Cayuga Lake AVA explained

The Cayuga Lake AVA is an American Viticultural Area around Cayuga Lake in Upstate New York. The boundaries of the AVA include portions of Cayuga, Seneca, and Tompkins counties. Most of the vineyards in the AVA are planted in the shale soils of the hillsides on the western side of Cayuga Lake. Vineyards are planted at a range of elevations above the surface of the lake, up to 800feet higher. The steep hillsides and the lake together form a unique micro-climate in autumn that helps extend the growing season by preventing cold air from settling and producing frost. The Cayuga grape variety was created in this region by researchers at Cornell University.^[3]

History

The first winery in the area was founded in 1980, although grapes were grown on the shores of Cayuga Lake for the large wineries in Hammondsport before then.^[4] In 1981, four wineries on the lake banded together to form the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, the first of its kind in New York State. By 1988, the appellation was given AVA status, the first Finger Lake to be granted its own AVA.^[5]

Active Wineries

!Vineyard Name!Location!Date Opened!Ref

Americana Vineyards	Interlaken, New York	1981	[6]
Buttonwood Grove Winery	Romulus, New York	2014	[7]
Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery	Ovid, New York	1981	[8]
Hosmer Winery	Ovid, New York	1972	[9]
Knapp Winery	Romulus, New York	1984	[10]
Lucas Vineyards	Interlaken, New York	1975	[11]
Montezuma Winery	Seneca Falls, New York	1999	[12]
Six Mile Creek Vineyards	Ithaca, New York	1987	[13]
Swedish Hill Winery	Romulus, New York	1986	[14]
Thirst Owl Wine Co.	Ovid, New York	2001	[15]

Notes and References

1. http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=bff700d0bbb2a632948b70fe7e91d7d4;rgn=div5;view=text;node=27%3A1.0.1.1.7;idno=27;cc=ecfr#27:1.0.1.1.7.3.41.107 Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.127 Cayuga Lake."
2. Wine Institute, The (2008). "American Viticultural Areas by State" . Retrieved February 6, 2008.
3. Appellation America (2007). "Cayuga Lake (AVA): Appellation Description". Retrieved February 6, 2008.
4. Web site: History. Lucas Vineyards. 30 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720181942/http://www.lucasvineyards.com/section.php?page=1. 20 July 2011.
5. Web site: History. Cayuga Wine Trail. 30 June 2011.
6. Web site: Americana Vineyards . 2024-09-22 . Cayuga Lake Wine Trail . en-US.
7. Web site: 2018-01-20 . About - Buttonwood Grove Winery - Romulus, NY - (607) 869-9760 . 2024-09-22 . www.buttonwoodgrove.com . en-US.
8. Web site: 2023-07-27 . History Cayuga Lake Wine Trail . 2024-09-22 . www.cayugawinetrail.com . en.
9. Web site: 2017-03-23 . About Us - Hosmer Estate Winery . 2024-09-22 . en-US.
10. Web site: About . 2024-09-22 . Knapp Winery . en-US.
11. Web site: Lucas Vineyards located on the Western Side of Cayuga Lake . 2024-09-22 . Lucas Vineyards . en.
12. Web site: About Us . 2024-09-22 . Montezuma Winery . en-US.
13. Web site: Six Mile Creek Vineyard & Distillery . 2024-09-22 . Six Mile Creek Vineyard & Distillery . en-US.
14. Web site: History – Swedish Hill Winery . 2024-09-22 . en-US.
15. Web site: About us Thirsty Owl Wine Company . 2024-09-22 . www.thirstyowl.com.