Educating yourself about wine and the wine industry is a critical requirement for anyone in the wine business, and that's why vintners will be cracking the wine bottles open as opposed to cracking some books this week at a wine workshop held in Rochester, New York. Viticulture 2007 is a trade show, workshop, and general wine lovers' conference.

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The conference this week will look at the industry in New York, the Northeast and beyond, and offer seminars and panel discussions on issues affecting the industry such as immigration reform, financing, the health effects of fruit and juice products, and new vineyard technologies

The event, sponsored by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension, also will provide an opportunity for Finger Lakes wines to gain in stature.

These wines already play an increasingly important role in the Rochester-area economy. As one of the fastest-growing wine regions in the United States, the Finger Lakes are home to more than 100 wineries primarily located around Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka lakes. Roughly four of every 10 wineries in the state are in the Finger Lakes.

Statewide, wine has become very big business. According to a study by MFK Research, the industry generated visits by more than 4 million tourists in 2005, $420 million in sales and 36,000 full-time jobs.

Viticulture 2007 has a global reach, attracting speakers from as far away as New Zealand to offer views on how to deal with the grape supply.