#Anyela’s Vineyards

[johnsimon]

The area that is now known as Syracuse wasn’t much of anything more than two centuries ago, but that all changed in the early 1800s. It was inevitable to many, as the land was level, it was near numerous salt supplies, and it would be the perfect spot to connect the eastern and western parts of the state. John Wilkinson thought the village looked quite similar to a city over in Italy, so when it came time to name it in 1820, he gave it the same name. It was then that Syracuse was born, and it became a city once the village and the nearby village of Salina merged.

Hotels, shops, factories, and more appeared everywhere, and it continued to grow with the expansion of the railroad and canal system. The city grew, even more, when the industrial plants arrived, but things have evened out in recent years.

If you have never been to Syracuse before, you do not know what you are missing out on. There is so much to see and do in this magnificent city and you will have a fabulous time from the minute you arrive until it is time for you to leave.

You will want to consider staying at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Hotel (100 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse, New York 13202) because it is rich in history. This hotel originally opened as the Hotel Syracuse in 1924, and while it has undergone some restoration and renovations before being reopened as a Marriott, you will find that it still has many historical components amongst the modern amenities. The rooms are so incredibly spacious yet cozy. The modern design and neutral color tones make the room feel like you’re in your dream home. I never wanted to leave.

You can begin your day with access to Breakfast in the M Club Lounge and later enjoy a delicious dinner at Eleven Waters, which is one of the on-site restaurants. This restaurant uses local ingredients and flavors and creates delectable dishes that you can enjoy in a modern but rustic setting.

Dinner at Eleven Waters

I started dinner with the Smokey Mozzarella Meatballs, which is a mix of Bacon Brisket, Tomato Cream, and Basil. The appetizer makes your mouth water as soon as they’re placed in front of you. They were prepared to perfection and recommended for sharing or if you are really hungry. The bacon brisket gives it a great kick in flavor. The meatballs are quite juicy and savory.

For the main course, I chose the Steak Frites with Au Poivré, served with an addictive Brandy Peppercorn Sauce. I remember going to bed after dinner, dreaming about how amazing this sauce was. My steak was served medium-well and paired nicely with a glass of Lamoreaux Landing Cabernet Franc, NY.

Marriott Syracuse Downtown Hotel also hosts other dining options like Shaughnessy’s pub, Barbershop Bar, Cavalier Room, and Cafe Kubal.

You will find that your options at Marriott Syracuse Downtown Hotel are endless, but you will feel right at home just like past guests that include John Kennedy, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Charles Lindbergh, Bob Hope, and more.

If you happen to be staying at the Marriott during Winterfest, you will be able to join in on the Ice Block Party with Fireworks! It is a family-friendly event that features food trucks, street game activities, and a DJ spinning music from all genres. Despite the freezing temperatures, I had the best time mingling with the locals and taking in the amazing view of the fireworks. Check out, syracusewinterfest.com for more information.

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During your time in the city, you will want to spend some time in the Erie Canal Museum (318 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse, NY 13202) to learn more about the entire Barge Canal System. The permanent exhibits include the history and construction of the canal, a full-size replica of a line boat, a canal town, and murals.

Another excellent museum to visit is the Onondaga Historical Association Museum (321 Montgomery St, Syracuse, NY 13202). You will learn more about Onondaga County, the dinnerware that the Syracuse China company produced, and the Underground Railroad that went through the Syracuse region.

You might want to start one of your afternoons in the city with a stop at Anyela’s Vineyards (2433 W Lake Rd, Skaneateles, NY 13152). The Nocek family began their winemaking journey over in Eastern Europe three generations ago and now they produce their wines as they look out over Skaneateles Lake. You can take a stroll through their vineyards, meet their dog, Lexi, and taste test any of their delicious wines before buying a few bottles to take home. I highly recommend doing a wine tasting, for the ultimate experience. This way you can figure out which wines suit your taste buds and which ones you want to take home. Pricing for tastings is very affordable, starting at $5. Wine Tastings are first come, first serve, so get there early. One of my favorites was their signature 2016 Elation pinot noir.

