chautauqua wines
The twelve wineries in Chautauqua County produce a mixed bag of wines that essentially fall into five categories:
European Vinifera Wines: Made from the traditional Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
French-Hybrid Varietal Wines: Made from Seyval, Vidal (also used in ice wines), Chambourcin, Chancellor, and Marechal Foch grapes. These are often similar in taste to dry vinifera wines, but are generally not as well-known.
Native Labrusca Wines: Made from American grapes such as Concord, Ives, Niagara, Catawba, and Delaware grapes.
Dessert and Specialty Wines: Sweet, late harvest and ice wines; fortified wines such as port, sherry, eau de vies and brandy, and champagnes. With a climate similar to that of Germany, it is not surprising that premium late harvest and ice wines are specialties of the region.
Fruit Wines: A few of the Trail’s wineries produce fruit-based wines from fruits such as apples, cherries, and blueberries which are abundantly grown here, often in “estate” orchards.