Save the date for this very popular event, Feb 11-12, 2012 – Cheese and Wine Lovers Weekend !

Love Cheese ?  Love Wine ?  Well…then this is the weekend wine event for you.  Come savor some of Keuka’s best wines with creamy and delectable cheeses that are locally produced.  Each winery will also have a dish prepared with a specialty cheese, a dish you may want to prepare at home.  This is a great platform to pair local wine with local artisan cheeses and one you will want to attend every year.

The following wineries are members of the Keuka Wine Trail and will be participating in the event:

• Keuka Spring Vineyards   
• Barrington Cellars
• McGregor Vineyard
• Ravines Wine Cellars
• Hunt Country Vineyards
• Stever Hill Vineyards
• Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars
• Heron Hill Winery          

 

 The winery events bring so many visitors to the area, making this an area to purchase lakefront homes and placing them in a property rental program.   Wine lovers, love to visit the wineries and spend a day or so in a lovely lakeside home or one with a view to sit back and enjoy a glass of their favorite findings.

I will be showcasing some great rental properties in future blogs. Some will be available for purchase as well…

All of the Finger Lakes are beautiful in their own right, but overall Keuka Lake seems to be the more desirable when you look at overall price ranges available.  Prices to live on Keuka Lake, or at least have access, range from $89,000 to a mobile in a lakeside, seasonal  mobile home community, to a lavish over the top 2 bedroom home with marble walls and unbelievable entertaining areas for $2.5 million dollars. 

Current Keuka Lake owners love their properties so much, they drive around with a little sticker on their car windows that deplays “QKA”.  These owmers feel that they aremore than fortunate to have found this hidden gem.

There are three main localities on the lake to choose to be near.  They include; Penn Yan, Hammondsport and Branchport.  In between these areas, you will find various hamlets and points. 

Some of the homes are intentionally seasonal with the owners only visiting during the summer months, others were built to be seasonal and left as is ( far uncommon anymore ) and most are year round homes, even if only used seasonally.

The choices are endless. In fact there are currently over 80 homes available for sale on Keuka Lake. Lot size, proximity to the style, vintage, garages, driveway, septic, sewer, public water, wells, bedrooms, bathrooms, the side of the lake and privacy are just some of the many variables that buyers look for. 

If you are looking for the perfect vacation home on Keuka Lake, Dave and I would be more than happy to assist you in your goal.  There are many beautiful homes to choose from in many different price ranges.  Dave is originally from the area and I have been in th are for 22 years, so we know the lake. 

We even have a property for sale that includes two homes, 5 acres of land and 170 feet of lakefront.  It offers so many options and all for $475,000.  For a more upscale option, we have a gorgeous 4600 square ft home complete with its own lakeside guest cottage 1 acre of land, wine cellar and 180 ft of lakefront on Keuka Lake.  Want to build your own home with a great view, we have that for you also.  And talk about views, we have an old converted barn with the most spectacular views of Keuka Lake located just minutes from Bully Hill and Dr Franks.

So give us a call and we will sit down and find something that fits your desires on Keuka Lake.

Budget travel is having a contest for the “Coolest Small Town” and after the initial rounds, Hammondsport, NY  has made the final cut with 9 other small towns across the US.  Vote for your favorite! You can vote once daily,  so be sure to get all your votes in before the contest closes on January 31st. And remember to vote for Hammondsport.  Let us make Hammondsport the “Coolest Small Town “.

So what makes Hammondsport special ?  You have to ask ?

• The wineries
• The quaint shops
• The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
• The restaurants
• Keuka Lake
• The beauty of the hillsides
• Historical Homes
• Antiques
• Farmers Markets

There are so many reasons to love Hammondsport !   So vote today !

