(Scroll down for a directory of craft beverage establishments in Clayton)
Clayton’s climate combined with the constant moisture flow from the St. Lawrence River is a perfect match for growing the grains, grapes and fruits needed to create award-winning craft wine, beers and spirits.
Visitors enjoy these fruits of labor at tasting rooms, downtown lounges and many of the restaurants and hotels that host guests from all over the world.
Click here to download a craft beverage map.
Coyote Moon Vineyards, located on East Line Road in Clayton, offers free tours of the wine making area and a tasting room is open daily allowing visitors to sample before they purchase. Coyote Moon Wine & Dine, located on Riverside Drive, also offers the opportunity to sample wine, grab a bite to eat, shop, or listen to local musician.
The Thousand Islands Winery is located approximately 7 miles north of Clayton. Free wine tasting allows you to sample their wines and you can take a free tour of the wine production facility.
Northern Flow Vineyards, Clayton’s newest winery, invites visitors to its tasting room and patio located at DeLuke’s Garden Center, about two miles east of Clayton. Experience sipping wine in a beautifully landscaped setting!
Brewing along the shores of the St. Lawrence River has a long and rich history. The Wood Boat Brewery, located across from the Antique Boat Museum, is brewing a full line of ales, stouts and seasonal brews that are complimented by its wood-fired pizza.
Distillers have taken advantage of the region’s fertile ag land to grow high-quality crops needed for spirits. Vodkas…gins…bourbons…moonshines… they’re all made with a local twist unique to the 1000 Islands.
The region’s first micro-distillery, Clayton Distillery, produces premium grade distilled products from locally grown grains and fruits. Sample and purchase vodka, gin, whiskey, moonshine and liqueurs at their nautical-themed distillery and gift shop.
From ranch to river, the Saint Lawrence Spirits farm-based distillery adds local flavors to their spirits. Ingredients are hand-picked from their family ranch, Lucky Star Ranch Estate, and converted to the final product at Saint Lawrence Spirits, where they are proofed down by filtered St. Lawrence River water, providing the spirit of the River in every bottle! Visit the distillery on Route 12 in Clayton or their tasting room on Riverside Drive.
Every June, Clayton is the host to the Great New York State Food & Wine Festival. This event celebrates quality “Made in New York” food & wine products including candy and cheeses, nuts, sauces, herbs & spices, maple syrup and other maple products, apple cider, cookies and ice cream and of course, NYS wines and spirits. Participating exhibitors will come from Long Island to Buffalo and the Finger Lakes to the upper reaches of the state along the Canadian border.
Photos Courtesy: Taste 1000
Thousand Islands Winery
Business Description
Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and step into a world where wine and laughter are your only priorities. Just 30 minutes outside Watertown, and along the banks of the scenic St. Lawrence River, Thousand Islands Winery® is a fun, friendly oasis with 22 varieties of award winning wines. Originally founded in 2003, Thousand Islands Winery® was the rst winery in the Thousand Islands region and boasts not only large vineyards, but breathtaking views, and a unique tasting room experience. Thousand Islands Winery® is located on Seaway Avenue, just o Route 12, near the Thousand Islands Bridge and is open for wine tastings and Winery tours at 10 AM daily. Plan your next escape today and come “Wine down in the islands!”
Thousand Islands Winery® is the largest farm winery in Northern New York State and is located along the majestic St. Lawrence River on a historic forty acre farmstead established in 1836. The Winery began its operations in 2002 with the purchase of the farm by Steve Conaway and his wife Erika. The primary grape varieties being planted in the Thousand Islands Region include Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, Marquette, and La Crescent which were developed by the University of Minnesota. The development of these cold-hardy grapes is the very reason we now enjoy the bene ts of the ever-expanding Northern New York wine region.