive chefs Art Kelly of Veraisons Restaurant at the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars and Debra Whiting of Red Newt Bistro at Red Newt Cellars, Trezise said.
The first course will be paired with sparkling wines; the second, with light white wines; the third, with red wines; and the fourth, with dessert wines.
Tour participants will then go to Anthony Road Wine Co., where 16 wineries - including 14 from the Finger Lakes region - will have space to present their wines.
Participating local wineries include Hunt Country Vineyards, King Ferry Winery, Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars, Glenora Wine Cellars and Anthony Road along with Clinton Vineyards of Hudson Valley and Palmer Vineyards of Long Island.
The group will then return to Rochester for a flight back to New York City.
Trezise said he hopes the trip will increase awareness of Finger Lakes regional wines in New York City.
"The Finger Lakes are just far enough away from New York City that it's truly inconvenient," Trezise said, adding that people from the New York City area are more familiar with wines from the Hudson Valley and Long Island regions, which are an hour or two away as opposed to the five or six hours to get to the Finger Lakes.
"People don't know we exist. By Tuesday's finish, we think they'll have a whole new opinion, and since they're the opinion leaders of the New York scene and therefore the world, we think this could be a major breakthrough for the Finger Lakes," Trezise said.
"We think this one-day trip will turn a lot of heads and hopefully bring people back."
I'm in Rochester...
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