With four established wine trails and dozens of wineries, it can be challenging to sort everything out and plan the best trip to the Finger Lakes wine trails. Be assured though, that the effort you put in to planning will be well worth it.
The Finger Lakes, the wine region in Upstate New York, is a rural destination where much of the scenery is made by sprawling vineyards, some of which slope downhill on the banks of a clear lake. It’s one of the most scenic regions in New York State and while it would take many visits to fully explore all there is to do, you can’t really go wrong with any one trip you plan here.
In this article, I hope to help travelers decide where in the Finger Lakes to base yourself, which wine trails to follow, and which wineries along those trails you don’t want to miss. Read on for tons of tips on how to plan a perfect vacation, as well as recommendations for wine tours, accommodations, and the best Finger Lakes wineries.
Tips for Visiting Finger Lakes Wineries
My most important piece of advice is to always call ahead or check the website of the wineries you want to visit. Days and hours vary greatly depending on the season. COVID-19 safety protocols may also still be in place but even if they’re not, many wineries require reservations, especially on summer and fall weekends. More tips for Visiting Finger Lakes wineries:
- If you didn’t make a reservation at a winery where one is required, give them a quick call when you’re nearby anyway. They may be able to accommodate you, especially on a weekday.
- Think about how many wineries you want to visit in a day. We found 3-4 to be our maximum before we wanted to move on to another activity.
- Feel free to share a wine flight or tasting with a friend. No winery we went to had any problem with this.
- Don’t feel the need to drink an alcoholic beverage at each stop. Most wineries offer a lot more than wine, including gift shops, restaurants, and snacks from local farms.
- Riesling is the most common varietal in the Finger Lakes and the wines produced range from dry to very sweet. Ask a wine associate for recommendations if you have a preference one way or another.
- Note which wineries serve food, or research restaurants along your route so you have some options come lunchtime.
- Stay in the Finger Lakes on a Sunday if possible. This seems to be when a lot of wineries host live music events during the summer.
- Consider the season. Wineries, accommodations, and restaurants tend to fill up quickly in the summer and fall. Winter is a much quieter time but many businesses operate with reduced hours or close altogether. We visited in mid-May. It wasn’t too crowded and some seasonal businesses had opened by then, although many remain closed until Memorial Day or later.
Decide which Finger Lakes wine trails to follow
In 1983, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail was established as the first wine trail in the Finger Lakes. In the decades since, the region has developed a prolific wine culture and become a thriving tourist destination.
There are four Finger Lakes wine trails, which is important to know when you’re mapping out your trip. Maybe you want to stick only to the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail or perhaps, like we did, you want to also stray over to the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. This is easy to do, assuming you have a car.
On our most recent trip, Matt and I decided to visit wineries on Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, mainly because they are the largest and most established trails of the four. To a lesser extent, we also chose them because they’re more conveniently located for us and are a shorter drive from New York City. The two other wine trails–on Keuka Lake and Canandaigua Lake–are smaller wine trails, and also farther away for us to travel.
We booked accommodations on the west side of Cayuga Lake, putting us in proximity to the wineries along that shore as well as those on the east side of Seneca Lake. I recommend this, especially if it’s your first trip to the region. You’ll be close to tons of wineries on two different lakes, and be able to get a good overview of the regional wines.
Read a short description of the Finger Lakes wine trails here.
Decide how you’ll travel to the wineries
If you’re planning to drive yourself, then mission accomplished, and you can move on the next stages of planning! However, since this is a wine-focused holiday, you may be hard-pressed to appoint one of your group as designated driver.
If that’s the case, then deciding on transportation may very well be one of your first decisions, since certain tours dictate the wineries you visit. You might schedule one of the many Finger Lakes wine tours, hire a limo, or settle on some combination of options.
Matt and I mostly drove ourselves, which gave us the maximum amount of freedom in choice of wineries and other impromptu stops.
Also, the Finger Lakes is first and foremost a rural region. We visited in mid-May and passed farm after farm loaded with newborn lambs, calves, and foals and it might have been the most idyllic scenery I’ve ever witnessed. I loved having the chance to stop, or at least slow down, for closer looks and photo ops.