If you are at a loss for things to do in the evening, you can always venture over to the DESTINY USA Mall (9090 Destiny USA Dr, Syracuse, NY 13204). It is the largest mall in the state with more than two hundred and fifty places to eat, shop, and be entertained. If you don’t feel like shopping, you can always take a spin on the indoor go-carts, Merry Go Round, or get physical in a game of laser tag or rope climbing. The mall is a great spot for groups or independent travelers. As large as it is, expect to spend a few hours there. After I was done shopping and taking in the sites, I ended my time at the movie theater.

There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Syracuse, so you won’t need to worry about going hungry. However, you might be a little overwhelmed with all your choices.

Glazed and Confused (211 N Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13204) is the place to go if you are craving a donut of the unusual kind. The donuts at this shop are made in small batches, so they are always fresh and tasty. You can always order the basic vanilla cake or cinnamon and sugar varieties, but why do that when you can order one like holy cannoli, pardon my French toast, and no sleep till Brooklyn. They even have doninis, which are flat like paninis and served on top of a classic cake donut. My personal favorite is the Dizzy Pig (a maple glazed, bourbon, sugar, candied locally cured bacon donut). SO GOOD!

Modern Malt (325 S Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13202) is a classic American Diner that can be found in the historic Armory Square neighborhood and they serve everything from breakfast to sandwiches and burgers to dinners. They are definitely the place to go if you want good food in an amazing atmosphere. I couldn’t resist the Lobster Benedict (Butter poached lobster, chive biscuit, arugula, poached eggs, hollandaise, chive). I washed this delicious meal down with hearty Bloody Mary. Modern Malt was pretty when I visited on a Saturday morning, so get there early.

The original Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (246 W Willow St, Syracuse, NY 13202) opened its doors in Syracuse in 1988 after spending five years on the road serving food at fairs and festivals. They began as a quick lunch and dinner bar-b-que place, but within two years, expanded to add a full bar, full-service dining, and live music. They now have eight other locations throughout the Northeast, but this original serves the best bar-b-que around. You don’t go to Dino’s for a dainty salad, you go to pig out. That’s what I did and I have no regrets! I settled for a combination platter with St Louis Ribs, Pulled Pork, and BBQ Brisket. The only word to describe my experience is magical. The OG location was ridiculously busy on a Saturday night, so expect a bit of a wait.

The Mission Restaurant (304 E Onondaga St, Syracuse, NY 13202) is in the Old Syracuse Wesleyan Methodist Church that was built in the 1840s. That church played a vital role in the Underground Railroad, and while that history has been carefully preserved underneath, the restaurant serves hungry customers above. The restaurant uses local products and everything is made from scratch, all day, every day, when possible. The menu features Pan-American cuisine, which is a combination of Mexican, Southwestern, and South American specialties that all include Latino ingredients.

A stop at Al’s Wine and Whiskey Lounge (321 S Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13202) is the perfect way to end an evening in Syracuse. This is a premier bar in the city and they serve a large selection of wine and whiskey from all over the world. If you prefer beer, then you can choose from any of their craft beers as well. The nights are always full of live music, friendly games of pool, and whatever other games people are playing that evening. I was overwhelmed (in a good way) by the many bar options. I’m sure you hear “there is something for everyone” often but this time, it actually true! Locals love to hang here and catch up after a long day at work or to unwind on the weekends.

Syracuse is a wonderful town that has been around for a long time and has seen many changes. However, the city is always ready to welcome a newcomer like yourself and make sure that you have a fabulous time while you are there!

While visiting Syracuse and the numerous historical sites, I wondered if there were any haunted history or trails, and there were plenty. Just in time for Halloween, visitors can check out these local spots for a spooky good time. Starting with a site I mentioned earlier, the Erie Canal Museum. At the Museum, paranormal investigations, ghost hunts and guided haunted history tours (10-60 participants) are available by reservation. Docent-led history tours include the recounting of paranormal activity that occurs. The facility can be rented for private events. Erie Canal history tours are also available daily.

Erie Canal Museum. Photo by Amityphotos.com.

Other locations include:

The Landmark Theatre – The historic theatre, built in 1928, has had people talking of hauntings just years after it opened. After falling from a balcony to her death in 1930, Clarissa’s spirit has been haunting The Landmark. She often appears as a pale apparition in a white dress at unexpected times to workers and guests – especially those not following the theater’s rules.

