When the rain (can you even call that monsoon we had “rain?”) started falling at 5:30 Saturday night we were afraid our 5th Annual Corn Roast was going to be a real wash… But the heavens opened up and the sunshine came back right at 6pm – and after a slight delay while we arranged some final outdoor setup, the show went on!

It’s always a little nerve-wracking for us as hosts to switch caterers, but working with BW’S Smokin’ Barrels Barbecue out of Blasdell was smooth sailing from start to finish, and everything on the menu was delicious! Our only regret is that it took us five years to find them!

Once again, Savannah King’s set list was the perfect accompaniment for the night, and I am so grateful she continues to include our little hometown winery on her summer tour list each year!  If this was your first time joining us, you can find more about Savannah (& her band!) here:  www.savannahkingmusic.com

And although it’s been said before, I cannot rave about the success of our 5th annual event without thanking the crew I am so lucky to work with (and for!).  My “not-so-little” brother Kevin and husband Jamison were troopers about standing outside even during the end of the rainfall to finish prepping the food service line, and worked the first half of the evening greeting our guests and keeping the dinner line short!  Thank you for being one part kitchen staff, one part comic relief.  Jasmine and Joe rocked it behind the bar again this year, and our new assistant winemaker (who’s also named Joe – that gets confusing!) was a great addition to the tasting room crew.

As always, our most sincere thanks goes out to everyone who joined us to celebrate the season and toast our upcoming Harvest!  Without your continued support we wouldn’t have been able to pull this shindig off for five consecutive years!  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Until next time, may your glasses be full! Cheers!
-Danielle

OH, AND ONE LAST THING: Mark your calendars!!  You won’t want to miss our SIXTH Annual Old Fashioned Corn Roast, happening Saturday, August 11, 2018

Joining us for our 5th Annual Old Fashioned Corn Roast?
The final day to purchase tickets for the August 12th event is this Sunday, 8/6!  Tickets available online or in the tasting room, for just $20 / person!

Part barbecue, part bonfire, part harvest festival – celebrate the season with dinner and wine tasting under the stars!

Tickets include: 3 tastes of wine, 1 glass of wine, and dinner!
At this time, we can not guarantee at-the-door ticket sales!

Get the date on your calendar, and click here to purchase tickets now!

Prices above do not include online ticketing fees & tax. To save on ticketing fees, please stop in the tasting room to purchase your tickets!
Must be 21+ to attend. All ticket sales final.

August is dedicated to all Buffalo/Niagara Service Industry staff- servers, bartenders, bussers, line cooks and chefs who work so hard every day to provide great customer service to our hometown community members and out-of-town guests looking to taste the region!

All month long we invite you to enjoy free tastings at Long Cliff Winery, 15% off personal bottle purchases – and FREE Vineyard Tours for groups of 6 or more staff from your restaurant!

No appointment necessary for tastings at the bar. Please call ahead to reserve tours: 716-731-3316

Present proof of restaurant employment (paystub or business cards) to enjoy discounts!

Calling all sweet wine fans!  Cobalt, the newest addition to our “Hennepin Collection” is here, and it’s delicious!  Perfect for keeping you company at those end of the summer parties!  Rich aromas of blueberry and plum give way to a robust red boasting notes of spice, dark fruit and chocolate!  Yum!

Receive a free sample this week when you stop in at the winery and mention this post!  (offer valid through 7/30/17)

Corn Roast tickets are also still available!  Get yours before they’re gone!  This year’s event is happening Saturday, August 12 at 6pm and dinner includes a pulled pork slider, 1/4 chicken, chef salad, baby buttered spud potatoes and unlimited roasted corn.  See you then!

Memorial Day weekend we released our new Sauvignon Doux, a sweetened take on our old classic.  100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, this white wine is smooth and soft with ever so subtle notes of grapefruit & honey.
We ran a sample tasting before bottling during one of our book club meetings, and could tell from the group’s collective reactions that it was going to be popular… But we had no clue just HOW popular!  This limited run has flown off our shelves in the last month- and we’re down to our last 4 cases!  

If you were interested in tasting it (or already have and need a few more bottles for your collection), we can’t guarantee it will be available by the Old Fashioned Corn Roast!  Stop in this week and pick one up!  (You can purchase your Corn Roast tickets in store while you’re here!)

But don’t fret if you can’t make it out, we’re definitely planning to use some Sauvignon Blanc from this year’s harvest towards another run of this great new wine!  (You’ll just have to wait until next Spring for it to be ready again!)
We’re also excited to share our new Sweet Riesling, a nice addition to the Dry & Semi-Sweet versions we already carry.  And coming August 12th, our brand new Hennepin Cobalt, a deep, dark, sweet red!  We know many of you tasted this earlier this Spring and have been anticipating it’s release!

Our team has been working non-stop this past month, a job made easier with the addition of new cellar help.  Joe joins us after working in wineries & vineyards in Willamette Valley, the Finger Lakes & Napa Valley, and is responsible for keeping up with all the day-to-day operations that seldom get the glory of wine making, but have to get done for the process to continue!
Having new hands on deck to move, drain, sanitize & prep the barrels, bottling line, and other winemaking equipment allows Kevin & Don more time during the crucial growing season to actually be out in the vineyard, directing their focus on turning those precious grapes into liquid magic!

