Stay With Finger Lakes Premier Properties
If youre tasting world-class wines during your Seneca Lake Wine Trail tour, you need to make sure that youre staying in a world-class home. Finger Lakes Premier Properties has the best selection of vacation rentals in the region, with many gorgeous homes located around Seneca Lake. Consider staying in Seneca Lake Effect, a beautiful six-bedroom, six-bathroom home that is perfect for vacations with the extended family. Enjoy eating a delicious meal at the large dining room table that can accommodate up to 12 guests or spending time in the game room. Theres even a play area for toddlers in the home!
Check out the rest of our rentals and book today. We look forward to having you.
Finger Lakes Hotels In Wine Country
With more than 120 wineries to visit and 200 Finger Lakes hotels to choose from, planning a trip can seem daunting. However, weâve pulled some unique places to stay in Finger Lakes wine country, nearby wineries not to miss and which of the three Finger Lakes wine trails to follow based on your stay.
Recommended Finger Lakes Restaurants
FLX Wienery Bring your appetite and sense of adventure. These arent your ordinary hot dogs.
Stonecat Café Closed for the winter months, Stonecat has a great patio, delectable local and seasonal fare with an outstanding wine list to try any number of Finger Lakes wines.
Graft Wine & Cider Bar One of my more recent finds, the food here is eclectic and mind-blowing. Every dish I had could rival any big city gastropub. And again, numerous Finger Lakes wine options can be found on the menu .
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Spend The Day In Watkins Glen
Racing fans should not miss the chance to visit the Watkins Glen International . It was the host of the Formula One United States Grand Prix for 20 years, so there are two decades of racing history on the grounds! Today, its considered Mecca of North American road racing, with races still frequently held at the arena. Check the schedule when you reserve your home from Finger Lakes Premier Properties!
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 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
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The Best Wineries On Seneca Lake For Tastings With A View
The Finger Lakes is one of the best wine tasting regions on the East Coast. Plan your trip with these picks for the best wineries on Seneca Lake. …
With more than 100 wineries in the Finger Lakes in New York, choosing where to go wine tasting can be a bit like throwing a dart blindfolded and hoping you hit a bullseye. Unlike other regions like Sonoma, the wineries in the Finger Lakes dont have the same national presence and name recognition to draw in visitors. But what many do have are beautiful views from the hilltops over the lakes especially our picks for the best wineries on Seneca Lake. And we all know that wine tasting is not just about the wine, it is also about the tasting experience.
Your first step in building your wine tasting getaway itinerary is choosing a lake to focus on for your trip. After all, you dont want to spend more time in the car than necessary. Since Seneca Lake is in the center of the Finger Lakes, it makes sense to start there. There are many wineries near Watkins Glen, a lovely town at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. From there, you also have easy access to the eastern side of Keuka lake or the western side of Cayuga Lake.
And, if you love scenic views and are looking for a fun wine tasting experience, visit one of our picks for the best wineries on Seneca Lake.
The Best Way To Explore The Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Move over Napa Valley: the Finger Lakes wine region is quickly becoming one of the most well-regarded in the country! With over 100 wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the area, there is so much to explore and enjoy during your visit! If the sheer amount of vineyards available seems overwhelming, we have the perfect solution. Visit one of the three wine trails in the Finger Lakes. The best place to start is the biggest trail in the region, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Find out everything you need to know about this great attraction!
Explore all the wonderful things that the Finger Lakes region has to offer! to get our recommendations for the best restaurants, museums, historic sites, and parks in the region! Whether youre planning on hiking the beautiful gorge trails or dining at one of the world-class restaurants around, our Vacation Guide is the best place to start. Download it today to plan the ultimate Finger Lake getaway!
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The Best Things To Do In Seneca Lake:
Seneca Lake Wine Trail: The Seneca Lake Wine Trail consists of over 30 wineries and vineyards and is one of the most popular of the Finger Lakes wine trail. Some of the most well-known wineries are Belhurst Estate Winery, Fox Run Vineyards, Three Brothers Wineries and Estates, and Torrey Ridge Winery, but there are countless others to explore scattered all around the lake.