The obvious downside here is the need for a designated driver and be warned, the police are out. Please don’t even consider driving under the influence. Read on for additional transportation options.
Take a Finger Lakes wine cruise
We took one of Captain Jim’s Wine Cruises on Cayuga Lake and had an absolute blast.
We visited three wineries throughout the day, but the real pleasure was being out on the lake on a beautiful spring day while Captain Jim regaled us with stories of the lake front homes and their residents as we motored by.
We took the tour on a Friday in early May and Matt and I ended up being the only two on the tour, although from the sounds of it, Captain Jim expects to be pretty busy this summer.
The tour lasted from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and cost $90 per person, which was worth every dollar. Captain Jim is super friendly and communicative. If you have any questions about the tour, shoot him an email or give him a call and he’ll tell you all you need to know. He is retired, and said he’s open to customers calling him at the last minute to see if he can accommodate them for a boat tour (but he doesn’t promise he will!).
Throughout the day, we encountered two other boat tours operating on Cayuga Lake, which you may want to check out if Captain Jim is booked. One was Water to Wine Tours and the other was Bianconi Tours. The latter departs from Aurora four times daily during the summer months, which is perfect for guests staying at the Inns of Aurora on Cayuga Lake’s eastern shore.
Hire a limousine service
Hiring a limo is an extremely popular option for groups traveling from winery to winery and you’ll see them in almost every parking lot.
- See here for transportation services for Seneca Lake.
- See here for transportation services for Cayuga Lake.
Select Your Accommodations
The tough decision here is figuring out what city or town to stay in. On Cayuga Lake, Seneca Falls and Ithaca have the greatest concentration of hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. On Seneca Lake, look in Geneva and Watkins Glen.
Keep in mind that staying in one of the above towns places you at the farthest end of a lake, which may be an inconvenient distance from other places you’d like to visit.
For this trip, we decided to stay somewhere more central, so we could easily reach the wineries on the western shore of Cayuga Lake and the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. We also wanted to do some hiking and kayaking and kept that in mind when choosing our accommodations.
We spent four nights at an Airbnb in Trumansburg, which ended up being an excellent central location to explore from and I highly recommend it.
After checking out of the Airbnb, we spent two nights at The Black Walnut Bed and Breakfast, which I felt was a true highlight of our week.
The Black Walnut Bed and Breakfast
The Black Walnut is the epitome of what I love about bed-and-breakfasts. The owner, Jen Littlefield, holds a wealth of knowledge about the area and shows true passion for it. She has endless tips for area places to visit and on top of all that, she makes fabulous and filling breakfasts every morning.
Jen even kindly accommodated us one morning when we had to leave early for our kayaking trip in Watkins Glen, setting out fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola, and sending us on our way with homemade blueberry muffins.
Housed inside a renovated 200-year-old farmhouse, Jen has decorated The Black Walnut with soothing tones, soft rugs, and gorgeous rustic furniture. Out back, a garden grows wild, begging to be explored while inside, the sunroom is a perfect spot for a morning cup of coffee or an afternoon of reading.
The Black Walnut’s location in Covert holds its own intrigue. It’s one of the 21 properties that make up the Covert Historic District. Other nearby historical buildings include the Baptist Church, Grange Meeting Hall, and Greek Revival Town Hall. See here for more information on the Covert Historic District or better yet, book a stay at The Black Walnut and talk to Jen!
The Black Walnut Bed and Breakfast
4278 E Covert Road
Interlaken, NY
Ph: 607-288-2779
More suggestions for places to stay on Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake
I haven’t personally stayed at any of the accommodations below but they came up in my research and sounded interesting. All are located on the grounds of a winery or brewery, which I love the idea of. Here are a few more options, all of which are on my list for future visits.
Where to Stay on Cayuga Lake
Where to Stay on Seneca Lake
- The Lodge at Grist Iron Brewing Company
- Glamping at Seneca Lake Brewing Company
- Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars
- Inn at Miles Wine Cellars
Select the Finger Lakes wineries you want to visit
This is easier said than done. There are 16 Cayuga Lake wineries and around 35 Seneca Lake wineries, and it’s simply not possible to visit them all in just a few days. I narrowed down my itinerary by reading descriptions of the wineries to see what stood out and I ended up with the list of wineries below.
