Women For WineSense Finger Lakes

06/11/2026

LAST CHANCE to join us on Monday for: Celebrating Diverse Craft Beverage Making in the Finger Lakes!

In honor of pride month, join us at New York Kitchen in Canandaigua on Monday, June 15th for an evening of celebrating the beverage makers and business owners of all backgrounds that help make our region great. 🏳️‍🌈🍷

The evening will highlight our talented friends, Josh Jenkins and Charlie Treichler of Sylvan Farm & Cidery, a queer-owned ecological cidery in the Finger Lakes, hand crafting complex cider and Perry from their own hilltop farm. We'll also highlight some of our wine friends along the way! As always, small bites will be paired alongside these ciders and wines.

Space is limited, head to the link below for tickets:
https://womenforwinesense.org/calendar-page-view-of-events-no-filter/ #!event/2026/6/15/flx-prost-a-heuriger-wine-celebration

06/09/2026

Speaker SPOTLIGHT for Monday's Event: Celebrating Pride in the FLX 🥂

Charlie Treichler & Josh Jenkins of Sylvan Farm & Cidery

Josh and Charlie met while working on an heirloom apple farm in Mendocino County California. Josh is an artist who loves the soil and her inhabitants. A registered member of the Cherokee Nation from Arkansas, Josh is carefully exploring his indigenous roots and finding inspiration in his Cherokee grandmother's relationship to the earth. He has a background in graphic design and art education. He’s obsessed with apples.

Charlie grew up on the farm where he and Josh now live, pressing wild foraged apples for cider as a child and learning how to graft from his mother. He loves trees—climbing them, growing them, and eating their fruits. Even more, he loves making fine ciders and perrys for friends and family to enjoy.

Join us at New York Kitchen in Canandaigua on Monday, June 15th for an evening of celebrating the beverage makers and business owners of all backgrounds that help make our region great. 🏳️‍🌈

Get tickets here: https://womenforwinesense.org/calendar-page-view-of-events-no-filter/ #!event/2026/6/15/flx-prost-a-heuriger-wine-celebration

06/08/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈 Join us in celebrating our Community Outreach Partner, Southern Finger Lakes Pride and the incredible impact they make throughout our community. ❤️

Southern Finger Lakes Pride supports the well-being of Southern Finger Lakes 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their loved ones by connecting them with affirming resources, advancing community acceptance through education, and providing opportunities for inclusive celebration.

Click here to learn more: https://www.soflxpride.org/

Click here to donate: https://givebutter.com/SoFLXPride

06/01/2026

Celebrating Diverse Craft Beverage Making in the Finger Lakes!

In honor of pride month, join us at New York Kitchen in Canandaigua on Monday, June 15th for an evening of celebrating the beverage makers and business owners of all backgrounds that help make our region great. 🏳️‍🌈🍷

The evening will highlight our talented friends, Josh Jenkins and Charlie Treichler of Sylvan Farm & Cidery, a queer-owned ecological cidery in the Finger Lakes, hand crafting complex cider and Perry from their own hilltop farm. We'll also highlight some of our wine friends along the way! As always, small bites will be paired alongside these ciders and wines.

Space is limited, head to the link below for tickets:
https://womenforwinesense.org/calendar-page-view-of-events-no-filter/ #!event/2026/6/15/flx-prost-a-heuriger-wine-celebration

05/08/2026

A special thank you to Embrace Your Sisters for welcoming Women For WineSense Finger Lakes & Women For WineSense Rochester members to this year’s Tea At Two Fashion Show at Casa Larga. 🩷

Held annually, Tea At Two is Embrace Your Sisters’ largest fundraising event, an inspirational afternoon dedicated to supporting local women and families facing breast cancer. Through direct financial assistance and compassionate community support, their organization continues to make a meaningful impact across our region.

We are grateful for the opportunity to attend and support such an incredible cause.

If you would like to learn more about Embrace Your Sisters or make a donation to support their mission, please visit: https://www.embraceyoursisters.org/

05/05/2026

✨ Speaker spotlight: Prost! A Heuriger Wine Celebration 📣

Jason Ferris is a veteran sommelier, wine educator, and beverage program leader with more than 25 years of experience shaping world-class wine programs and guest experiences. He studied Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management at Penn State University and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Exam in 2005. A National Finalist in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Best Young Sommelier Competition and “Top Taster” at the New York City Wine & Food Festival, Jason brings both technical expertise and a deep passion for storytelling to every experience.

