Goose Watch Winery: Finger Lakes Winery Visit

Looking for a spectacular lakefront view during your wine tour of the Finger Lakes? Check out Goose Watch Winery on Cayuga Lake.

Cayuga Lake Beckons

When you next travel to the Finger Lakes, and we hope it is soon, do not skip Cayuga Lake. Since we lived in the Toledo area for many years, we’d travel to New York coming from the west. That means we’d first hit Keuka Lake, then Seneca Lake, and the next major stop is Cayuga.

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In fact, some visitors never make it past the first two. Shame on them! The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail has the distinction of being the first wine trail in the nation. Cayuga is often less crowded than Seneca and offers some of the best wineries in the whole region -- including one of our favorites: Goose Watch Winery.

Goose Watch has one of the most magnificent lakefront views of any winery in this region known for its spectacular scenery. The tasting room, situated in a beautifully restored century-old barn, has a deck that overlooks the sparkling Cayuga Lake. In fact, if you are nautically inclined, there is a boat dock there and you can take a winery tour traveling by boat.

A Taste For The Unusual

Before you shove off, there is plenty to enjoy at Goose Watch. The winery is known for unusual wines so you can enjoy your pick from rare white grape varieties that include Diamond, Aromella, and Melody. Reds include offbeat options such as Noiret, Chambourcin, and, up-and-coming star in the region -- Lemberger.

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It was a warm sunny fall day when we pulled up to the tasting room and COVID-19 had not yet reared its head. Our trusty band of tasters included my wife (Green Dragon) and our good friends Cabernetor and Glorious T.

The arrival experience at Goose Watch is always a great one. It is nestled into one of the only commercial chestnut groves in the region. Flowers and great views put you in a cheerful mood as you walk to the tasting room.

In warmer weather, we like to kick off our tastings with some chilled rosé. Sparkling rosé is even better! First out of the bottle was the 2017 Pinot Noir Brut Rosé. This is a dry bubbly with subtle notes of strawberry and vanilla.

The next taste was a surprise. You don’t expect to find a Viognier in a Finger Lakes tasting room, it’s extremely rare in this New York region. This is a beautiful expression of the grape. The growing season allows this white grape to ripen slowly and develop a mélange of flavors including tropical fruit and peach. It’s dry with deep delicious flavors.

We enjoyed yet another rosé, this one the 2017 made with Cabernet Franc. This is a more robust rosé with berry flavors. This is food-friendly and loaded with refreshment.

Red Refreshment

Moving to the red side of the spectrum, we had the 2016 Noiret. Noiret is a hybrid grape developed at Cornell University (one of the top wine research schools in the country). The grape was specially developed for the colder climate of the US northeast. The tannins are soft and there is a bit of herbaciousness along with a smokiness and dark cherry.

Chambourcin is a red grape that makes outstanding wines in the Finger Lakes. The Goose Watch 2015 Chambourcin has flowing raspberry flavors with a pleasant tartness. The 2012 Merlot Reserve is made with the best barrels of the vintage and in our judgment was good, but not great. At $30 SRP, it is one of the higher-priced bottles while most wines are less than $20.

We closed out with a grape we’d never tried and, in fact, never heard of before: Aromella. Aromella is one of the newest grapes from Cornell, being released in 2013. One of its forbearers is Traminette. Goose Watch’s wine is the first single-varietal bottling of Aromella.

The 2016 Aromella is semi-dry and has a pop of sweetness on the palate. The bouquet is floral and there are flavors of pineapple and citrus. This unique wine is only $12.99.

We prefer dry wines, but Goose Watch has a wine for every taste whether its dry, semi-dry or very sweet. There’s sparkling wine, still wine, dessert wine, and even cider. The tasting room experience is grand. Then we suggest a stroll out to the deck to enjoy the view with a glass of wine.

Goose Watch is the complete winery experience -- memorable scenery, quality wines, and friendly staff. Put them on your list to visit during your next Finger Lakes swing.