Opportunity: The theatre hosts a ghost hunt each October. Guided tours (of any size) by reservation; guided psychic tours (up to 20 participants) also available.

Landmark Theatre. Photo by Amityphotos.com.

Wayside Irish Pub �� The original building or “Munro House” was built in the 1800s – and reports of ghostly activity date back to the 1960s. There have been numerous reports of the apparition “Sara,” believed to be the young girl who hung herself on the third floor. Poltergeist-like activity is attributed to a friendly ghost named Harry. Other spirits include the Inn’s original owner, Squire Munro, and an unknown traveler who died in the building. Reports from employees and patrons tell of a male figure dressed in a soldier uniform, and shadowy figures in the basement. Patrons and bartenders have felt “touches”, “pokes”, and “cold” spots, and it’s not unusual to have a female patron complain of having her hair tugged on with no one around her. Glasses fly off the bar without explanation, pictures drop off the walls, and an orb may show up in photos taken on-site.

Opportunity: Sip on a favorite beverage, enjoy delicious pub fare, ask the friendly staff about their haunted history. Stay a while and have your own haunted experience. Professional paranormal investigations are allowed by appointment, with management approval.

Wayside Irish Pub. Photo by Amityphotos.com.

13 Curves on Onondaga Hill – Over 60 years ago, a brutal, terrifying car accident occurred on Cedarvale Road, just 10 miles southwest of Syracuse. Since that fateful day, it has been said that the road, which is known better by its nickname, “13 Curves,” has been haunted by the souls of those who died in this tragic accident.

Opportunity: Take a beautiful and scenic drive along 13 Curves – a long, winding stretch also known as Cedarvale Road just west of the city of Syracuse – it’s a hotbed for paranormal activity.

Split Rock Quarry – Split Rock, a hazardous munitions plant, unexpectedly exploded in 1918, brutally killing more than 50 men. Today, the Quarry is nothing but rock with an old piece of machinery left called the Crusher. Visitors have reported the sound of footsteps, voices in the distance, and the revving of the Crusher’s engine—which hasn’t run since the horrific blast.

Opportunity: Investigate the ruins of Split Rock on your own. Snowshoe, hike, and bike the former factory site, explore the abandoned tunnels and experience the cold spots firsthand. BE SAFE: Quarry is an abandoned location in the woods. It is highly encouraged that you do not venture in alone and that any visit is at your own risk. Appropriate footwear is highly recommended.

We hope to catch you in Syracuse in the very near future! Check out the gallery below for more personal photos from my trip to Syracuse.

Your Guide To Experiencing Hospitality, Good Eats, and Historical Sites in Syracuse, NY The area that is now known as Syracuse wasn’t much of anything more than two centuries ago, but that all changed in the early 1800s.

[your-dietician]

Summer entertainment returns to venues in CNY

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/entertainment/summer-entertainment-returns-to-venues-in-cny/

Summer entertainment returns to venues in CNY

Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted across New York State, and the long days of July and August mean summer entertainment can flourish as usual in Central New York. Organizations will maintain a variety of safety protocols that might include limited seating, masking for unvaccinated patrons and online ticket purchases. Check the website of each event for details.

Local arts and music events in alphabetical order are as follow:

CAZENOVIA COUNTERPOINT

July brings a full schedule of music, poetry and visual art to the village of Cazenovia. The annual festival begins with the exhibit of a month-long curated show of the work of 24 Central New York artists and concludes with a performance of new music from Young Composers Corner participants at Lakeland Park.

Components of the annual celebration of the arts are woven into village activities, such as the weekly Cazenovia Farmers Market (new music from 10 to noon), the Fourth of July Parade, and local businesses. Patrick Lawler, along with Eric Evans and David Hitchcock of the YMCA Downtown Writers Center, will coordinate a poetry/writers event July 13 and.

Ticketed events include “Libba Cotton,” a new opera that will be performed July 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Catherine Cummings Theater, and “New Music Strikes Gold,” July 25 at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.

Brochures with schedules will be available throughout the village. For information, go to the website at snm@societyfornewmusic.org.

