More than 160 restaurants and 200 wine stores throughout New York State will be celebrating New York Wine Month in April by offering their customers hundreds of fine New York wines from about 90 wineries. The restaurants and stores are listed by region on a special dedicated web site, www.newyorkwinemonth.com.

“April is the perfect month for celebrating New York wines,” said Jim Trezise, President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation which is orchestrating the month-long promotion. “The 2007 vintage was the best in at least 15 years, and many of the wines will be unveiled for the public in April. In addition, a major ‘Taste of New York’ public television series produced by WXXI in Rochester will begin airing in April, along with publication of a ‘Taste of New York’ cookbook featuring New York wines and foods. And it’s the onset of the wine country tourist season when consumers start planning their trips to New York’s great wine regions.”

The promotion extends throughout the state except in New York City, where a separate promotion is being planned. The other markets include Long Island, the Hudson Valley and greater Albany area, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, North Country and the southern tier (Ithaca, Corning, Elmira).

April is a perfect time to go out and visit some of your local wineries or purchase a bottle of New York State wine at dinner or from your favorite liquor / wine store.