Finger Lakes Wine Festival

* Take Advantage of Our Featured Seminars and Demonstrations
* Join the Fun - Pack Your Favorite Toga and Best Pajamas

WATKINS GLEN, NY - We've been busy this winter planning for the Finger Lakes Wine Festival (FLWF), supported by the Corning Museum of Glass, July 16-18, at Watkins Glen International and are excited to bring you an assortment of flavors for all appetites. Whether you're a weekend wine warrior or consider yourself a wine connoisseur, we are sure you'll find many tastes to please your palate this year. Featuring over 70 different wineries from across New York State, the Finger Lakes Wine Festival will surely meet the requirements of your taste buds.

Over 450 various wines will be poured throughout the course of the weekend featuring our region's own Finger Lakes Wines - from Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Canandaigua as well as Long Island and Western New York regions.

We'll be kicking off the weekend with the third annual "Launch of the Lakes" toga party, where King Michael Romana and Queen Anita Hall of Bath, NY will pass on their crowns to the newly appointed King and Queen. Several toga categories will be judged in our contest including - Best Theme, Most Unusual and Best Bacchus. So get out your favorite toga and get ready for some old fashioned Roman fun! Join us for live music, wine tastings, hors d'oeuvres, concessions, and don't forget - original flame working by the Corning Museum of Glass. The evening will be toped-off with a spectacular fireworks demonstration!

New this year - is our wild "Jammin' Jammies" pajama party in the Coliseum Village Saturday night, from 7-10pm. A $2 cover at the gate includes a live Reggae band, plus food and beverage will be available to purchase. This party is for Festival Campers - so pack your best PJ's and reserve a campsite today.

During the FLWF, in addition to wines, you can shop for arts, crafts and gourmet foods, take in a wine seminar, listen to live jazz and blues, enjoy a meal from over 10 restaurants in the Food Court (we even have wine slushies this year!), or see the famous Watkins Glen International road course up-close and on-track - through the windshield of a pace car!

Other noteworthy items:
* Discover the best in New York State Farms and Products, and how our famous area chefs use them in their culinary creations at the live cooking demonstrations!!
* Sit in on a wine seminar - the ever popular "Wine and Chocolate" is being offered three times this year! Don't miss out!
* Indulge in a champagne breakfast, or treat yourself to our Saturday evening Taster's Banquet with live jazz.
* Learn how experts rate wine during competition. You can be the judge, thanks to Women for New York State Wine. This year's focus will be Gewurztraminer and Dessert wines - and you choose the winner!
* Designated driver tickets are available as well as shuttle services.
Contact Covered Wagons Tours at 607-792-3663 for a shuttle schedule. We want everyone to be safe!

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* Once again, the Finger Lakes Wine Festival will offer the Wine Pick-up Service.
* Special deals will be offered to groups, group planners and group hospitality. Call or email to find out more.

Ticket Information:
* 1-Day Taster - $20/Advance sale, $25/Gate
* 2-Day Taster - $25/Advance sale, $35/Gate
* Designated Drivers - $10 1-day
* Weekend Camp - $30/Advance sale, $40/Gate
* Reserved RV Camping - $100
* Launch of the Lakes - $10/Advance sale, $15/Gate
* Champagne Breakfast - $19 per person
* Taster's Banquet - $59 per person
* Pace Car Rides - $10 per person

The Finger Lakes Wine Festival supported by the Corning Museum of Glass will be taking place this summer July 16 -18 at Watkins Glen International.

This three-day celebration is kicked-off with the "Launch of the Lakes" on Friday evening and by a champagne breakfast sponsored by Great Western Chardonnay Champagne on both Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 am. The Finger Lakes Wine Festival includes wine tastings from over 70 of the region's finest wineries, arts-n-crafts, food demonstrations, wine seminars, live music and a Hot Glass Show courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass. Don't forget about the pace car rides around the world famous racetrack! Camping on Festival Grounds and shuttle services to area hotels are available.

For tickets and information, please contact the Watkins Glen ticket office at 607-535-2481, toll free at 866-461-7223, or log on to the official Finger Lakes Wine Festival Web site at www.flwinefest.com. Order your tickets today to take advantage of advance sale discount prices!