CORTLAND REPERTORY THEATRE

Tribute concerts, shows for children, musical plays and Shakespeare fill a six-program season at Cortland Repertory Theatre’s Pavilion Theater at Little York Lake. Actors will perform on an outdoor stage 12 feet from the first row of the audience so the actors do not need to be masked. No tickets will be sold at the door; no single tickets will be sold. Purchases must be made in advance in lots of two, three or four. Program information and bios will be online, and the refreshment tent will be open only before curtain time.

What: Nine outdoor performances in repertory

When:

“Pirate Schmirate!” July 8 – 11 at noon

“Close To You” July 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m. and July 10 at 3 and 7:30 p.m.

“The Honky Tonk Angles” July 15 – 23 (July 18 and 21 at 2 p.m.; others at 7:30 p.m.)

“The Wizard of Oz” July 16 and 17 at 10 a.m. and 2 pm. (drive through event)

The Adam Lee Decker Trio July 24 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

“The Complete Works of July 28 – 31 at 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. show July 30

William Shakespeare”

“Goin’ to the chapel” Aug. 5 – 13 (Aug. 6 and 8 at 2 p.m.; others at 7:30 p.m.)

“How Sweet it Is” Aug. 14 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 15 at 2 p.m.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Aug. 19 – 21 at 7:30p.m. with a 2 p.m. show Aug.20

Tickets: Prices vary according to show, seating, and special discounts. Call 607-756-2627 or check the CRT website for details.

Where: Dwyer Memorial Park, 6799 Little York Lake Rd., Prebble.

GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL

In a nod to the pandemic season, “Glimmerglass on the Grass” has a new outdoor stage and offers audience seating in “Festival Squares.” Each socially distanced space accommodates four people. Purchaser must pay for the entire square and provide low-back chair or blanket for lawn seating. Masks are required except when in that designated space, where patrons can also eat food from home or local takeout. No food will be sold on site; bathrooms will be open.

What: Six 90-minute opera and musical productions in repertoire

When: “The Magic Flute” July 15 – Aug. 17

“To The world” July 16 – Aug. 8

“Songbird” July 30 – Aug. 13

“Il Trovatore” Aug. 1 – 14

“Gods and Mortals” Aug. 13 – 16

“The Passion of Mary Aug. 5 – 13

Cardwell Dawson”

Where: 7300 St. Highway 80, Cooperstown, New York

Tickets: Website or Box Office, 607-547-2255

Price: Festival Squares accommodate up to four people and sell for $80 to $350 each performance depending on which zone is chosen; must buy entire square.

Note: Details related to weather and refund/exchange policy are on the website. Covid protocols are explained on the website “FAQ” page.

OSWEGO PLAYERS THEATER

Founded in 1938, Oswego Players Theater continues its tradition of summer productions with a show that was ready to launch when the pandemic protocols closed all venues in 2020. With most of the cast returning, the troupe will stage the show in August.

A special invitational performance on Aug. 4 will raise funds for the Patrick Carman Joyful Heart Theater Scholarship.

Oswego Players’ Theater Arts Youth Academy will soon announce a summer schedule of activities for young people.

What: “Dearly Departed,” a comedy by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones

When: Aug. 6, 7; 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m.

Where: Francis Marion Brown Theater at Fort Ontario, Oswego

Tickets: $15 adults; $10 students and seniors

Note: Free parking around the red brick building

SYRACUSE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

Having wrapped up “Troilus and Cressida” with a sold-out show June 13, SSITP continues in the amphitheater of Thorndon Park with six August performances of “The Comedy Of Errors,” the bard’s tale of two sets of identical twins separated at birth. The reunion of the two aristocrats and their servants in the Greek city of Ephesus and the whimsical misadventures that ensue make this early play ideal for outdoor summer entertainment.

What: “The Comedy of Errors”

Where: Amphitheater of Thornden Park, Thornden Park Dr., Syracuse

When: Aug. 6 – 15, Friday and Saturday at 5:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.

Tickets: Lawn seating is free, but must be reserved in advance at the SSITP website

Premium: For $30, patrons have reserved front seating and food vouchers.

Food: Beer Belly Deli and Gannon’s Isle will sell food on site; people may bring food

SKANEATELES FESTIVAL

An array of events will run from Aug. 3 through Aug. 28 at the Robinson Pavilion at Anyela’s Vineyards, the Mandana Barn, and locations to be announced.

