Finger Lakes Blog

It takes courage and a sense of adventure to be a trailblazer and Glenora Wine Cellars was the first winery on Seneca Lake. Gene Pierce, along with Eastman Beers, Edward Dalrymple, and Howard Kimball jumped at the opportunity to open the winery after the Farm Winery Act of 1976 was passed.

In 1987, the winery expanded its production facility, and retail sales area and added a restaurant, The Wine Garden Café. This was the first winery restaurant on the western shores of Seneca Lake. They

Courtesy of Wikipedia

John W. Jones is an essential part of Elmira’s abolitionist history and the definition of Black Excellence. As an agent on the Underground Railroad, he assisted over 800 freedom seekers make their way to freedom. As a sexton, he buried Confederate soldiers during the Civil War and treated each one with the utmost respect. His determination and work ethic made him the wealthiest black man in upstate New York.

I hadn’t heard of John Jones before I visited Elmira, New York

Collard greens have roots in the African American community and to celebrate Black History we’re sharing a Finger Lakes Wine-Braised Collard Greens recipe and tracing the history of this ancient vegetable.

Collard greens date back to prehistoric times. They are the oldest leafy green within the cabbage family. Collard greens originated near Greece, but it wasn’t until the first Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in the early 1600's that America got its first taste of the delicious dark