Wine lovers — you might have visited popular wine regions on the West Coast, like Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley in California… but have you ever been to the best wineries in the Finger Lakes Wine Region in Upstate New York? If not, you’re totally missing out!
As a wine enthusiast (but not a wine snob… don’t worry, you’re safe here!) who has visited popular wine regions across the United States, such as Temecula Valley in California, the Verde Valley Wine Trail in Arizona, and the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the Finger Lakes has been on my list of wine regions to check out for a long time now. So, in October 2024… I finally packed my bags and made it happen on a spectacular fall trip to the Finger Lakes!
Thinking about a wine trip to the Finger Lakes? I can’t recommend it enough! In this post, I’ve rounded up some information you need to know about planning a wine-tasting trip to the Finger Lakes, including my top recommendations for wineries and wine tours. Let’s get started!
Where Is the Finger Lakes Wine Country?
The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven lakes in Upstate New York, south of Syracuse and Rochester, and just north of the border of Pennsylvania on the state’s southwest side. All the lakes are long and narrow, which has earned them their unique name… the Finger Lakes!
The Finger Lakes Wine Country is centered around three wine trails that wrap around three beautiful lakes in the middle of this region — Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, and Keuka Lake. The entire wine region boasts more than 130 wineries, spans five counties, and stretches nearly 3,100 square miles… that’s a lot of wine, right?
One of the great things about the Finger Lakes is that the wineries aren’t the only attraction. You can also embark on waterfall hikes, visit family farms for local cheese and ice cream, go boating on the lakes, and much, much more — this region is filled with endless charm!
What Are the Finger Lakes Wine Trails?
Like I mentioned earlier, the Finger Lakes Wine Country is grouped into three distinct wine trails — the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, and Keuka Lake Wine Trail.
During your trip to the Finger Lakes, it’s possible to explore the wineries on just one wine trail, or to venture to all three trails for a unique taste of what each has to offer (although this will require some logistics — some of the wineries and trails are more than an hour’s drive apart!).
During our trip to the Finger Lakes, we split our time between Ithaca and Penn Yan to make it easier to explore the wineries on both the Seneca and Keuka Lake Wine Trails. I’ll spill all the details on all my favorite wineries below, but first, here’s an overview of each wine trail to help you choose the best one (or ones!) for your vacation to the Finger Lakes.
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Seneca Lake is the largest of the Finger Lakes (and arguably the most popular)… so it is fitting that it boasts the highest number of wineries in the region. There are 28 official members of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, although the area offers more than 60 wineries and a total of 600 varieties of wine (so, needless to say… you’ll find a glass of wine to love here!).
The majority of the wineries we visited were on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Overall, I’d say the wineries on this trail attract a crowd, but this makes the atmosphere at each one even more enjoyable. Seneca Lake is centrally located between Cayuga and Keuka Lake, so getting to and from the wineries is a breeze (and there are tons of options!). If I had to choose one wine trail for you to explore during your trip to the Finger Lakes… I’d recommend Seneca Lake!
Where to Stay — Want to explore the Seneca Lake Wine Trail? Base your trip to the Finger Lakes in Watkins Glen or Geneva. I recommend staying at Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, on the south end of Seneca Lake, or 41 Lakefront Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Geneva, on the lake’s northern end.
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
Want to visit the country’s first “official” wine trail? If so, head to the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, established in 1983, which features ten official members. However, there are more than 20 wineries around Cayuga Lake… so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from!
We only had time to visit one winery on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail (and it was technically a cidery, though I’d recommend visiting anyway!). However, from what I’ve heard, Cayuga Lake is the place to be for fun seasonal events and festivals, and the spot to find sweeter wines, unlike the drier wines found around Seneca Lake.
Where to Stay — Want to explore the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail? Base your trip to the Finger Lakes in Ithaca. I recommend staying at Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown!
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
For a wine-tasting experience that feels more intimate, quaint, and laid-back, head to the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. Though the “official” wine trail only includes six family-owned wineries, there are about 15 wineries to visit around the entire lake (including one of my favorites from our trip!).