Skanfest U, an instructional opportunity focusing on “Voices Unheard: Composers at the Margins” will be coordinated by Aaron Wunsch, faculty member at The Juilliard School and co-artistic director with his wife, Julia Bruskin, of the Skaneateles Festival. Those will run virtually Aug. 3, 10, 17 and 24, providing context for music to be performed during the festival.

Details of performances are online at skanfest.org and will be updated as the season evolves.

What: Skaneateles Festival’s 42nd season of music by the lake

When:

Dover Quartet Aug. 12 at 8 p.m.

Bill Charlap Trio Aug. 13 and 14 at 8 p.m.

“The Voice Within” Aug. 26 8 p.m.

Time For Three Aug. 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. (also a Kids matinee)

Tickets: Season passes cover four concerts and range from $125 to $175; Skanfest U is included. Saturday Series tickets cost $70 to $100. Single ticket prices are $30 to $60; two young people 18 and under may attend free with adult purchases in section B. Call 315-685-7418 for information about VIP seating and ticket upgrades.

SYMPHORIA

Outdoor concerts are part of the Symphoria tradition, and more events will be announced as communities and sponsors respond to the lifting of restrictions in New York State.

What: Central New York’s professional orchestra and ensembles

When and Where:

Wind Quintet July 9, 7 p.m. Lorenzo State Historic Site (chairs provided)

Chamber Music July 22, 8 p.m. Carol Watson Greenhouse

Orchestra July 23, 7 p.m. Fort Ontario

Orchestra July 24, 7:30 p.m. Beard Park, Fayetteville

Honor America Pops July 31, 8 p.m. Ft. Stanwix, Rome (Fireworks)

Tickets: Free; some concerts require registration before the event.

Details: experiencesymphoria.org for Covid protocols and ticket information

Seating: Outdoor; take blankets or low-back chairs for seating

THANASIS THEATRE COMPANY

New to the summer theater scene, this company will present its first production in July at the New York State Fairgrounds. Founder J. R. Westfall will direct; Ben Borenstein will be the music director. Written by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen, the show will reveal six intersecting stories of characters who are each running away from something.

What: “Fugitive Songs”

Where: Empire Theater at the NYS Fair

When: July 23, 8 p.m. – July Aug. 1, 3 p.m.

Tickets: $28 for table seating; $18 general admission; discounts for senior citizens and students.

Details: Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Call 315-395-9973 for information.

THE REV THEATRE CO.

(Formerly Merry-Go-Round)

A new name for Auburn’s historic Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, The Rev Theatre Co. continues to produce full-scale professional musical shows in the Preston H. Thomas Theater in Emerson Park. Three productions are programmed for 2021. According to the organization’s website, HVAC has been modified to produce continuing air flow and a purification system ensures optimum air quality for staff, actors and audience. See guidelines on the organization’s website for specific attendance requirements.

What: “Broadway in the Finger Lakes”

When: Check the website for times on the following dates:

“42nd Street” June 30 – July 28

“Footloose” Aug. 4 – Sept. 1

“Almost Heaven” Sept. 8 – 29

Where: Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, 6877 E. Lake Rd., Auburn

Tickets: Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to arrival. Single tickets cost $53 to $65; group rates available. For details, call 315-255-1785

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amanda + brandon / anyelas vineyard, skaneateles engagement session https://ift.tt/2H2jYqe

[wineanddinosaur]

The Winery Wedding Industrial Complex Doesn’t Care if You Have Objections

The greatest bartending move of all time is reported in the New Testament. In the Gospel of John (2:1-11), Jesus is at a party in Cana, chilling with his disciples, when his mother tells him they’ve run out of wine. Lo and behold, he turns their water into wine.

What most people don’t realize, however, is this miracle occurred while the Messiah was at a wedding. That detail precipitates one of the most pervasive trends in present-day America: the winery wedding.

Over the last 20 years, as American beverage and wedding cultures have evolved, winery weddings have transformed from rarity to ubiquity, powered in part by those seeking Instagrammable backdrops for their big day. How did this whole cottage industry start? And if you’re hosting or attending a winery wedding, is it fair to expect the juice will be good?