In general, wineries offer tastings, flights, and wine by the glass. Many also serve wine slushies and beer. The cost of wine tastings vary but tend to be approximately $10-12 for five or so wine samples. And while we don’t have a pet, I think every single winery we visited is dog friendly.
Some offer lake views or food and of course, they produce all kinds of wine, but I can honestly say there are things we enjoyed about each winery we visited.
Cayuga Lake Wineries
The following are listed geographically from south to north so your route is already planned!
Click here for a live version of the map above!
Americana Vineyards
Being greeted by sweet Labrador retrievers is the first thing that sets this winery apart from others. It sets the tone for a laid-back, come-as-you-are vibe, which is again highlighted in their selection of wines. While the usual Finger Lakes wines are on hand, be sure to sample (if you like sweet wines) Nancy’s Hooch, a plum brandy made from a family recipe, or Sweet Rosie, which is recommended to be paired with their homemade chocolate fudge.
Americana is known for hosting live local bands on summer and fall weekends. Also on the property are Crystal Lake Café and Bacchus Brewing Co. Taproom, serving craft beers and ciders on tap.
While not located with views of Cayuga Lake, the property sits in the picturesque countryside, perfect for a summer night of dancing under the stars. The winery does have a website (linked above) but their Facebook page offers more up-to-date information.
Americana Vineyards
4367 East Covert Road
Interlaken, NY
Ph: 607-387-680
Sheldrake Point Winery
Named after its location on Cayuga Lake, this was an early favorite of ours because of the scenic lake view setting and the interesting wines. Matt and I shared the Library Wine Flight. The wines come from their collection of vintages they’ve produced throughout the years and set aside to make future wines.
This is where we first encountered ice wine, a sweet dessert wine made from grapes that are handpicked only when the outdoor temperatures reach 17 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Our wine associate described monitoring the thermometer in the dead of winter and then rushing to pick the grapes before the sun rises. The frozen grapes are then put into a compressor to extract the sweet, concentrated juice that becomes ice wine.
Sheldrake Point Winery has been named New York State Winery of the Year, and Wine & Spirits magazine listed them as one of their top 100 Wineries.
Before vineyards took over the property, the land operated as an orchard and dairy farm for more than 130 years. Pre-packaged light snacks are available for purchase. All ingredients come from local farms. Keep an eye on their website for special events.
Sheldrake Point Winery
7448 County Road 153
Ovid, NY
Ph: 607-532-9401
Hosmer Winery
“What you taste depends on how you were raised.”
This was the first thing that Stephanie, the wine associate at Hosmer, told us as she poured our wine samples. In hindsight it’s a simple concept but one that never occurred to me and as we tasted different varieties, sure enough I more easily detected undertones of black raspberry, peach, and lime than I did of aromatics I wasn’t raised on like coconut and papaya. The latter notes came from a 2019 Gruner Veltliner, which ended up being one of our favorite wines of the week.
Hosmer was our first wine tasting experience of this particular trip and we took Stephanie’s informative tips with us for the rest of the week. We also learned that Cabernet Franc is the “king of the red wines in the Finger Lakes” and that Pinot Noir is only pure if you can see through it.
This she demonstrated by holding a paper menu against the glass of Pinot and proving that the wine was a light enough color to read the text through.
I love learning little morsels of information like this and it’s what made Hosmer such an enjoyable experience. It was also the only wine tasting we did that included a souvenir glass to take home.
In warm weather, guests can sit in the pleasant outdoor seating area where Adirondack chairs and picnic tables are available. Beer, cider, and wine slushies are also available.
Be sure to keep an eye on Hosmer’s Events listings, to see special events are going on when you visit.
Hosmer Winery
7020 State Route 89
Ovid, NY
Ph: 607-869-3393
Thirsty Owl Wine Company
This turned out to be our favorite winery on the Finger Lakes wine trails. It was the second (of three) stops on our wine boat tour with Captain Jim. Matt and I sampled some wines in the tasting room and then, with a glass of cold rose each, found a picnic table outside overlooking the vast vineyards sloping down toward the lake, a view we could have spent the entire day looking at.
