Every hometown in New York State has something that makes it different and special. But sometimes something can be so unique, it helps more than just one city or village. And as we welcome a new year, the North Country continues to welcome new members to a growing industry, wine.

The Thousand Islands, Seaway Wine Trail has quickly become the 2nd largest tourist attraction in Jefferson County and soon, it'll add Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties to the mix.

In this special New Year's edition of Your Hometown, our Brian Dwyer takes us on the 78-mile long wine tour and has more on how 2012 could be the year Northern New York is put on the wine map.

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In its six years, the Thousand Islands, Seaway Wine Trail has become very popular for tourists all over New York State. And it all started right here on this very spot, the Thousand Islands Winery just outside of Alexandria Bay. And you know what they say about the original, so let’s go check it out.

Steve Conaway, Thousand Islands Winery Owner said, “Here at the Thousand Islands Winery, we were the first to get started in the area. The wine trail got going once we got started. We have about 17 different varieties and all of them have won awards in various competitions. The Thousand Islands Winery right now is producing about 60,000 gallons, so we are a pretty large producer. We're distributing to about 300 stores."

But Conaway said the best way to try his wine is at one of the huge events he hosts right on site.

"Some of the future events that we've got planned are the Valentine's Day event that comes up on Valentine's Weekend in February. Also there'll be, in October a Halloween themed event for 2012 as well as a 'Jingle all the Way' event for Christmas 2012,” said Conaway.

Just a short drive from Alexandria, about 10 miles east brings us to Clayton. One of the newest wineries, Coyote Moon.

Phil Randazzo, Coyote Moon Owner, said, “We started business in 2009. We do 18 different kinds of wines, flavors. We like to try and do something for everybody. Sweet, to dry, to oak aged barrel wine, to sweet fun summer kinds of wine. This past year we'll do something just south of 5,000 to 6,000 cases of wine and this year we expect to do somewhere close to 10,000 cases."

But at Coyote Moon, you don't just drink the wine, you eat it too.

"We've got our Casa Papa sauce now with our Casa Papa wine, which is an old family recipe. We've added a pasta to it this year and next year we're doing a BBQ sauce with our Twisted Sister wine,” said Randazzo.

And about 15 miles Southeast of Clayton, we arrive at Philadelphia and the Otter Creek Winery where the family here specializes in 13 different kinds of wine, but also offers something a little bit different.

Rick Hafemann of Otter Creek Winery said, “It's a family run operation. My wife helps here and I do. It's been well received in the community."

But it's Rick's son Kyle who is really the brains behind the operation.

Rick said, “My son has worked hard to do wines that people like. Basically we go from Merlot up to Adirondack Red, which is a sweet red wine, and everything in between. One of the big sellers is an apple cranberry wine called Harvest Blend. It's just huge."

But this family business wanted to offer something for the whole family.

"The soda is off the hook. Black Sheep Root beer and Grape soda for the people that don't drink. So they have something and a reason to come here,” said Hafemann.

And once the tour leaves Philly, it's 30 miles Southwest to Historic Sackets Harbor and the Yellow Barn Winery where you never know what'll be on the wine list.

Mary Surdo of the Yellow Barn Winery said, “We offer about 15 to 16 different wines. 14 regular wines and a few trying wines. We just put them out there and test them, see if people like them and if people do like them, we'll think about adding them to the full list next year."

"We deliberately keep our winery small. We do around 1,700 to 2,000 gallons of wine a year. In doing that, we've been able to do more, I think, more experimentation in terms of kinds. My thing is to see what we can do with our North Country grapes,” said Nick Surdo of the Yellow Barn Winery.

But the wine list isn't the only thing to read. Yellow Barn has a bookstore that features local authors.

Mary Surdo said, “What goes better with a good book than a bottle of wine?"

Our final stop brings us to Lewis County and to a winery that's technically not a part of the trail, but is a part of all the tours and stops.

In fact, there's a plan to redraw the lines of the trail and then, the Tug Hill Winery outside Lowville will become an official member.

Sue Maring of the Tug Hill Winery said, “We're a banquet facility which makes us different from other wineries. We offer a Sunday brunch. We do a lot of weddings. We have five acres of blueberries for U-pick and three acres of raspberries."

And the winery here is getting bigger every day.

Maring said, “This year we came out with six different wines. Our goal is to only make wine from the grapes that we grow right here. We harvested 25 tons this year, so we'll have about 13 different varieties next year when we open in April."

Of course the other four wineries are open all year long.

A sixth winery, River Myst Winery in Ogdensburg up in St. Lawrence County, is also expected to be added to the Trail once the lines are re-drawn.