Gratitude and Perspectives from Father’s Day

June 20, 2019 Christopher Colloca

by Chris Colloca, DC, PhD
Chief Wine Taster, Colloca Estate Winery

We threw a Father’s Day Clambake at the Winery last weekend. And, over 400 of our closest friends showed up to share their family’s celebration with us.

Clambakes are one of my favorite events – taking me back to great memories of gatherings with friends in my younger years going to bakes at Reagan’s Silver Lake and Nunzies outside of my home town of Oswego, NY. I don't know if you have ever thrown event for over 400 people but it takes whole lot of planning and even more execution to pull it off. Our people showed up and shined, and it reminded me of how grateful I am in having such a great team.

Once we got the word out about the event, pre-sale tickets came pouring in. Along with it, though came some interesting questions:

“Is it all you can eat?”

“Are you sure it’s all you can eat?”

“Are the clams, Mahogany clams?”

“Are you limiting the number of clams we can eat?”

With each request, our team members confirmed our policies – “Yes, they could eat all they wished, and no, we don’t serve Mahogany clams.” But, I had to chuckle to myself when these kinds of questions came in from customers with bad past experiences at clambakes – being served Mahogany clams that are much cheaper than Littlenecks, or being limited by a ticket of how many clams you can eat at a clambake.

You see, when we set out to embark on this vision of building a dream winery, I didn’t envision skimping on quality or quantity. It’s just not how we do things. And, the one thing that I’ve learned in business over the past 25 years is that there is no shortcut to success. We believed that if we served the best food at a reasonable price, we would be successful. We sold over 350 tickets online and had to shut off pre-sale tickets on the Friday before the event. Authenticity worked.

Our Chef and I meticulously planned the menu. He made clam chowder from scratch. We found the youngest and freshest new salt potatoes we could serve with buckets of butter. We used fresh local lettuce in the tossed salad. We sourced USDA Prime Beef Brisket and smoked it overnight for 14 hours before slicing it for our guests. Pork was slow roasted for pulled pork sandwiches on fresh brioche rolls. We cleaned and seasoned 300 lbs. of chicken before roasting them in our rotisserie. In all, we served over 1,000 lbs. of chicken, pork, and beef to our hungry foodie friends. In ordering the clams, we paid the higher cost to serve the best - Northern Atlantic and Nova Scotia Quahogs more commonly referred to as Littlenecks.All of this hard work had one goal in mind: we wanted only the best for our customers who cared enough to share their Father’s Day with us.

In the days leading up to the event our senior management team strategized a perfect plan to avoid lines by creating stations, and to assign our team to specific tasks, such as replenishing food and making sure everyone had all the clams that they wanted on demand. Several guests said that was one of the best clambakes they have ever attended. Others asked when the next event was. That was the reward.

Having done so many events in the past, I look back with great gratitude on the success of the clambake as evidenced by the positive feedback that we have enjoyed from those who attended. So many guests personally thanked us for the quality of the food and service and for enabling these kinds of events to take place in our community. I think that's why I'm sharing this today … to help tell our story. This is what Colloca Estate Winery is all about. It’s why we built this place.

It is our Why.

So, as I stood on Father's Day with my son in in our aprons as he helped me to put clams into the steamer, there was no place I’d rather have been. My wife and two other children were nearby helping our events team and I had a sense that our kids were taking it all in: The excitement of the event, the hustle and bustle of the pace, the energy and the vibe. It’s what we live for.

So, for me this was a perfect Father's Day. Seeing others enjoy our menu and our venue, our team executing the event seamlessly, no lines for the customers, and having my family around me – it was perfect.

Sure, it would be a lot less work to clip a microphone on to my lapel and give a lecture at one of my seminars and generate a lot more income in my chiropractic business. But that's not at all the point. We created this this beautiful venue out of passion and love. And, that’s the purpose of this message today – Helping get the message out so people understand that we do things differently.

Rising Waters in Fair Haven – Here’s How You Can Help

June 10, 2019 Ken Warner

Editor’s Note: The follow article was originally written for the Fair Haven Chamber of Commerce’s public relation blitz to help potential visitors to Fair Haven understand how they can help local businesses weather the storm.

Little Sodus Bay in Fair Haven, NY is one the best kept secrets on the North Coast of America – Lake Ontario’s southern shore. Because of its unique location almost in the geographic center of the state, the community has become the focus of many a family’s summer fun for decades.

And it still is – despite the rumors of flooding our pristine shores. Like Mark Twain once said to a reporter when a New York Newspaper ran his obituary, “The reports of our death are greatly exaggerated”.

