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The Finger Lakes are well known for being a great wine region. With 11 lakes in the area, there are a lot of vineyards to choose from! But to narrow down your choices, we’re talking all about the best Seneca Lake wineries!
New York is actually the 3rd largest wine-producing state in the country, behind California and Washington, with the Finger Lakes being the largest wine production east of the state of California. So if you aren’t too familiar with New York wine, know that it is a growing wine region both in quality and popularity.
The Seneca Lake wineries are certainly no exception.
The Finger Lakes is making a name for itself when it comes to Riesling, Chardonnay, and even some Pinot Noir. Thanks to the cooler climate, white wines typically do better here, but you’ll definitely see some award-winning Cab Francs and the like too!
If you’re planning a weekend trip to the Finger Lakes, I highly recommend spending a day exploring some wineries! And one of the best places to do that is around Seneca Lake.
Without further ado, let’s talk about the 10 best wineries on Seneca Lake that’ll have you booking a trip to the Finger Lakes ASAP!
10 Best Seneca Lake Wineries
It can be tough to narrow down the best Seneca Lake vineyards, but we love this list and know you will too!
1. Forge Cellars
Address: 3775 Mathews Rd, Burdett, NY 14818 | Phone: 607-622-8020 | Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 11 am-6 pm | Price For Tasting: $15 | Must-Try Wines: Dry Riesling Classique and the Pinot Noir Classique
Let’s kick off the Seneca Lake wineries list with my personal favorite, Forge Cellars. This place is stunning on its own with plenty of outdoor seating and views of Seneca Lake to behold.
However, their tasting room is cozy and delightful, as is their barn where you can snag a glass or two outside of harvest season.
My favorite wine here is the Riesling Classique. Its deliciously crisp taste with notes of grapefruit and violet makes for a perfect wine to split with friends on a warm summer day.
The Pinot Noir Classique is equally as delicious with flavors of strawberries and anise.
Reservations for tastings are required if you would like to have a tasting. Be sure to book that here.
2. Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard & Winery
Address: 3962 NY-14, Dundee, NY 14837 | Phone: 607-243-7971 | Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm and Sunday 11 am-4 pm | Price For Tasting: Starts at $3-7 for a 2 person sized single taste | Must-Try Wines: HJW Riesling Bio and Cuvee Brut
This picturesque wine estate is made even better by its vast selection of Riesling! Of course, they excel in many other wines, but their Riesling is certainly the star of the show.
They have a whopping 11 different Rieslings to try, each with its own unique aromas and flavors. The best is definitely the HJW Riesling Bio, a dry Riesling with hints of honey and a bit of minerality.
The Riesling Late Harvest is also a must-try with its tropical aroma and subtle minerality. And for bubbly lovers, there are 3 sparkling wines to choose from, including the Cuvee Brut, with its crispness and great texture.
Reservations are recommended and can be made here.
3. Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars
Address: 9224 NY-414, Lodi NY 14860 | Phone: 607-582-6011 | Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 12 pm-5 pm | Price For Tasting: $10 | Must-Try Wines: Round Rock Vineyard Riesling and Chardonnay
This winery is all about sustainability and renewable energy! With 100% of their electricity coming from solar panels, they are reducing their carbon footprint and making great wine while doing it.
Oh, and their gorgeous estate and tasting room, with sprawling vineyard and Seneca Lake views, will definitely make you want to spend quite a bit of time here just sipping a glass of vino and catching up with friends.
Some wines to try here include the Round Rock Vineyard Riesling that is bursting with flavors of peach, ginger, and pear, and the Chardonnay with hints of butter and vanilla.
Reservations for tastings are required. Call the number above to make a reservation.
4. Glenora Wine Cellars
Address: 5435 NY-14, Dundee, NY 14837 | Phone: 800-243-5513 | Hours: January 1-April 4: Daily 10 am-5 pm. April 5-May 31 & November 1-December 31: Sunday-Thursday 10 am-5 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm. June 1-September 30: Daily 10 am-6 pm with sunset service from 6-8 pm on Friday and Saturday. October 1-31: Daily 10 am-6 pm with sunset service from 6-7 pm on Friday and Saturday. | Price For Tasting: $10 | Must-Try Wines: Chardonnay and FLX Dry Riesling
If you’re searching for wineries near Seneca Lake, this is a great one that offers a wide variety of wines to meet your tastes. Whether you love dry wine or sweet, they have you covered!
To no one’s surprise, this place also makes great Chardonnay and Riesling. The Chardonnay has hints of melon and the FLX Dry Riesling is crisp with citrus, peach, and a hint of minerality.
Now if those aren’t your thing, other popular wines to try include their Peach or Raspberry Spumante among their many other fruit wines. They also offer several varieties of Reisling to enjoy from semi-dry to dry.
Plus, they have a great view from their back balcony overlooking Seneca Lake. And if you want a winery you can stay at, they have a lovely inn!
5. Lakewood Vineyards
Address: 4024 NY-14, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 | Phone: 607-535-9252 | Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 12-5 pm | Price For Tasting: Starts at $5 or $10 for a guided tour and tasting | Must-Try Wines: Riesling and Cabernet Franc
One of the best wineries near Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake is Lakewood Vineyards. This winery of course offers up some fantastic lake and vineyard views, but the best part of Lakewood Vineyards is the variety of wine.
From their dry Riesling to the Bubbly Catawba there is something for everyone. Some must-try wines definitely include their semi-dry Riesling and the Cabernet Franc with hints of dark fruit and tea.
