Party: Couple
J.R. Dill features small batch wines with focus on dry reds, but we have options for everyone.
Drawing inspiration from Peter’s family’s time-honored winemaking traditions and Ashlee’s deep-rooted connection to the region, Weis Vineyards produces exquisitely handcrafted wines that showcase the exceptional terroir of the Finger Lakes. With meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to quality, each bottle is crafted to be savored by all who seek a truly remarkable wine experience. Discover why we were named New York State’s Winery of the Year in 2022 and 2024!
Our cozy 30 room Inn provides amazing views of Seneca Lake from every room, while Veraisons Restaurant delights guests with a wide variety of vegan options, all set against the backdrop of beautiful scenery and rich history.
Come experience the excellence of Glenora Wine Cellars!
As one of the best wine regions in the nation, there’s an unlimited amount of fun activities to enjoy in Finger Lakes Wine Country.
That’s why we’re focusing on the ones that won’t break the bank. This list of free things to do in Finger Lakes Wine Country includes activities for the entire family and is a great starting point for visitors and residents building an itinerary.
What Can You Do For Free in FLWC?
Go For a Hike
The Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum in Elmira, New York offers free access to over 10 miles of hiking trails, exhibits, and programs on environmental education. It houses over 40 live animals, both native and exotic. Tanglewood Nature Center is committed to local preservation efforts. The trails here offer hiking year-round and winter activities including cross-country skiing which allow you to experience the natural beauty of the Chemung Valley.
The Keuka Outlet Trail starts in the small town of Penn Yan and has more than seven miles of scenic trails, perfect for cycling, running, or leisurely walks. Along the way you’ll find Seneca Mills Falls and the Cascade Mills Falls In the winter snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are very popular here.
For scenic, wooded hiking trails head to Italy Hill State Forest in Branchport, New York, or trek along an abandoned railroad path from Montour Falls to Horseheads on the Catharine Valley Trail. The Finger Lakes National Forest in Hector, New York has over 30 miles of interconnecting trails that traverse gorges, ravines, pastures, and woodlands. It’s the only National Forest in New York State and is another great location for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing during the winter.
Stroll through one of our charming Small Towns
Finger Lakes Wine Country has many charming small towns to visit during your trip. You’ll find antique centers and vintage stores everywhere, which is great for window shoppers, vintage lovers, and collectors. Be sure to read some of our guides to a few of our featured small towns, including Corning, Owego, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen, Penn Yan, and Elmira.
Go Bird Watching
Our natural landscapes are a haven for wildlife and natural habitats, including great bird-watching opportunities. In the spring, birders can find great blue heron, sandhill crane, osprey, snow geese, wild turkeys, many species of songbirds, and even bald eagles.
Some great places to visit for bird watching include Cold Brook Wildlife Management Area in Hammondsport, Urbana State Forest and Italy Hill State Forest off of Keuka Lake, Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira, Brick Pond wetlands in Owego, Spencer Crest Nature Center in Corning, and the Finger Lakes National Forest between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake.
Visit Farmer’s Markets
Finger Lakes Wine Country boasts some of the best farmland in the state, so finding the freshest produce of the season, handicrafts, baked goods, local ingredients, pantry items, and seasonings is easy to do at a local Farmers Market.
From season markets to year-round farm stores here you’ll find something for every season. For over 35 years Windmill Farm & Craft Market in Penn Yan, New York has been offering food, produce, and handicrafts on Saturdays, from April through mid-December. With over 200 vendors Windmill Farm & Craft Market is the largest of the farmers markets in Finger Lakes Wine Country.
Go For a Drive
One of the best ways to see the sweeping views the region is famous for is a scenic drive. The most well-known scenic drive in Finger Lakes Wine Country is the Seneca Lake Scenic Byway running along the east side of Seneca Lake. You’ll be passing wineries, cideries, distilleries, breweries, restaurants, and farms. Most of which are great places to catch one of our stunning Finger Lakes sunsets overlooking Seneca Lake. Learn more about our local scenic drives.
