Cheers! Ritchie Bill to Extend Thousand Islands-Seaway Wine Trail Gets Final Passage

State Senator Patty Ritchie is announcing her bill to extend the “Thousand Islands - Seaway Wine Trail” has received final passage by the Legislature and is headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Under the bill, S.2241, the Thousand Islands - Seaway Wine Trail would be extended to include White Caps Winery in Chaumont and the Cape Winery in Cape Vincent.

“In recent years, New York’s wine industry has grown and along with that growth has come fantastic new wineries in the region I represent,” said Senator Patty Ritchie. “By extending the Thousand Islands – Seaway Wine Trail we are putting these new wineries on the map and in turn, strengthening small businesses, creating jobs, encouraging more people to shop local and boosting tourism in the beautiful Thousand Islands region.”

Over the past decade, the Thousand Islands - Seaway Wine Trail has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern New York, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to visit small town wineries and vineyards across the region.

Extending the existing trail, which was established in 2007, will help make the public more aware of newer wineries, giving both visitors and residents additional reasons to explore the Thousand Islands region.

“When wineries on the wine trail succeed, so too do our other local businesses,” said Senator Patty Ritchie. “People visiting the Thousand Islands - Seaway Wine Trail dine in our restaurants, fill up at our gas stations and visit our other small businesses and attractions. By encouraging more people to responsibly raise a glass at our region’s wineries, we’re creating a ripple effect that boosts our economy as a whole.”