A holiday treat in N.Y.

“The wines in New York State have come a long way in recent years,” says George Heath III, 52, wine consultant, House of Bacchus, Rochester, N.Y., a top wine retailer and educator. “Many people don’t realize that the white wines that are produced in the Finger Lakes regions are top-notch. They get excellent scores” in wine competitions.

Back in the early 1990s, many of the wineries around Cayuga, Seneca and Keuka Lakes were just catching on. Many of the first plantings at those wineries took place in the late 1800s, but it was the state’s 1976 Farm Winery Act, which allowed small farm wineries to sell all their production on site, that put them on the national map.

Even though many of those early owners have sold to larger producers, the trip to the Finger Lakes Region is still enchanting. And progress has aided the travelers, who now can choose from various cafes and bed-and-breakfasts.

“Many of our visitors are surprised by the variety of wines that we offer,” said Jean Bates, 66, the cafe manager at Heron Hill Vineyards, Keuka Lake. During the holidays, these differing wines make great gifts for friends and family.

Many of the wineries, including Heron, have taken wine competition medals year after year.

On nearby Cayuga Lake, Knapp Vineyards has also taken a myriad of medals for their wines, including Chardonnays and Rieslings. While original owners Doug and Suzie Knapp sold to wine giant Glenora in 2000, the winery retains the laid-back feel it always had.

“We get a lot of visitors who are first time wine-drinkers; they walk in and they feel intimidated,” said Kerry Pierce, 28, assistant to the general manager. “We work hard to make them feel very comfortable and guide them through the wine process. Just because you don’t know what a certain process is doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy wines.”

IF YOU GO

» For more information about New York wines, including directions, go to www.visitfingerlakes.com, or call 877-FUN-IN-NY.