Visit Thousand Islands Area Wineries
_by Teresa Farrell
Imagine a place where lush, rolling farmland and gorgeous blue skies are a regular part of the landscape; where the summer sun drenches the countryside in where fields of luscious grapes sit plump and ready to be made into some of the nation’s most award-winning varieties of wine. The kind of place where you want to roll down the windows and let the warm breeze wash over you. The kind of place where even the air smells sweet.
No, it’s not California. It’s not France. It’s the Thousand Islands.
Surprised? Come see for yourself! The Thousand Islands region has always been home to some of the most breathtaking scenery and unique vacation opportunities in Upstate New York. When the Thousand Islands Seaway Wine Trail opened in 2007, it was one more attraction to add to the list. With nineteen vineyards, four wineries, and one grape nursery, this trail provides an excellent variety of the flavors and favorites of Thousand Islands Wine.
Coyote Moon Vineyards, Thousand Islands Winery, Yellow Barn Winery, and Otter Creek Winery produce some of the most delicious and award-winning varieties of wine in the state. Stop in for a sample and experience gorgeous views as well as a variety of wines for tasting. The best part is this: wherever you are in the Thousand Islands, you can get to at least one winery, regardless of how much time you have. If you devote a day to it, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the best of each one. Not all of the vineyards are open for tourism, but the Seaway Cold Hardy Grapes & Vineyard in Evans Mills is accessible to the public. Stroll through this place and witness the process of grapegrowing behind all of these delectable Thousand Islands Wine. Not only is it interesting, it’s tasty, too.
Otter Creek Winery overlooks the rolling vineyards while sheep graze below. Coyote Moon provides a breathtaking view of the farmland surrounding it, and Thousand Island Winery lies on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River. Yellow Barn Winery, true to its name, is an old-fashioned barn with priceless antique charm.
This is one of the premier areas in the state where climate, rich soil, and moisture in the air combine to create a perfect environment for growing cold-hardy grapes. These varieties were developed at the University of Minnesota, and were specially designed to stand up to the colder weather of the Northeast to create bold, complex, flavorful wines. The end product is more than 43 varieties of high-quality, unique and delicious wines to choose from in the Thousand Islands region.
The wineries offer variety to please any tastes, from dry to sweet, red to white and everything in between. Tastings are available at all four wineries, giving adventurous buyers the opportunity to sample any flavor they please before they make their selections. And there are other treats available as well; for example, stop into Coyote Moon in the summer to sample their wine slushy: a delicious combination of grape juice and sweet red wine that puts all other slushies to shame.
But wineries aren’t the only fun, cultural places to visit here. The Thousand Islands-Seaway Wine Trail winds through 78 miles of the most beautiful and historic land in Jefferson County. Museums and galleries are everywhere, and they offer events and special weekends throughout the year. Concerts, fireworks and parks are abundant, and picnic areas—whether within a state park or just at a scenic spot along the way—are plentiful. Just remember to bring home a few bottles to serve up over the winter, when memories of a sweet summer wine tour come pouring back!
Imagine a place where lush, rolling farmland and gorgeous blue skies are a regular part of the landscape; where the summer sun drenches the countryside in where fields of luscious grapes sit plump and ready to be made into some of the nation’s most award-winning varieties of wine. The kind of place where you want to roll down the windows and let the warm breeze wash over you. The kind of place where even the air smells sweet.
No, it’s not California. It’s not France. It’s the Thousand Islands.
Surprised? Come see for yourself! The Thousand Islands region has always been home to some of the most breathtaking scenery and unique vacation opportunities in Upstate New York. When the Thousand Islands Seaway Wine Trail opened in 2007, it was one more attraction to add to the list. With nineteen vineyards, four wineries, and one grape nursery, this trail provides an excellent variety of the flavors and favorites of Thousand Islands Wine.
Coyote Moon Vineyards, Thousand Islands Winery, Yellow Barn Winery, and Otter Creek Winery produce some of the most delicious and award-winning varieties of wine in the state. Stop in for a sample and experience gorgeous views as well as a variety of wines for tasting. The best part is this: wherever you are in the Thousand Islands, you can get to at least one winery, regardless of how much time you have. If you devote a day to it, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the best of each one. Not all of the vineyards are open for tourism, but the Seaway Cold Hardy Grapes & Vineyard in Evans Mills is accessible to the public. Stroll through this place and witness the process of grapegrowing behind all of these delectable Thousand Islands Wine. Not only is it interesting, it’s tasty, too.
Otter Creek Winery overlooks the rolling vineyards while sheep graze below. Coyote Moon provides a breathtaking view of the farmland surrounding it, and Thousand Island Winery lies on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River. Yellow Barn Winery, true to its name, is an old-fashioned barn with priceless antique charm.
This is one of the premier areas in the state where climate, rich soil, and moisture in the air combine to create a perfect environment for growing cold-hardy grapes. These varieties were developed at the University of Minnesota, and were specially designed to stand up to the colder weather of the Northeast to create bold, complex, flavorful wines. The end product is more than 43 varieties of high-quality, unique and delicious wines to choose from in the Thousand Islands region.
The wineries offer variety to please any tastes, from dry to sweet, red to white and everything in between. Tastings are available at all four wineries, giving adventurous buyers the opportunity to sample any flavor they please before they make their selections. And there are other treats available as well; for example, stop into Coyote Moon in the summer to sample their wine slushy: a delicious combination of grape juice and sweet red wine that puts all other slushies to shame.
But wineries aren’t the only fun, cultural places to visit here. The Thousand Islands-Seaway Wine Trail winds through 78 miles of the most beautiful and historic land in Jefferson County. Museums and galleries are everywhere, and they offer events and special weekends throughout the year. Concerts, fireworks and parks are abundant, and picnic areas—whether within a state park or just at a scenic spot along the way—are plentiful. Just remember to bring home a few bottles to serve up over the winter, when memories of a sweet summer wine tour come pouring back!