Overall, we thought the wineries around Keuka Lake were much less busy, which provided a different vibe than the busier wineries that felt more like “attractions” around Seneca Lake. I loved both experiences, but if you’re looking for something a little quieter, I’d recommend Keuka Lake. This lake is also gorgeous… the wines were great, but the scenery stole the show!
Where to Stay — Want to explore the Keuka Lake Wine Trail? Base your trip to the Finger Lakes in Penn Yan. I recommend staying at Hampton Inn Penn Yan. This was the perfect spot to stay for exploring the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, and bonus… it’s also a great launching point for several of the wineries on the west side of Seneca Lake!
What Wines Are the Finger Lakes Known For?
The Finger Lakes Wine Country is renowned first and foremost for its Riesling, with dozens of dry and sweet varieties to choose from, including unique options such as ice wine — a dessert wine made from white grapes that have been frozen on the vine.
White wine is the star of the show in the Finger Lakes — you’ll find world-class Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer at wineries around the region. If you’re a sweet or white wine connoisseur… you’ll love the options in the Finger Lakes! However, don’t worry, red wine lovers (like me!), you can also find an excellent glass of Cabernet Franc or Pinot Noir!
When Is the Best Time of Year to Visit the Finger Lakes Wineries?
For the best wine-tasting experience in the Finger Lakes, plan your trip from June to October… basically, anytime when there isn’t a possibility of snow in the forecast!
Summer is definitely the time to visit the Finger Lakes, especially for those who want to pair wine-tasting with outdoor adventures, like boating and hiking. However, due to the popularity of this summer destination, expect crowds and higher hotel prices in June, July, and August.
As an alternative, consider planning your wine trip to the Finger Lakes in the fall. September offers the “best of both worlds” — warm weather and smaller crowds — while October offers crisp, cool weather and stunning fall foliage (this is when we visited, and I loved it!). Fall is also harvest season, so you might be able to participate in fun wine harvest festivals!
Best Wineries in the Finger Lakes
I obviously did not have time to visit all 120 wineries in the Finger Lakes Wine Country during my five-day trip in October 2024 (that would have been a very impressive feat). However, based on the spectacular wineries and vineyards I did have the chance to visit, I can confidently recommend the following spots during a trip to the Finger Lakes:
Fox Run Vineyards
- Address: 670 State Rt. 14, Penn Yan, NY 14527
- Hours: Monday to Saturday (10 AM – 6 PM) and Sunday (11 AM – 6 PM
- Tasting Fee: $10 per person
- Top Features: Gorgeous Lakefront Views & Affordable Flights
Fox Run Vineyards is a gorgeous winery in the Finger Lakes, located on the west side of Seneca Lake, about a 10-minute drive from Penn Yan and a 30-minute drive from Watkins Glen. This property is gorgeous — there are tons of places to sit, both cozy spots inside the rustic-chic barn and scenic spots outdoors, including a deck that, in my opinion, offers the best lake views of any winery we visited in the Finger Lakes!
However, the thing that I loved most about Fox Run Vineyards is that the tasting flights are unbelievably priced (and unbelievably good!). This winery offers four pre-selected flight options (sweet white, dry white, red, or Riesling) with five pours for $10 per person. I loved my red flight!
Fox Run Vineyards also offers cheese, charcuterie, chocolate, and wine pairings, a Fox Run Cafe that serves local, seasonal meals, including flatbreads, sandwiches, and cheese boards, and a Wine Barn that provides outdoor seating on the back lawn and patio on the weekends.
Tip by Brit: After your wine flight at Fox Run Vineyards, drive a couple of minutes down the road to The Spotted Duck for an incredible ice cream flight. You’ll thank me later!