If you look at an official topographic map of Upstate New York, you’ll see that Little Sodus bay is 246’ above sea level. Or at any rate, that’s what it used to be.

Right now, officials say that it has now surpassed the record level of 249’ set back in 2017 by an inch and a few more inches are on the way depending on future rainfall.

Business owners in Fair Haven are a hardy bunch. And they’re battling back the rising waters with a variety of strategies to make the summer of 2019 the best ever.

Visitors to the town often ask “What can we do to help?” and the answer is simple: Come to Fair Haven! Visit our shops, dine in our restaurants, have a drink in our establishments, book a room at our B&B’s and hotels. Fair Haven is open for business and ready for Summer fun. Come and have some!

Here are a few suggestions how you can enjoy all Fair Haven has to offer and help our local businesses at the same time.

The Fishing is better than ever! Salmon, Trout, Bass … you name it. And Charters like Popeye’s Charter and Yankee One Charter as well as the rest of the fleet are streaming out the bay every morning. And Screwy Louie’s Sport Shop is ready in town for everything from poles to tackle to bait.

Shopping? Fair Haven’s got some of the most unique shops in the region. From the Fly by Night Cookie Company’s delicious selections, to the Front Porch Gift Shop and the Hardware Café’s gift section, there’s something for everyone. Need to stock up on supplies, there’s The West End Express Mart and of course, Bayside Grocery which has just about everything you need … and a few things you don’t, but get them anyway!

Keep an Eye on the Arts. The local artist community is thriving as well. Spend a lazy afternoon browsing their works. DOC Gallery, Fair Haven Arts Center, and South Shore Artisans are showcasing their incredible artwork and One Photo has some of the most breathtaking photos of the area to be found anywhere around.

#DestinationFairHaven is true to its word. There are about a dozen places to stay: Anchor Resort, Black Creek B&B and Venue, The Cabin Vacation House, The Cottage Farm, Fair Haven White House, The Got A-Way, Holiday Harbor Resort, Memory Haven, Turner’s 1816 B&B, Pleasant Beach Hotel and Turtle Cove Resort all have accommodations for Families as well as cozy couples.

Want something to do? Fair Haven Beach State Park is open and there are several trails for hiking. Sterling Nature Center showcases the Heron Rookery and walks along the cliffs overlooking the shoreline. Springbrook Golf Course is green and ready for golfers. Book a massage or acupuncture treatment, or join a yoga class Bayview Wellness Center and Spa. The Little Red School House Museum has some local history. And Colloca Estate Winery and the Sterling Cidery showcase beverages from right here in Fair Haven.

There’s music in the air … almost every night and day. Turtle Cove has an open Mike on Thursdays as well as music on the weekends. Colloca Estate Winery not only has music on Sunday afternoons, but Friday and Saturday nights as well. Little Sodus Inn, Brandon’s Pub and the Pleasant Beach also have regular music schedules. And, don’t forget Porch Fest on August 11th where there are local musicians playing throughout the village.

Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner? Not a problem. Menus in Fair Haven are eclectic as the music. Adventures in great eating are available everywhere from The Hardware Café, Brandon’s Pub and Grill, The Wood Fired Kitchen at Colloca Estate Winery, Little Sodus Inn, Pleasant Beach Hotel, The Village Grill and Turtle Cove Restaurant and Marina.

And, last but not the least are our village events. Fair Haven’s Fourth of July celebration is renowned and attracts visitors near and far. Weekend activities include our mile-long parade, boat parade, community church smorgasbord, carnival, 5k run for Hospice, Bayside Cruisers car show, and our ring of fire, and SOFA Spectacular SOFA Fireworks Sponsored by Colloca Estate Winery. The show is known throughout the area as one of the area’s best – is among the best ever, symbolizing the community’s resilience.

Fair Haven will also host Pirate Fest the weekend of August 25, that includes a costume parade, and events and experiences with the invading pirates all weekend long. We have free family movie nights and band performances in our village park. There is something for everyone.

The long and short of it is that Fair Haven is as welcoming, fun, and beautiful as ever. Our businesses need your support now more than ever. Please take the short ride to Fair Haven and help support our local businesses. You can find more information about Fair Haven’s businesses and upcoming events at www.fairhavenny.com.

Sweet & Savory This Weekend on the Lake Ontario Wine Trail

June 5, 2019 Ken Warner

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The Lake Ontario Wine Trail is featuring a Sweet & Savory Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, June 8th & 9th.

