Cooperstown Beverage Trail

Part 1 in a series

Although I have lived near the Cooperstown area for all of my life,  I have never gone along the Cooperstown Beverage Trail. For those of you unfamiliar with this,  it is a group of Beverage Producers in the Cooperstown Area who have joined together to form a trail.

The idea, of course, is to band together and pool marketing resources to help people enjoy a day in the area, experiencing these local beverages.

For those who visit all four, and get their stamp for the Beverage Trail Card at each location, you can receive a nice laser-engraved pint glass or wineglass, available at each location,  so no matter which location you start or end at you can receive your free gift.  There are also other promotional giveaways at each location as well.  The coupons can be found in  “Quench”,  a printed brochure available at many stores and businesses throughout the area and across the state and at each location along the trail.

So last weekend we headed out to visit the trail,  starting at the southernmost end at the Bear Pond Winery. 

Bear Pond Winery,  located at 2515 St Hwy 28 Oneonta (just north of exit 17 on Interstate 88,  on the way to Cooperstown) was formed in 2000.  Mark and Brenda Lebo,  along with business partner Michael Burdinger,  purchased the winery 5 summers ago.  Mark Lebo,  a week before the Christmas previous had been unexpectedly released from the Automotive Paint Company he was working for,  changed careers and became an accidental entrepreneur.   Mark and his partners purchased the business,  and with an option of 6 months of coaching from the previous owner,  have revitalized the winery to the point where production is now four times what it was in ’04.

Since stock was almost depleted when they purchased the winery, they were able to start creating new lines along with several of the original formulas.

Today, they produce about 16 types of wine throughout the year.

We arrived at our 1st  stop along the trail and were greeted by bear paw prints and warm and friendly welcome.  We were given a wine card and for $5.00 (which is then deducted from any purchase made at the store)  were able to choose  six wines we would like to experience,  Bear Pond’s own and/or other select NYS wines with a wide variety in sugar contents  &  flavors.  It was nice to be able to choose ourselves.  There is a $1.00 additional charge to taste the ice wine(s) that are available and a $5.00 additional charge to have Palatine and Harperville cheeses with your wine.

Since everyone has different tastes and ideas as to what makes a good wine,  I will leave out my selections, but will tell you there are is a wide variety of styles and flavors available at Bear Pond.  From light and fruity whites, to dark and robust reds, rose and ice wines, french oaked aged to stainless steel aged,  and you will definitely find several to your own particular likings.

After wine tasting we enjoyed browsing through their quaint gift shop which has something for every wine lover.

Bear Pond Winery has their own vineyard that covers about an acre,  and to meet the increasing production needs,  buys grapes and fruit from select growers,  all from within New York State, keeping it local.

We had a delightful experience  at Bear Pond Winery,  a wonderful winery right in our own backyard!

Bear Pond Wines are available for purchase at the gift shop at 2515 St Hwy 28 Oneonta, or shipped to your door where allowed by law. They are open 7 days a week year round, except for a couple of days during the winter holiday season,  and don’t forget to get your Beverage trail Card stamped before you leave!

Now on to our 2nd stop along the trail…