NY's first 'wine Automat' a new treat

Those of us of a certain image fondly remember the chain of Horn & Hardart Automats, those wonderful food-vending cafeterias that allowed us to pop a handful of coins in a slot and get treats dispensed to us in return.

I was reminded of them by the new wine vending machines at Corks & More, 708 West Buffalo Street on the West End Waterfront in Ithaca, NY.

Customers pop in a debit card in and get wine — by the taste, by the half-glass or the full glass. It is the only such operation in New York State.

Ten vending machines dispense 40 different wines, ranging from Opus One ($50 a glass) to local Red Cat (75 cents a taste) from Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards. The devices are made by Napa Technology.

The California company also offers a scaled-down version for home use at about $5,000. You can get the details online.

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