JEFF RICHARDS/Star-Gazette Three wines festively labeled for the season: Snowy Evening by Arcadian Estate Vineyards, Lakewood Vineyards' Holiday Edition Vignoles and Mistletoe Magic from Lucas Vineyards.

Holiday celebrations begin in Finger Lakes wine country

Several wineries offer uniquely packaged bottles of wine to share with friends and family while entertaining.

Lucas Vineyards, in Interlaken on Cayuga Lake, produces Mistletoe Magic, a blend of white wine in a stunningly vibrant red bottle. Oak-aged chardonnay and oak-aged vidal are blended with Cayuga to make a semi-dry wine that tastes of citrus, melon and pineapple. A sprig of mistletoe appears to dangle between the words "Magic" and "Lucas" on the front label and a vine, decorated with colored lights, provides a festive foreground for an evening vineyard scene that is covered with snow.

Arcadian Estate Vineyards in Rock Stream has produced a wine called Snowy Evening again this year. The label features two large trees framing a wooded scene with a sliver of a moon nestled between the branches.

It is reminiscent of Robert Frost's poem, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," from which the wine takes its name.

This is the ninth year that the winery has worked with an artist to create a new snowy evening scene for the label. The wine, made this year from Cayuga grapes, provides good, crisp fruit flavor.

"It's packaged for a gift profile," says winery owner Mike Hastrich. According to Mike, the deep blue bottle, with the tranquil snowy scene, sells itself this time of year -- when people are inclined to bring wine to holiday parties.

Lakewood Vineyards, on Route 14 north of Watkins Glen, puts a special label on their Vignoles wine during this time of year, and specifically for the Deck The Halls wine trail event.

A bright wreath, adorned with a red bow, encircles the Lakewood logo. The 2002 version of the Lakewood Vineyards Holiday Edition Vignoles wine has flavors of pineapple, apple and honey. It was a great pairing with the Thai Indian shrimp dish that was served during the Deck the Halls event held Nov. 15 and 16. (A second Deck the Halls event, scheduled for Dec. 6 and 7, is sold out.)

In addition to seasonal wines, there also are special holiday events. Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport, is hosting A Hunt Country Holiday Celebration, noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7. It is billed as a family outing with things to do for people of all ages. In the past, the event was held as a way of showing customer appreciation.

"Now it is jazzed up to show our appreciation and a holiday celebration," said Joyce Hunt, co-owner of the winery with her husband, Art Hunt. Children will be able to decorate gingerbread cookies as they sample holiday foods made for the occasion.

Cutter's Cheese, from Corfu, N.Y., will be offered as well as ice cream desserts topped with sauces from Arbor Hill, located in Bristol Springs, N.Y. "We try and support local producers," Joyce said as she described some of the seasonal food treats that will be available throughout the day.

Joyce will be making meatballs using some of their own Hunt Country wine jelly as one of the ingredients for the sauce.

For those in the mood to shop, there will be lots of items for sale at the event. You may even want to have them make up a custom gift basket to order.

The free weekend event will be highlighted by a visit from Santa Claus at noon and 2:30 p.m. each afternoon.

Join Art and Joyce Hunt as they celebrate another successful year in the Finger Lakes wine business. For more information, call Hunt Country Vineyards at 800/WINE-BUY or visit www.huntcountryvineyards.com.

Jeff Richards' wine column appears Saturdays. For comments or questions, he can be reached at 607/271-8279 or 800/836-8970, ext. 279, or e-mail: thewineguy