Cuomo visits Finger Lakes region to promote wineries

WATKINS GLEN -- Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo continued his summer tourism tour on Wednesday, hitting three Finger Lakes wineries to promote the industry.

Cuomo, who has been traveling extensively upstate, toured the west side of Seneca Lake as part of the industry's annual Governor's Cup wine competition. Along the way, the Democrat also touted wines from Long Island and the Hudson Valley, which were all competing for the title of New York's best wine.

The industry was happy to get the help.

"We're very proud of what the industry is becoming," said John Martini, head of Anthony Road winery in Penn Yan. "Coming here, drawing attention -- it shows we're becoming an economic engine."

A Long Island winemaker said the Cuomo administration has tried to make doing business -- and starting a wine business -- easier.

"He's made a very strong effort to remove inadvertent blockages, to make operating a business easier," said Larry Perrine, chief executive of Channing Daughters Winery in Bridgehampton. He said, for example, the State Liquor Authority has made obtaining a license easier and dropped some lengthy report requirements.

Later Tuesday, McCall Wines of the North Fork won winery of the year in the Governor's Cup competition.

The governor's poll numbers dipped upstate after he signed the state's new gun law in January, but have since ticked upward. He's also striven to promote various upstate economic sectors, while delaying a decision on horizontal drilling for natural gas.

In brief remarks to kick off the tour, Cuomo, who is up for re-election next year, said the state's economy is turning around.

"The state does have a new energy about it," Cuomo said.

He didn't take reporters' questions at any of his three stops.