Finger Lakes Wineries
Jun 12th, 2005, 12:55 PM
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Finger Lakes Wineries
Visiting the Finger Lakes area this coming weekend and anxious to visit wineries -- while researching on Fodors I found a post from a year ago regarding the Finger Lakes wineries that stated "Having visited the wineries in Napa and Sonoma, I was gravely disappointed. There were no tours, and usually unsophisticated tastings by staff. The wineries were just excuses for a retail store." Can anyone confirm or deny?
Jun 12th, 2005, 03:56 PM
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I should have titled this something else-- since I already posed another question on Finger Lakes wineries -- but can anyone comment on this? I'd hate to think that my home state had such bad winery tours compared to others.
Jun 13th, 2005, 03:52 AM
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KathyM,
If you enjoy wine, you will love the Finger Lakes wineries. We've spent time in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, the Carmel Valley wineries of California yet prefer the Finger Lakes wines. Many of the wineries are small and have a tasting room and retail area. Others have tours, lodging, dining, etc. Seneca Lake seems to have the largest concentration of wineries and lots of good ones. Some of my favorites on Seneca are Lamoreaux Landing, Hazlitt, Red Newt, Amberg, Standing Stone (just to name a few). Keuka Lake also has some favorites - particularly Keuka Overlook, McGregor, Dr. Frank, Heron Hill. We have stayed in Watkins Glen and ventured out from there. We've also stayed on Keuka Lake which is great in the summer months for swimming, etc. We buy and drink mostly Finger Lakes wines although they are not that easy to find even here in the Albany area. Be sure to have enough room in your vehicle for your purchases. You are going to love the wine and the Finger Lakes.
If you enjoy wine, you will love the Finger Lakes wineries. We've spent time in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, the Carmel Valley wineries of California yet prefer the Finger Lakes wines. Many of the wineries are small and have a tasting room and retail area. Others have tours, lodging, dining, etc. Seneca Lake seems to have the largest concentration of wineries and lots of good ones. Some of my favorites on Seneca are Lamoreaux Landing, Hazlitt, Red Newt, Amberg, Standing Stone (just to name a few). Keuka Lake also has some favorites - particularly Keuka Overlook, McGregor, Dr. Frank, Heron Hill. We have stayed in Watkins Glen and ventured out from there. We've also stayed on Keuka Lake which is great in the summer months for swimming, etc. We buy and drink mostly Finger Lakes wines although they are not that easy to find even here in the Albany area. Be sure to have enough room in your vehicle for your purchases. You are going to love the wine and the Finger Lakes.
Jun 13th, 2005, 06:01 AM
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KathyM -- as you can tell from my screen name, I am partial to the Finger Lakes area! I love visiting the wineries -- I have found the staff very experienced and friendly. There are retail stores attached to some wineries, but that makes them more fun to puruse around.
My favorite lakes are Seneca and Keuka. Seneca Lake: Shalestone, Standing Stone, Wagner, Lamoreaux Landing, Americana. Keuka Lake: Dr. Frank & Heron Hill.
We were at Americana and asked for a tour -- got an on the spot tour of the entire facility. So sometimes you have to ask if there are no scheduled tours. (Wagner does have regularily scheduled tours.)
So, I DENY the posting that you found! Enjoy your trip!! SenecaGirl
My favorite lakes are Seneca and Keuka. Seneca Lake: Shalestone, Standing Stone, Wagner, Lamoreaux Landing, Americana. Keuka Lake: Dr. Frank & Heron Hill.
We were at Americana and asked for a tour -- got an on the spot tour of the entire facility. So sometimes you have to ask if there are no scheduled tours. (Wagner does have regularily scheduled tours.)
So, I DENY the posting that you found! Enjoy your trip!! SenecaGirl
Jun 13th, 2005, 11:20 AM
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Compared to Napa & California in general, the Finger Lakes wine industry is just now coming into its own. Also, the Finger Lakes Region is much further from a major metropolitan area (Napa is less than an hour's drive from San Francisco) and, although many of the wineries are open year round, touring and tasting is mainly a tourist attraction in summer through fall.
The bottom line is that you can expect to be visiting many wineries that are small if not rustic. Sure, there are some really "developed" wineries with highly organized tours and tastings but, by and large, wine tasting in the Finger Lakes is a drive yourself and do it yourself adventure.
Make no mistake, you'll be tasting world class wines (especially rieslings and dry rieslings) but in a much less formal (or crowded or hurried) atmosphere than in Napa.
Here's a good site to start with:
http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.co...asp?pageId=275
Click on "wineries" and you'll find info on the "wine trails" for each lake.
Have fun discovering new wines many of which you'll never be able to buy unless you've visited the winery itself.
If you love wine you owe it to yourself to visit the Finger Lakes Region.
