NORWICH – Upstate Wine Country will return to Norwich later this month to hold the second annual – and extremely popular – Chenango Wine Festival. And this time around, said Upstate Wine Country’s Dan Tompkins, there will be a number of new additions, the first being a change in name. As such, the newly minted Chenango Wine and Beer Festival will take place from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. on June 29 at the Chenango County Fairgrounds.

The change in name reflects the addition of beer to the menu as a number of New York State craft breweries will be on-site offering beer tastings in addition to the expected plethora of regional wines. Tompkins stated there will be nearly twice as many wine-tasting booths as last year.

“As always, Upstate Wine Country is proud to showcase only New York State-based wineries and breweries,” said Tompkins. “So, throughout the day, festival attendees will have the opportunity to sample and purchase the products of more than a dozen popular wineries and breweries that will be traveling to Norwich from virtually every part of the state.”

Participating wineries include: Adirondack Winery (Warren County), Americana Vineyards & Winery (Seneca County), Ashley Lynn Winery (Oswego County), Black Bear Winery (Chenango County), Casa Larga Vineyards & Winery (Monroe County), Eagle Crest Vineyards (Livingston County), Glenora Wine Cellars (Yates County), Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards (Schuyler County), Inspire Moore Winery & Vineyard (Ontario County), Knapp Winery (Seneca County), Pazdar Winery (Orange County), and Thousand Islands Winery (Jefferson County).

The craft breweries in attendance will include the Adirondack Brewery (Warren County), Cortland Beer Company (Cortland County), and Lake Placid Pub & Brewery (Essex County).

“There are a number of other exciting additions,” said Tompkins. “There are some added opportunities that are really nice.”

Vintage vehicles will be on display from the Northest Classic Car Museum inside the Exhibition Hall at the fairgrounds; members of the Norwich Theater Company will be on-site; and information on local events and attractions – including 6 on the Square, the Chenango County Fair and Colorscape Chenango – will be available.