Stony Lonesome
by
K.L. Sullivan
Summary: Dressed in casual dress clothes or to the nines, this tasting room is for you. Here wine is taken seriously, so be prepared for a curved quartz tasting counter, artistic local art, and leather seating near a fireplace. If you’re hungry, check out the grill that features barbeques during the summer and sandwiches in the winter. Enjoy a meal paired with a glass of wine on the large wrap-a-round deck. Add the ambience of the nearby vineyards and views of Seneca Lake for a delightful time.
The approach to Stoney Lonesome is from a stone parking lot. Just past a small manmade pond with fish and a water lily, a set of steps takes you directly to the front doors. The building is easily accessible by a long wood ramp for those with wheelchairs or strollers.
Upon entering the tasting room, directly in front of you will be the gift shop area, to the left is the tasting counter and to your right is seating around a stone fireplace. Further on to the right is The Lumber Yard grille, open Wednesday thru Sunday. The wood ceiling reaches a high apex and the wood floor gives a warm finish. Large paned windows add ambience, light and views of the vineyards.
We met Dave Mansfield, one of three brothers who own the winery, and he provided us with a tour of the winery facility that is located below Stoney Lonesome. This winery is the location for the production of all the wines for all three wine tasting rooms of Three Brothers Wineries and Estates. The winery currently produces about 10,000 cases of wine. Each tasting room has its own particular style of wine and in the Stoney Lonesome tasting room you will discover that the focus is on dry wines. Dave was quick to point out that the numerous stainless steel tanks allow them to produce enough different wines for each tasting room. The winery uses state of the art tanks, each with its own separate control.
In the tasting room, we tasted several wines. Every wine in Stoney Lonesome is an estate wine. The Dry Riesling 2006 offered a fruity nose and taste with a crisp, long fruity aftertaste. Pinot Blanc is a white wine made from a red grape. It had just a hint of pink. It was sweet with a long fruit aftertaste. Chambourcin 2007 had a dark purple color. The nose was of a fruit jam and the taste was a dark black fruit with eucalyptus. The aftertaste was of fruit. Rosé Reserve 2006 had a red-orange color with a red fruit jam nose and taste. The Pinot Blanc was a white wine made from Pinot Noir. The juice spent very little time in contact with the skins. The grapes were harvested later in the season. The color had just a hint of pink, was sweet with a long fruit aftertaste.
Looking for a gift? Check out the handmade pottery available near the tasting counter. Both functional and decorative, Old Crow Pottery located in Seneca Falls, NY has a lovely display. Other items available in the tasting room are sterling silver jewelry, fudge and wine accessories.
The views of the vineyards and Seneca Lake are stunning. The deck is a wonderful spot to sit, relax and enjoy wine and the views. Inside the tasting room you can get a closer view of the lake using a telescope. Consider stopping at The Lumber Yard for lunch. Seating is available inside the tasting room and outside on the deck or at picnic tables near the vineyards. With a fireplace that opens to two sides, rain or shine Stoney Lonesome is a tasting room to visit.
Stony Lonesome
623 Lerch Road
Geneva NY 14456
GPS N 42° 82.302' W 076° 92.351'
For more information
Three Brothers website