“I suspect there have always been weddings at wineries as wineries have always had event spaces, hospitality houses,” says Charles Olken, author of the Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, first published in 1980. “And that goes back as long as I’ve been in the business.”

His insight is useful because researching the history of winery weddings on the Internet is extremely difficult. Any combination of search terms results in hundreds of pages of results for wineries advertising their gorgeous grounds.

On Brooklyn Winery’s slick website, for example, the fourth menu heading, after “Shop,” “Tours & Tastings,” and “Winemaking,” is “Weddings.” The lovely onsite wine bar and tasting room is not open to the public on most weekends because it’s too busy hosting wedding receptions that can pull in $50,000 per event. This urban facility in Williamsburg, Brooklyn purports to be, “a uniquely chic space featuring our fully functioning winery as the understated backdrop to your wedding day.” Rather than touting its Chardonnay or Cabernet Franc, the site has a blog with tips on wedding color palettes (not, er, palates), recommended photographers, and “Wedding Shoe Styles We Love.”

The earliest mention of a winery wedding in The New York Times’ “Vows” section I can find is from 1999, when so-called master of the universe J. Todd Morley (“He doesn’t smoke cigars. He’s polite to waiters. He takes calls from old friends with low-paying jobs”) married fashion market director Dorrit Thomas (“She reads a lot, cries easily and always wears a gold bangle between her elbow and shoulder”). Their July wedding took place on a Southampton, NY beach, but the reception for 340 was held “under a tent with a Balinese theme” at Channing Daughters Winery in Bridgehampton, NY.

One year later, the New York Times reported a wedding at Viansa Winery, a small, family-run place at the summit of the Sonoma Valley. From there, winery weddings became more and more commonplace. (Today, Viansa is a massive wedding factory, with meticulously-landscaped, Tuscan-style grounds and an ivy-covered courtyard.)

“It became an accelerating trend really, because if you look at the demographics of the world, things really changed in the ’60s and ’70s. We became a much more middle class nation. Which brought about the wine revolution, soccer, all kinds of progressive things post-World War II,” Olken says. “Meanwhile, weddings were becoming increasingly more expensive generally, people were becoming increasingly more secular, and they started wanting to hold their weddings in places other than churches.”

Enter wineries, one of the few picturesque, indoor-outdoor spaces with a large amount of manicured grounds. By early 2001, Wine Enthusiast was extolling how “the natural beauty of a vineyard is as romantic and elegant a setting as you can get.” Titled “Vows in the Vineyard,” the article included a list of top wedding wineries the country over as well as tips for securing your reservation (“get married on a weekday or on a date between November and March”).

By 2009, wedding publication The Knot started formally tracking winery weddings. The amount doubled nearly every year. As for the Times, it published 30 wedding announcements that specifically cited a winery as their location in 2018; it’s already published 14 more through the first half of 2019.

Credit: Instagram.com/MarvinYeah

Interestingly, these weddings will probably not be held at a winery in America’s most famous wine region.

In Beverly Clark’s 1989 book “Planning a Wedding to Remember,” Napa wineries in particular are touted as a great location for your special day. “Many are old, steeped in tradition and make a beautiful setting for a unique wedding. Some wineries in California’s Napa Valley are known for the hot-air balloons which land at the winery in time for a champagne brunch,” Clark writes.

That same year, however, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Napa issued an ordinance that local agriculture must be protected from events that could deplete it. Though never specifically stated, that meant weddings. And so, aside from a few places that were grandfathered in (Charles Krug Winery, to name one), winery weddings in the county were strictly verboten forevermore.

“Why bring in Las Vegas to Napa?” wrote resident Beta Hyde in support of the ordinance in her letter to the editor of the Napa Valley Register. “When you examine other quality-oriented wine regions of the world, you’ll see that the greatest wine estates are closed to the public and yet they manage to sell their wines at high prices. I’d like to say it’s the quality and not a wedding party that is responsible for their success.”

If Napa has done a somewhat good job staving off weddings for the last two decades—admittedly, quite a few sneak by the ordinance—that just means couples have redirected their attentions to other wine-producing regions, like next-door neighbor Sonoma. According to legal firm IJ Action, Sonoma County hosted 3,000 winery weddings in 2013, injecting $101 million into the local economy. Other regions such as Texas Hill Country, the Charlottesville area of Virginia, the North Fork of Long Island, and New York’s Finger Lakes have also jumped on the trend.

