Finger Lakes - Anthony Road Wine Company

Before heading north to the Finger Lakes, all I heard was Anthony Road, you need to visit Anthony Road. So I did. ARWC is located on the upper western shore of Lake Seneca about 10 mile south of Geneva. A note of personal interest is the vineyards were first planted in 1973, the year I got married. Wine production started 16 years later in 1989 in a small barn that the owners had. The owners names were Martini. Funnny, how you can get great wine from a "Martini"! ARWC has a very spacious tasting room, very bright and inviting with lots of windows that overlook their beautifully landscaped gardens.

Riesling was the wine of note. This was a stellar year for Rieslings in the Fingerlakes region, and I can tell you personally they were deliciously flavorful.Fresh peach, melon and pear characters in this slightly sweeter Riesling. Great served chilled before dinner with appetizers or with spicier dishes.ARWC won the 2009 Govenor's cup for their 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling and are now sold out.

BUT, I have a passion for CabFranc and theirs was outstanding. ARWC has an 07 CabFranc/Lemberger that my son-in-law Josh had been urging me to taste. I was not disappointed. This was a full bodied red with characters of dark fruit, such as cherry and blackberry and a smooth velvety mouth feel, a bargain at $18.00.

These are only two of the 20 selections that were available to taste. Next stop Glenora Wine Cellars.