Award Winning Wines for Cortland Arts and Wine Festival Given the state of the economy this summer, many people are looking forward to attending local festivals and events for inexpensive entertainment. The Third Annual Cortland Arts and Wine Festival, scheduled for Saturday, August 1st is quickly becoming one of the premiere festivals in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The festival begins at 10:00 a.m. at Courthouse Park in Cortland and runs until 6:00 p.m. The wine tent opens at Noon and the first 1,000 visitors will receive a free commemorative wine glass and a Taster’s Guide. This year’s festival will have a record 20 New York State wineries under one tent offering more than 140 wines for tasting, all at a ticket price of $15. Discount tickets are available online @ www.cortlandartsandwine.com. In addition, there will also be over 60 artists and artisan crafters from throughout the region, a dozen food vendors offering a variety of ethnic foods, and live music throughout the day, all free and open to the public. Many popular wineries will be returning for the second and third year. New wineries include Anthony Roaad Wine Company, Catherine Valley Winery, Hunt Country Vineyards, Knapp Winery, White Springs Estate Winery, and two of the state’s largest wineries in Glenora and Wagner. “The special atmosphere of Courthouse Park, the classically oriented music, and outstanding art and food give the Cortland Arts and Wine Festival a special atmosphere, a glow, that is uniquefor the region’s festivals,” exclaims David Beale, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Cortland County, sponsoring agency of the event. “ One can taste a cross section of Finger Lakes Wines, several of them award winners, at a cost far less than the cost of visiting each winery separately. In addition there will be great food, art from all over the northeast and live music all day.” A pick-up service will be available so people don’t have to carry around purchases while enjoying the rest of the festival. The twenty wineries will be presenting over 140 different varieties of wine and six different flavors of Mercer’s Dairy wine ice cream (which has five-percent alcohol content) for tasting and purchase. Among the varieties are Chablis, Riesling, Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Honey Wine, Blueberry Wine, Raspberry Wine, Rhubarb Wine, Pinot Noir, Hard Cider, Concord/Niagara, Pinot Grigio,and Vino Rosso In addition to standard wines, outstanding wines proprietary to particular wineries include The Lost Irishman, Copper Eagle, Indian Summer, Toby’s Red and White, Crystal Lake, Peach Spumante, Bobsled Red, and others. Because of the alcohol content, access to the wine tent will be limited and controlled. The number will be limited to the first 3,000 people and there will be an admission charge of $15.00. More information may be obtained at the website www.cortlandartsandwine.com +++++++++++++++++++++ For Further Information Contact: David Beale
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