The Ultimate Itinerary to the Finger Lakes Wine Region
The Finger Lakes wine region has been on my bucket list forever, so when I got to check this off my list in July I was extremely excited! There are 11 finger lakes in total and there are many wineries in the Finger Lakes AVA. On this trip we decided to just focus on the wineries around Seneca Lake. Seneca Lake alone has it’s very own wine trail with dozens of wineries and cute towns with great places to eat. In this post I’ll be sharing our wine tasting itinerary along with where we stayed, ate, and additional things to do!
Four Day Sample Itinerary for Wine Tasting in Seneca Lake
When planning your itinerary, keep in mind how large Seneca lake is! It takes about 35 minutes to get from one end to the other. In this part of the Finger Lakes wine region, there are many wineries along the west and east sides. When planning out which wineries to visit, I recommend sticking to one side in a day.
Below is a map with each spot we went on our itinerary around Seneca Lake!
Day 1
- Arrive at Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, NY
- Afternoon Tasting at Lakewood Vineyards
- Check in at Geneva on the Lake
- Dinner and drinks at the hotel
Day 2
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Early / Mid Morning Hike at Watkins Glen State Park
- Lunch @ Tabora Farm & Winery Deli
- Tasting at Glenora Wine Cellars
- Tasting at Anthony Road Wine Company
- Tasting at Fox Run Vineyards
- Dinner at Ports Cafe or Kindred Fare
Day 3
- Breakfast at Monaco’s Coffee in Geneva + Explore Geneva
- Tasting and Lunch at 3 Brother’s
- Tasting at Boundary Breaks Vineyard
- Tasting at Lamoreaux Landing
- Dinner at GRAFT Wine Bar
Day 4
- Check out of Geneva on the Lake
- 11:00 a.m. Tasting at Atwater Vineyards
- Depart the Finger Lakes
Transportation in the Finger Lakes Wine Region
If you are located on the east coast, I recommend driving to the Finger Lakes. For us from Virginia it was about a 7 hour drive which wasn’t too bad! I think it’s a must having a car unless you plan on hiring a driver to take you everywhere. If you are flying in to New York and renting a car, Rochester and Syracuse are the two closest cities you could fly into.
Seneca Lake AVA Terroir
After reading about the Finger Lakes wine region and its terroir in my textbooks, it was so surreal to finally experience and learn about it firsthand. The Finger Lakes is considered a cool grape growing region. The lakes heavily impact this region in a few ways. They moderate temperatures in the winter which allows the grapevines to stay alive throughout dormancy. During the summer, the lakes provide cooling breezes to the vineyards.
The sloping landscape on the sides of the lake also helps with drainage and soils higher in limestone can be found here. The Finger Lakes wine region tends to get enough precipitation throughout the growing season so irrigation is not necessary, and many vineyards also have drainage tile installed.
Grape Varieties Grown in Seneca Lake AVA
Riesling is definitely the most popular grape grown in the Finger Lakes AVA and Seneca Lake AVA. Riesling thrives in cool climate regions, so this combined with the slate-rich soil allows it to thrive here. A few other popular white grapes being grown are Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner and some hybrid grape varieties.
For red wines, Cabernet Franc is quite popular. In the Finger Lakes wine region it’s produced in a lighter style, often with neutral oak, to maintain it’s fresh fruit characteristics. Pinot Noir is being grown, but many growers have found that it can only be made into a red wine in certain vintages when conditions are just right. You will see Pinot Noir in many sparkling wines and rosé wines when the grapes were picked earlier in the season. A few other red grapes being grown are Blaufränkisch (Lemberger), Syrah, and Merlot.
Where to Stay in Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes Wine Region
On Seneca lake, there are two main cities: Geneva on the north end of the lake and Watkins Glen on the south end. Where you are coming from or where you’d like to spend most of your time may determine which city you stay in.
We stayed at Geneva on the Lake which is a beautiful and historic estate right on the lake. This property has a great restaurant offering dinner and breakfast, stunning views of the lake, a pool, bar, yard games and a beautiful garden. It’s only a few minutes from the town of Geneva and in close proximity to many wineries as well.
Wineries to Visit on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Lakewood Vineyards
Lakewood Vineyards was our first stop and man was it a good one! The winery is still entirely family owned by the Stamp family. It opened in 1989 with it’s first vintage in 1988. At Lakewood they grow vitis vinifera, hybrid grapes and native grapes. At their peak they make 42,000 cases and they have a great winemaking facility that also allows space to be rented to other wineries as ‘custom crush’ to create their own wines. We were able to taste a Riesling from 2009 with winemaker Chris Stamp, which was a very special treat. This was a fabulous example of how well Rieslings in the Finger Lakes can age, developing notes of honey, dried fruits, and caramel while still retaining its refreshing acidity.
Glenora Wine Cellars
Glenora Wine Cellars was stablished in 1977 making it one of the oldest wineries in the area. We had a great tour and tasting with winemaker, Edward, who had previously worked and trained in Italy. Glenora is on the larger-scale of producers in the Finger Lakes making about 30,000 cases per year. This allows them to create a range of wines from dry to sweet so there is something for every type of consumer. The property features a beautiful deck overlooking the lake as well as an inn you can stay at.
