ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's beer, wine, cider and distilling industries are marking another year of growth.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo welcomed business leaders from around the state to Albany on Wednesday for the third annual Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider Summit. The Democratic governor touted the state's efforts to reform Prohibition-era laws to take advantage of the national trend favoring locally produced wine, beer and cider.
Since 2011, the number of farm wineries is up by 60 percent. The number of microbreweries has more than tripled. New York currently ranks third in the nation for wine and grape production and has the fourth-largest craft beer industry.
Cuomo says he wants to find more ways to help homegrown alcohol manufacturing, adding that it also strengthens the tourism and agricultural sectors.