CANANDAIGUA — More than 30 wineries, breweries, distilleries and hard cideries have joined forces in Upstate New York’s newest tourism-focused beverage destination: The Rochester/Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail.
The new trail combines beverage makers in Monroe, Ontario and Wayne counties. The trail is a partnership between Ontario County’s tourism agency, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, and the Rochester Craft Beverage Trail and also links in the Canadaigua Lake Wine Trail.
As with other similar efforts throughout the state, the trail gives the beverage companies the ability to combine marketing initiatives, host common events. The state contributes road signs marking the trial and highlighting destinations.
Destinations along the trail include Inspire Moore Winery in Naples, Casa Larga Winery in Fairport, Billsboro Winery in Geneva, Knucklehead Craft Brewing in Webster, Rohrbach Brewing in Rochester, Reinvention Brewing in Manchester, Embark Craft Cider Works in Williamson, Black Button Distilling in Rochester and Honeoye Falls Distillery in Hoenoye Falls, plus many others.
“Tying the identity of the trail to Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region leverages our marketing ability on both sides and expands the presence of all these entities,” Valerie Knoblauch, president of Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, said in a news release.
The partners also hope the trails boosts visits to other attractions, like the George Eastman Museum in Rochester and the New York Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua.,
“There’s more strength in marketing together,” said Jason Barrett, owner of Black Button Distilling and founder of the Rochester Craft Beverage Trail.
“Wine and grape juice is a $4.8 billion industry in New York,” Knoblauch noted, “… while breweries contribute $3.5 billion to the state economy. Both industries bolster tourism throughout the state, but especially in the Finger Lakes Region.”
Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