Coolest small Towns :     Beaufort, NC  Cape May, NJ  Cooke City, MT  Damascus, VA  Hammondsport, NY  Jerome, AZ  Nashville,  IN  Port Townsend, WA  St. Genevieve, MO  Weaverville, CA

Read more: http://www.budgettravel.com/contest/americas-coolest-small-towns-2012,11/#ixzz1ipREzLm8

Seneca Farms Ice Cream, a local landmark in Penn Yan, especially so for the summertime vacationers to Keuka Lake.  Everyone has to visit Seneca Farms at least once.  For many it has become a tradition.

Is it the home-made ice cream in an unending amount of flavors or is it the fresh strawberry sundaes made with fresh picked local strawberries that brings families back year after year. Or maybe it is all of the cute young ladies that serve the ice cream up.  Whatever it is, Seneca Farms has gone through a couple of expansions, including a full fast food menu with some of the best rated chicken and fritters.  (yes, I did say fritters, and yes we are up North )

For me it is a terrible atrocity when they open up for the season.  Why ? Because I only live a stones throw away and the temptation is just too great sometimes to just pass by or in my case walk by.

Since they have closed for the season, the temptations will be gone until March when they open back up and will be advertising their Easter Ice Cream cakes. 

This is a small reminder of how quiet and desolate it feels around the lake once the cold weather comes along.  The lake people have gone, the wineries are having their big weekends and then will be winding down until the early part of next year.  The only increase in vehicles will  be the salt trucks and the snow plows.  The go-cart track is closed until June and the empty parking lot is a reminder of that, with only empty tires outlining the course but no carts to be seen. A walk down to the park on the lake is easily shared with the geese that are not quite sure if they should migrate or not.

So for now, I patiently wait to see the ice cream sign light up, the lines of cars pulling with hungry visitors willing to place their order for a cold ice cream on an even colder day. Because, then I know everything will begin to fall in place right behind them,  Dougs Meaner Wieners and Keuka Karts.   For me that also means the lakefront buyers will be out looking to purchase the perfect waterfront property and I want to be ready for them !  Where do I take my new clients ?   Well Seneca Farms of course !

This information brought to you by your favorite waterfront Realtor, Mary St. George, Associate Broker, Wine Trail Properties, Your Personal Connection to Lakefront Living in the Finger Lakes, 315-719-8377  www.winetrailproperties.com

Keuka Lake, is one of the more desirable of the Finger Lakes, not because of its unique Y shape but because of the setting, the ambiance, the tradition, the quaintness, the little hamlets and villages and a little of all above.  Here you can find a $25,000 mobile home in a private park to a multi million dollar home rumored to have been purchased by John Travolta for his wife Kelly.

With homes like those that would attract a Travolta type buyer, you would expect to see many multi million dollar sales on this lake.  Quite the contrary… in fact there have only been 9 sales on Keuka Lake over a million dollars for as long as the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors has been tracking them.

The first and only home this year on Keuka Lake to sell for over a million dollars, just sold for $1,400,000.  It is located at 10219 E Lake Rd in the Town of Urbana, located at the Southern end of Keuka Lake.  It has a great private location that includes 305 feet of lake front, 1.2 acres, a boat house, in ground pool with pool house complete with bath, a 2 car garage with loft above and a traditional home of 2,717 square feet of living space. 

The luxury waterfront home was originally listed by Vang Real Estate for $2,375,000.00 in July of 2009 and a buyer was brought to the table by Mike Hanna of Realty USA in Hammondsport. 

There are not a lot of private and spacious settings left like this on Keuka Lake.  Here is wishing great times and newly developed memories to the new owners.  Keuka Lake is truly a delightful place.  I am quite sure the Wurtelle family will miss this great vacation escape that they have enjoyed for many, many years.

