by Karen Shughart
The holiday season will soon be upon us, and my husband and I have been thinking about, and planning for, the meals we’ll serve to family and friends, along with beverages to complement the dishes. For us, that includes wine. And how fortunate we are to live in close proximity to a multitude of wineries right here in our own backyard.
This is a lovely time to visit Finger Lakes wine country. The harvest is past, and the landscape is now a stunning study in browns, tans and sepia. These quiet colors remind us that winter is just around the corner, but that for at least now we can slow down before we become busy with all the upcoming festivities.
There are about 150 wineries here that have garnered international and national attention, and a number of awards. They’re so good, in fact, that the Finger Lakes recently received the Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Award American Wine Region of the Year, honoring two centuries of sustainability, innovation and cool climate excellence.
We like to plan a trip to the wineries this time of year, often on a weekday, not wanting to compete with weekend tourists who have discovered our region as a year ‘round destination. We typically begin by stopping for lunch at one of the many excellent winery cafes that have sprung up along all the lakes. If the weather cooperates, we may sit outside admiring the view; if not the cozy ambience inside, that often includes a fireplace with crackling logs, feels just fine.
Many wineries now offer full tastings while you dine. If not, you can order a glass of wine with your meal and then afterwards head over to the tasting room to complete your experience. We prefer to wait to do the tastings until we’ve eaten; instead, we each order a different glass of wine to share. If we like those we’ve chosen, we’ll purchase a bottle or two before driving to a few other wineries for tastings before heading home.
Our goal is to find just the right wines to drink; there’s quite a selection to choose from. We’ve discovered that a dry Riesling, dry Rosé, spicy Gewurztraminer, unoaked Chardonnay or a Cabernet Franc are perfect accompaniments for the turkey, fish and sides that we’ll serve. Some Finger Lakes wineries also excel in ice wines that go perfectly with dessert, whether it be an apple, pumpkin or pecan pie, or cookie bars filled with raisins, nuts and cranberries.
We feel grateful to live in such a spectacularly beautiful part of the country, and even more so that when we sit down to enjoy our holiday meals, we will be sharing a taste of home with our guests.
Karen Shughart is the author of the award-winning Edmund DeCleryk cozy mystery series, set in the northern Finger Lakes region of New York, including her most recent, Murder at Chimney Bluffs. She has also co-authored two mysteries and written two non-fiction books. A member of CWA, North America Chapter, and FLARE (Finger Lakes Authors and Readers Experience), she lives with her husband, Lyle, in Sodus Point, NY. Her books are available at local gift shops, bookstores and in multiple formats at amazon.com.