Cayuga Lake Wine Trail Vino Visa Coupon Book Is An Ideal Stocking Stuffer

A great way to save while you are seeing some of the top wineries in the Finger Lakes region is by using the Vino Visa coupon book that is offered by the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. The cost is a measly $15 and it gives you coupons for free wine tastings and wine discounts as well as deals on accommodations, dining, attractions and transportation.
If you used all the coupons, you would save more than $300. The coupon book is good through December 31, 2013.
Here’s a listing of what is offered:
WINERIES
Montezuma Winery- Free winery t-shirt with $40.00 wine purchase.
Swedish Hill Winery- $5.00 off any wine purchase of $35.00 or more.
Cobblestone Farm Winery- One free tasting and $5.00 off any wine purchase of $30.00 or more!
Knapp Winery & Vineyard Restaurant- Free tasting. Purchase three bottles of Knapp Wine and you'll receive a specialty Knapp wine glass.
Goose Watch Winery- $5.00 off any wine purchase of $35.00 or more
Buttonwood Grove Winery- 15% off any 2 bottles of wine. (May Be Mixed)
Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery- Free tasting and an additional $5.00 off wine purchase of $35.00 or more.
Thirsty Owl Wine Co. - Free t-shirt with any $50.00 purchase.
Hosmer Winery- $5.00 off any wine purchase of $30.00 or more.
Sheldrake Point Vineyard- Free Wine Tasting Flight, Dessert Wine Tasting and $5.00 off a $40.00 wine purchase.
Lucas Vineyards- Free tasting for 2, including reserve tasting (valued at $10.00) and 10% off purchase of 3 bottles or more.
Bellwether Hard Cider- Buy more - Save more! Receive an additional 5 % discount at the counter either for 3-5 bottles, 6-11 bottles or 12+ bottles on top of the discount you will already receive!
AmericanaVineyards- Free wine tasting and 10% off any wine purchase.
Six Mile Creek Vineyard- Free tasting and save 10% off any wine purchase. (Can't be combined with any other offer).
King Ferry/Treleaven Wines- One complimentary tasting, $5.00 off any $30.00 purchase.
Long Point Winery- Free wine tasting.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Microtel Inn & Suite - 10% off a 1 night stay or 15% off a 2 night stay. Price taken off regualr room rate. Blackout dates apply.
Silver Strand Bed & Breakfast- Book a room and receive abottle of Silver Strand wine.
Through the Grapevine Bed & Breakfast- Stay 2 nights and recieve 20% discount on subseqent days. Valid only Jan-June, Sept-Dec
ATTRACTIONS
Cabin View Alpacas- 10% off total purchase of $50.00 or more
Kitchen Theatre Company- Buy One, Get One
Merry-Go-Round Playhouse- $5.00 off a regaulary priced ticket(subject to availablity)
Schaefer Yarn Company- 10% off all yarns
The Market At Traders Village- 20% off furniture, 10% off crafts
WaterlooPremium Outlets– Free VIP coupon book
DINING
Cayuga LakeCreamery- Enjoy one complimentary menu item when a second menu item of equal or greater value is purchased (up to $5 value).
Crystal LakeCafé at Americana Vineyards- Buy one menu item, get one half off.
Holiday Inn Waterloo/Seneca Falls- 15% off a Dinner Entree.
TRANSPORTATION
Aristocrat Wine Tours- $30.00 off a 6 hour wine tour ( week days only)
Water To Wine Tours- Buy one wine tour and receive the second one at 50% off.
Makes a Great Gift!
Expires 12/31/2013
$15.00 plus tax
You can order your Vino Visa Coupon Book online, or purchase them at any of the 16 wineries on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. If you have questions, please contact the Cayuga Wine Trail Office at 1-800-684-5217 or info@cayugawinetrail.com

Insider Tips For Dining and Staying In Finger Lakes’ Cayuga County

The Finger Lakes, 11 pristine lakes spread like fingers across central New York , encompasses 9,000 plus square miles of outdoor adventures and bucolic scenery with a nice mix of urban hot spots to boot.

The region offers world class vineyards, farm to table culinary delights and internationally acclaimed annual festivals. With more than 100 wineries spread between 14 counties, the Finger Lakes region is known to produce the best Rieslings and Gewurztraminers outside of Germany.

Cayuga County is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes and offers travelers an array of delectable culinary and wine-infused experiences from vintner training to cheese trail hopping.

