An event celebrating the brilliance of Finger Lakes wines, wineries and growers
New York was selected this year by Wine Enthusiast as the world's top wine region, and its wines are increasingly being recognized for their excellence. Coming together, to celebrate the reasons why, are an impressive roster of chefs, sommeliers, wine experts and wine enthusiasts for the third annual Wine Symposium of the Finger Lakes. Scheduled for August 21-22 in downtown Geneva, NY the event is intended to showcase Finger Lakes wine country as a region that offers high quality wines. By placing them in a broader perspective against benchmark wines, presenters will demonstrate just how excellent and competitive Finger Lakes wines are, with Riesling as a case in point.
The event lineup includes:
- Grand Tasting-August 21 5-7:30pm Geneva Visitors' and Events Center
(Preceded by an invitation only media and trade tasting) The Grand Tasting offers consumers a chance to taste 26 award winning rieslings in one place. Winemakers will be on hand to share the experience. The 26 wines were awarded gold medals at the 2015 Finger Lakes AVA Riesling Challenge. The competition is a signature event of the Symposium, during which some of the area's top winemakers judged their colleagues' rieslings. The "Best in Class" winners will be awarded trophies on this night.
- Opening Session-August 22 8:30-9:30am Smith Opera House
Experience a provocative keynote panel at one of NY State's most historic places. The topic: "So what's so great about the Finger Lakes" will be moderated by Evan Dawson of WXXI's Connections and author of Summer in a Glass. The panel includes Pascaline Lepeltier, master sommelier (the 21st woman to achieve that title in the U.S.); Steve Morgan, wine director Formento's in Chicago; Rob Newton, owner & chef of several popular eateries in Brooklyn and Peter Bell, winemaker at Fox Run Vineyards in the Finger Lakes.
- Cool-climate seminars-August 22 10-12:15pm Various downtown venues
This is the crux of the whole event. Take part in "A Silk Purse from a Sow's Ear - Sparkling Wine from Around the World" with Christopher Bates, master sommelier; "Rosé - The Pink Paradigm Shift" with Ron Giesbrecht, winemaker and professor; "Living on the Edge - Cool-climate Reds" with Steve Morgan, wine director Formento's in Chicago; "Should Chablis and Finger Lakes Chardonnay be mentioned in the same sentence?" with Dave McIntyre, wine columnist for the Washington Post. These cool-climate seminars are a fascinating look at the Finger Lakes from outside the area. They are intended to showcase the Finger Lakes as a winegrowing region noted to be among the best in the world.
- Winemakers Luncheons-August 22 12:30-2:30pm Select downtown restaurants
Please see website for participating restaurants and menus. This unbelievable culinary line-up includes an intimate lunch with a boutique winemaker and a gregarious lunch with two of the regions most well known winemakers. The menus are all paired with Finger Lakes wines. Winemakers are dining with you, guiding your special food and wine experience.
- Red White and Blues-August 22 6-8:30pm Linden Street
Featuring the Steve Grills Band, this street fête showcases some Finger Lakes wineries that make sparkling wine and delicious Cabernet Franc. Continue to celebrate the area's love of food and wine with great music and great fun.
We are proud to offer a series of events that can fill the entire city with wine talk and wine folks! For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.winesymposiumfingerlakes.com.