“People like wineries because of the romance,” says Tambi Schweizer, the former tasting hall and wine club manager at Heron Hill Winery, which started holding weddings in 2000 and now does about 25 annually. “The couples want to get their picture in the barrel room. In front of the vineyard it always looks very romantic.”

Ah, yes, pictures. You can’t ignore the importance of Instagrammability in general, but especially at weddings.

“Whether you love wine or not, couples want that wow factor for their wedding more than anything else these days,” explains Ivy Jacobson, who served as digital editor of The Knot.

“They want their guests to say, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen that wedding before!’ They want beautiful pictures to be taken. That’s why unconventional venues like wineries are having a moment. It’s organized with social media in mind more than anything.”

The first time I attended a wedding at a winery was in the Finger Lakes, NY, circa 2005. “How’s the wine here?” I naively asked my buddy, the groom. “Awful,” he responded. We both drank Brooklyn Lagers all night.

A couple of years later, at a wedding at a pastoral winery on the North Fork of Long Island, NY, the bartender insisted I have a Dewar’s instead of the house Chardonnay. At many winery weddings, the bubbles for the toast is carted in from another producer.

Did wineries with bad wine pivot to become wedding venues? Or did the scourge of wedding receptions every weekend lead winery owners to not particularly care if their wine is great, so long as the event deposits keep rolling in?

There do seem to be some wineries that don’t even need to make wine, and exist merely to hold weddings —“Potemkin wineries,” Olken derisively calls them — but Olken doesn’t think good wine and a beautiful setting are mutually exclusive. “I think that’s a fallacy, that if you hold weddings, you have bad wine,” he says. “If you do it right, you can do both very well.”

The question is: Does anyone care?

Olken recalls attending a wedding a few years back at the well-regarded Thomas Fogarty Winery in the hills of the San Francisco Peninsula. It had lovely views of the vineyards, and the wine was delicious.

The kicker, however, was that the bride and groom didn’t just not drink that particular vineyard’s wine… They didn’t drink at all.

“It’s a very attractive place, which is why these wealthy kids chose it,” Olken says. “They didn’t choose it because of the wine; they couldn’t care less. So it doesn’t matter that that winery was a decent winery. All they care about is the optics.”

So do other couples, and that’s why this wedding winery industrial complex has sprung up in areas not exactly known for producing world-class wine, like, say, Brooklyn—where, admittedly, the grapes are trucked in from Long Island. Thus, maybe it’s not the wineries that are cynical. Maybe it’s the bride and groom. And maybe it’s always been that way.

Even in that initial Wine Enthusiast article from 2001, the magazine noted, “You might think that the people who get married at wineries must all be crazy about wine…most brides and grooms interviewed for this article said that an attractive outdoor location was their top criterion for a wedding or reception site.”

So if I’ve mostly had bad wine at winery weddies, maybe it was simply my bad luck that the couples getting married cared more about the setting, the romance, the potential for killer photos, than what their guests would be drinking all night. Hell, maybe I should be paying more attention to my friends’ weddings than focusing on how good or bad their wine is.

Credit: BKWinery.com

Now, certain wineries are finally starting to realize that having non-wine fans in for a raucous Saturday night might not actually benefit their business in the long term. Jim Nocek, owner of Anyela Vineyard in New York’s Finger Lakes, toys with putting an end to having wedding receptions on his estate. He had offered them since 2009, holding about 20 per year.

Initially, he thought it was nothing more than a smart business decision. Opening a winery is “capital intensive,” he tells me; his vineyard was planted in 2001 and he wasn’t even able to start earning a single dollar from it for another five years. Using his facilities for the most effective economic capacities was a good insurance measure.

“When you look at, certainly, the booking of an event for a certain amount of money, it’s a sure thing,” he says, “as opposed to ‘Is this going to be a good Saturday or a bad one?’”

As the years moved on, his wine became better regarded, and his winery and the Finger Lakes in general became more of a wine tourism destination, he began to question the need for weddings. He hated always having part of his winery blocked off on weekends for receptions.