Watkins Glen International Speedway: NASCAR lovers will be thrilled to attend a race at the Watkins Glen International Speedway . Known as The Glen, this popular Seneca Lake attraction draws thousands of visitors every weekend it hosts a race.
Watkins Glen Farm Sanctuary: This 175 acre sanctuary is one of only three Farm Sanctuaries in the United States and is home to over 500 farm animals. Spend an afternoon taking a one-hour guided tour to learn more about the rescued animals before visiting the onsite gift shop.
Seneca Lake Boat Tour: For a truly unique perspective of the lake, take a Seneca Lake boat tour. Seneca Lake Cruises offers affordable one-hour sightseeing tours on their Stroller IV. Aboard their 270 passenger vessel, the Seneca Legacy , they also offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner cruises, as well as special events like conferences and weddings.
Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry: Spend the afternoon learning how the Cayuga-Seneca canal impacted the local industry at this family-friendly interactive museum .
Explore The Best Of The Finger Lakes Cheese Trail
The Finger Lakes region is quickly becoming known as one of the most popular agri-tourism spots in the country! For those unfamiliar with the term, agri-tourism describes the new trend of visiting farms, dairies, and ranches, in order to get a behind-the-scenes look at how they operate. There is a wide variety of agri-tourism trails in this region, including the relatively new Finger Lakes Cheese Trail! Created by Finger Lake Trails, this route includes working, family farms that produce a wide variety of cheese. Find out about the seven amazing destination farms on the trail below! If youre interested in more options, !
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Choose Your Means Of Transportation
If youre 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 thats 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 region is first and foremost a rural destination. 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 Ive 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 dont even consider driving under the influence. Read on for additional transportation options.
The Best Places To Stay For Your Seneca Lake Ny Vacation:
Geneva: Geneva, NY is a town located on the northern tip of Seneca Lake. Its the largest town on the lake, but thats not saying much as it boasts a population less than 15,000. Youll still experience a small town vibe and its the perfect place to set up for your Seneca Lake vacation due to its close proximity to the major interstate that cuts horizontally through the state. If you want to enjoy time on the lake and still have easy access to popular Finger Lakes wine tours and a bit more civilization, Geneva is a great Seneca Lake destination for you.
Watkins Glen: Watkins Glen, NY is a village located at the southernmost tip of Seneca Lake. This small town sits right on the lake and is just 5 minutes from the famous Watkins Glen State Park, which features a variety of hiking trails and 19 waterfalls. Its the ideal spot for those who love hiking, biking and exploring the outdoors. Plus, its less than an hour from Pennsylvania so it makes visiting Seneca Lake feasible even for Pennsylvanians.
Dresden: Dresden, NY is a tiny town on the western side of Seneca Lake almost halfway between Geneva and Watkins Glen. Named after the famous city in Germany, this town is renowned for its ideal location along the Seneca Lake Wine trail. With a handful of wineries in walking distance, Dresden is ideal for those wanting to visit Finger Lakes wineries.
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How To Get To The Finger Lakes Wine Region
The Finger Lakes are located in central New York State and are comprised of long thin lakes, long ago carved by glaciers. If youre a crazy, road-tripper like me, its a 10-hour drive from Chicago or about a 5.5-hour drive from New York City. I realize this may be a lot for some, but when you bring home four to five cases of wine because you cant help yourself, having the car is an advantage. However, if youre only planning a long weekend and dont live within a few hours drive, air travel is best . The one time I did fly, I flew into Greater Rochester International Airport on a direct flight with American Airlines. However, you can also look at flights from your hometown to Syracuse Hancock International Airport, or the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport.
Winetraveler Tip: If you fly into Rochester, visit Living Roots Wine & Co. in Rochester before heading to wine country. Here you can compare Finger Lakes wines to Australian wines often the same varieties made locally in Rochester or at the Wine Co.s Australian winery.
Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail
Only 41 miles to travel from Fairport to Canandaigua to Naples, the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail makes for an ideal day trip or weekend getaway. Comprised of well-known wineries, up-and-coming breweries, unique restaurants, wine tasting centers, cozy B& Bs and niche shops, theres so much to see and do around the Canandaigua lake area.
