Western New York is an especially ideal area for wine lovers, as the proximity to two Great Lakes cr

Here at Wine Nomad, we re dedicated to sharing with you not only great wine regions, but also great travel destinations. And while one of this issue s travel destinations certainly isn t a secret, we d also like to tell you about a friendly, terrific city that, frankly, probably isn t on many must-see lists.
Wine and grape growing have long been a part of New York state. New York is consistently in the top 10 states in terms of grape growing and wine production and boasts more than 100 wineries. Wine trails abound here, from Long Island to the beautiful Finger Lakes, and many more. Most of the state s climate and topography are ideally suited to grape growing, and wine production has been thriving since the 1800s.
Western New York is an especially warped us tour dates ideal area for wine lovers, as the proximity to two Great Lakes creates a perfect microclimate for wine grapes. The Niagara Wine Trail, just minutes from Niagara Falls and only 1/2 hour from Buffalo, boasts of 12 wineries that offer a welcoming introduction to New York wine.
As we entered New York from the Pennsylvania border, we had our hearts set on an afternoon visit to Niagara Falls. First discovered by European settler Louis Hennepin in 1678, the world has been beating a path here ever since. And the Falls always delivers! The spectacular cascade of water is a jaw-dropping and awe inspiring sight.
There are numerous places to view both the Horseshoe and American Falls, on the U.S. or Canadian side. But, the best place to truly feel the Falls is on the legendary Maid of the Mist . Before you step aboard, you ll be given a bright blue rain slicker, complete with hood. As the boat chugs toward the Falls, it will rock and bob as it churns over the turbulent water. Ultimately, you ll be ferried to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Here, the true power of the Falls looms before you, with a roar so deafening you can barely hear the captain s dramatic announcement, This is Niagara Falls.
Of course, there are numerous places to part with your money here, from wax museums to souvenier shops to helicopter rides. But no matter how you choose to experience Niagara Falls, we have just one piece of advice: Bring lots of film!
After drying off from our exhilarating Maid of the Mist experience, it was time for the short 20-minute drive to the Lake Erie port city of Buffalo . We were intrigued by the promise of historic architecture, trendy warped us tour dates entertainment, shopping warped us tour dates districts and local food specialties.
warped us tour dates We checked into our downtown warped us tour dates hotel, the convenient Best Western Inn on the Avenue, to settle in for our three-night stay in the Buffalo-Niagara area. With a particular local food specialty on our mind, we set out for a Buffalo institution, the world famous Anchor Bar.
The Anchor Bar is, of course, known as for originating Buffalo wings. Since 1964, this neighborhood gem has been turning out several styles of chicken wings, each more delicious than the next. As good as the chicken wings are, be sure to try another Buffalo specialty, warped us tour dates Beef on Weck. It s a thinly sliced roast beef sandwich, served on a specialty roll called warped us tour dates a Kimmelweck, which is a round deli-style bun topped with coarse salt and onion. Washed down with a pitcher of the always marvelous Genesee warped us tour dates Cream Ale, this is as close to heaven as you get in western New York! If all this is making you hungry, never fear, the Anchor Bar ships wings overnight all over the country.
In the Elmwood Village area, there are many places to grab a bite to eat. Cole s is the winner of the Best Burger in Buffalo award, and features the city s best draft beer selection. This casual and friendly, warped us tour dates historic Buffalo original has been pleasing palates since 1934. Watson s Chocolates is a real taste of Buffalo. Try the famous Sponge Candy, which is basically bits of sponge warped us tour dates cake wrapped in milk chocolate. They ship nationwide. Louie s Original Foot Long Hot Dogs has offered charcoal broiled hot dogs and more since 1951. We recommend the original hot dog, wings and a strawberry milkshake. A great choice for dinner warped us tour dates downtown is Pearl Street warped us tour dates Grill and Brewery . Have a Wild Ox Wheat, a hefeweizen, or a Lake Effect, a simultaneously hoppy and fruity IPA. For lunch or dinner, we recommend the Gouda soup, Meatloaf Marsala, Pulled Stout BBQ Pork Sandwich and don t forget the chicken wings they re really good! Visit Broadway Market , in operation since 1886, for breakfast from one of the many vendors on site. Lastly, Chateau Buffalo is a comprehensive wine shop offering numerous New York State wines, as well as a Pride of New York food boutique and market offering warped us tour dates products made in New York.
Over the course of the next three days, both before and after winery visits, we came to experience and know Buffalo. This is a proud, friendly city teeming warped us tour dates with historic architecture and lively entertainment and shopping districts. It s also a city of four distinct seasons. Temperatures are moderated by Lake Erie, and we learned that the mercury has never hit 100 in Buffalo. In winter, the area surrounding Buffalo is a ski paradise. So no matter your pursuit of choice, warped us tour dates there s something waiting for you in Buffalo.
