Pricing special for 'Ice Wine & Culinary Festival'

Here's a two-month heads-up about a very special event. I'm providing a long lead time for those across the state who may need it to make arrangements to be in the Rochester area in February.

The event is the annual New York Ice Wine & Culinary Festival being hosted at Casa Larga Vineyards & Winery on Saturday, February 11.

The day will include ice wine tastings, wine and craft beer tastings, ice wine seminars, ice wine-infused food, vineyard horse-drawn wagon rides, vendors, and live music. Tickets are $55 in advance, $65 the day of the event. A special package of two tickets for $100 is available until December 31. (Use coupon code ICEWINE17 online or call the wine shop at 585-223-4210 to purchase tickets.)

The winery dates to 1974 when Italian immigrant Andrew Colaruotolo planted the first two acres of vines. The first harvest came in 1978, producing Casa Larga's first vintage. Over the years its portfolio grew to include ice wines that met with critical and commercial. Its most recent, introduced at this year's festival, is a 2010 Fiori Delle Stelle Vidal Blanc Barrel Aged Ice Wine. It is aged 19 months in French acacia wood barrels (19.7% RS), and retails for $59.99 for the 375ml bottle.

Casa Larga operations are overseen by John Colaruotolo, son of the late founder. Matt Cassavaugh is the head winemaker.

Casa Larga is located at  2287 Turk Hill Road in Fairport, Monroe County.

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