Holiday events in Finger Lakes wine country

The holiday spirit is bubbling up in the Finger Lakes.

Though the Deck the Halls events have come and gone, the festive season is just getting under way. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards in Hector is hosting its eighth annual Seneca Santa Party today from noon to 6 p.m.

The event is held each year to raise money for Christmas gifts for less fortunate children in Schuyler County. Live music will be provided by area band members that come together and form The Seneca Santa Blues Band for this one-day event each year.

The ever-popular "Kiss the Bald Guy's Head" event will be available for those who want to pick out their favorite color Mary Kay lipstick and plant a big one on the top of John Frederick's shiny dome throughout the afternoon. Frederick is a calculus and driver-education teacher at Dundee High School, came up with the variation on the kissing-booth.

It doesn't matter if the weather is frightful; the hosts have got you covered.

"We're a definite go," says pourer Carma Croft. Heated tents are up and they are spreading things out this year. The $5 admission fee gets you a souvenir glass for the event as well as access to the live entertainment. All the money raised during the event goes to Seneca Santa to purchase gifts. The pourers are even contributing their tip money.

Last year the event raised $10,000. Stop by and can help them reach, even surpass, that goal this year.

Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport is hosting A Hunt Country Holiday Celebration today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Food is provided at the free event, as a thank you to customers who have visited throughout the year.

You may want to take advantage of the opportunity to purchase one of Hunt Country's gift baskets. They will even customize baskets to your special needs while you are there.

Feel free to bring the kids along, too. Your children can work at the craft table making holiday ornaments before they get to see Santa -- who will be there from 1 to 3 p.m. both days.

Bridget Olisky of Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars in Hammondsport will be making bit of a journey to provide a wine tasting in Sayre next week. The staff of the Sayre Public Library is hosting its fund- raiser, A Toast to the Holiday, at 7 p.m. Thursday.

"Chef" Anthony Banka will be providing several tasty treats for the event. As a clerk for the library for the last two years, he got tired of "cookies, cookies, cookies" when they hosted special events. He said that he was willing to make something new for the next event and the staff took him up on his offer. The spinach dip, served in a bread bowl, turned out to be a big hit.

Anthony will prepare that dish as well as one made with cucumbers for the event.

Bridget will be pouring a selection of Dr. Frank's award-winning wines throughout the evening. You may want to try their merlot while sampling chocolate fondue-dipped fruit. Pinwheels made with cream cheese, broccoli and chipped beef should go well with the winery's Rieslings.

In the most recent issue of Wine Spectator, Dr. Konstantin Frank's 2002 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling was recognized as one of the great values for wines less than $15. Although it is no longer available in most stores, there will be excellent Riesling selections from more recent vintages.

All of this great food and wine and can be your for a requested donation of $3 as you gather around the Victorian style Christmas Tree. What a great way to support a local library.

Jeff Richards' wine column appears each Thursday on the Twin Tiers Life Food Page. For comments or questions, he can be reached at 607/271-8279 or 800/836-8970, ext. 279, or e-mail: jrichards@stargazette.com.