Stever Hill Vineyards
- Address: 3962 Stever Hill Rd, Branchport, NY 14418
- Hours: Daily – June to December; Thursday to Monday – January to May (10 AM – 5 PM)
- Tasting Fee: $10 per person
- Top Features: Cheese and Chocolate Pairings & Picturesque Views
Stever Hill Vineyards, located about 15 minutes from Penn Yan on the northwest side of Keuka Lake, might feel a little out of your way during a wine-tasting trip to the Finger Lakes. However… let me convince you that a stop at this fifth-generation family-owned winery is definitely worth it!
One of the best things about this charming tasting room (located in a renovated 1850s barn!) is the covered back deck that overlooks hundreds and hundreds of acres of vineyards. During October (when we visited), the views of the fall foliage were incredible. I think I talked about how amazing the views were during the entire tasting experience… just ask my husband!
Another thing I loved about Stever Hill Vineyards was that they offered wine flights paired with local in-season cheeses or handcrafted chocolates for $16 per person. I chose the Semi-Dry Wine & Cheese Pairing, and my favorite combination was the Semi-Dry Riesling and Yancey’s Fancy Apple Pie Cheddar — I think I probably could have eaten that stuff all day!
Lakewood Vineyards
- Address: 4024 NY State Route 14, Watkins Glen, New York 14891
- Hours: Monday to Saturday (10 AM – 5 PM); Sunday (12 PM – 5 PM)
- Tasting Fee: $5–20 per person
- Top Features: Great Tasting Experience & Vineyards Walks
Located just five minutes north of Watkins Glen on the west side of Seneca Lake, Lakewood Vineyards is, in my humble opinion, one of the best wineries in the Finger Lakes. The winery offers the full package… engaging tasting experiences, a friendly staff, and a stunning property!
Lakewood Vineyards offers pre-selected tasting flights in their gorgeous tasting room for just $5 per person (for groups of six or fewer). You can choose from dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, and sweet flights, so there is an option for every palate. Parents… they even have a little table with coloring supplies for kids nearby while you sip and savor your tasting experience!
You can also book a guided tour and tasting, or a vineyard hike and tasting, for $20 per person. And let me tell you — the vineyards are gorgeous! After our tasting, my husband and I each got a glass of wine and walked around. At the end of the vineyard walk, there is a beautiful gazebo that overlooks the lake. Be sure to check it out!
Tip by Brit: While you’re at Lakewood Vineyards, be sure to try the Niagara. This fruity wine is made from the same grapes used to produce white grape juice. In fact, back in the 1950s, Lakewood Vineyards sold its grapes to Welch’s to make white grape juice. Who knew, right?
Three Brothers Wineries and Estates
- Address: 623 Lerch Rd. Geneva NY 14456
- Hours: See Website
- Tasting Fee: $15 for a single tasting, $40 for a single pass, and $55 for a shared pass
- Top Features: Creative Concept & Fun Atmosphere
Located less than 15 minutes from Geneva on the northeast side of Seneca Lake, Three Brothers Wineries and Estates is a full experience that you can’t miss during a trip to the Finger Lakes. This campus is made up of three wineries and one brewery — Stony Lonesome Wine Cellars, Bagg Dare Wine Co., Passion Feet Wine Bar, and War Horse Brewing Co.
You have several options when visiting Three Brothers Wineries and Estates. You can do a single tasting pass for $40 per person, which includes a flight at each winery and the brewery, or a shared tasting pass that consists of four flights for two people to share for $55.
My husband and I did the shared tasting pass, and let me tell you… it was plenty of alcohol! We literally split each flight (we each chose two wines for each flight), or one person can have the whole flight from two buildings, and the other person can have the others. You can also do a tasting at just one building for $15 per person.
You can also do a tasting at just one building for $15, but personally, the experience at each of the wineries is unique, so it’s fun to try them all! Stony Lonesome Wine Cellars is the best pick for dry wines (this was my favorite of the wineries), Bagg Dare Wine Co. for really sweet wines, and Passion Feet Wine Bar is the place to be for slushies.
