Aubertine, winery owners vocal against proposed cuts to Wine and Grape Foundation

ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. -- "To see that disappear would be very unfortunate,” Thousand Islands Winery owner Steve Conaway said.

Mistake. That's the word being used by not only winery owners, but State Senator Darrel Aubertine as well. A mistake they say, by the state, to eliminate funding for the New York Wine and Grape Foundation as part of Governor Paterson's proposed budget cuts. A move that would for all intents and purposes, eliminate the group all together.

"Early on, they were vital to us getting going because this is not a traditional grape growing region,” Conaway said. "There was no expertise up here in the North Country."

Conaway calls the foundation the hub for all the state's wineries. He adds that it's a tool small, family-owned operations that can't afford staff, like his, can use for help, knowledge, organization and event notification to showcase their product.He says he can't imagine a wine business in the area trying to start up without it and he says losing the program would put a serious damper on the momentum the industry has gathered over the past couple of years.

"It's actually gaining steam,” Conaway adds. "It's the fastest growing agricultural sector in New York State. Without the New York Wine and Grape Foundation that wouldn't be possible."

Aubertine has written a letter to Governor Paterson talking about the growth. There are now 250 wineries in New York State, compared to 20 back in the 80s, and it's become a $6 billion industry. He says the $2 million state investment each year pays for itself and then some.

"As far as getting a bang for your buck, clearly investing in programs like this, these are the kind of growth industries where there's a lot more potential for growth that we need to be looking for,” Aubertine said.

In his letter, Aubertine stressed the role wine plays in other industries like restaurants and hotels and that wine has become an integral part of Upstate New York's economic engine.

New York is the third largest producer of wines in the country. Jefferson County's three wineries draw 60,000 visitors a year.