Here are some are some travel suggestions from the Cayuga County Tourism Office
Where to Eat:
$$$ - Aurora Inn - The award-winning, refined American cuisine is inspired by the changing seasons and fresh regional products and pairs perfectly with the vast array of Finger Lakes wines on their list. Aurora Inn offers an elegant indoor dining room as well as lakeside dining on their spacious veranda, perfect for taking in Finger Lakes sunsets. www.aurora-inn.com

$$$ - Moro’s Table - Chef Moro searches out only the freshest, finest product and utilizes the surrounding abundance of the Finger Lakes region whenever possible in his American-style cuisine. His passion for simplicity and purity of flavor ensures that each dish is balanced and impressionable. www.morostable.com

$$ - Pumpkin Hill Bistro - The Pumpkin Hill Bistro menu features down to earth comfort food "with a twist" served at moderate prices in a unpretentious, but charming atmosphere. Delight in the charm of the bistro's peaceful storied setting, while enjoying a fine selection of Cayuga Lake wines and delectable culinary options. Diners can also shop for unique antiques and gifts at the Country Store. www.pumpkinhillbistro.com

Where to Pick & Buy Local:
$ - Long Point Orchard - Fruit enthusiasts can pick their locally grown produce or purchase it from the farm stand located at 2007 State Rte 90 in Aurora. Please note that they are closed on Mondays.

$ - Grisamore Farms – Featuring an array of delectable fruity crops from strawberries to sweet cherries to blueberries, Grisamore Farms is the ideal U-pick destination. For those wanting to bypass the picking process, their farm store is located in a 19th century dairy barn and equipped with an array of delectable items for sale. www.grisamorefarms.com

$ - The Produce Place – Specializing in fresh, local produce as it ripens, The Produce Place sells sweet corn, tomatoes, pies and custard just to name a few. www.theproduceplace.net

$ - King Ferry Farmer's Market - This pop-up marketplace located just off of Route 90, boasts farmstead cheese, organic flour, organic vegetables, plants and flowers, fiber art, pottery and jewelry among many other locally grown and produced items. http://kingferry.blogspot.com

Where to Stay:
$$$ - Aurora Inn - Aurora Inn , set on the shores of Cayuga Lake amidst a heritage village, has a pedigree dating back to 1833. The original Finger Lakes inn, built in Federal style with red brick and wide columned balconies, has been impeccably restored with understated elegance to appeal to the most discerning guests. The quintessential bed and breakfast is renowned for being a lakeside haven with hammocks and Adirondack chairs putting calm and relaxation at the forefront. The Aurora Inn embodies the intimacy of a bed and breakfast with services and amenities that only a luxury hotel can offer. www.aurora-inn.com

$$$ - E.B. Morgan House - Formerly the home of Colonel Edwin Barber Morgan, co-founder of The New York Times and American Express, the E.B. Morgan House offers seven stylish guest rooms, exquisite living spaces, gracious porches that overlook the lake and lawns and an exceptional collection of original modern art. www.ebmorganhouse.com

$$ - Dill’s Run Bed & Breakfast and Vineyard - Dill's Run Bed and Breakfast is located along the east side of Cayuga Lake on Scenic New York State Route 90 in the Town of Ledyard. The lovely Italianate Victorian house was built in the late 1830's by R. Dill and has recently been restored. It is ideally located on 15.5 acres just four miles north of Aurora , 15 minutes from Auburn , 35 minutes from Ithaca and 25 minutes from Seneca Falls . Dills Run also has a vineyard that offers some of the best in Finger Lakes wines which is open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday and by appointment. www.dillsrun.com

$ - Cayuga Marina and Campground - Located on the north end of scenic Cayuga Lake, a short distance from Lock One, Seneca Canal, and the Montezuma Wildlife Preserve. Cayuga Marina and Campground is ideal for an overnight, weekend or week stay for both outdoor sports enthusiasts, and those who just appreciate the beautiful countryside and relaxing lake side atmosphere. The facility features a full range of seasonal guest accommodations and marina services for patrons. www.cayugamarina.info

Technorati Tags: Finger Lakes wine,wine

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Tasty Insider Tips For Wine Tasting In Finger Lake’s Cayuga County

The Finger Lakes, eleven pristine lakes spread like fingers across central New York , encompasses 9,000 plus square miles of outdoor adventures and bucolic scenery with a nice mix of urban hot spots to boot.

The region offers world class vineyards, farm to table culinary delights and internationally acclaimed annual festivals. With more than 100 wineries spread between 14 counties, the Finger Lakes region is known to produce the best Rieslings and Gewurztraminers outside of Germany.

Cayuga County is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes and offers travelers an array of delectable culinary and wine-infused experiences from vintner training to cheese trail hopping.

Here are some are some travel suggestions from the Cayuga County Tourism Office.

