The Finger Lakes is a beautiful region in Upstate New York. With hikes, waterfalls, restaurants, and beautiful views, it is a perfect destination for couples or any sort of girl-trips. I’ve been here twice, both times with a group of my friends, and it was an incredible experience.
The Finger Lakes is also well known for its selection of wine and vineyards. However, it can hard to narrow down where to go, so let our guide below help you!
Key Takeaways
- There are many vineyards located in the Finger Lakes region
- If you are looking for beautiful scenery, check out Damani, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, and Miles Wine Vineyard
- Many of the vineyards are located along Seneca Lake. However, there are still gems along the others.
1. Thirsty Owl Wine Company
Location: Cayuga Lake
Thirsty Owl is a beautiful vineyard with great food and fun tastings. We loved the wine here and the overall aesthetic of the place. Our favorite? The Pinot Gris. Tastings are only $5 and $2 of that can be used toward a purchase of wine (which is all reasonably priced, So… according to girl math, it’s basically free).
We recommend grabbing lunch here after your tasting. There’s tons of seating outside, so you can enjoy beautiful views of the lake. Food was also great and the landscape is truly stunning.
Plus if you get a case of wine, you are a lifelong member of their company, entitling you to free shipping, events and discounts.
2. Ports of New York
Location: Cayuga Lake
Frédéric Bouché founded the Ports of New York and has a long family history of winemaking, beginning in the Bordeaux region of France at a winery known as Maison Bouché. Frédéric Bouché moved to the Finger Lakes region, when his wife began working at Cornell. In 2003, they started the vineyard.
This tasting was really interesting, as Frédéric showed us various historical pieces, including a belt that was used to smuggle alcohol to local farmers markets in France, as well as historical instruments used to bottle wine. He also shared his family history, including how his family vineyard was bombed during the second World War. As we begun our tasting, Frédéric was extremeley knowledgeable about wine and how it was created, showcasing his long lineage and love of wine making.
All the wines were good, but if you are curious as to our favorite from this vineyard? The White Meleau and Meleau Red were standouts. Both include distilled spirits, so no need to drink it all once the bottle has been opened. It has a sweet taste that is perfectly countered by the spirits. It was really unique and one of our favorites from the entire region.
Sign located in the Ports of New York vineyard showcasing the family history
3. Miles Wine Cellar
Location: Seneca Lake
If you are looking for something spooky, especially in the US in October, look no further! Miles Wine Cellar is haunted by what is presumed to be a married couple. The locals who work there insist that they have seen the presence of spirits. No worries if you are afraid of ghosts. They are generally pretty friendly according to the staff, unless you try to mess up their house.
Doug Miles and Suzie Hayes were the ones who founded the vineyard. They don’t have much details on who the ghosts could be. However, an elderly woman did tell them of her experiences with these spirits. When she got in trouble, she didn’t mind since the man and woman would keep her company.
Our recommended wine? Ghost. It’s an ode to the spirits who haunt there in the form of a white wine, featuring a blend of Chardonnay and Cayuga wines. The bottle is also really cool, featuring the ghost couple. Additionally, if you shine a flashlight through the bottle, you can get the shadow of the couple to reflect on the wall. Ask the staff when visiting and they will show you how.
Additionally, if you come here on a beautiful day, you can sit out on the boat dock. It’s absolutely stunning!
4. Hazlitt
Location: Seneca Lake
Hazlitt has a lot of great wine varieties. However, I did really only try the sweet wines while here. If you are into dry wines, my recommendations below may not be for you (They do have dry wines to try, so if those are your vibe, please let us know what you liked in the comments below).
My recommendations? They have a blueberry wine, that almost tastes like juice and is so, so good. I also really liked their Red Cat wine, which isn’t quite as sweet.
5. Damiani Wine Cellars
Location: Seneca Lake
This vineyard is very close to Watkins Glenn (which is definitely worth checking out!). In a region, famous for white wine varieties such as Riesling, owners Lou Damiani and Phil Davis set out to make their mark by producing high-quality red wines. These are also the wines the vineyard is best known for (though they also do have some high-quality whites). If you are a big red wine fan (which I am), this is a must for your list. The location is also beautiful, featuring stunning views of Lake Seneca below.
Our recommendation? MC². It’s a bold red, featuring a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tips for Visiting the Vineyards
Be Sure to Try the Riesling
The Finger Lakes does have a wide assortment of wine, but is most famous for its white wine varieties, especially its Riesling. Be sure to check that out while here!
Check out the Neighboring Waterfalls
There’s a reason that the locals joke that Ithaca is “gorges”. With 100s of waterfalls to explore, you can’t just skip the waterfalls in Ithaca and the surrounding area. Be sure to check out our guide to learn which are an absolute must to add to your list.
Charter a Ride
If you are going in a big group, there are companies that allow you to charter a small bus or van, so no one from your group has to be the designated driver. We highly recommend doing this, so everyone can enjoy the vineyards if they choose to.
Choosing Where to Stay
Seneca Lake will have most of the vineyards, but Ithaca is a bigger city and has more to do than towns like Watkins Glenn. When choosing where to stay, be sure to map out exactly where you want to go and what you want to do. The Finger Lakes is a pretty extensive region, so it might not be possible to see everything in one trip (depending on the length of your stay).
Don’t Forget the Cafes and Distilleries
If you aren’t a big wine drinker, no worries. The Finger Lakes also has some cute coffee shops and distilleries that are worth adding to your list!
Final Thoughts
Have you been to the Finger Lakes Region before? Have a favorite waterfall or place to explore? Leave it in the comments below.
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