Take a Dip
During the warmer months of summer, the best way to cool off is to enjoy a day at the lake swimming, paddling, or kayaking. There are several beaches for swimming in the region, including Champlin Beach in Hammondsport, New York, and the shores at Keuka Lake State Park in Penn Yan. Along with hiking trails and picnic areas, there is no shortage of lake activities to enjoy at Keuka Lake State Park. Keuka Lake is one of the warmer water lakes in the region.
Clute Memorial Park in Watkins Glen has a scenic swimming beach on Seneca Lake. Seneca Lake is not only the largest of the Finger Lakes it’s also the deepest lake within New York State.
Chase Waterfalls
Visiting the region’s iconic waterfalls is a quintessential part of the Finger Lakes Wine Country experience. Our region has a reputation for having over 50 waterfalls which are a visual delight waiting to be explored. Walking through Watkins Glen State Park you can enjoy an enchanting hike through the two-mile Gorge Trail, which boasts 19 cascading waterfalls.
Let our Finger Lakes Wine Country Waterfall Guide lead you to the gorgeous waterscapes of Finger Lakes Wine Country.
With over 120 wineries in Finger Lakes Wine Country, how do you choose which ones to visit? What should you be prepared for when visiting a winery? What should you expect and plan for during a day of wine tasting? And when is the best time to visit Finger Lakes Wine Country?
How do you get around?
While wine tasting, a designated driver is a must. If you decide to taste wine and get behind the wheel, be sure to spit the wine out into the dump buckets that are provided at each winery. Another great option is hiring a transportation company for a worry-free day.
Which Wineries Should I Visit?
With so many to choose from, how do you know which ones are right for you? First, plan on visiting just two to three wineries in any given day. Plan for time to become familiar with the wines and enjoy your tasting. Many wineries have great gift shops and cafes to explore. And make sure to allow time for travel between wineries. In order to decide what wineries you want to visit, a little research is necessary. Do you like whites or reds? Sweet or dry? Are you interested in fruit wine or ice wine? With so many options, it can become overwhelming, but rest assured, the information is out there for you to familiarize yourself with. Start by going through our list of wineries in the region. Decide which region you want to visit or variety you’d like to taste and you’ll have your wine tasting itinerary in no time!
When is the best time of year to visit?
Finger Lakes Wine Country, New York is a year-round destination. During the summer and fall, the wineries are the busiest, as this is peak travel season but is also a great time of year in the Finger Lakes. However, during the off-season of winter and spring, your wine tasting experience is likely to be more personal and comfortable. It is these months of the year when you are likely to speak with the owners and winemakers themselves in the tasting room. Each season has its perks. Be sure to take into consideration what you would like to do during your visit outside of wine tasting: boating and swimming? Leaf peeping and harvest festivals? Skiing and snowshoeing? Considering all of the Finger Lakes activities available should give you a great idea of when is right for your visit to Finger Lakes Wine Country.
When are the Wineries Open?
In the summer and fall most of the wineries in the Finger Lakes are open seven days a week. During late/fall early winter and spring it is important that you confirm each winery’s hours as some have more limited tasting room hours, especially during the week. It is most common for wineries to open 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and close around 5:00 p.m. each day, including Sunday. Again in the summer, some wineries extend their hours to accommodate the increased number of visitors.
Do I need to make a reservation?
In most cases, yes. It’s best to visit the winery’s website or give them a call to see if they require or suggest reservations. Most wineries offer seated tasting experiences with a flight of wine and some offer snacks or small bites to enjoy with your wine. Some wineries will do their best to accommodate walk-in visitors, but to ensure you have a spot, reservations are your best option. If you’re traveling in a group of six or more, reservations are almost always required.
Don’t Forget Lunch
Before your day of wine tasting, be sure to have a full breakfast. This will not only give you the energy you need to make it through the day, it will make wine tasting easier and more enjoyable. For lunch, many of the wineries have areas for picnicking that offer breathtaking views of the lakes and countryside. Pick up some sandwiches at a café or deli in town and select a bottle of wine to enjoy while taking in the surrounding beauty of the Finger Lakes. There are also many wineries with restaurants and local restaurants in town to choose from. Check out great restaurants in our region.
Hydrate!
This may seem like a given, but it is so important to drink plenty of water while touring the wineries or any of our wonderful craft beverage establishments. We promise you’ll have more fun if you feel better and hydration is key to ensuring you feel your best.
