destination allison: New York

Finger Lakin' Good!

As a Colorado girl, I am heavily deprived of some good water time. And almost every day of summer, I miss the lakes, the boats, and the beaches.

So, when I go East Coast, I have to get my fix.

Mr. Umbrella and I headed to the Finger Lakes Region in Watkins Glen, New York.

Our lake of choice was the Seneca in part because of the room availability and in part because of the many wineries surrounding the sapphire waters and in part because of the hiking opportunities.

Absolutely gorgeous!

We Heart This Girl!

Her name is Emma, and she is great! And so was the wine she poured us!

Because of her extra sweetness, the winery, Hector Wine Company, she pours at deserves an extra shout out!

The wine was delicious. We particularly enjoyed the Soul White which was a unique blend of Vidal, Ravat, and Cayuga. It was peachy and sweet and refreshing.

She even showed us how to mix the wine with a little sensation called Verjooz. Verjooz is described as a Cabernet Franc Verjuice cooking ingredient. Emma poured a bit in our wine -- think margarita but with wine instead of tequila. We loved trying Verjooz because it was such a unique touch to the tasting experience. We weren't offered anything like this at any other winery. Definitely worth a stop at HWC to get yourself some!

In addition, Hector Wine Company is known for their live music, local art displays, gift shop of local goods, and their Lake Rat wines made from the Catawba grape.

Deuce sign throw up for Emma! She was the bomb.com! And so was the wine!

Adventures in Wine Tasting.

Sometimes, life is just more fun with wine.

So, after checking into our cutie-patootie bed and breakfast, we decided to taste our way around Seneca Lake.

Seneca Lake Wine Trail includes 34 wineries surrounding the breathtaking blue waters.

Known for great Rieslings, the region's climate offers an excellent growing place for all types of grapes from native to hybrids to the delicates.

Here are some highlights ...

Make sure to pick up the Seneca Lake Wine Trail Map and Guide. It provides brief information on each winery including hours, exact locations, attractions, current festivals, eateries, and local breweries. In general, I'm not really a map girl, but seeing the bigger picture is necessary to make the most of the 34 wineries!

Two Goats and Two Roast Beefs.

Okay, when the clock struck 6, we were having too much fun to say goodbye so Emma suggested we head to Two Goats Brewing to watch the sunset on the Seneca. (Told ya this girl is great!)

The local feel of Two Goats was perfect! Small town bar filled with local winery owners and pourers create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for this small town brew pub. And although we didn't get to experience the live music or open mic nights that the pub hosts, we still loved the place. And, definitely try the Cream Ale -- d-to-the-licious!

And, if you arrive hungry, Two Goats has a one item menu. They offer a roast beef sandwich with your choice of a horseradish sauce or BBQ.

Because I couldn't decide between the two sauces, I felt like I should try both. In hindsight, I probably should have ordered one sandwich with the two sauces on the side. Oops ... wine much?