A dedicated student of the world’s great wine regions, Jason has traveled extensively throughout Europe, with a particular passion for Austria. He is especially drawn to the parallels between Austrian wines and those of the Finger Lakes—where cool-climate conditions, mineral-driven soils, and vibrant acidity create wines of precision, structure, and food-friendly balance.

Jason’s ability to connect Old World traditions with the evolving identity of the Finger Lakes makes his perspective both insightful and approachable, particularly when exploring how Austrian varietals and winemaking philosophies translate to and inspire producers in our own region.

Now based in the Finger Lakes, Jason continues his work as a sommelier, operations manager, farmer, and cheesemaker—bridging global wine knowledge with a hands-on commitment to the local agricultural community.

Join us at Outlet 111 in Penn Yan on Monday, May 18th to explore the world of Austrian wine in this engaging tasting experience focused on the country’s signature varietals—Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Blaufränkisch.

Space is limited, get tickets here: https://womenforwinesense.org/calendar-page-view-of-events-no-filter/ #!event/2026/5/18/flx-the-art-of-dry-ros-233

05/02/2026

Big moment for the Finger Lakes Chapter.

To see two of our own recognized in Wine Business Monthly is something special—and it speaks volumes about the passion, talent, and leadership coming out of this region.

Rising Star Award — Alyssa Belasco
Alyssa continues to elevate the Finger Lakes through her work with New York Kitchen and her commitment to showcasing our food, wine, and agriculture. Her impact reaches far beyond any one role, and we’re so proud to have her as part of our chapter.

The article also highlights an exciting leadership transition, with Natalie Travis stepping into the role of National President of Women For WineSense. Her energy, vision, and dedication to making wine education more engaging, social, and accessible have been at the heart of the Finger Lakes Chapter—and now she’s bringing that same momentum to the national level.

From Rising Star to National President, the Finger Lakes Chapter is showing up in a big way. Cheers to strong leadership, collaboration, and continuing to put our region on the map. 🍷

Press Release

04/27/2026

You're invited to an Austrian Heuriger Experience!

Join us at Outlet 111 in Penn Yan on Monday, May 18th to explore the world of Austrian wine in this engaging tasting experience focused on the country’s signature varietals—Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Blaufränkisch. Guests will discover what makes these wines so distinctive, from their vibrant structure and nuanced flavor profiles to their exceptional food pairing versatility at the table.

Led by Jason Ferris, veteran sommelier, the experience also draws connections between Austria’s winemaking traditions and those influences brought to the Finger Lakes, highlighting their shared cool-climate character and mineral-driven styles. Through thoughtfully guided pairings, guests will be introduced to the principles of Austrian food and wine matching, bringing an elevated take on the classic Heuriger wine tavern experience to life in a way that is both approachable and memorable. Austrian-inspired light bites will be paired alongside each wine.

Get your tickets here: https://womenforwinesense.org/calendar-page-view-of-events-no-filter/ #!event/2026/5/18/flx-the-art-of-dry-ros-233

04/12/2026

We want to highlight YOU! ✨🪩

We're so excited to feature the incredible people shaping the Finger Lakes Chapter of Women For WineSense. Our members are what make this chapter special and we want the world to know it!

Tell us a little about yourself. Answer as briefly or as fully as you'd like. Personality is highly encouraged. 😉

📸 Fill out the form below to be featured:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqOoLJnf4kcnbcQWvw88JdXLOb2cANJygmi1EFsmZecefV_w/viewform

01/27/2026

MEET THE SPEAKER for our upcoming event, Be Still or Sparkle My Beating Heart: Jen Susa 🍷

Jen Susa is a former teacher who turned her passion into wine to a career. She is the Rochester/Finger Lakes Sales Representative for Quintessential Wines and has been a member of Women For WineSense since September of 2018. Jen is the National Secretary and the Secretary for the Finger Lakes Chapter. In 2020, she took advantage of the WWS Grant and completed her WSET 2 and hopes to take her WSET 3 and 4.

Jen has a 26 year old son living his best life in Maine and a 95 lb Saint Bernard. She loves to workout, read, travel, and has completed 8 half Marathons in 2 years with more on the calendar for March, June, and September. You may catch her exploring the wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the Finger Lakes.

Join us on Monday, February 16th at Bravery Winery for a lively tasting experience featuring both still and sparkling red wines!

Space is limited, get your tickets here: https://womenforwinesense.org/calendar-page-view-of-events-no-filter/ #!event/2026/2/16/flx-event-tbd