A Fine Time For Wine
A Fine Time for Wine
Local Wineries Celebrate Harvest Season
For all of summer’s wonderful smells – from fresh-cut grass to sizzling barbecues – there’s nothing quite like the fragrant aroma of grapes ripening on the vine throughout the Southern Tier. As summer gives way to yellow leaves, crisp nights, and frosty mornings, area vineyards begin harvesting the season’s bounty in one of the largest grape-growing regions outside of California’s Napa Valley. Now is the perfect time to enjoy a tasting and stock up on your local favorites because for all the beauty of autumn, we know there’s a long winter just around the corner!
WINERY OF ELLICOTTVILLE
The Winery of Ellicottville is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and owners Beth and Sam Sheehy are excited to have their tasting room open again. “The harvest is looking good this year,” said Beth Sheehy. “We expect to be pulling in a lot of grapes!”
This fall, Sheehy is looking forward to introducing a special anniversary wine, as well as a new variety of red. “Something new we’re trying this year is a bourbon barrel-aged cabernet,” she said. “We’re really featuring our hard ciders this fall, too. Our Hideous Plaid hard ciders are made with apples from a local orchard. We have a sweet red cider, a blood orange cider, and a berry hard cider that we also feature this time of year.”
The winery, located in downtown Ellicottville at 14 Monroe Street, is now open at 50% capacity. “We’re selling flights of wine with light fare that you can take back to your table,” said Sheehy. “Mask-wearing is a must, but you can remove it once you’re seated at your table. Don’t be afraid to visit … we’re excited to be open!”
Winery hours are noon to 6:00pm Wednesday and Thursday, noon-7:00pm Friday, 11:00am-8:30pm Saturday, and 11:00am-7:00pm Sunday. For more information or orders, visit wineryofellicottville.com or call 716-699-1055. Follow the Winery of Ellicottville on Facebook and Instagram.
WILLOW CREEK
According to Jessica Metzger of Silver Creek’s Willow Creek Winery, this year’s harvest is promising because the region did not experience a particularly rainy summer. Contrary to popular belief, “You don’t need a wet summer,” Metzger said. “Water interferes with the natural sweetening process, so it’s good not to get a lot of rain.”
Metzger said that currently, dry reds and reds in general are popular right now, though many returning customers have a particular favorite in mind when they visit Willow Creek. “What we’re best known for are our chocolate wines,” she said. “We have three varieties: Chocolate Temptations, Chautauqua Chocolate and Chocolate Peppermint Patty!”
Located in the heart of Chautauqua County’s grape belt, Willow Creek Winery is excited to welcome new and returning customers. Family-owned and women-operated, Willow Creek Winery, 2627 Chapin Road, is open from 11:00am-4:00pm Monday through Saturday (closed Wednesday) and noon-4:00pm Sunday. All visitors are required to wear masks, and several sanitation stations are set up throughout the facility. Visitors can enjoy indoor and outdoor tastings and, per New York State’s COVID-19 regulations, all alcoholic beverages must be purchased and consumed with a food item. Find Willow Creek Winery on the web at willowcreekwines.net and on Facebook, or call 716-934-9463 for more information or to place an order.
FLICKERWOOD
Just an hour south of Ellicottville on Route 219, Flickerwood Wine Cellars at 309 Flickerwood Road in Kane, Pennsylvania is pleased to welcome visitors to their family-owned winery. This year, the Zampogna family is celebrating Flickerwood’s 20th anniversary!
Per Governor Wolf’s guidelines, Flickerwood is operating at 25% capacity; however, the tasting room is open every day, so there are many opportunities to visit! Stop in from noon-7:00pm Monday and Tuesday, noon-9:00pm Wednesday through Friday, 11:00am-9:00pm Saturday or noon-6:00pm Sunday.
Due to COVID-19, there is currently no bar service, but table-side wine tasting flights are available, as is outdoor seating. Owner Tammy Liberato said visitors can take part in monthly Cork & Crafts events.She added, “We built an outside axe-throwing area for clients to reserve too! We have a line of canned wine, which goes along with all the outdoor events and activities that go on in the area.”
According to Jamie Baker of Flickerwood’s tasting room, “Our most popular varieties of red wine are our Sweet Angel and Sleepy Hollow, and our Rosebud Red is a popular dry red. Everybody loves our Grandview White Niagara, too.” Other popular flavors include Flickerwood’s Riesling, Chantilly White, and their specialty wine, Flickerberry Dew, which is a blend of blackberry and black raspberry.
While all tastings must be paired with food, Baker said visitors can also enjoy delicious meals in the lounge. “Wednesday is Pasta Night, and every Thursday is Tacos and Tequila,” said Baker. Call Flickerwood at 814-837-7566 for reservations or to place an order for pick-up or delivery. To learn more, visit flickerwood.com or follow them on Facebook.
For more information about regional wineries in New York and Pennsylvania, visit Lake Erie Wine Country on the web at lakeeriewinecountry.org or the Pennsylvania Winery Association at pennsylvaniawine.com.