1000 Islands Wine Region and Central New York
This newer wine region is experiencing new winery openings and more acres of vineyard plantings. The wine region roughly follows Interstate 81 from south west of Watertown to Alexandria Bay and the St. Lawrence River. In 2005, the Thousnd Islands Seaway Wine Trail was created. The seven member wineries hold trail events as well as individual winery events.
The region is a beautiful part of the country. It is easily accessed from Interstate 81 and Syracuse in New York. The region is alsso close and easy to get to from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal in Canada.
The region is too cold for growing most vinifera grapes unless the growers take measures such as covering the grape vines with soil. As a result, many growers are planting cold hardy wine grape varieties developed by the University of Minnosota. Some of these varieties include Brianna (pictured below), Frontenac Gris, La Crescent, Frontenac and Marquette.
Central New York is an emerging wine region. The area stretches from Syracuse south to Binghamton and to Cooperstown to the east.
Quick facts
Wineries Thousand Islands Region: 7
Wineries in Central New York Region: 19
