Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 1

So far this year I have not been on any of the company wine tasting trips, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and book a 3 night vacation in Watkins Glen, NY touring Seneca Lake. This was a perfect way for my husband and I to spend our 11 year wedding anniversary. On Friday, July 27th we took the 4 hour drive to Watkins Glen where we booked “The Merlot Room” at the 1892 Seneca Inn Bed & Breakfast. The Inn was a clean, rustic, old Victorian home operated by Susan and Mike Gilbert. We especially enjoyed the large, wrap-around porch where we spent each evening listening to music, drinking wine and watching life pass by.

It’s important to me to find a place that is centrally located to everything. This Inn was 4 blocks from the Lake and walking distance to all nearby restaurants, breweries, beaches, water sports and shops. It’s also a great location to start wine tasting at!

The house was built in 1892 and was a private home for the next 65 years. The house changed hands over the next 40 years converted into a nursing home, state clinic and family home until being purchased by the original owner’s descendants as Hannah's 1892 House, but it was sold again and restored to be the Inn it is now.

After we settled in, we decided to walk around town and see where the wind blew us. We walked a few blocks to the base of the lake taking in the beautiful sights of the water and the sail boats. After walking the pier, we headed out to the jetty. From there I was able to get a good look at the shore line and I found what I was looking for - a bar right on the water. The Village Marina was just what the doctor ordered. We ordered some beers (yes, I drink beer, too!) and headed out to some chairs to watch the water and relax. We then headed over to the local VFW to talk to the locals and enjoyed some more beers to get a lay of the land and see which restaurants were recommended. For dinner we found a restaurant called the Seneca Harbor Grill where we sat outside dining on seafood chowder, lobster and shrimp dip, a lobster tail with grilled shrimp and a lobster pasta. The night was complete with a blues band who serenaded us during dinner and it was a great time!

We made it an early evening and went back to the house to sip some wine I brought from a home a Colin-Morey Les Chenevottes Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010, listen to music on the porch and prepare for our wine tasting journey the next day.