Canandaigua, NY - The Canandaigua Wine Trail will kick off the long awaited first day of spring this year with an event featuring several wineries and shops. The event is a partnership with Seeking Common Ground, a non-profit educational organization and associate trail member. The trail is located in Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Region of the Year - New York.
Canandaigua Wine Trail's event Plant Yourself in the Finger Lakes 2015 will take place 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22. Four wineries on the Canandaigua Wine Trail will participate: Arbor Hill Winery, Casa Larga Vineyards, Hazlitt's Red Cat Cellars, and Heron Hill Tasting Room at Bristol. Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per couple.
At each winery guests will be able to sample 3 wines and 3 small plates that pair with the wines. Heron Hill Tasting Room at Bristol is partnering with Nolan's on the Lake featuring their Heron Hill Classic Semi-Sweet Riesling and Cabernet Franc paired with Nolan's Creamy Fontinella Pasta Alfredo and Nick's Famous Bacon Meatball appetizer. Casa Larga Vineyards is creating a "Welcome to Spring" inspired menu that includes artichoke tartlets served with VH Chardonnay, a spring skewer with Italian salami, bocconcinis and sundried tomatoes drizzled with an Italian balsamic glaze served with Tramonto, and Tina's Italian Orange Olive Oil Cornmeal Cake served with a medium dry Riesling. Arbor Hill is serving Hartmann's Smoked Hungarian cocktail wieners in black currant jelly sauce paired with Black Current Dessert wine, Cracked Peppercorn Cabernet Meatloaf with Noiret Wine and Winemakers Sauerkraut with Moores Diamond Wine. Hazlitt's Red Cat Cellars will be pairing Pinot Gris with British Cheddar, Dilly Girl with sparkling Gruner Veltliner,and Cabernet Sauvignon with smoked Gouda.
"We are ready to celebrate spring and show our guests just why Wine Enthusiast magazine name New York wine region of the year", says Wine Trail President Cathy Fabretti. "Our Trail has one of the most visually beautiful routes to travel in the Finger Lakes, and our wineries have been producing great NY wines for a long time."
To commemorate the first day of spring, each person or couple will also receive a packet of flower seeds that they can give to a friend or plant themselves. A percentage of the ticket price will benefit Seeking Common Ground, a Rochester non-profit educational organization dedicated to exploring, modeling and inspiring more conscious and restorative ways of life.
Shops and restaurants along the trail will offer special promotions and discounts to guests to stop at as they travel the wine trail. Event ticket holders who visit Monica's Pies will receive a free grape tart and at F. Oliver's, a special spice blend packet with any purchase.
Crush on Canandaigua, a guided beer and wine tour/tasting operator, is offering Elevated Experience Event tickets for either day at $95.00 per person. With an Elevated Experience ticket you'll be escorted through the Canandaigua Wine Trail (CWT) with a guide taking you through the scenic Canandaigua Lake areas and back roads, sharing insights about the area, and a photo opportunity at the famous County Road 12 scenic overlook in Naples. You'll receive a special CWT Plant Yourself in the Finger Lakes event gift and be picked up and dropped off at the Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track. Only a limited number of these tickets are available and can be purchased online at the Canandaigua Wine Trail website.
This event will happen rain or shine with standard ticket prices $20 per person or $35 for couples. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Arbor Hill Winery, Casa Larga Vineyards or Hazlitt's Red Cat Cellars. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, 25 Gorham Street, Canandaigua or the day of the event at your starting winery. Elevated Experience and standard tickets are available online at: http://canandaiguawinetrail.com/event/cwt-presents-plant-yourself-in-the-finger-lakes-2015-rain-or-shine