Anthony Road Wine Company
Anthony Road Wine Company is truly the definition of a family owned winery. We had the pleasure of touring the property with John Martini who started the winery back in 1990. They have a beautiful garden on site which is open to any guests to take and sample produce as they please. At Anthony Road they are producing about 12,000 cases and have 90 acres of vines that are all vitis vinifera. I was a big fan of their Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Rosé of Cabernet Franc!
Fox Run Vineyards
Established in 1989, Fox Run Vineyards has gained recognition for its exceptional Rieslings, Cabernet Francs, and other cool-climate varietals. They recently added on to their winemaking facility, allowing them to produce about 18,000 cases per year. The 2022 Dry Riesling we tried was one of my favorites from our trip! If you are also able to snag a taste or bottle of their port style wine, you are in for a treat! They have an adorable gift shop, provisions, and a beautiful seating area over looking the lake.
Three Brothers Winery
Three Brothers Winery & Estates offers a unique and lively experience in the Finger Lakes wine region. The estate has three wineries, a brewery, a cafe and lodging onsite! Whether you’re a sweet wine fan or prefer the dry style, there is something for everyone. We had a great time tasting with winemaker, Aaron, who had previously made wine in New Zealand. He is doing some really exceptional things with the wines and I highly recommend trying the Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc Rosé and Zweigelt / Cabernet Franc Blend.
This is a spot where you could keep coming back and have a different experience each time! Check their calendar for events and live music, and be sure to grab a bite at their main café.
Boundary Breaks Vineyard
Boundary Breaks Vineyard was founded with a focus on showcasing the region’s unique terroir, offering a range of meticulously crafted wines that highlight the vineyard’s distinct microclimates and soils. We had the pleasure of meeting with the owner, Bruce, who gave us a tour of the vineyard. His main focus is to produce a happy and healthy grapevine. Grapevines are happiest when a little stressed and they don’t have too much water, so they’ve invested in drainage tile throughout their vineyards. Bruce shared with us that the eastern side of Seneca Lake gets more sun which aids in ripening, and it stays warmer during the winter. At Boundary Breaks they had their first vintage in 2011.
Lamoreaux Landing
If you’re looking for high quality wines with exceptional views, I highly recommend a visit to Lamoreaux Landing. Established in 1992, Lamoreaux Landing specializes in cool-climate varietals such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Franc. At Lamoreaux Landing, they carefully plot out each soil type in all of their vineyards. This allows them to make careful and detailed decisions when harvesting each grape variety. We had the pleasure of doing a ‘horizontal’ tasting of three 2022 Rieslings from different vineyard plots. It was a great example of how impactful the soil and overall terroir is on these wines, and how different Riesling can taste from one vineyard site to the next.
Atwater Vineyards
Atwater Vineyards is located on the southeastern side of Seneca Lake. This was our last stop before leaving the Finger Lakes wine region and we really enjoyed our tasting with George, one of the owners. The wines here are a direct result of the Seneca Lake terroir. They use primarily neutral barrels and hone in to the grapes that really thrive in the cool climate. We tried some super interesting Pet Nat wines and I was a big fan of the orange wine made from Pinot Gris. This is a super beautiful spot that offers fun events such as cocktail nights, live music, and sunset hours during the week.
Where to Eat on Seneca Lake
- Kindred Fare – This place offers a creative menu featuring seasonal ingredients and creative twists on classic American dishes. I highly recommend trying the friendship fries and the fried chicken!
- Port’s Cafe – Located just outside Geneva on the west side of Seneca Lake, Port’s Cafe is a must stop for dinner. The specials menu will blow you away and the wine lists consists of some of the best the Finger Lakes has to offer. It was super busy when we went so be sure to make a reservation!
- Graft Wine + Cider Bar – This cozy spot in Watkins Glen doesn’t take reservations but it would be worth the wait. We had mussels, scallops and a classic burger which were all to die for. The wine, beer and cider lists are all super fun to pair with their menu!
- Monaco’s Coffee – We popped in here before a day of wine tasting. It’s the perfect place for a quick breakfast if you want to explore a bit of downtown Geneva.
- Three Brothers Winery – Not only should you visit Three Brother’s for a wine tasting, but I highly recommend grabbing lunch here as well. They have all kinds of American classics that will provide the fuel you need for a day of wine tasting!
- Tabora Farm & Winery – If you’re looking for a quick bite with local provisions, the deli at Tabora is a great place to stop. They have sandwiches made to order, wines by the glass, and you can stock up on a few goodies to snack on!
Things To Do in the Finger Lakes Wine Region
Hike Watkins Glen State Park
One must-do activity outside of wine tasting is a hike through Watkins Glen State Park. The gorge trail is unlike any other hike I’ve ever done! This trail allows you to see 19 waterfalls in just one mile. I recommend going early in the morning before the crowds and wear shoes that can get a little bit wet / muddy!
Explore Downtown Geneva
Since we stayed just outside of Geneva, we decided to explore the downtown area one morning. Linden street in particular is super cute! We found a great FLX goods store, beautiful murals and there was even a wine bar called Microclimate. You can also walk along the lake and check out Lake Point Pier and the Finger Lakes Welcome Center.
You can check out the Seneca Lake Wine Trail for more information on the wineries and events throughout the year!
That is all for my travel guide to the Finger Lakes wine region! Seneca Lake is such a beautiful place and I can’t wait to go back and visit again some day. For another travel guide on the east coast of the USA, check out my Guide to the Best Wineries in Charlottesville, Virginia.