If youre planning to get a taste of Canandaigua , the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail Passport provides complimentary tastings at every winery, as well as additional price discounts with the purchase of wine with the use of each passport. Proceeds go toward the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail non-profit organization and can be purchased for only $15 a piece at any one of Canandaiguas wineries.
Before you plan your next trip, familiarize yourself with Canandaiguas finest wineries and what they have to offer by visiting canandaiguawinetrail.com/wineries.
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Visit The Finger Lakes
Showcasing some of Mother Nature’s best work, the Finger Lakes Region is a four-season playground that offers something for everyone. Whether you seek a romantic wine country getaway, the ultimate family-friendly vacation or your inner Zen as you reconnect with the natural world, you’ll find it here. Come stay and play.
The Harbor Hotel Collection is a portfolio of AAA Four Diamond caliber properties that offer upscale accommodations and extraordinary service in unique waterfront destinations handpicked for their authentic local character. Steeped in natural beauty, Harbor Hotel Collection properties appeal to travelers who seek a relaxing getaway while immersing themselves in a wealth of outdoor activities and regional culture.
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars
Located on the east side of Seneca Lake, Lamoreaux Landing offers tastings of four of their estate wines with a vintner in their outdoor tasting area on the East Lawn, with sweeping views of the vines down to the lake. When open, the indoor tasting room is also quite stunning, with floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize the view.
Instead of selecting a pre-set tasting menu, Lamoreaux Landing allows you to select which wines you wish to try in a guided tasting. The interactivity with a knowledgeable vintner, paired with my favorite dry red wines of the trip and the fabulous view make Lamoreaux Landing my top pick for wineries on Seneca Lake.
Lamoreaux Landing produces over 90 wines, many of which have received a 90+ point ratings from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, or Wine & Spirits. For my tasting, they started off with a welcome pour of the Riesling Cuvée. I then tried three of their Rieslings, each from a different vineyard with slightly different flavor profiles. The Yellow Dog vineyard has notes of citrus with a mineral mouthfeel, while the Round Rock vineyard is more fruit-forward with notes of grapefruit, stone fruit, and paired with light minerality. They also offered up a taste of the Red Oak Vineyard, a staff favorite, as a comparison, which offers hints of clementine and lemon curd, with a smooth finish.
Lamoreaux Landing is located at 9224 NY-414, Lodi NY 14860.
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Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Keuka Lakes spectacular beauty, deep rooted history, and balanced, vibrant wines make the Keuka Lake Wine Trail one of the most celebrated wine-producing regions in the Finger Lakes.
Visitors year-round get to experience the Keuka Lake Wine Trail offerings, including tasting rooms, exquisite wines, natural beauty and regional-focused events.
For $15, Keuka Lake Passports can be purchased for free standard wine tastings per person at each of the five-member wineries.
Explore The Seneca Lake Wine Trail
The Seneca Lake Wine Trail was first formed in 1986 in order to share the areas rich history, gorgeous scenery, and the best Seneca Lake wineries with visitors. Since it opened, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail has become the largest wine trail in the State of New York! There are 35 wineries, one distillery, two cider producers, two breweries, and one meadery on the trail.
Its no surprise that Seneca Lake is home to so many incredible vineyards. The natural conditions around the lake help produce both full-bodied and delicate varieties of wine. Youll find everything from a Riesling or Pinot Noir to hybrid wines here! Find out for yourself why these award-winning wineries are considered to be some of the best producers of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Honey Wines, Cabernet Franc .
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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 theyre not, many wineries require reservations, especially on the weekends.
Also, more than one person we spoke to in May of 2021 said they are having trouble hiring enough staff to be fully operational, so while there may be a restaurant on site, its possible it hasnt opened for the season yet.
More tips:
Our Favorite Wineries On The Seneca Lake Wine Trail
There are so many amazing wineries on the trail to count, so we decided to narrow it down to the top four wineries that we think are a must visit. Experience unique beauty at each winery, and, of course, tasteful wines throughout. You may even find your new favorite!
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