Wine Spectator honors the Aurora Inn Dining Room

Wine Spectator has honored the farm-to-table Aurora Inn Dining Room with a 2016 Award of Excellence for the quality and breadth of its wine offerings. Curated to “satisfy discerning wine lovers,” the dining room’s wine list offers over 115 selections, with over 30 from the Finger Lakes – additional featured regions include California, France, Argentina, and Italy. Fewer than 4,000 restaurants around the world are recognized each year by Wine Spectator’s restaurant awards. “Our whole team is so proud to be recognized again this year,” remarks Erin McElhinney, dining room manager. “We take great care in what makes it onto our list, which is designed to enhance the dishes on our menu and to ensure our guests have an exceptional experience. Ryan Williams’ 2013 Gruner Veltliner for example, is the perfect complement for our pan-seared scallops with tomato risotto.” The Aurora Inn Dining Room’s culinary team recently returned from New York City, where they prepared dinner at the famed James Beard House. A fundraiser for the James Beard Foundation, the sold-out dinner highlighted both the culinary achievements of executive chef Patrick Higgins and his commitment to highlighting the bounty of the Finger Lakes with a thoughtful, considered approach. Each of that dinner’s five courses were paired with wine, including three from the Finger Lakes: Red Tail Ridge Winery’s 2011 Estate Blanc de Noirs, Ravines Wine Cellar’s 2013 Riesling, and Heart & Hands Wine Company’s 2013 Mo Chuisle Estate Pinot Noir. “While we also featured wine from Spain, France, and California, it was important to us to bring the Finger Lakes to the table,” remarks Meryl Eriksen, director of food and beverage. “Our dinner at the James Beard House was an opportunity to showcase the incredible work of some of our most talented neighbors. Our community is producing some serious, thoughtful, and delicious wine, and these three wineries in particular are continuously featured on our dining room’s list.” The Aurora Inn Dining Room is open year-round for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, and for lunch from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Dining reservations are appreciated, though not required, and can be made by calling the Aurora Inn at 315.364.8888. High-quality photographs of the dining room and its menu are available for download by media on the Inns of Aurora’s press page.