Cayuga Lake Wineries

Finger Lakes winery co-owner killed, husband injured in crash

The couple owns Red Newt Winery and Bistro in Hector, Schuyler County, near Watkins Glen.

A passenger in the other car, Frank Pecoraro Jr., 47, of La Fayette, Onondaga County, also is in fair condition at Upstate University Hospital.

The Whitings were returning from visiting family and friends in Vermont when the crash occurred, said Greg Tumbarello, business and office manager of the winery and bistro.

David Whiting was driving west in the couple’s 1985 Volkswagen van when he moved into the left lane and hit a 2004 Buick driven by Ian Olinski, 18, of Nedrow, Onondaga County, according to Sgt. Robin Urbaniak of Troop T of the State Police. Olinski’s car went off the road into the median and overturned and Whiting’s car drove off the right shoulder and hit a tree, Urbaniak said.

No charges have been filed and an investigation is pending, he said.

The bistro is closed today but is scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Tumbarello said.

He said the Whitings are like family to him and other employees.

“We all feel like we lost a mother today,” he said.

Sheldrake Point Winery announced today that its Simply Red Bistro would be closed today for dinner. “We are all mourning the loss of FLX icon and dear person, Chef Debra Whiting of Red Newt Bistro,” the winery said on its Facebook page. People at other Finger Lakes wineries and restaurants expressed shock and grief in postings on Twitter.

Debra Whiting was a specialty chef who had recently filmed a segment for the reality-television program Chopped on the Food network. The show has yet to air.

In its June 20 newsletter, Red Newt reported that Ms. Whiting would release a cookbook in 2012 and said the cookbook was in production.

In 2010, she was one of only four New York state regional chefs selected for the annual Taste of New York State Media Luncheon, held at the James Beard House in Greenwich Village. Her contribution was watercress ravioli with Lively Run chevre cheese in a lemon garlic cream sauce, and Napoleon with lemon curd mousse and caramelized rhubarb mascarpone and rhubarb syrup.

Sunday's Best Bet: Easter brunches at Cayuga Lake wineries ...

Easter brunch on the wine trail.

If you’re up for a Sunday drive on an Easter Sunday, check out these holiday brunch special at two of Cayuga Lake’s best-known wineries.

Knapp’s Easter Brunch Buffet offerings include a carved roast turkey breast with gravy and cranberry fig chutney, French toast with wild berry cream cheese filling, bacon, sausage, eggs benedict, pastas and more. There’s an Easter Egg Hunt for kids at 1 p.m.

Sheldrake Point (Simply Red Bistro) serves a basket of sweet and savory baked goods plus free-range eggs and meats from Autumn Harvest Farms in Romulus. Menu items include Tuscan-style frittata, crab and shrimp eggs benedict, and stuffed French toast.

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