The Grape Pie Capital of the World

During the fall harvest season in 1965, Al Hodges introduced patrons at his Redwood Restaurant in Naples, New York, to a new dessert made with sweet-tart Concord grapes. Grape pie was such a sensation that Hodges hired his neighbor, Irene Bouchard, to make pies for the restaurant in her kitchen. More than 300,000 pies later, this unassuming village at the southern tip of Canandaigua Lake has earned its reputation as the world's grape pie capital.

Although the Redwood Restaurant only serves grape pie during the fall, you can find these distinctive, rich and gooey pies year-round at markets and bakeries in this Finger Lakes region town. Monica's Pies, located on Route 21 in Naples, is the best place to sample grape pie in the off-season. Monica Schenk started selling pies at a roadside stand in 1983. Now, she sells thousands of pies each year from her cozy little pie shop, and although you may be tempted by Key Lime, blueberry or one of two dozen other varieties, when you're in Naples, you simply have to try grape pie.

The height of grape pie fever coincides with the six- to eight-week grape harvest in September and October. Each year, nearly 100,000 visitors savor pie and other grape goodies during the Naples Grape Festival, held the fourth full weekend in September. Upcoming festival dates are: September 29-30, 2012 and September 28-29, 2013.

If you're going...

Naples is located at the southern end of Canandaigua Lake, the westernmost of the Finger Lakes. From the New York State Thruway (I-90), take exit 43, then follow Route 21 South along the western shore of the lake. Driving time is 1 hour and 45 minutes from Syracuse and about 5 hours from New York City or Philadelphia.

Compare Naples area hotel rates with Kayak.com

Can't get to Naples? Try Bouchard's grape pie recipe at home.