This event will feature unique pairings of award-winning wines, spirits and ciders with sweet and/or savor treats. Each venue on the trail will present three pairings of beverages and treats, allowing visitors to experience the flavors created by pairing different foods with selected wines, spirits and ciders. All pairings are designed specifically to bring out the fullest flavor of both.

Colloca Estate Winery will be offering:

spicy jalapeno with fruit chutney tartin paired with Dolce Riesling
phillo cup with avocado mousse paired with Riesling
chicken adobo with tortilla chips paired with Dry Riesling

This event is held from 11 AM to 6 PM on both Saturday and Sunday and is a self guided tour.

Tickets are $25 - tickets can be purchased at the first stop on your tour. Reservations for groups of 8 or more are appreciated, but not required. If you have questions regarding this event please email us at contactus@lakeontariowinetrail.com.

WE WON! 4 Silver & 3 Bronze at Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

May 31, 2019 Ken Warner

Seven wines from Lake Effect Vineyard® here at the Colloca Estate Winery have won medals in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in Rochester.

We think it’s a really great honor to have our wines recognized in such an intense competition. There were over 2,800 entries from over 450 wineries in 42 states and 16 countries.

Four of the Colloca’ current offerings won medals including:

Colloca Estate Pinot Noir 2017 — Silver
Colloca Estate Chardonnay 2017 — Silver
Colloca Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2017 — Bronze
Colloca Estate Mindy’s Giggle Juice (non-vintage) — Bronze

Three other wines won medals as well, but won’t be available on the shelves till later this year.

Colloca Estate Riesling 2017 — Silver

Colloca Estate Dolce Riesling 2017 — Silver

Colloca Estate Dry Riesling 2017 — Bronze

When you visit us, you can sample these award winning wines any time in our tasting room which is open 7 days a week from 11:00 to 6:00. And, we’ll be featuring them at our wine bar and wood fired kitchen on the weekends as well.

The 19th Annual Finger Lakes International Wine Competition (FLIWC) was held at the Holiday Inn Rochester Downtown. All proceeds from the competition benefit the children and families affected by cancer served by Camp Good Days & Special Times. Started 19 years ago, The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition has become one of the largest wine competitions in the world to benefit a charitable organization.

The entries were judged by a world-renowned panel of 54 judges made up of 27 women and 27 men representing distributors, educators, sommeliers, restaurateurs, winemakers, and writers. These experts came from all over the world including countries such as the United States, Argentina, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Canada.

Not a bad way to start off the summer season!

An Ice Cream Bar: A Cool Thing About Colloca Estate Winery

May 1, 2019 Ken Warner

While being a winery and catering to the adult crowd, Fair Haven’s Colloca Estate Winery has always billed itself as a destination for families to enjoy. Sprawling over its 100 acres are great spaces for kids to run around, play catch or Frisbee, and take in the natural beauty of the southern shores of the Great Lake Ontario.

Since adding its wood fired ovens, Colloca Winery has become a destination for families and adding to its menu this summer is its new Ice Cream Bar where a variety of soft serve ice creams and frozen yogurts will be featured among dessert items.The winery will even try its hand at wine ice creams, becoming ever more popular throughout the world.

Maybe Love is Just as Good as it Gets

April 24, 2019 Ken Warner

by Dr. Chris Colloca

Our best friend and loyal companion, Harleigh, our dog of 16 years passed away this morning in our arms. As we said our Good-byes and told her how much we loved her I did my best to shift my mind away from the sorrow and pain of losing her towards the gratitude that we have for being able to be her custodians during her time here on this earth. I thought of all of the time we spent together and sure there are highlights. Just as we humans get together and reminisce about the good times and tell funny stories, I’m reminded of our Harleigh stories. It makes me stronger in my belief that it is the journey of Life it is the experiences that are the most important, and not the end game. You know the end game. I’ll be happy when …

So many times, we think, “when these few things in my life straighten out, that’s when things will be great.” This is the end game mentality that I myself have all too often fallen victim of. But, its times like these when we realize that it is the little things in life that make Life as good as it gets. Right there in the moment when your child says something that makes you laugh. A hug from a loved one. Sharing a deep and connecting conversation with a friend who listens and advocates for us. The pride in seeing someone learn or advance. Giving a gift. The feeling of accomplishment in completing a task. Taking in a beautiful sunset. Enjoying a great meal. These are all examples of Life as good as it gets. And, I think it’s as simple as that.