Other than award-winning wines and spectacular views, Thirsty Owl is well-known for The Bistro and its menu of fresh local ingredients that create a host of creative comfort dishes like pulled pork sandwiches, meatloaf panini, sirloin steak, and Shephard’s Pie.
Among other accolades, Thirsty Owl was highlighted in an article in Wine Enthusiast called, “20 Pinot Noirs $25 and Under That Take You Around the World.”
Thirsty Owl Wine Company
6861 Route 89
Ovid, NY
Ph: 866-869-5805
Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery
Within walking distance of Thirsty Owl, the tasting room at Cayuga Ridge is set inside a charming rustic red barn and the owners and staff are knowledgeable and friendly. One of the oldest wineries on the Cayuga Lake Wine trail, they strive to produce straightforward table wines. These include staples like Cabernet Franc and Semi-Dry Reisling as well as unique fruit wines like Peach Essence and Cranberry Frost.
Light snacks are available for purchase. Heavier fare like pulled pork sandwiches, prepared by Taste of Wine Country Café and Bakery, are available on select weekends. A spacious corner deck is available for outdoor seating.
Cayuga Ridge Winery Estate
6800 Route 89
Ovid, NY
Ph: 607-869-5158
Goose Watch Winery
This was another stop on our wine boat tour and as we walked uphill from the dock to the tasting room, the first thing I noticed was the giant sculpture of a goose in flight, rising out of a pond noisy with actual live geese.
The geese, both real and artificial, add to the delightful experience at Goose Watch Winery. The tasting room is inside a restored barn and a large deck with ample seating and views of the lake is attached. They focus on producing wines less common in the Finger Lakes region, such as Lemberger and Traminette and, among other awards, their 2015 Merlot was recently named “Best NYS Merlot” at the New York Wine Classic.
Lake House Brewing shares the property and offers a selection of craft beers on tap. Goose Watch is owned by the Peterson family, who also run Swedish Hill and Penguin Bay Wineries.
Goose Watch Winery
5480 Route 89
Romulus, NY
Ph: 315-549-2599
If you’re looking for even more Cayuga Lake wineries, two that were on our itinerary that we didn’t get to include Lucas Vineyards, which was Cayuga Lake’s first winery, and Buttonwood Grove Winery, with lake views, fire pits, and live music throughout the summer.
Note: On our trip in May 2021, we visited and loved Varick Winery and I originally included them in this article. However, in October 2021, the owners announced their retirement and Varick Winery is now permanently closed. The Inn at Varick Winery has also closed.
Seneca Lake Wineries
The route below begins on the east side of Seneca Lake and ends a short distance up the west side. This route will take you through Watkins Glen, where an amazing hike on a gorge trail awaits if you’re in the mood to break up your wine tasting!
Click here for a live version of the map above!
Boundary Breaks
If you are not into the party energy that some wineries exude or just want something a little off the beaten path, try Boundary Breaks Vineyard. Set off the main path a bit, it’s an antidote to the crowds that some of the bigger wineries draw.
They also produce great wines, specializing in Rieslings and Cabernet Francs. After sampling it in a tasting, we took home a bottle of Harmonic Red, a combination of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
And, at the 2021 New York Wine Classic, Boundary Breaks was awarded Best Dessert Wine for their Riesling Ice Wine.
Another reason to visit is for the sunsets over the lake, which are so spectacular that they hold a special dinner each month from June to October called Sunset Saturdays, featuring live music and dinner. Reservations are required. See here for more information about Sunset Saturdays and other special events.
Boundary Breaks
1568 Porter Covert Road
Lodi, NY
Ph: 607-474-5030
Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery
I have a soft spot for Wagner because, back in 2018 when I attended the blogging conference known as TBEX at the Corning Museum of Glass, they were there every day offering conference participants free glasses of sparkling rose whenever we needed a break. It was nice to finally visit the winery, which has been operated now by five generations of the Wagner family.
The octagon-shaped tasting room and the fact that Wagner Valley Brewing, the first craft brewery on Seneca Lake, is also located here, distinguish the estate from other wineries.