The bottom line is that you can expect to be visiting many wineries that are small if not rustic. Sure, there are some really "developed" wineries with highly organized tours and tastings but, by and large, wine tasting in the Finger Lakes is a drive yourself and do it yourself adventure.
Make no mistake, you'll be tasting world class wines (especially rieslings and dry rieslings) but in a much less formal (or crowded or hurried) atmosphere than in Napa.
Here's a good site to start with:
http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.co...asp?pageId=275
Click on "wineries" and you'll find info on the "wine trails" for each lake.
Have fun discovering new wines many of which you'll never be able to buy unless you've visited the winery itself.
If you love wine you owe it to yourself to visit the Finger Lakes Region.
Jun 13th, 2005, 12:30 PM
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I don't think the comparison of Finger Lake wineries and tours to Napa and Sonoma is quite fair. Different grapes, and histories regarding grape growing and producing wine.
I love to visit the Finger Lake wineries and always come home with great memories and good wine. My favorite wineries are on the east side of Senaca Lake, which were already mentioned.
Have a wonderful time. Don't forget: "Think globally, buy locally."
I love to visit the Finger Lake wineries and always come home with great memories and good wine. My favorite wineries are on the east side of Senaca Lake, which were already mentioned.
Have a wonderful time. Don't forget: "Think globally, buy locally."
Jun 13th, 2005, 01:23 PM
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I have never been to California, but I have gone to the Finger Lakes and I enjoyed the wineries and the Finger Lakes. We went to Canandaigua, Keuka and Seneca.
I like sweeter wines, dessert wines and I liked the different ice wines they had.
I don't think that post was very reliable as there are very nice wines that come from that region. It sounds like someone is being a bit snobbish to me.
We went had a lovely time. I hope that you will do the same.
I like sweeter wines, dessert wines and I liked the different ice wines they had.
I don't think that post was very reliable as there are very nice wines that come from that region. It sounds like someone is being a bit snobbish to me.
We went had a lovely time. I hope that you will do the same.
Jun 13th, 2005, 03:12 PM
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Hi
You've brought back pleasant memories - we toured Lake Seneca from watkins Glen north to Geneva and down the other side to watkins Glen again. We had a marvelous time tasting various wines and found we really enjoyed their rieslings and loved their ice wine. I don't have any of it now and sure wish I did!
A few years ago we went to Napa and had a great time touring there. Napa has been making wines longer (or so I thought) but the fun of the winery tours is about the same. very enjoyable and I'd recommend it.
I remember Glenora and Anthony Road but I think we stopped at about 15 or so.
You've brought back pleasant memories - we toured Lake Seneca from watkins Glen north to Geneva and down the other side to watkins Glen again. We had a marvelous time tasting various wines and found we really enjoyed their rieslings and loved their ice wine. I don't have any of it now and sure wish I did!
A few years ago we went to Napa and had a great time touring there. Napa has been making wines longer (or so I thought) but the fun of the winery tours is about the same. very enjoyable and I'd recommend it.
I remember Glenora and Anthony Road but I think we stopped at about 15 or so.
Jun 13th, 2005, 03:15 PM
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It's tough for me to pick a favorite over all but Lamoreaux Landing is consistently great. Shalestone has unbelievable reds. Amberg on the north end of Seneca is sometimes skipped because of its location. Don't miss it. Great wine. Keuka Overlook is another one that shouldn't be missed. Just can't pick one. And each time we go back, there are new ones springing up!
Jun 13th, 2005, 03:40 PM
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this September will be our 7th consecutive year to visit the the wineries mentioned in all the above. This year we are going for an entire week. Love Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga. My stocked wine racks prove it.Our favorites are Shalestone, Red Newt, Chateau Lafayette, Lamoreaux, New Land On Seneca Lake and McGregor, Ravines, Keuka Springs,Hunt Club on Keuka Lake. every year we go back there is a new winery to try. For good food be sure to visit Red Newt on Seneca Lake for either lunch or dinner. Nice patio with great view of Seneca. Great food and good wine. more good food at Village Inn Tavern in Hammondsport. Also like the restaurant at Glenora Winery for lunch or dinner. Nice atmosphere but not crazy about the wine. We live in Ohio and are anxiously awaiting the ban on interstate wine shipments to be lifted but then why would we have to go every year to stock up on our favorite wines? You will have a great time!!! can't wait until September, counting the days.
Jun 13th, 2005, 04:39 PM
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Budman - only your taste tester would have the answer to this!
My opinion - I enjoyed the white rieslings more so than the reds in the finger lakes. I'm sure others would disagree.
I wonder if there would be much difference between the Canadian Niagara whites and the finger lake whites? Seems that they would have a lot of the same growing conditions - or am I opening another can of worms here?
Perhaps I better stick with rieslings and CRABS!!