Harleigh never saw things with any twisted end game mentality like us humans do. She got excited just being in our presence. She would wag her tail so hard that her whole ass wiggled when we simply came home. She wanted to communicate just how thrilled that she was to be in our presence. This is something I used to take for granted and this simple daily occasion was as good as it gets.

Like most dogs, Harleigh had a preference to human food over her dog food. She would wait until any and all opportunities were over to be fed table scraps to opt for eating her dog food. She still outsmarted us. When we would let her out to do her business, she would wander over to our Wine Bar and Outdoor Kitchen and come home with a full belly from patrons whom she had charmed into convincing to share their food with her. She loved the affection, she loved the food, and she welcomed the love our visitors showed her. She was even kind to other dogs visiting. It was as good as it gets.

My loyal companion followed me everywhere I went. She just yearned to always be with us. When I would drive the tractor in the vineyard, Harleigh was always one row over keeping her distance for safety, but trotting alongside parallel with me all the way down the row and all the way back until I finished. The vineyard rows are longer than 3 football fields, but it didn’t matter how long they were to Harleigh. She didn’t tire out. In fact, one summer several years ago I took her to the Vet for a checkup and they were concerned saying that she had lost 12 pounds. I told them about how much she ran all over our property all summer and they agreed the cause was simply exercise. I should have been the one running and Harleigh on the tractor! But, for Harleigh being outside and having the run of the property was as good as it gets.

On our wedding day, we wanted our best friend to be part of the special day. Mindy ordered a corsage for Harleigh and she stood at the arch with my best man and I waiting for the Bride to come in. Mindy came in on a horse and carriage and despite me thinking we had perfectly planned our wedding ceremony, written checklist and all, we didn’t plan on Harleigh going after the horse. But, that is exactly what happened. As the horse and carriage arrived, Harleigh took off and began barking and running toward the horse, who became a bit startled, but luckily didn’t get spooked, or we would have had a runaway bride. To this day, Mindy believes that Harleigh was just mad because she thought she was the one marrying me that day and Mindy was intruding. But, standing up there during our wedding ceremony, and being the only other soul on the dance floor with us during our first dance was maybe as good as it gets.

Harleigh loved the water. Whenever our family went boating, Harleigh could sense it with anticipation. She would observe Mindy packing towels for our outing and she would dart for the door being the first one in our Polaris Ranger that she knew we would drive down to the waterfront where the boat was docked. She wanted to make sure she didn’t miss out. When the kids swam, the Border Collie mix in her would kick in and she would immediately jump in to accompany them and swim in circles to corral the kids and make sure everyone was ok. She would swim to the point of exhaustion and when we would put her back on the boat to rest and catch her breath, she would bark to indicate her desire for more – to the point where we would put a ski-jacket on her backwards to make sure she would stay afloat. In her mind, that was her job – to protect us in the water – and it was as good as it gets.

At church last weekend on Easter Sunday, the sermon reminded us of the story of Jesus and his being the good shepherd to his people from the Book of John. A shepherd looks after sheep and collects a paycheck. It’s just a job and it could be that or any other job. The good shepherd, however, would lay his life on the line for the sheep that he cared for. It wasn’t a job. It’s a lifestyle. The good shepherd is all in. It was an impactful reminder to me of how we approach life and what we make of it. I thought about examples of the good shepherd in my own life. On every successful team I played on, when we knew each other would leave it all on the field, we had the most successful seasons, including a National Championship. Harleigh was the good shepherd to our family always, and we are eternally grateful for her service.

As time took its ultimate toll on Harleigh’s body and she became frailer, Mindy and I would carry her up the stairs so she could sleep in our room as she was accustomed. As I carried her, she looked at me with appreciation and I know that she knew that we were “all in” for her also. From the time Mindy rescued her 16 years ago as a puppy, I think Harleigh knew we were her good shepherds, too.

So, as I write this tribute to Harleigh maybe it’s about sharing this lesson. Maybe it just helps me cope or helps the grieving process. Whatever the case, I’m convinced that living in the moment is the best recipe for happiness. While our tears of sadness have filled our eyes, it is only gratitude that allows us to be thankful for being blessed with caring for her. I hope that Harleigh knew that for us, all of the time that we got to spend with her was as good as it gets. And, I hope that as we were holding her during her last breaths, as difficult as it was, it was still as good as it gets. Because in this life, maybe love is just as good as it will ever get.

We want to extend a heartfelt Thank You to Kat Spires and Kari Holbrook and everyone else who looked after Harleigh with love during our travels and Fruit Valley Veterinary Clinic in Oswego, NY for the care and compassion that they provided to Harleigh and to our family during this difficult time.