Where Should I Stay?
Finger Lakes Wine Country offers a variety of lodging options to suit every person and budget. From luxury hotels to campgrounds, there really is something for everyone. Accommodations can be researched ahead of time in our accommodation database. Options include:
- Charming bed and breakfasts
- Hotels, motels, & inns
- Family-friendly or romantic cottages by the lake for vacation rentals
- Campgrounds & cabins
Experience the Essence of Wine with the Seven S’s of Wine Tasting
- SEE the wine: the color, the clarity, and intensity.
- SWIRL the glass to release the aromas.
- SMELL the wine. This begins your tasting experience; discover the qualities and aromas of the wine like spicy, nutty, fruity, floral, or anything else you can use to describe what you are experiencing. There is not right or wrong answer.
- SIP the wine. Take a small amount of the wine in your mouth along with a small bit of air, almost slurping the wine in – this will aerate the wine further releasing more aromas onto your palate.
- SAVOR the wine. Swish the wine around, hitting every part of your mouth.
- SPIT/SWALLOW the wine. It is perfectly acceptable to utilize the spit buckets, especially when you are driving from winery to winery.
- SCORE the wine. Create your own scoring system and take notes. This reflects your personal experience of the wine, keep a wine journal that you can take with you to the gift shop after your tasting or to the wine store at home in the future to make your purchasing choice easy.
When you’re shopping for a great wine and cheese pairing, the quest to match the right bottle with the right wheel to enjoy together can feel like a guessing game.
Sure, there are a few standard guidelines you can follow—like serving wines and cheeses with similar intensities together. A light, crisp pour of Pinot Grigio and a fresh, citrusy goat’s cheese complement each other well, and a brawny blue wedge may need a bigger-bodied red to match its pungency, for example.
Sometimes, opposite flavor profiles attract, as when a sweet, boozy sip of port or vin santo tames that same bold, salty blue. And when in doubt, choosing a cheese and a wine from the same region is often a good move. But even with these guidelines in mind, the decision sometimes feels like a shot in the dark.
Here’s one tip from a professional: Don’t stress about choosing the “correct” pairing, because the right pairing is the one you enjoy. When we get away from that black-and-white, right-or-wrong mindset, pairing becomes more of an exploration of flavor, of your own likes and dislikes. Enjoying good food and drink is supposed to be fun, after all.
That said, a great way to discover new wine and cheese pairings—and learn more about how our favorite flavors change and evolve when combined—is to start with a few versatile bottles. Styles often described as “food friendly,” like these three fantastic Finger Lakes varieties, can be your go-to for pairing not just for a single cheese, but for handful of styles with contrasting textures and flavor profiles.
You can still anchor your selections with those handy guidelines, as I’ve done here. But pairing a bottle with a whole board rather than just one wedge can illuminate your understanding of how quality cheese and fine wine play together.
Use these pairings as the starting point for a delicious cheese board for your next no-cook weeknight dinner, at-home happy hour, or holiday meal. Pair these wines and cheeses one-on-one, then try each sip with a few different styles. You’ll learn a lot more about pairing wine and cheese—and your own palate—that way.
Pairing 1
The Wine: Glenora Wine Cellars Blanc de Blanc
The Cheese: St. Stephan, Four Fat Fowl
St. Stephen, a pillowy cow’s milk triple-crème from New York’s Hudson Valley, needs something bone-dry and bubbly to stand up to its silky, creamy texture. Effervescent varieties like this Blanc de Blanc from the sparkling wine specialists at Glenora cleanse the palate between bites of luscious bloomy rind cheeses like this one.
Serve this celebratory pairing with sweet treats like fresh berries, squares of dark chocolate, or a drizzle of spring wildflower honey. Pop that bottle to kick off your holiday feast, or save this decadent combination for midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Pairing 2
The Wine: Wagner Vineyards Pinot Noir
The Cheese: Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Uplands Cheese Company
Medium-bodied reds—think Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir, like this vibrant vintage from Wagner Vineyards—are another versatile option to pair with savory foods from roasted mushrooms to wild game. For this reason, they’re also a match with long-aged, umami-rich cheeses like Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Wisconsin’s answer to the vaunted varieties of the Alps. It’s made only in summer months, when the cows are grazing fresh, verdant pastures.
