NWR-Wine & Chocolate fest

rsfan23

Yesterday I went to the Wine & Chocolate fest at the Utica Aud. I'm not normally a wine drinker, but I had a GREAT time!  There were a lot of wineries there and I tried several different types.  There were two hot sauce wines that were fantastic. There was a chocolate raspberry wine that didn't taste like wine at all.  Some of the people serving the wine were generous in the amounts they gave us, others, not so much. We were even told to use our manners by one lady. HAHA.  We got there at around 5 and left around 8, time FLEW by.  Just thought I'd share.

Happily9

Awww... I wanted to go to that!!!  Glad you had a good time!  I actually only aquired the  taste for wine within the past 2 or 3 years, now I will take that over any other type of drink!

sbolger17

Yum!!  I got really into wine 2 or 3 years ago too.  It's definitely an acquired taste.  I still don't like red too much though.

Happily9

Me either! I like sweet white wines...like a reisling (think I spelled that right).  My favorite brand at the moment is "Relax".  I usually try to keep it on hand for dinner/company. 

kevinandmonica2011

Great find rsfan!!!  Wine and chocolate... two of my favorite things!!!

I love LOVE wine and try to do a wine tour about once a month.... I always have lots of good suggestions if anyone ever needs any.  I always try to stick with NY wines (support the locals) if I can.

Kadell- if you like Relax, try Glenora Riesling or Bully Hill Grower's White or Sweet Walter White.  Very sweet and delicious!!!  Oh- and Red Newt Vineyard has a Blue Newt White that is super yummy.

DondadaTimes2

Mmmm Bully Hill! My fav! I looked into a wine tour there for my Bach party, but I have new mommies with laid off husbands and mommies with deadbeat dads, and youngins with crap jobs, so somthing of that price just didnt fit.

The chocolate raspberry wine...bluck! I work with a mess of winos and that was suggested to me so I bought a bottle and I still have half a bottle in the frige...after sharing it! Its like a thick chocolate milk. Definitely something to drink slow and not for getting drunk purposes!

kevinandmonica2011

Bridgett-  did you know you can make fudge from that wine?  (If it's the one I am thinking of)... or use it to make frosting for cake.

Chocolate Lab from Catherine Valley (I think) winery makes amazing fudge!!!

rsfan23

I think the chocolate raspberry I tried came from a vineyard in Ogdensburg called 'Ashley Lynn'. (I honestly don't remember) HAHA They also had a really good strawberry wine. I too like rieslings. There were some great rieslings there. I wish there was more actual chocolate however.  There were miniscule pieces of fudge and brownies and a liquid fudge as samples.

Monica-This is an annual festival, so it should be around next year!

kevinandmonica2011

Ashley Lynn makes all fruit wines.... very very fruity.... my favorite of theirs is apple cranberry.  I buy a few bottles every year for Thanksgiving dinner. 

Their strawberry makes grrrrreat slushies!!!

I didn't know they made a chocolatey one.... hmm.... I will have to check that out!

DondadaTimes2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_central-new-york_nwr-wine-chocolate-fest?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:621Discussion:c0fcd010-db75-4278-ba85-3ec383b4c5f0Post:98c0b728-2fe6-42f7-8a7c-48a5352cd2e7">Re: NWR-Wine & Chocolate fest</a>:
[QUOTE]Bridgett-  did you know you can make fudge from that wine?  (If it's the one I am thinking of)... or use it to make frosting for cake. Chocolate Lab from Catherine Valley (I think) winery makes amazing fudge!!!
Posted by kevinandmonica2011[/QUOTE]

I did not know that! I would probably love the fudge!

Happily9

Monica- Ironically I just had that Blue Newt White kind last night and loved it!  My friend also had the red version, but I thought the white was waaayyy better!  I love wine tours myself...we went on a bus trip last November (by the fingerlakes), and we usually go on day trips to local wineries...(like Cooperstown, Syracuse, and Binghamton..or wherever the GPS will take us).  Went to one in Florida when we were there and our NY wineries blow them away...even the guy who worked there said that!  So yeah...I think I am better of sticking to the local ones myself!  And want some of that fudge...it sounds amazing!!!!

Bridgett-your description of your bridal party was hysterical!!!

Alyssa-Good 'ol Utica has a wine train event coming up soon...been before it's ok...goes all the way from Utica to Remsen (wow...long distance right?)  Just thought I would let ya know!

Happily9

Bridgett-I just re-read my PP and hope I didn't sound mean....it wasn't funny what you said by how you said it...is what I meant!

DondadaTimes2

Haha I understand what you were saying. Its the truth tho!