finger lakes wine tour
Credit: fingerlakeswinecountry.com
(Image credit: fingerlakeswinecountry.com)

The best wineries to visit on a tour of Finger Lakes...

Finger Lakes wine tour: Seneca Lake wineries

Riesling is the key focus at these wineries, but don’t miss out trying the other varieties listed – especially single-vineyard wines. Some tastings may incur a fee but it will be redeemable on wine purchase.

From Watkins Glen, driving north on Seneca’s east side:

• Atwater – Blaufränkisch, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris. Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 10 – 5pm, Friday & Saturday 10 – 5pm, Wine tasting 5- 7.30pm, Sunday 11 – 5pm.  info@atwaterVineyards.com

Finger Lakes Wine Tour, Atwater Finger Lakes,

Atwater
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

• Chateau LaFayette Reneau – Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Seyval Blanc-Chardonnay. Opening hours: June – November: Monday through Sunday – 10 – 6:00pm. December – May: Monday through Sunday – 10 – 5:00pm. www.clrwine.com/Contact-Us.

• Red Newt  – Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris. Open daily 10 – 5pm. 607-546-4100

• Hazlitt 1852 – Grüvee sparkling wine, Pinot Gris, Red Cat (hugely popular), Vidal Blanc ice wine. Opening hours: November 1-May 31: Monday – Saturday 10am- 5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. June 1-October 31: Monday-Saturday 10am-5:30pm, Sunday 11am-5:30pm. hazlitt1852.com/locations/hector-ny

• Standing Stone – Gewürztraminer, Saperavi (a red Georgian grape). Winery hours: Daily 11 – 5pm. For visiting experiences, book here.

• Silver Thread – Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir. Tasting room hours: 11 – 5pm, days vary on time of year. Appointment only in January – February. More here. 

• Wagner – Delaware, Gewürztraminer, Melody, Niagara. Opening hours: 10 – 5pm, guided tours available.

Finger Lakes Wine Tour, Lamoreaux Finger Lakes,

Lamoreaux.
(Image credit: Lamoreaux Facebook)

• Lamoreaux Landing – Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer. Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 10 – 5pm. Sunday 12 – 5pm. Contact here.

From Geneva, driving south on Seneca’s west side:

• Ravines – Cabernet Franc, Gewürztraminer. Opening hours: 10 – 5pm info@ravineswine.com

• Billsboro – Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Syrah. Opening hours: January – April : Wednesday – Sunday 11 – 5 pm, May – December: Daily 11 – 5 pm

Finger Lakes wine tour, Billsboro

Billsboro.
(Image credit: www.billsborowinery.com)

• Fox Run – Blanc de Blancs, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-6pm

• Red Tail Ridge – Blaufränkisch, Chardonnay, Dornfelder, Teroldego. Opening hours: Monday through Saturday: 10 – 5 pm, Sunday: 11- 5pm.

• Kemmeter – A small promising all-Riesling house founded by a German immigrant. Opening hours: By appointment from Thursday to Saturday 1:30 to 5:30 pm.

• Anthony Road – Chardonnay, Vignoles, rosé. Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. Contact here.

• Hermann J Wiemer – Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Blanc de Noir, Cuvée Brut, Blanc de Blanc. Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 5:00pm, Sunday 11 – 5:00pm.

Finger Lakes wine tour, Wiemer

Wiemer.
(Image credit: Wiemer.com)

• Glenora – Brut, Pinot Blanc, Cayuga White, Gewürztraminer, Vidal ice wine. Opening daily in summer months: 9 – 8 pm, reduced hours rest of year. Find here.

• Lakewood – Blanc de Noir, Cabernet Franc, Catawba, Valvin Muscat, Vignoles. Opening hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 5:00 pm, Sunday: 12 – 5:00 pm. More here.

For more information, visit: www.newyorkwines.org, www.fingerlakes.org, www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com

Plan your Finger Lakes holiday:

Finger Lakes travel guide

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Decanter travel guide: Finger Lakes, New York State

Bucolic vistas, activities aplenty and arguably the best Riesling outside Europe are the drawcards of this exciting region.

Finger Lakes, travel

Clockwise from top left: Wagner Vineyards on Seneca Lake, Inns of Aurora at Cayuga, Riesling is the popular grape of Finger LAkes, try wines at Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Finger Lakes: where to stay, eat, shop and relax

Ithaca, Cornell University, Finger Lakes

Cornell University, Ithaca
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My perfect day in Finger Lakes

Howard G Goldberg
Howard G Goldberg
Decanter Magazine, Food & Wine Writer

Howard G Goldberg is a wine writer and critic based in New York City. He made his name writing about wine for The New York Times, where he worked for 34 years. He has written various books on food and wine, including Prime: The Complete Prime Rib Book and All About Wine Cellars. He compiled The New York Times Book of Wine – a collection of the publication’s best wine articles.