Pleasant Ridge Reserve is renowned for its deep, complex flavor: the sweetness of that summer milk, nuts and roasted meat, and fruity, floral endnotes. This bright-tasting bottle is the perfect sip to bring out that sought-after fruitiness in the cheese. Taste them together with accompaniments that will amplify the cheese’s multidimensional flavor, like walnuts, slices of prosciutto, and dried tart cherries.
Pairing 3
The Wine: Ravines Wine Cellars Argetsinger Riesling
The Cheese: Saint Agur, Savencia Fromage & Dairy
When tasting through a selection of cheeses, it’s a good idea to save the most intensely flavored wheels for last. Produced by century-old French maker Savencia, Saint Agur has a rich, buttery flavor and pleasantly peppery finish. With such a creamy, spreadable texture, it might as well be dessert.
Some may consider pairing white wine and blue cheese unorthodox. But a dry Riesling like this one from Ravines, made with fruit grown on the long-established vines at Argetsinger Vineyard, can be just the thing to marry with a milder, more approachable blue cheese like this one.
Remember that rule about pairing blue cheeses with sweet beverages? That still holds true, but the “sweetness” that comes through in this dry Riesling isn’t residual sugar. It’s citrusy, floral flavor of the fruit. With a bright acidity and grounding minerality, this bottle makes a compelling match for this lush cow’s milk blue. Contrast the cheese’s salt-forward profile with the warm, round sweetness of fresh Fuyu persimmon and the nutty, caramelized crunch of candied pecans.
I hope I’ve inspired you to pick up a bottle of your favorite Finger Lakes wine, grab a few quality artisan wedges from your favorite cheese counter or farmers’ market, and explore some new flavor profiles. It’s the best—and most delicious—way to develop your palate and discover amazing new combinations. Cheers!
In 1815, Charles Pumpelly built a home and lived there until 1841 when he moved to his brother’s house located at the other end of Front Street in Owego.
The home was eventually converted to a boarding and day school for young ladies, The Owego Female Seminary.
In 1863 Belva Lockwood bought the property and was Principal of the Seminary until 1865. Belva sold the home and moved to Washington D.C. In 1879. She was the first woman to be admitted to the Bar. She later became the first woman to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court. Belva went on to run for President of the United States in 1884 & 1888.
After Belva left, the original home was partially dismantled and moved to 188 Front Street, Owego and was used as a carriage house. In 1878, Jefferson Dwelle built this home which is considered one the finest examples of High Victorian architecture in the region.
The Property Later became home to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and then served as a private residence.
In late 2017, Ike & Julie Lovelass purchased the home and completed a total renovation opening the Inn and teaching the world about Belva Lockwood.
Recently, in 2022 Ike & Julie passed the torch to Brie & Matt Woods. After just one visit, the pair fell in love with the charming town, the kind people of Owego, and of course, Belva. Together, they welcome you into their home and can’t wait for you to experience all that this beautiful, historic village has to offer!
Beginning over 30 years ago with one man’s dream, a bulldozer, volunteers, a barn raising and selling hot dogs, The Windmill is now stronger than ever. Visit over 175 indoor and outdoor shops filled with hand-crafted items too numerous to count, and discover great food, tasty treats, fresh produce, flowers, custom cabinetry, furniture, fashion, healthy choices, local wineries, artistry, micro brews, entertainment, hands-on activities and so much more.
The Stamp family moved to Lakewood Farm in 1951, and began planting vines the next year. All of the grapes they produced were sold to grape juice companies and large wineries until 1988 when they established Lakewood Vineyards and made wine from some of those grapes. Now, 35 years later, the Stamps utilize their grapes, as well as grapes from other Finger Lakes growers, and produce about 42,000 cases of wine annually.
With 3 family members leading the winemaking, the family is involved in every aspect of the winery on a daily basis. Working alongside dedicated and talented team members they strive to craft and present distinct, delicious wines that have helped characterize the area as a dynamic, respected wine region.
Located on the farm on the west side of Seneca Lake, Lakewood has a bustling tasting room overlooking vineyards that slope down toward Seneca Lake. They are open 361 days a year for tasting and sales.