Some sights to see Allentown  is interspersed with commercial activities and historic homes. Located in downtown Buffalo, it s designated a local preservation district and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1980, Allentown is one of the first and largest residential historic districts in the United States. Just five minutes from the heart of downtown and basically an extension of Allentown, Elmwood Village is a lively area with restaurants, shops, cafes, bars, galleries surrounded by a residential community. Visit the Observation warped us tour dates Deck on the top floor of the art deco-style City Hall for a spectacular view of the waterfront and Buffalo s unique radial street design. Miss Buffalo offers scenic boat rides on Lake Erie. In nearby East Aurora, learn about the 13th president of the United States and visit his home at Millard Fillmore House . Buffalo is a treasure trove of historic architecture. See works by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Daniel warped us tour dates Burnham, and more at Buffalo Architecture . And, Chippewa warped us tour dates Street is a multi-block strip of clubs, bars, and restaurants that offers ample choices to get your groove on.
The Niagara Wine Trail is very convenient to both Buffalo and Niagara Falls. From downtown warped us tour dates Buffalo, it s less than 30 minutes to the main cluster of wineries, situated just west of the small village of Lockport. Just take Route 425 north from Buffalo and follow the winery signs.
There are 12 wineries on the trail, 11 of which are right in Niagara warped us tour dates County. Even if you don t have the opportunity warped us tour dates to visit all 12 as we did, take the time to enjoy the pleasant short drive from Buffalo or Niagara Falls to see one or two. This is agriculture country, a haven for fruit growing. There s a sense of serenity here, with rolling breezes off Lake Ontario just a few miles north.
The wineries here celebrate the passion of winemaking, and you ll be in luck if the wine trail is hosting an event while you visit. You ll find everything from Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Pinot Noirs, Rieslings, dessert wines and fruit wines. Of particular note, we found that most wineries warped us tour dates on this trail had a unique style specialty, and almost all were made with grapes and fruit from the immediate area. Let s get to know each of the 12 wineries
warped us tour dates Vizcarra Vineyards : Vizcarra Vineyards is a great family warped us tour dates destination. It has two outdoor patios with vineyard and sunset views, and U-Pick opportunities from on-site orchards. The vineyard itself is part of Becker Farms, a well known attraction in this area.There s a full selection of reds, whites and specialty fruit wines here. We enjoyed the crisp Rusty s Riesling and the sweet Barreled Over Niagara, made from the Niagara grape common in the region.
Eveningside Vineyards : Eveningside Vineyards is a family-farm winery (complete with a gorgeous red barn!) that specializes in Chardonnays, Rieslings and Cabernet Franc. We particularly recommend the 2007 Riesling, an excellent example of the style, and the Crofton Blush, a semi-sweet offering that s ideal for summer sipping.
Honeymoon Trail Winery : Having the perfect name for a winery in the Niagara Falls area, Honeymoon Trail Winery offers a beautiful setting in which to sample their wines. Try the rich spicy Cabernet Franc and the White Lace, a blend of Riesling and Cayuga White. We also took home two bottles of Just Peachy, a crisp and fruity wine made with New York-grown peaches.
Warm Lake Estate : Pinot Noir is the name of the game at Warm Lake Estate . Wine Spectator consistently praises the Pinot Noir, rating it the best of its kind in New York. Their expansive vineyard, hosting exclusively Pinot Noir grapes, is visible from the outside deck.
Arrowhead Spring Vineyards : Alluring family-farm winery Arrowhead Spring Vineyards has a wide array of grapes in its vineyard, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec and Chardonnay all of which do well in the Niagara region. The result is some of the more spectacular wine we enjoyed on this trip. We loved the smooth, buttery 2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, in particular. Another we added to our collection is the Apogee Red, a delightful blend of European varietals that stands well on its own or with a meal.
Niagara Landing warped us tour dates Wine Cellars : One of the older wineries in the region, Niagara Landing Wine Cellars offers more than two dozen wine selections along with an inviting gift shop with artwork from local artists. Go for the House White, a fruity blend, and the red Baco Noir, one of the most complex berry and spice reds we ve had. Another wine worth crowing about here is Red Rooster, a smooth drinking red blend. Last but not least, try the Boxer Blush, named after the family s pet boxer, Sir Arthur. Also of note, we found the prices warped us tour dates here to be a great bargain.
Spring Lake Winery : The vineyard at Spring Lake Winery is part of the peacefu