With so much happening, there’s never been a better time to stop out for a tasting or tour!
As always, please schedule an appointment for vineyard tours (or tastings of 6+ or more): 716-731-3316

Play the Niagara Wine Trail Game all summer long!

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HOW TO PLAY:
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– Post your pictures from any of the categories from the Niagara Wine Trail website on Facebook OR Instagram.
– Use the hashtag #uncorkNWT. (Don’t forget to hashtag/check-in to the location also!)
– Using the hashtag gives you credit for an entry: 1 picture = 1 entry. The more pictures you enter, the more chances to win.

In his family memoir Piero Antinori reveals the passion, tradition, and love of craft that have driven twenty-six generations of vintners: from the first ancestor who signed up to the winemakers guild in the fourteenth century to Antinori’s own three daughters, poised to carry this most celebrated family of artisans into the future.
But The Hills of Chianti is about much more than wines.  At its heart the Antinori story is about “Tuscan-ness”: a connection to the land, an appreciation for good food and drink, and the quintessentially Italian love of hospitality that make this one of the world’s most inspiring and memorable destinations.

You’re invited to join us July 23rd for our monthly book club meeting for discussion of The Hills of Chianti: The Story of a Tuscan Winemaking Family, in Seven Bottles.

Our book club always meets on the 4th Sunday of each month at 6:00PM, to discuss great books over a bottle of wine!  We recommend reading the book in advance to join in on the conversation.  This is a free social gathering, all are welcome to attend – but guests must be 21+ to drink.  RSVP on Facebook to Save the Date!

-OTHER MEETINGS-
LCW Book Club: August Meeting – The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls
LCW Book Club: September Meeting – Shadows in the Vineyard, by Maximillion Potter

Looking for something to do this weekend?!  Kick-start June sampling wine & cheese pairings along the Niagara Wine Trail, USA!  Tickets are still available and include a tasting of 3 wines & a cheese sample at 10 participating wineries of your choice!  Long Cliff is excited to showcase our Autumn Select dessert wine (newly returning to our shelves after a brief sell-out last Fall), paired with Yancey’s Fancy New York’s Artisan Cheese Strawberry Chardonnay Cheddar!  See for yourself why this light pairing makes the perfect treat for after supper, out on the patio on a warm night!  You’ll definitely want to share this one with your guests all summer long!

Please remember tickets do not include transportation.  As always, a valid photo ID with proof of age is required to participate in wine tasting. Please have your ID ready upon arrival. Designated drivers and non-drinking attendees are welcome at the wineries at no charge.  Groups of 10 or more are asked to make a reservation at Long Cliff in advance!  You can confirm your tasting time via e-mail to longcliffwinery@gmail.com

Curious what else is happening at the winery this Summer?

–June 25: Book Club Meeting – “The Dinner” by Herman Koch
–July 23: Book Club Meeting – “The Hills of Chianti” by Piero Antinori
–July 29 & 30: Niagara USA Wine Festival!
–August 12: 5th Annual Old Fashioned Corn Roast!  Tickets now Available

We’re currently organizing a relaxed Evening with the Winemakers – join us to learn a little bit more about what we have planned for the future of our vineyard & winery, ask any questions you’ve ever had about wine making (or wine tasting!), and socialize with our team & some of our best customers!
Sound like an event for you?  Please take just a moment of your time to answer this 3 question survey to help us with scheduling!

Join us August 12th for our 5th Annual Old Fashioned Corn Roast!
Part barbecue, part bonfire, part harvest festival – celebrate the season with dinner and wine tasting under the stars!

Tickets include: 3 tastes of wine, 1 glass of wine, and dinner!

This year’s brand new menu is being catered by BW’s Barbecue out of Blasdell, NY & will again include Unlimited Roasted Corn, PLUS: 1/4 Chicken Dinner – AND – BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders! YUM!! (Additional sides include a chef salad and baby buttered spud potatos!)

All Pre-Sale tickets are available for $20 / person now through 8/6/17 – or until we sell out!
At this time, we can not guarantee at-the-door ticket sales!

Get the date on your calendar, and click here to purchase tickets now!

Prices above do not include online ticketing fees & tax. To save on ticketing fees, please stop in the tasting room to purchase your tickets!
Must be 21+ to attend. All ticket sales final.

Fresh, charming, and wholly irresistible, Champagne Baby turns a familiar tale on its head: Instead of yet another American seeking the French secret to good living, a Frenchwoman finds her purpose – much to her surprise- in America…  Part coming-of-age memoir, part travelogue: sprinkled throughout with regional maps and wine recommendations.

There’s still time to read our May Book Club pick, Champage Baby by Laure Dugas before our next meeting Sunday, May 28th!  As always, our meetings are free to the public (must be 21+ with valid ID to sample wine)- and while we recommend you finish the book before then, it’s never required!

Upcoming Meetings & Titles:
-May 28: “Champagne Baby” by Laure Dugas
-June 25: “The Dinner” by Herman Koch
-July 23: “The Hills of Chianti” by Piero Antinori