Ironically, both my husband and I liked War Horse Brewing Co. the best… the concept and branding were so cool (marketing nerd over here) — and the beers were excellent! I ended up picking up some of the caramel apple ciders to bring home. They were the perfect fall treat!
Finger Lakes Cider House
- Address: 4017 Hickok Road, Interlaken, NY 14847
- Hours: Saturday (11 AM – 6:45 PM); Sunday – Thursday (11 AM – 5:45 PM); Friday (11 AM – 5 PM for flights, drinks available until 9 PM)
- Tasting Fee: $13 for a small flight and $18 for a large flight
- Top Features: Cider Flights & Incredible Food
Okay, Finger Lakes Cider House is technically more of a cidery than a winery, although they do serve wine, so I think it deserves a spot on this list! Located on the west side of Cayuga Lake, just under 30 minutes from Ithaca, this local spot serves refreshing glasses and flights of ciders (BYO or pre-selected flights), along with delicious farm-to-table food.
My husband and I both got a cider flight, and we split a charcuterie board and a sandwich, and everything was fantastic — from the ambiance to the food and drinks! In addition to dry ciders, sweet ciders, ice ciders, and apple spirits, Finger Lakes Cider House also serves dry sparkling wines, so you can stick with wine if that’s your preference! For ciders… the Cyser and the Honeoye were my favorites!
Tip by Brit: We visited the Finger Lakes with our one-year-old daughter, so all the wineries I’ve recommended above are baby-friendly and kid-friendly!
Best Wineries in the Finger Lakes – Honorable Mentions
If we had been able to stay in the Finger Lakes for longer, these are the wineries I would have wanted to visit (there’s always next time!):
- Weis Vineyards — Weis Vineyards is an award-winning boutique winery located on Keuka Lake. The lakefront views, wine, and atmosphere all look spectacular… I wish we could have stopped on this trip, but we’ll pay a visit on our next trip to the Finger Lakes!
- Bully Hill Vineyards — Located on the south end of Keuka Lake, Bully Hill Vineyards is a stunning winery that serves over 40 wines (with a wine for every palette!) in a picturesque location overlooking the lake. They also have a restaurant that serves lunch.
- Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery — Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery is a family-owned winery that opened on the east side of Seneca Lake in 1979. Today, you can visit to try a diverse range of 30+ wines, including reds, whites, and dessert wines. The property is also attached to a Wagner Valley Brewing Co., making this an excellent stop for beer lovers!
Best Wine Tours in the Finger Lakes
Looking for a wine tour to take the hassle out of coordinating a wine-tasting experience in the Finger Lakes? Check out the following wine tours offered by Crush Beer & Wine Tours:
- Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour — This Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour includes round-trip transportation from Watkins Glen to four different wineries on the south side of Seneca Lake. This full-day wine-tasting tour boasts a 4.8/5-star rating, with nearly 40 five-star reviews!
- Seneca Lake Wine Tasting & Tour — With nearly 150 five-star reviews, this Seneca Lake Wine Tasting & Tour is a favorite among visitors to the Finger Lakes! The tour starts in Geneva and includes round-trip transportation to four of the most popular wineries around Seneca Lake, including one of my favorites, Fox Run Vineyards!
- Keuka Lake Winery Tour — Want to check out the wineries around Keuka Lake? Consider booking this Keuka Lake Winery Tour with a 4.9/5-star rating! This full-day tour begins in Penn Yan and visits four popular wineries around Keuka Lake, including Heron Hill Winery and Bully Hill Vineyards, with the option of adding lunch at one of the stops.
Plan a Spectacular (and Scenic!) Wine-Tasting Trip to the Finger Lakes Wine Country
If you love great wine, picturesque views, and small-town charm, I think you’ll absolutely love planning a wine-tasting trip to the Finger Lakes. Be sure to check out my other guides to the Finger Lakes below to plan the perfect trip to this gorgeous region of Upstate New York, and have a fantastic time on your wine-tasting vacation!
Save This Wine Tasting Guide to the Finger Lakes for Your Upcoming Vacation