“We were cannibalizing some of our regular Saturday business,” he explained. “And that concerned me a great deal. We were first a winery before anything else. That’s our core business.”

He had also learned that weddings aren’t always the massive cash cow that they seem to be to outsiders. There are all kinds of hidden costs and challenges, like setting up temporary seating, coordinating with caterers (few wineries have kitchens), and not annoying countryside neighbors with loud music. There’s countless headaches to deal with as well, including portable bathrooms getting flooded, and young, drunken guests mistreating the facilities.

With so few weekends during the summer, Nocek started thinking it would be better to focus on the true wine fans—those who might actually return to the vineyard every year—as opposed to uninterested, one-time reception guests. As of summer 2019, Anyela Vineyard is no longer hosting wedding receptions.

“Certainly part of the challenge is you have to identify what you’re about. You’re about selling wine,” Nocek explains. “So hopefully [the bride and groom] would like wine and their invitees would like wine and you’d sell more wine. But that’s not usually true and I think there was definitely a diversion from what we had initially wanted to do.”

Olken doesn’t own a winery, but he agrees with Nocek’s way of thinking.

“The argument has become that the wineries need the weddings to survive economically. “But do they?” Olken asks. The U.S. has gone from around 6,000 wineries in 2009 to more than 10,000 today and only continues to grow, generating some $200 billion in revenue. “The failure rate of wineries is infinitesimal to the failure rate of pretty much all other businesses. They just don’t fail. You have to be an absolute idiot at winemaking and wine-selling to fail at it.

“We just don’t lose a lot of wineries. Weddings or not.”

The article The Winery Wedding Industrial Complex Doesn’t Care if You Have Objections appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/winery-wedding-trend/

[eileenparsons]

Great concert! Skanfest, the Joey Alexander Trio (at Anyela's Vineyard)

[itsworn]

The ARP/Street Rodder Syracuse Nationals Week Road Tour Part 2

Tuesday kicked off with a special drivers’ meeting at the fairgrounds. Many of the Road Tour participants are camping at the fairgrounds all week. We thought it would be fun to have a drivers’ meeting there one morning and Tuesday The Right Coast Association bought doughnuts and coffee for all of us. Rob O’Conner from The Right Coast greeted us and spoke about the special events happening this year at the Syracuse Nationals. It was also announced that we will be organizing a Syracuse Nationals Week Road Tour again next year when the event celebrates its 20th anniversary. After our get-together we drove to the location where our Road Tour hospitality tent and special parking will be located during the weekend.

It was then off to the city of Cortland, New York, and the CNY Living History Center. It was a 45-minute drive and we were greeted at the museum by members of the 7 Valley Street Rods and 15 of their vehicles. They had doughnuts and coffee ready when we arrived. Many thanks to club member David Miller for spearheading the welcoming committee. We were also greeted by the museum’s executive director Luke Biondi. Luke gave us an overview of the three areas of the museum. The Homeville Museum is dedicated to preserving military, railroad, and local history. The Brockway Truck Museum focuses on this famous truck brand that was manufactured in Cortland. The Tractors of Yesteryear features antique tractors and farm equipment that played such a large part of the area’s agricultural history. Everyone enjoyed all three areas and we were all impressed with the efforts that have gone into making the CNY Living History Center such a gem for Cortland and the surrounding area.

After lunch in Cortland it was a beautiful drive around Lake Skaneateles. We visited Anyela’s Vineyard and the quaint village of Skaneateles. It was then time to get back to Syracuse. Some of the Road Tourians had plans to attend the Cheap Trick-Foreigner concert at the Lakeview Amphitheater near the fairgrounds. It was another fun day on the Syracuse Nationals Week Road Tour.

The post The ARP/Street Rodder Syracuse Nationals Week Road Tour Part 2 appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/arpstreet-rodder-syracuse-nationals-week-road-tour-part-2/ via IFTTT

[johnsimon]

Saturday's are made for wine tastings 🍷😍 . . . . . . . . . #ny #nyc #newyork #nightlife #bloggerlife #igers #finedining #drinks #cocktails #CocktailPorn #Syracuse #visitsyracuse #vineyards #redwine #boomerang #views #travel #wanderlust #photooftheday #adventure (at Anyela's Vineyard)