SYRACUSE -- If you like wine, you will have more options to drink at this year's New York State Fair.
In past years, wine drinkers were confined to a special area featuring vendors from New York wineries. This year, you can purchase a glass of New York wines anywhere on the fairgrounds.
Thanks to a new law signed by Governor Paterson, restaurants and vendors on the Fairgrounds will now be able to sell glasses of New York wine. The law allows all Fair restaurants and vendors that hold a valid license to sell beer to also sell 10-ounce glasses of New York wine. Right now, 11 New York wineries plan to make their products available at Fair restaurants and vendor booths.
"This is part of the Fair's ongoing efforts to promote New York State products," State Fair Director Dan O'Hara said. "New York is the second-largest wine producing state in the country and the third-largest producer of grapes. We want to help improve awareness and access to New York wine and are doing so by significantly increasing the number of outlets at which fairgoers can purchase New York wine."
Improvements were also made to the Uncork New York Wine Village, which fair officials say, will increase access and exposure to New York wines. This year, the Wine Village will be on Restaurant Row, about 20 feet from its previous location between the Coliseum and the Toyota Dairy Building.
If you want to take the wine home, you will be able to do that too. Fairgoers can buy a bottle of wine in the Wine Village and arrange to pick it up at the main gate when they leave at the end of the day. It is also the only place on the Fairgrounds where visitors can buy wine slushies.
The 2010 New York State Fair runs from Aug. 26 through Sept. 6.
You can save 40 percent by buying tickets in advance. They are available now through Aug. 25 at the Fair Box Office, at grocery stores and other outlets throughout the state.