However, the fruity and sweet Bubbly Catawba and the fruity Abby Rose are great for those who love a less dry wine. And they even make a good port wine to pair with a rich, chocolatey dessert.
Reservations are recommended and can be made here.
6. Chateau LaFayette Reneau
Address: 5081 NY-414, Hector, NY 14841 | Phone: 607-546-2062 | Hours: May-November Daily 11 am-5 pm. December-April Wednesday-Sunday 11 am-5 pm. | Price For Tasting: $10 | Must-Try Wines: Riesling Dry and Cuvee Rouge
For a charming Seneca Lake vineyard, look no further than Chateau LaFayette Reneau. This place of course boasts stunning Seneca Lake views, and you can even book a private picnic on their vineyard to enjoy all this place has to offer on a sunny day!
Some wines you’ll want to try while you’re here include the Riesling Dry with hints of melon, citrus, and peach with perfect acidity. The Cuvee Rouge is also delightful with a mix of Pinot Noir and Baco Noir that produces a velvety semi-dry red.
They also offer sweeter wines like Niagara and Emperor’s Blush.
PS- this place also has a lovely guesthouse if you dream of staying at a winery!
7. Ravines Wine Cellars
Address: 400 Barracks Rd, Geneva, NY 14456 | Phone: 315-781-7007 | Hours: Daily 10 am-5 pm | Price For Tasting: $15 | Must-Try Wines: Cabernet Franc and Dry Riesling
Known for its mix of red and white wines that are equally delicious, a visit to Ravines Wine Cellars is sure to impress. While they have another location on Keuka Lake, today, we’re only talking about the Seneca Lake location.
The charming barn tasting room adds to the overall experience, as do, of course, those stunning Seneca Lake views. While you’re here, definitely try the Cabernet Franc, with its spicy, red, and dark fruit flavors that make for a perfect autumn wine.
The Dry Riesling offers notes of tropical fruit, peaches, and lime with nice acidity, making it ideal for a warm summer day.
While those two wines are certainly notable, definitely also try the Gewurztraminer with hints of Asian pear and mango!
Tastings are by appointment only. Book it here!
8. Damiani Wine Cellars
Address: 4704 NY-414, Burdett, NY 14818 | Phone: 607-546-5557 | Hours: Daily 10 am-5 pm | Price For Tasting: $15 | Must-Try Wines: Rhysling and Pinot Noir
This place is known for its great mix of white wines, some fun bubbly, and some bold reds. Pair a tasting here with that incredible view of the lake, and you’ve got yourself one of the best Seneca Lake Wineries!
The Rhysling was my personal favorite with aromas of pear and lychee. It is also unique in that they donate 20% of the proceeds from every bottle to Pediatric Cardiology organizations. So your purchase not only tastes great but does good!
The Pinot Noir is well worth a try as well with black cherries and blackberries dominating the palate in a good way!
And for some bubbly, be sure to try the Brut Methode Champenoise with orange, caramel apple, and toasted almond notes.
9. Fox Run Vineyards
Address: 670 NY-14, Penn Yan, NY 14527 | Phone: 315-536-4616 | Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sunday 11 am-6 pm | Price For Tasting: $10 | Must-Try Wines: Kaiser Vineyard Chardonnay and Dry Riesling
Another fantastic Seneca Lake vineyard offering stunning water views, this place serves up some fantastic white wines.
They also have a great cafe menu with cheese and flatbreads to pair with the wine.
The Kaiser Vineyard Chardonnay is a notable vino to try with hints of oak, butter, vanilla, as well as citrus, pear, and apple. It seriously is a great tasting wine and a great value!
The Dry Riesling is also perfect with flavors of honey, citrus, and pear. Something really cool about a tasting at this winery is that they offer 4 different kinds of menus including sweet, dry, red, and a whole tasting menu for Riesling.
Other notable wines to try include the Sparkling Riesling and the medium-bodied Cabernet Franc.
10. Three Brothers Wineries & Estates
Address: 623 Lerch Rd, Geneva, NY 14456 | Phone: 315-585-4432 | Hours: Daily 10 am-6 pm | Price For Tasting: Starts at $15 | Must-Try Wines: Estate Bourbon Barbera and Estate Reserve Riesling
Whether you love beer or wine, this place is a great spot to visit on the Seneca Lake wine trail.
With three wineries, a brewery, and a cafe on-site, you could spend an entire day here just tasting it all including wine, beer, cider, and craft soda. Seriously, the options are endless!
However, some notable wines to try include the Estate Bourbon Barbera that is bursting with flavors including vanilla, fig, dried fruit, and hazelnut. The Estate Reserve Riesling is also a gem with hints of white peach and citrus.
And if wine tasting isn’t enough, be sure to swing by War Horse Brewing Company for a pint of beer or a hard cider!
Tasting reservations are required. You can book via the phone number above.
Where to Stay in the Finger Lakes
While I personally love staying at The Hotel Ithaca as a base for exploring the Finger Lakes, especially Cayuga Lake and Lake Seneca, the wineries with their own lodging are perfect for a romantic wine tasting getaway!
The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars is a great option for lovely lake views, and the Inn Guest House at Chateau LaFayette Reneau offers incredible views with a cozy home setting.
Lastly, the Vineyard Cottage is available for rent at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates with its cozy cabin feels.
These are hands down the best wineries on Seneca Lake that you’ll definitely want to try. Whether you’re staying in the Finger Lakes for a weekend or week, we hope you enjoy these options!
Which are your favorite wine tastings in the Finger Lakes?
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