In the building next door, Ginny Lee Café offers a lunch menu that was prepared with their beverages in mind and pairings are suggested for each dish. A spacious deck is connected to the restaurant where diners can look out across the sprawling estate to the lake, making Wagner a perfect destination for weddings and large parties, which they host often.
Wagner Vineyards has won countless awards since they opened in 1978. Most recently, they were named Best Riesling (Medium Sweet) at the 2021 New York Wine Classic.
Keep an eye on the Events Calendar for wine and dessert pairings, Friday night Pub Nite “Lite,” and other events.
Wagner Vineyards
Wagner Valley Brewing Company
9322 State Route 414
Lodi, NY
Ph: 607-582-6450
Standing Stone Vineyards
This was one of our favorite winery experiences of the week. The tasting room is bright and modern yet intimate, and the staff is super friendly and helpful. Outdoor seating included a covered wrap-around deck facing the lake, and Adirondack chairs perched at the edge of the vineyards.
We sampled the Estate Overview flight, which included the Timeline Dry Riesling 2019, a 2021 Editor’s Choice by Wine Enthusiast, and the Teinturier Dry Rose 2019 which we enjoyed enough to take a bottle home with us.
Standing Stone Vineyards
9934 Route 414
Hector, NY
Ph: 607-582-6051
Barnstormer Winery
Jen, the owner of our bed-and-breakfast, recommended this one and I’m so glad she did because it wasn’t on our radar and we loved it. The wine associates were so enthusiastic and informative and seemed to be genuinely thrilled when we liked a wine they poured for us.
Established in 2013, this is one of the newer wineries in the Finger Lakes. They are a small-production winery and hold partnerships with six other Seneca Lake wineries. We were happy to find as part of our tasting menu a 2019 Late Harvest Riesling made with fruit from Sheldrake Point Winery. It resembled in taste Sheldrake’s ice wine, which we loved so much on our first day of wine tasting.
The Barnstormer tasting room is located inside a gorgeous 170-yeard-old renovated barn. They specialize in dry red, Riesling, and rose wines. The indoor seating area is lively and fun while outdoors, guests can sip wine while overlooking the vineyard.
Perhaps it’s obvious from the name that the winery has somewhat of an aviation theme, and their logo makes for cute t-shirts and hats, available in the gift shop.
Check out Barnstormer’s awesome listing of events, including a vineyard tour and tasting, a six-part series that takes place over the course of six summer Fridays, and an annual Farmed & Foraged Wine Pairing Dinner.
Barnstormer Winery
4184 NY-14
Rock Stream, NY
Ph: 607-243-4008
Glenora Wine Cellars
Established in 1977 as the first winery on Seneca Lake, Glenora Wine Cellars is a staple of the Finger Lakes. They produce expected regional wines like Riesling as well as popular dessert and fruit blends with irresistible names like Wondrous Watermelon and Pomegranate Pizzazz.
Dog-lovers will appreciate Chase’s Reserve, a semi-sweet red wine named after a beloved dog rescued from Hurricane Katrina.
Glenora runs an impressive operation. Lots of tasting stations indoors create a bustling, festive environment and outdoors, a large second-story deck overlooks their 30-room inn and beyond that, Seneca Lake.
This is truly a full-service destination. In addition to the winery and inn, they have Veraisons restaurant, serving meals that earned them the honor of being named #8 Best Winery Restaurant in USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards in 2018.
Dessert lovers shouldn’t miss the Chocolate & Wine Experience, where wines are paired with chocolate truffles from Dimitri’s Confectionary Treats in Corning, NY. Wine cellar tours and other special events are also offered. Like Wagner, Glenora is a popular estate for weddings.
Glenora Wine Cellars
5435 State Route 14
Dundee, NY
Ph: 800-243-5513
There are so many more Seneca Lake wineries to visit but they will have to wait for our next trip! Since Barnstormer was such an excellent recommendation, I’m looking forward to trying others that Jen from The Black Walnut suggested, which included Herman J. Weimer Vineyard, Fox Run Vineyards, and Billsboro Winery.
I don’t think I’ll ever make it to all the wineries on the Finger Lakes wine trails that I want to, but please let me know what others you visit and I’ll add them to my ever-growing list!
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