Finger Lakes Wine Festival Love, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fruit Bomb
Posted
August 3, 2009 by Bryan Calandrelli in
News & Events
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Correspondent
Perhaps the only thing crazier than attending the Finger Lakes Wine Festival as an attendee is actually pouring wine at it. Now, I’d conceded that the crowds, party atmosphere and prevalence of sweet wine kept me from attending in the past, and I would never want to be the ringleader for a team of winery employees planning the logistics of participating in the festival. But, when I was given the opportunity this year to pour for a local winery, I just couldn’t pass it up — especially because all I had to do was show up and do what I was told.
At any rate, I still had to deal with the general mayhem.
A survivor’s guide to working the festival:
- Give in to the urge to stop in for a tasting at a winery or two on your way down. It’s just not healthy for any of us to drive by dozens of wineries and not stop in and get at least one tasting.
- If you are told you are working a toga party the first night of the festival, accept it as fact. Togas do make occasional appearances at parties where people carry oversize plastic mugs, goblets and glasses full of sweet wine.
- Upon realizing that the main restroom facilities of a festival will be porta-potties, prepare your metabolism to take advantage of the pristine condition they are in first thing in the morning. Remind yourself later that day that even a strategically thrown Red Cat bottle in a porta-potty doesn’t call for taking an ironic photo while inside.
- Get comfortable with poaching. If you see people waiting in line to get a taste of something, don’t be afraid to let them know they can get some immediately if they step up to your table. Sorry Glenora!
- Accept the fact that some people just want to taste the “sweetest thing you got”. Do not try and change the world, pour them what they are looking for and make a quick sale if you can.
- If your coworker encourages you to step away to get a few tastes, take him or her up on it. With the crazy non-stop auction on acid atmosphere there, you may not get a second chance to take a break. Don’t be a hero.
- Embrace the viral social phenomenon that occurs every time the sound of glass breaking pierces the steady drone of wine banter and take part in yellowing “ohhhh” along with your neighbor. By the end you’ll be guessing how far away the clumsy attendee is by the Doppler effect caused by the uproar.
- Don’t assume another pourer knows what you mean when you say they should check a bottle for taint. It doesn’t matter if they are big enough to rent eight tables and rightfully state that they were the first to successfully grow vinifera in the region, the person pouring may not be trained to sniff out bad corks.
- If you see an open bottle behind a table, it must have been uncorked for people like yourself. If they say it’s just for trade and media, you respond, “That’s what I hoped you say!” and stick your glass out.
- Do not expect an after party sponsored by Riedel at a swanky lakeside mansion with shot girls and chocolate fountains after the festival. From what I can tell there’s not much nightlife in the Finger Lakes and chances are most of the workers are exhausted from dealing with the masses.
Editor’s Note: I believe this is the first nipple picture to appear on LENNDEVOURS.
I agree! Went once in 2002 and said I’d never go again, yet found myself there this year doing a seminar on Hudson Valley Wine on Sunday. Thought I’d check out the festival on Saturday late in the day and go to the tweet up. Should have went to the tasting rooms instead. Always listen to your inner self.
Lenn -
I’m happy to say that it is not mine. Whew!
Cheers,
Tom
Took a van load of family and friends on Sunday. Guess I missed all the fun.
We did not stop at any wineries on the way down or on the way home. Tasted many good ‘dry’ wines. Sweets were probably all used on Saturday and at Toga party.
Did enjoy the State Fair type atmosphere with no rides except around the track in a Toyota Hybrid.
Will probably go again next year. Four of our group are already talking about camping for entire week-end.
I don’t know about that and I will definitely not tell them about the Toga’s.
This is going to challenge for best post title ever. Also, Bryan, nice nipple.
There is some talk about altering the atmosphere of the event from a “drunkfest” to something less inebriated, but given your report, that ambition seems both undoable and perhaps misguided. And I’ll stick to the tasting rooms, though I won’t judge those who wish to let their inner toga out!
Actually Sunday had quite a different feel than Saturday. I can see myself visiting again the future as a patron on Sun. after winery hopping that Sat.
There were several winemakers on hand to answer questions and overall the organization both days was impressive considering the size of the event.
Many wineries also brought their big gun wines. I tasted several 07 reds and it was convenient to taste so many in one setting. For the price of a tasting ticket, this event brought a lot to the table.
Bryan,
Why did you publish a photo of my nipple on LENNDEVOURS? Can’t a man party in a togo free of public record?
Jason
Notice I cropped your face out.
But my nipple is SO recognizable to the masses!
I’ve been to the wine festival once and it was, in a word, crazy. I think people partying down is all well and good, but unfortunately the event is sometimes a regional first-peak for out-of-staters, some press, etc. As you’ve mentioned, the quality displays are very overwhelmed by the revelry and the gallons and gallons of sweet stuff.
Oh, well, at least people had fun. I think a few of my high school buddies met up and camped and they enjoyed themselves!
Tom…it’s only a matter of time, isn’t it?
lol i like your little dig about Finger Lake night life … (but hey your married and have kids, so your what night life do you expect)