In 1818, Deacon Elijah Fay planted the first grape vines of the Lake Erie Wine Country, located in the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt. Fays relatives planted the premier Concord vineyards in Brocton, New York, where the mighty Concord grape thrived. Vineyards were planted along the shore of Lake Erie in both New York and Pennsylvania, attracting the likes of Dr. Charles Welch, who relocated his grape juice operations to Westfield, New York, in 1897. Regional wineries sprung up during the grape boom of the 19th century but went out of business due to Prohibition in 1919. While New York permitted commercial wineries after Prohibition, it was not until 1968 when wineries were allowed to reopen in Pennsylvania. Today, the Grape Belt spans almost 60 miles along the southern shore of Lake Erie. Quaint towns dot the Grape Belt, which is now home to the Grape Discovery Center and boutique wineries that welcome thousands of visitors each year.

In 1818, Deacon Elijah Fay planted the first grape vines of the Lake Erie Wine Country, located in the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt. Fay's relatives planted the premier Concord vineyards in Brocton, New York, where the mighty Concord grape thrived. Vineyards were planted along the shore of Lake Erie in both New York and Pennsylvania, attracting the likes of Dr. Charles Welch, who relocated his grape juice operations to Westfield, New York, in 1897. Regional wineries sprung up during the grape boom of the 19th century but went out of business due to Prohibition in 1919. While New York permitted commercial wineries after Prohibition, it was not until 1968 when wineries were allowed to reopen in Pennsylvania. Today, the Grape Belt spans almost 60 miles along the southern shore of Lake Erie. Quaint towns dot the Grape Belt, which is now home to the Grape Discovery Center and boutique wineries that welcome thousands of visitors each year.

In the early 18th century, pioneers cleared land in Ohio's Western Reserve and found it suitable for farming, but until the Ohio-Erie Canal opened, it was difficult for them to share the fruit of their labor. Ohio's Canal Country Wineries captures the spirit of those who lived off the land from Cleveland to New Philadelphia along the Cuyahoga River and down to the Muskingum River--the path that the Ohio-Erie Canal took when it was built in 1832. As canal country began opening up, wineries along the Ohio River and the shores and islands of Lake Erie produced so much wine that Ohio became known as "Vinland." Now, the rich and fertile farmland along the canal has also been cultivated with vineyards, and the region is home to close to 50 wineries.

Thoroughly updated, the new edition of Ohio Wine Country Excursions (2011) offers wine enthusiasts and armchair travelers alike profiles of more than sixty beautiful and high-quality Ohio wineries and vineyards, including detailed maps, hours, events, and types of wine offered at each destination. Take an excursion to Lake Erie and Wine Islands. Enjoy the Canal and Lock area. Journey through the Ohio Valley vineyards. Latimer's title is just the right glass to drink it all in. Reviews of the first edition "A must-read for all Ohio wine lovers!" -- Ohio Wine Producers Association This book has it all. It gives credibility to an emerging wine region, and] looks good sitting on a table. -- The Detroit News

A fascinating history of the Ohio and Erie Canal, from a national leader in agricultural output to a recreational resource. George Washington first proposed the idea of a canal connecting the Great Lakes to the Ohio-Mississippi River System in 1784. Inspired by the Erie Canal in New York, the State of Ohio began surveying routes in 1822 for its own grand internal improvement project. Completed a decade later, the 309-mile-long Ohio and Erie Canal connected Cleveland, Akron, Massillon, Dover, Roscoe, Newark, Columbus, Circleville, Chillicothe, Waverly, and Portsmouth. Success was immediate, as this vital transportation link provided access to Eastern markets. Within a span of 35 years, canals transformed Ohio from a rural frontier wilderness into the nation's leader in agricultural output and third most populous state by 1860. Railroads marked the end of the canal as an economic engine, but traffic continued to operate until the Great Flood of 1913 destroyed the system as a commercial enterprise. Today, the Ohio and Erie Canal is enjoying a rebirth as a recreational resource.

Natalie MacLean spent three years sipping her way through sun-drenched vineyards and cobwebbed cellars to bring us this witty, knowledgeable book about the world of wine. In the ancient vineyards of Burgundy she uncovers the secrets of Pinot Noir, then moves on to the labyrinthine cellars of Champagne to examine the mystique of luxury bubbly. She compares notes with novelist Jay McInerney at a bacchanalian dinner, goes undercover as a sommelier in a five-star restaurant, and explores the influence of powerful critics Jancis Robinson and Robert Parker. You may have a head for wine, but Red, White and Drunk All Over will show you its heart.

For more than 150 years, Finger Lakes Wine Country has played a major role in American wine history. At its heart are the four deepest Finger Lakes, part of a group of 11 long, narrow lakes in central New York. There, nestled among Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes, farmers began planting vineyards in the 1830s. In 1860, the Pleasant Valley Wine Company became America's first bonded winery, turning Keuka Lake into a busy shipping hub for fresh grapes and award-winning champagnes. Other wineries soon followed, as did railroads and basket factories. Early 20th century business was good until Prohibition forced wineries to reinvent themselves. In the 1950s and 1960s, innovators like Charles Fournier, Dr. Konstantin Frank, and Walter S. Taylor experimented with hybrid and European vinifera grape varieties. But by the 1970s, local grape growers faced extinction; it would take a grassroots movement and landmark legislation in 1976 to bring about a Finger Lakes wine renaissance.

This guide offers a tour of the best of Niagara: historic homes, fine inns, restaurants and music festivals. The second edition includes listings for newly opened wineries and seven thematic wine tours.

To enjoy all that New York state roadways have to offer, jump in the car and drive to sweeping lake or ocean views, lush vineyard landscapes, or breathtaking mountain vistas. Featuring more than 1,900 miles of scenic routes and byways, this indispensable highway companion maps out unforgettable trips for exploring New York’s natural beauty. Scenic Driving New York features thirty separate drives through the Empire State with delicious ice cream stops and fun side trips along the way. Buckle up and begin your next journey!

Scenic Routes & Byways New York features nearly twenty-five separate drives through the Empire State. An indispensable highway companion, Scenic Routes & Byways New York includes full-color photos, route maps and in-depth descriptions of attractions.