Survey: NY wine industry healthy and growing

ALBANY -- A survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that New York state's wine industry has weathered the recession well.

The survey of 169 New York wineries found visits to the vineyards by tourists and wine lovers have grown 20 percent in six years.

Jim Trezise of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation says that in the last seven months, 33 new wineries have been licensed, bringing the state total to 273.

He says the strongest growth has been outside of the traditional wine regions, noting that the Thousand Islands, Champlain region, and New York City now have wineries.

The government survey was commissioned by the foundation.

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