 This information brought to you by your favorite waterfront Realtor, Mary St. George, Associate Broker, Wine Trail Properties, Your Personal Connection to Lakefront Living in the Finger Lakes, 315-719-8377 www.winetrailproperties.com

If you are looking for a place on Keuka Lake, that offers more than just waterfront,  then 302 W Bluff Dr, Keuka Park, NY  14478 is for you.   This great property includes two homes on five acres and of course 170 feet of waterfront with a dock and boat hoist on beautiful Keuka Lake.  The five acres back up to state land offering great options for long walks and hikes,  snowshoeing and four wheeling.  Riding a bicycle on the bluff is an enjoyable experience, stopping to enjoy the views across the lake and the little places tucked in along the way, such as Garrett Chapel, a wonderful old church surrounded by a wrought iron fence or some of the vintage cottages that are still in tact.

During the winter everything quiets down and offers you the opportunity to explore your way through Keuka Lake State Park, as you will find numerous trails.  The beauty is inviting as you hike through snow-covered trails catching glimpses of wildlife throughout your trek. Photographers will love the opportunities for some great shots.

Need to put your boat in or out of the water ?  Well the State Park Boat Launch is just minutes away.   Don’t feel like cooking, well you can grab a quick bite at the Trading Post and pick up some needed items or stop by the Antique Inn for a delightful meal, both only minutes away.  A short drive to the North will put you in the Village of Penn Yan where you will find groceries, banks, drug stores and other assorted shopping needs.  To the South, you will come into the little hamlet of Branchport, offering you a hardware store, leather shop, gas station, corner grocer and mercantile shop.

At the water side you will find a deck, boat hoist and a waterside deck, a great place to sit and watch the sunset.  Enter the driveway directly across from the water and you continue up to the first house.  This is the smallest of the two homes with one full bedroom and full bath downstairs and a loft bedroom and half bath upstairs.  The kitchen, dining and living area are open to the front of the home and have an entrance to the deck that flanks three sides of the home and offers a calming view of the lake.  Up the driveway a little bit, you come up to the larger of the two homes, This wood sided home offers three full bedrooms with one downstairs and two upstairs.  There is a full bath up and down in this home.  The living and dining area are open up to the second story lending a feeling of openness.  You will also find a spacious deck on the lake facing side of this home with plenty of room for dining and lounging.

Both homes have been well-built by the owner and you can see the pride in each one.  Both homes come completely furnished and have a wonderful rental history with financials available to serious buyers.  You have nothing to do but show up with some personal items, the homes are all ready for you !  Having two homes on the property allows you options with the use of the property.  You can rent both, use one and rent the other or purchase for an exclusive family compound.  You decide, call me if you would like to view this delightful retreat.  These homes are waiting ro the right buyer -Is that you ?

Come to Keuka Lake, Come Enjoy, Come Stay !

This information brought to you by your favorite waterfront Realtor, Mary St. George, Associate Broker, Wine Trail Properties, Your Personal Connection to Lakefront Living in the Finger Lakes, 315-719-8377 www.winetrailproperties.com

The Seneca lake Wine Trail is celebrating it’s 25th year. And this may have something to do with their Deck the Halls wine event being sold out early. But  you can still order their 25th Anniversary Cookbook.  I would order a couple as they would make great gifts for family and friends.

You still have time to purchase tickets and attend holiday events on Keuka and Cayuga lakes. For Keuka Lake  information, go to www.keukawinetrail.com.  They are having events Nov 12 -13 and Nov 19-20. Keuka Holidays ticket holders will receive a handmade grapevine wreath at their starting winery and collect a Christmas ornament at each winery. Each winery will offer winter foods along with their wines. As always designated drivers receive discounts on their tickets. 

 For Cayuga Lake events visit www.cayugawinetrail.com.  Visitors  receive a souvenir wine glass, grapevine wreath, an ornament at each of the 16 member wineries, wine and food pairings plus great holiday recipes from each of the wineries. The event dates for the Cayuga wineries are Nov 18-20 and Dec 2-4.

These holiday wine events are some of the most visited wine events in the Finger Lakes.  Besides all of the little goodies you will walk away with, you will enjoy the a true holiday feeling with the food, the decor, the ornaments and of course the great wine.  Remember to pick up extra wine to have on hand for the holidays for last-minute gifts.  Everyone loves a great bottle of wine,  or two !

