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New
Yorkers Encouraged to Visit State’s Wine and Craft
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Beverage
Trails During the Fall Harvest Season
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State’s Wine
Trails Help Promote 182 New York Wineries;
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$214.8 Million
Invested Since 2012 to Improve Access to Wine Trails
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Albany,
NY – October 2017 / Newsmaker Alert / Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo encourages New Yorkers to visit the State’s wine and craft
beverage trails during the fall harvest season. There are currently 13
wine trails across the State that support New York’s vital agricultural,
craft beverage and tourism industries. To enhance the current wine trail
system, the State Department of Transportation has invested $214.8 million
in significant upgrades to the region’s roadways, bridges and culverts,
improving access to wineries throughout the State. To further support the
wine trail system and tourism across New York, Governor Cuomo signed legislation
on August 21 designating the Upper Hudson Wine Trail across the Capital
Region.
“In
virtually every corner of the state, New York’s world-class wineries, breweries,
cideries and distilleries are key drivers of tourism, job creation and
economic development,” Governor Cuomo said. “Investing in local infrastructure
enhances access to these businesses, ensuring their momentum and growth
continues strong. I encourage New Yorkers from near and far to get out
and experience the state’s beverage trails this fall to sample products
from these innovative local businesses.”
There
are 182 wineries participating in New York’s wine trails, which are part
of a robust system of more than 20 craft
beverage and cuisine trails located in nearly every region of the State.
Together, these trails drive tourism and strengthen the booming craft beverage
and food industry. The Empire State’s wine industry alone generates more
than $4.8 billion in economic benefits annually, including $408 million
in State and local taxes. New York produces nearly 200 million bottles
of wine each year, making it the third largest wine producing state in
the country. An estimated 5.3 million people participate in wine-related
tourism opportunities each year across New York.
To
support the continued success of wineries and wine trails in New York,
the State Department of Transportation has invested $214.8 million to support
103 projects - including highway resurfacing, bridge rehabilitations and
replacements, and culvert repairs and replacements - that will ensure continued
access to wineries along New York’s wine trails. To see a list of state
projects undertaken to enhance New York State’s wine trails, click
here.
New
York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Cathy Calhoun
said, “I was born and raised in the heart of New York’s wine country and
am proud of the critical role that our Department plays in promoting the
growth of our craft beverage industry. The Department of Transportation
has invested tens of millions of dollars to support our wine trails across
the state, in the process enhancing tourism and strengthening economic
development.”
State
Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Since Governor Cuomo took
office, we have seen a tremendous spike in craft beverage manufacturing
in New York State, and a greater demand for local agricultural products
as a result. Our exceptional beverage trail system is key to highlighting
these businesses and their unique, high-quality products. Once visitors
get a taste, they keep coming back for more.”
Empire
State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “New
York State’s wine and craft beverage industries have experienced tremendous
growth during Governor Cuomo’s administration. The beverage trails run
throughout the state and I encourage everyone to plan a trip this fall
to experience the foliage and enjoy our world-class food and beverages.”
New
York State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley said, “New York State
is quickly becoming one of the most popular wine destinations in the country.
Our exceptional beverage trails make it easy for New Yorkers and tourists
alike to experience all of the top-notch wines the Empire state has to
offer. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, investments like these have significantly
bolstered the tourism industry and the state’s economy overall.”
New
York Wine and Grape Foundation Executive Director Samuel Filler said, “As
the third largest wine producing state in the country, New York’s wineries
attract millions of visitors every year. The fall harvest is the perfect
time to explore the State’s wine trails to discover the diversity of New
York’s wine offerings and learn how these award-winning varieties are made.
The New York Wine and Grape Foundation thanks the State for its support
of New York’s wine industry—through both its financial and technical assistance
to boost our local businesses—and is proud to contribute more than $250,000
in matching marketing funds to the wine trails annually.”