Where to Wine Taste:
$$$ - Heart & Hands Wine Co. - Heart & Hands Wine Company offers a unique, hands-on winemaking opportunity during the harvest season. Participants discover winemaking activities including picking fruit, sorting grapes, daily punchdowns, lab analysis, pressing grapes and equipment cleaning. Their limited production, currently under 1500 cases, allows for an intense focus on quality. Committed to producing cool climate wines which authentically express the character of the Finger Lakes, Heart & Hands Wine Company is located in a serene setting overlooking the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake . www.heartandhandswine.com

$$$ - Bet the Farm - Bet the Farm features a farm winery, regional wine shop and gourmet market. Their hand-crafted wines are sold alongside a premier selection of other Finger Lakes wines at their shop in the village of Aurora . In addition to wine, they offer gourmet foods produced throughout New York State .www.betthefarmny.com

$$ - King Ferry Winery - King Ferry Winery focuses on Chardonnay and Riesling varieties. The winery offers a world-class estate “Taste the Artistry" of Treleaven wine series and invites guests to enjoy works by local artists in the Tasting Room gallery and gift shop. www.treleavenwines.com

$$ - Long Point Winery - Winemaker Gary Barletta focuses his attention on dry red wines such as Merlot and Syrah while his wife Rosemary serves up her specialty sandwiches in Amelia's Deli. Located just off scenic State Route 90 the winery features a breathtaking view overlooking Cayuga Lake . www.longpointwinery.com.

Insider Winery Tips:
· Most wineries have a small tasting fee which is often refunded with a purchase of wine so the cost to taste is virtually free.
· Cheese can be nibbled between wine tastings along the Cayuga Scenic Byway with the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail. Visit http://flcheesetrail.com for a full listing of cheese-infused stops.
· Escorted wine tours are the ideal way to indulge while letting someone else do the driving.
o Big D's Limo Service (www.bigdslimos.com): 5 Depew Street • Auburn , NY 13021
o Experience! The Finger Lakes, LLC (www.ExperienceFingerLakes.com): P.O. Box 3787 • Ithaca , NY 14850
o Quality Wine Tours (www.qualitywinetours.com): P.O. Box 435 • Pittsford , NY 14534

Next week we’ll provide tips on where to eat and where to stay while in Cayuga County.

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Sheldrake Point 2008 Finger Lakes Gewürztraminer

Sheldrake Point Winery is a beautiful winery located on scenic Cayuga Lake with 44 acres of vineyards amidst a 155-acre farm. The operation boasts a beautiful tasting room and great bistro. They were named New York Winery of the Year in 2009 by Wine & Spirits Magazine and copped the honor again this year.

During our visit there a couple years ago we really enjoyed their whites, especially their unoaked Chardonnay.

I was very pleased when I was able to score a case of their 2008 Gewürztraminer at a steal of a price during a charity online auction. Sheldrake is another reason why you should be sure to visit the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail when you are visiting the Finger Lakes wineries.

During our recent holiday party, we opened a magnum of East Dell Black Cab, a Niagara Peninsula red blend of Bacco Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. For the white, I opened a bottle of the Sheldrake Gerwurz.

The wine is pale lemon in color and is full-bodied. This wine could crush a Pinot Grigio in a flavor battle with one vine tied behind its back. The aroma alone is worth the $18 price tag. It exudes rose petal and orange. It also has the signature spiciness of Gewürztraminer, although the floral flavor notes predominate. It is full and round in the mouth. The wine has 0.5% residual sugar, which is almost bone dry. There were 711 cases produced.

This is a wine that I find thought-provoking. A sip prompts you to try and unravel just what tastes you are experiencing.

Although this vintage has won its share of awards, is it possible it might be too flavorful? Green Dragon feels there is too much rose petal and led me to the interesting situation of trying to decant a white wine to lessen the aroma for her.

To the timid souls I say, “Long live Gewürztraminer!” Raise a glass of Sheldrake Point and hang on for the ride.

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Finger Lakes: Thirsty Owl Wine Company

FINGER LAKES REPORT -- Our next visit was the Thirsty Owl Wine Company. Glorious T, one of our tasting crew, loves animals and so thought the combination of Goose Watch and Thirsty Owl would be an opportunity for picking up wines with great animal labels. I typically avoid llamas, pandas, penguins and any other contrivance designed to sell less than quality wine. But, if you have superior wine AND an attractive bottle it certainly is a win-win situation.

