A wine rep pours a sample-sized glass of wine for a guest at Syracuse Wine Fest 2023. Credit: Courtesy of Syracuse Wine Fest

Three years ago, Tim and Jenny Cianciola began running the Syracuse Wine Festival to keep the event alive.

Their predecessors, Tim and Jodi Tarry, the founders of Syracuse Wine Festival, had stepped down. The Cianciolas wanted to keep showcasing Upstate New York winemakers. The couple owns an events management company in Vermont called Craftproducers.

On Saturday, the Syracuse Wine Festival will return for its third iteration under the Cianciolas. It’ll be held at the Central New York Regional Market in building F at 2100 Park St. More than 30 wineries and distilleries from across New York State will provide samples of their drinks to guests. Items will be available for purchase, as well. 

Attendees can choose between several sessions. One session will happen from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $30. The next will happen from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and cost $35. There is also a VIP option starting at 5 p.m. for $40. 

“The wineries and distilleries come and participate. They get to have a day of selling and sampling and making their products known,” Jenny Cianciola said. “For the public, just like for any type of festival or event it’s an opportunity for them to come and have a good time.”

The wine festival has been a staple in the Syracuse community for more than a decade, Jenny Ciaciola said.

This year will also feature an array of vendors like B’s Cheese, Earthquake Spices, Jerky Hut, Nav’s Popcorn, L&J Creations Hand Painted Glassware Collections, Pure Romance by Briitany Caprilozzi and others. 

A variety of businesses will also serve food, including Calle Tropical, Ji-Woo’s Korean Food and PB & J Lunchbox. All food truck meals will be sold at an additional price.

The festival will also feature a photo booth, an on-site masseuse, board games, an instructed sip and paint, and musical entertainment.

The Cianciolas’ events company also hosts several wine festivals throughout Upstate New York in neighboring regions like Albany, Binghamton and Poughkeepsie. 

“It’s a rip-roaring festival with a lot of fun and a lot of people with a lot of their friends, dancing and that sort of stuff,” Cianciola said.

For more details about this weekend’s event and to purchase tickets, click here.

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Yolanda Stewart was raised in the Bronx, New York City. Before choosing a career path in journalism she found a voice in writing plays, short stories, and a myriad of other creative outlets. She is a 2022...