My opinion - I enjoyed the white rieslings more so than the reds in the finger lakes. I'm sure others would disagree.
I wonder if there would be much difference between the Canadian Niagara whites and the finger lake whites? Seems that they would have a lot of the same growing conditions - or am I opening another can of worms here?
Perhaps I better stick with rieslings and CRABS!!
Jun 13th, 2005, 05:06 PM
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Budman, the only thing that I can say about wines is that I don't know much, but I like what I like.
I have had bottles from both areas and like them both. I am not knowledgable enough to talk about the complexities of flavors or differences in the regions, and even if I did you could taste what I love and think that it is swill.
You need to do your own taste test.
I pulled my scrapbook out, some of the places that we went where I liked the wine were, Amberg Wine Cellars, Barrington Cellars, Glenora, and Keuka Springs? Not sure of the name of that last one was.
I have had bottles from both areas and like them both. I am not knowledgable enough to talk about the complexities of flavors or differences in the regions, and even if I did you could taste what I love and think that it is swill.
You need to do your own taste test.
I pulled my scrapbook out, some of the places that we went where I liked the wine were, Amberg Wine Cellars, Barrington Cellars, Glenora, and Keuka Springs? Not sure of the name of that last one was.
Jun 13th, 2005, 05:17 PM
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The only reason I asked the question is that I didn't care for the Niagara Reds at all, and maybe the soil in the Finger Lakes region could make a difference for the NY Reds. I did like some of the Niagara Whites though, and maybe it would be worth a long weekend trip to the area to explore the NY Whites. 
Jun 13th, 2005, 06:05 PM
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Yeah, see Budman, you are more knowledgable than me. I will tell you that even if you do not enjoy the wines, the scenery is beautiful and worth the trip.
We went in 2002, Memorial Day weekend. We stayed in a nice B&B, but I would not reccommend it because the woman who owned it was not very hospitable.
We stayed near Canandaigua and even took a nice boat ride on the lake. Captain Grey's was the name, I believe.
No one was on the tour, so it was just me and my two friends. Our own private boat tour for just a few bucks. It was nice. That water was so crystal clear!!
You could see all the way down pretty far out.
I like a lot of the reds, but I like very sweet, and fruity. I like concords, that are very grapey.
I think a long weekend would be nice.
The only thing bad about it was that my husband got very ill while we were there. He spent a whole day in bed, missed the boat ride with us. We did not get to go to all the wineries that we wanted to go to. We did stop at a local liquor store which ended up having a buch of the local wines of course. So we ended up getting a few bottles of the ones that we missed going to. Ah, what are you gonna do?
We made the best of it and had a nice time.
We went in 2002, Memorial Day weekend. We stayed in a nice B&B, but I would not reccommend it because the woman who owned it was not very hospitable.
We stayed near Canandaigua and even took a nice boat ride on the lake. Captain Grey's was the name, I believe.
No one was on the tour, so it was just me and my two friends. Our own private boat tour for just a few bucks. It was nice. That water was so crystal clear!!
You could see all the way down pretty far out.
I like a lot of the reds, but I like very sweet, and fruity. I like concords, that are very grapey.
I think a long weekend would be nice.
The only thing bad about it was that my husband got very ill while we were there. He spent a whole day in bed, missed the boat ride with us. We did not get to go to all the wineries that we wanted to go to. We did stop at a local liquor store which ended up having a buch of the local wines of course. So we ended up getting a few bottles of the ones that we missed going to. Ah, what are you gonna do?
We made the best of it and had a nice time.
Jun 13th, 2005, 06:05 PM
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Hi KathyM,
My Favorite winery would be Swedish Hill. I was surprised no one else had mentioned it. The reason is because they have so many wines that are really good. This is just my opinion but I usually find that I like 1 or 2 different wines at any given winery but at Swedish Hill I like almost all of them. They also make excellent champagne which I love as well. Swedish Hill does give tours. They do have a website. I think it's swedishhill.com but I'll check it for you. They are located in Romulus NY which is between Seneca and Cayuga Lake. I like this wine route because you can tour wineries on both lakes fairly easily. You won't be disappointed with the fingerlakes. It's too unique as all the others have described.
My Favorite winery would be Swedish Hill. I was surprised no one else had mentioned it. The reason is because they have so many wines that are really good. This is just my opinion but I usually find that I like 1 or 2 different wines at any given winery but at Swedish Hill I like almost all of them. They also make excellent champagne which I love as well. Swedish Hill does give tours. They do have a website. I think it's swedishhill.com but I'll check it for you. They are located in Romulus NY which is between Seneca and Cayuga Lake. I like this wine route because you can tour wineries on both lakes fairly easily. You won't be disappointed with the fingerlakes. It's too unique as all the others have described.
