Finger Lakes Riesling Festival Returns

The Finger Lakes Riesling Festival is set to open for its fourth annual weekend of wine and beer tasting Aug. 11 and 12. Festival-goers will have an opportunity to try some of the region's wine while spending a day by the water on the tip of Canandaigua Lake.

In addition to wine and beer tastings, the Finger Lakes Riesling Festival features sampling seminars, cooking demonstrations, an arts and crafts fair, a local farmers market, and four live music stages. For the under-21 crowd, a bounce house, inflatable obstacle course, and game area provide entertainment.

Nearly 25,000 are expected to attend the two-day event, according to junior public relations executive Jennifer Lynn.

Casa Larga Vineyards and Thousand Islands Winery are joining 11 other wineries and 10 breweries to offer samples to attendees.

"The festival was started to highlight the region's riesling, one of the only regions in the United States that makes world-class riesling," said Lynn.

Admission to the Finger Lakes Riesling Festival is free but donations are being collected throughout the weekend for the Canandaigua YMCA's Caring for Kids Campaign, a charity that has raised $101,000 over the past three years to help underprivileged kids in the area.

Back for its third year, the charity 5K Riesling Run kicks off the Finger Lakes Riesling Festival at 9 a.m. Saturday and there is a car show on Sunday with a $10 registration fee for those looking to enter their rides for a chance to win one of 25 trophies.

Sean Flynn is a Junior Writer for The Daily Meal. Follow him on Twitter @BuffaloFlynn