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Tag: Hermann J. Wiemer

Finger Lakes wine region called best in country

The Finger Lakes is the best wine region in the country, according to the USAToday 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards.

In dozens of categories, experts in the field winnowed selections to 20 finalists and then the top 10, and their rankings were determined by popular vote of readers and others who logged into the contest to vote.

FLX Table in Geneva, affiliated with Element Winery, was also chosen as the top winery restaurant in the country. Among the others on that top 10 list were Fox Run Café at Fox Run Vineyards in Penn Yan at third place, and Veraisons Restaurant at Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee at eighth place.

“We are ecstatic to be recognized as the best wine region in the country,” said Lisa Burns, executive director of the Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council. “The Finger Lakes wine and tourism industry generates $2.8 billion on an annual basis. This national honor represents the region’s 130+ wineries, five wine trails, and 60,000 diligent, hard-working residents.”

The Finger Lakes region was chosen over nearly 250 American Viticulture Areas, or designated wine regions.

The Finger Lakes was represented in every wine category in the contest:

  • Belhurst Castle in Geneva took third place for “Best Wine Country Hotel”
  • Fox Run won seventh and Dr. Konstantin Frank in Hammondsport won 10th place for “Best Tasting Room”
  • The Finger Lakes Wine Festival in Watkins Glen came in fifth for “Best Wine Festival”
  • Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard in Dundee placed seventh for “Best Winery Tour.”

Though New York’s craft breweries are about to overtake the number of wineries in the state, they are mostly much newer, perhaps accounting for little to no showing in the contest categories for beers.

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