Seneca
Lake Wine Trail Executive Director Paul Thomas said, “Wine trails have
for over 30 years proven to be a remarkably effective way to draw more
visitors to our region, and tasting rooms. The elected and appointed officials
of NYS have consistently provided both strong support of our industry through
a variety of programs managed by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation
and ILoveNY, and by persistently evolving the State Liquor Authority’s
regulations to help reduce resource draining policies. Under Governor Cuomo’s
visionary administration, support for the state’s entire craft beverage
industry, including wine, have enabled amazing growth across all sectors,
dramatically increasing the amount of product sold throughout the state,
as well as the number of good paying jobs created by these industries.”
Dave
Peterson, Cayuga Lake Wine Trail President and Co-owner of Swedish Hill
and Goose Watch Wineries, said, “The Cayuga Wine Trail, through its collective
marketing efforts, has helped bring us many new customers over the years.
When we started our winery 31 years ago, we produced only 1,200 cases of
wine. Today, our production exceeds 50,000 cases annually. Visitors to
the winery also enhance our sales in liquor stores and restaurants, as
customers seek out our wines closer to their homes. Without the State funding
that the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail has received through the New York Wine
and Grape Foundation and other channels, the marketing effort by the Trail
would have been greatly diminished. The investment from the State has been
returned many times over as the growth of the wineries has also fueled
many other related industries including tourism, agriculture and manufacturing.”
Senator
Joseph Robach said, “Some of the world’s very best wine and craft beverages
call New York and the Finger Lakes region home. I have been proud to work
alongside the Governor to ensure that New York State is investing in our
roads, bridges and infrastructure to make it easier and safer for people
to visit all the great amenities that New York has to offer.”
Senator
Patty Ritchie Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee said, “From the
Finger Lakes to the North Country, the Hudson Valley to Long Island, New
York’s wine trails are helping to introduce growing numbers of enthusiasts
to world-class wines produced by hardworking farmers and wine makers. Fall
is the perfect time to experience the unique variety and taste of New York
wine and I am pleased to join with the governor in urging New Yorkers to
go out and discover their next favorite.”
Senator
Rich Funke said, “New York’s wineries are some of the finest in the country.
The investments made by the Department of Transportation to improve roadways
and make New York’s craft beverage market more accessible will encourage
tourism and bolster our small businesses across the state. Infrastructure
enhancements are vital to supporting small businesses like the wine and
craft beverage industries. Fall is a great time to enjoy New York’s wine,
cider and craft beer.”
Assemblymember
Bill Magee, Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee said, “The wine
and craft beverage trails across New York are attractions that blend agriculture,
one of our biggest industries, with tourism, one of our most promising
assets, to promote the best of upstate including our unique shops, restaurants,
farms, and hospitality. I heartily encourage and support the development
and improvement of the wine and craft beverage and food trails.”
Assemblymember
Carrie Woerner said, “The vineyards in the Upper Hudson Wine Trail are
great places to visit in the Fall. I thank Governor Cuomo for his support
of the wine industry in our region, and across the state.”
Under
the Governor’s leadership, there has been a 228 percent increase in the
number of licensed craft beverage producers in New York, including a 72
percent increase in the number of farm wineries. The State has implemented
significant policy changes to streamline and simplify regulations for beverage
manufacturers, modernized the Alcohol and Beverage Control Laws, introduced
new licenses, and leveraged opportunities to promote this growing sector
of the economy. There are now nearly 1,000 licensed breweries, wineries,
distilleries, and cideries across New York, compared to just 342 six years
ago.
The
Governor’s Taste NY initiative has also been key to growing the Empire
State’s craft beverage industry through strategic promotional efforts at
large public events and retail locations. New York products sold under
Taste NY branding are available in more than 60 locations throughout the
State, including a store in Grand Central Terminal dedicated exclusively
to New York wines and craft beverages.
Launched
by the Governor in 2013 to promote New York’s food and beverage industries,
Taste NY has seen steady growth. Last year, more than $13 million in New
York products were sold at Taste NY stores, concessions, and events. For
more information about Taste NY, please visit www.Taste.NY.gov.
Connect with Taste NY through Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram
and Pinterest.
For
more information about New York wineries, visit www.NewYorkWines.org.
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