LOCALadk Magazine

22 Fall 2015 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk "As the premier winery of the Adirondacks, located in beautiful Lake George Village, it is our goal to provide award-winning, locally hand- crafted wines with a touch of Adirondack nostalgia to friends, family, and customers alike," says Danielle Brown, Marketing Coordinator for Adirondack Winery. "We love introducing people from near and far to our wines and we look forward to the familiar faces that return time and time again; we are a part of their story, and they are a part of ours!" Double your fun at Elfs Farm Win- ery & Cider House, a family farm winery that produces its own lo- cally-grown grape, fruit, and ap- ple wines and sweet cider on the Adirondack Coast. Cold climate hybrid grapes perfectly suited for the Adirondack region allow the winery to create its selection of wines, including several award-win- ning varietals. In 2005, the Frey family began producing hard ci- der—which the winery is now well-known for—made from all local apples from the Champlain Valley Adirondack Coast of New York. When visiting Elfs Farm Winery & Cider House, don't leave without trying the Estate Frontenac, an oak barrel-fermented and aged dry red wine with fruity undertones, the perfect complement to a heart- ier meal. The Strawberry Hard Cider is another must-try—a crisp, re- freshing cider also made from New York fruit ingredients. Adirondack Winery is fittingly lo- cated in Lake George alongside shops and eateries that provide a full day of fun and explora- tion. This winery offers a delight- ful selection of whites, reds, blush wines, and dessert wines, but is best known for its fruit-in- fused wines like Soaring Strawberry, a strawberry-infused white wine. The New York International Wine Competition recent- ly honored Adirondack Winery as New York Riesling Winery of the Year for its semi-dry Riesling that is also a big hit with guests. On the must-try list are three limited edition "winemaker" wines just released this July—Meritage (a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvi- gnon, and Merlot), Barrel-Aged Chardonnay, and Adirondack Splen- dor, a port-style wine. If you bring home only one, enjoy the Meri- tage with a nice red meat and tomato-based recipe or simply by itself. The tasting room is open year-round, with hours seven days a week from spring through fall and a modified schedule from January through March. Be sure to check the website for the season's hours when you plan your visit. A regular wine tasting will run you just $6 per person to try seven of the 35 different wines on Adirondack Win- ery's roster. You will also receive a souvenir glass, or you can upgrade for a small fee to receive the larger connoisseur wine glass instead. A rustic retreat, a home-away-from-home, or for some, the perfect place to call home-- the Adirondack Park is the perfect depiction of the great outdoors. But as remote as things may seem, this wilderness region bears no shortage of recreational activities, memorable attractions, savory restaurants, and of course, its own local flavors honored by Adirondack-region wineries. From its famed Adirondack Coast Wine Trail to numerous individual vineyards peppered here and there around the 6.1 million acres of forest preserve, lovers of white and red need no further excuse to sip the day away. Whether you plan a single stop or a day's trek to visit as many wineries as you can reach, the fall season is the perfect time to uncork the Adirondacks. Keep reading to explore four vineyards, giving you a taste of the diverse flavors represented by the area's mountainside wineries. Adirondack Winery 285 Canada St Lake George, NY 12845 (518) 668-9463 www.adirondackwinery.com Elfs Farm Winery & Cider House 7411 State Route 9 Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 563-2750 www.elfsfarm.com Uncorked in the Adirondacks Story and Photo by Kate D'Imperio

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