LEGISLATORS PLEDGE TO SUPPORT NEW YORK WINERIES

ALBANY, NY (05/15/2014)(readMedia)-- It's a simple but powerful statement making the rounds from the Statehouse through the New York Senate and Assembly that when wine is served at official, public functions there will be wine from New York.

"For every dollar spent on buying a wine made in New York more than 10 dollars return to hire local people, buy goods and services provided by other New York businesses and pay taxes to provide services for New Yorkers," said New York Wine Industry Association (NYWIA) President Scott Osborn.

"It's a show of faith to New York taxpayers that our lawmakers are supporting New York products," said Suzy Hayes, co-owner of Miles Wine Cellars and vice president of NYWIA.

If you want to support the New York wine economy and have a say in how your tax dollars are spent go to the nywineindustryassociation.com, website "action center" and click on "issues." Follow the instructions to email your legislators. Or you can contact your state assembly member and senator directly by phone, email or mail.

There are more than 360 wineries in New York, producing more than 6,000 red, rosé and white wines; bubbly and still, from dry to sweet, from Montauk through the Hudson Valley, north to the Thousand Islands, across the Finger Lakes to Niagara. The wine business contributes $4.8 billion to state and local economies.