Thirsty Owl is a great stop on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and has  a prime location overlooking the lake. They have a nice bistro and a shady patio overlooking their 2,000 feet of lakefront frontage. The tasting room is spacious and airy.

The origin of the name is an interesting one: “Years ago a gentleman was stumbling home after a fine night of faster horses, younger women and older wine when he came across a 4 foot, six inch owl in his path. The owl stated: ‘I have a deal for you. I won’t interfere with your faster horses or younger women if you share your older wine with me. In return I will keep the birds and critters out of your vineyard.’ Thus the deal was made. The owl guards the vineyard and the gentleman shares with his thirsty friend the finest wines in New York.” You’ll find the owl on the patio keeping watch.

We began with the 2008 Pinot Gris which had green apple flavors but we rated as nothing special. Next up was the 2008 Dry Riesling, a gold medal winner with a nice balanced flavor of citrus and grapefruit.

Moving to reds, we sampled the 2007 Pinot Noir. This was a smooth wine with a strong pomegranate flavor. The tannins were refined resulting in a wine not overly oaked.

Thirsty Owl has some very nice reds and I was anxious to try their Chancellor. This French-American hybrid grape is common in the Finger Lakes, but scarce elsewhere. There are rows of Chancellor grapes in the vineyard right outside the front door to the Thirsty Owl.
This wine had a beautiful, dark purple color with a subtle berry flavor and soft tannins. Very smooth and satisfying.

Perhaps the best sample of the visit was the Thirsty Owl Meritage. This is a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It it nicely balanced and rich with velvet softness and lively fruit. Out companions Glorious T and Spiderman grabbed a bottle of this.

My final tasting was of the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah-Malbec blend which they term as a “trilogy” of prestigious estate grown grapes. Who could not like a blend of these three great grapes? It was bold, smooth and just maybe a bit too tart. It retails for $17.95.

It was a great tasting experience. Last year my wife and I enjoyed a delicious lunch in the bistro. This was a gorgeous fall day and lunch on the terrace would have been grand. This was out last day for tasting on our trip so we reluctantly fired up the car and headed for our next winery.

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Finger Lakes: Goose Watch Winery

FINGER LAKES REPORT  -- Our final day of tasting on the Finger Lakes started with a dash to Cayuga Lake.  It has 16 wineries, most on the west side. The wineries aren’t grouped as closely together as on Seneca meaning more time between stops on the Cayuga Wine Trail.
There are advantages, however. You have an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Cayuga is the longest and largest of the Finger Lakes and the wineries tend to be less crowded than those on Seneca.
Our first stop was Goose Watch Winery. It was a sunny day, which added to the glorious scenery as we drove up the driveway past a grove of chestnut trees. The elegant tasting room is located in a beautifully restored century-old barn.
This is a fiesta for wine tasters. For the modest $2 tasting fee you can sample up to eight wines with an extra charge for a couple of reserve wines and an ice wine.

Goose Watch has a unique roster of wines including New York State’s only Villard Blanc, Melody and Traminette (two newer grape varieties developed by Cornell University), and two old Finger Lakes varietals Diamond and Rose of Isabella.
We started out with a very enjoyable Pinot Noir Brut Rose champagne and moved on to a 2008 Villard Blanc. This is a dry wine with flavors of citrus and herbs. Nice!
I always enjoy a good Viognier and the 2007 Goose Watch was a treat, laced with delicate tropical fruit and a bit more body than a Riesling. The price is a very reasonable $18. They had a special and so I was able to purchase three for the price of two.

Melody is a newer premium grape that has a fruity flavor with a touch of herbs and a flowery aroma. This was a bit sweet for me, and registers 2.0% residual sugar. The lower the number, the drier the wine. The Viognier, by comparison is 0.5% residual sugar.

Two wine varieties I hope you’ll try are Lemberger and Chambourcin. Lemberger is a German grape and the wine produced is light bodied and intended to be drunk young. The Goose Watch Lemberger had a peppery flavor and taste of berries.

Chambourcin is a French-American hybrid that is well suited to growing in the Finger Lakes. It is also popular in the Loire Valley in France. It has a beautiful deep color and our sample had flavor notes of raspberries. It is aged in oak and goes well with lean red meat and pasta.
Before hitting the road we strode out to the deck to enjoy the view of the lake and the vineyards. It was a sight that brought on smiles and laughter – but there was much more to see, so we were off to our next stop.

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