Besides the ability to purchase great wines, most of the wineries have other great gift options, such as cheese boards, hand painted glasses,  artwork, and wine flavored condiments to name a few.

If you have never been to  a wine tasting event in the Finger Lakes and have always wanted to attend one, this is the time to do it and enjoy a great holiday experience at the same time.  To make it even better, consider renting a lake front property for an even more enjoyable experience. I’ll be watching for you !

This information brought to you by your favorite waterfront realtor, Mary St George, Your Personal Connection to Lakefront Living in the Finger Lakes, Associate Broker @ Wine Trail Properties 315-719-8377   www.winetrailproperties.com

The beauty of the Finger Lakes lends itself as the conduit to budding photographers and perfection for the seasoned  photographer.  With the colorful palette of water and trees and vineyards the area has to offer and a camera in hand, you instantly want to capture the fabric of colors and textures for all to see and experience.  With the onset of Flickr and Dropbox and so many other numerous photo storage and sharing apps, the task becomes easy as pie.

My friend Nigel Kent believes that the “eyes are the windows to the soul” .  His photos show the passion he has for capturing the beauty of the glens, lakes, waterfalls, creeks and woods.  You can find his gorgeous works at www.nigelpkent.com.  He also likes to experiment with different photo effects that creates a feast for the eyes.

This is just a small sampling of the sights you will see when visiting the Finger Lakes.  Whether enjoying the lake via a kayak or boat, hiking through the glens that offer spectacular waterfalls or just driving around the countryside and taking in the unending views of the lakes and vineyards, you will understand why so many people vacation here and purchase vacation homes.  It is a calm and relaxing lifestyle.  Visit Nigel’s website for more views of the Finger Lakes. You will probably do what others do and purchase some of his lovely and serene photos to hang up or give as gifts.

If these photos have captured your imagination enough to think about a vacation home in the area, I am just a phone call or email away.  Purchasing real estate in the Finger Lakes is always the right thing to do.

This information brought to you by Mary St. George, Your Personal Connection to Lakefront Living in the Finger Lakes, Associate Broker, Wine Trail Properties 315-719-8377 www.winetrailproperties.com

The above photos courtesy of Nigel Kent:  Watkins Glen, Canadice and Keuka Lakes

This world-class property gracefully sits on 180 feet of lake front on beautiful Keuka Lake. Slight French influences offer the luxury you have been looking for in a year round vacation home, on one of the most desirable lakes in the Finger Lakes. Graceful manicured lawns will guide you toward the tasteful entrance of this spacious 4,628 sq ft home. Step inside and you will begin your journey of delightful tastes. From the entry level you can access the comfortable lake view office and family room area to the left. To the right you will find a comfortable and spacious guest bedroom.

Keuka Lake located just about an hour away from Rochester, New York has been home, or at least a summer home to numerous affluent Rochester area people. It is one of the more desirable lakes of the Finger Lakes, making it a hot spot for local area executives to enjoy summertime lake front living. Close enough to commute and far enough to “get-a-way”.

Former Xerox Corporate Office Frank Steenburgh has put his gorgeous Keuka Lake home up for sale.                                                 
This dramatic home sits perched on it’s own point and offers panoramic views of Keuka Lake. Built less than 10 yrs ago, it offers all modern amenities and is located approximately 13 miles from the Village of Penn Yan where you can find groceries, drug stores and even a hospital. As you can see in the picture below, the home is surrounded by tress offering greater privacy. The views from this home are to die for.

This West Bluff home located on Keuka Lake is listed with an agency associated with the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors.  Call me if you are looking for a great waterfront home or vacation home in the Finger Lakes or if you would like an appointment to see this great property

This information brought to you by your favorite lake front Realtor, Mary St. George – Your Personal Connection to Lakefront Living !

Find me on www.winetrailproperties.com, email or phone !