Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail Celebrates 21

Westfield, NY - Normally “21” conjures up that magic age when one can legally drink alcoholic beverages.   With its 2008 May Wine & Cheese Event, the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail will be celebrating 21 – not 21 years – but 21 member wineries. 

In 2008, the Wine Trail welcomes the upcoming licensing and operation of its 21^st member winery, Lakeview Wine Cellars, in North East, Pennsylvania.  Of the Wine Trail’s members, thirteen are located in New York and eight in Pennsylvania; five of these wineries were added within the last year. Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail Celebrates 21  In 2008, the Wine Trail welcomes the upcoming licensing and operation of its 21^st member winery, Lakeview Wine Cellars, in North East, Pennsylvania.  Of the Wine Trail’s members, thirteen are located in New York and eight in Pennsylvania; five of these wineries were added within the last year.

The “21” Celebration for the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail comes at the same time as its annual Wine & Cheese Event to be held May 3^rd & 4^th.  Each of the wineries will prepare a special dish using cheese provided by event sponsor, Heluva Good Cheese, and will pair it with a complementary wine.  Ticket holders may visit, in any order they please, each of the 21 wineries to sample this food and wine.  One winery is designated as a “pick-up” point for event wineglass, gift, and recipe cards.  This year, in addition to Saturday/Sunday tickets, the Wine Trail will also offer “Sunday Only” tickets; both are available on the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail’s website.

The Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail is located in the largest grape growing region east of the Rockies in western New York and Pennsylvania - now known as “America’s Grape Country”.   This new branding campaign, being completed in collaboration with the Chautauqua County Visitors’ Bureau and the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association with grant assistance from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, will highlight this 50-mile micro-climate which boasts 30,000 acres of vineyards (producing 65 percent of New York State’s grapes), sweeping vistas of Lake Erie, and quaint historic villages.
 
For more information on the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail or to order tickets for the May Wine and Cheese event, logon to www.chautauquawinetrail.org,   or call 877-326-6561.