My Guide to the Finger Lakes Wine Trail

Here are my picks for winery visits, restaurants, and places to stay.

I talk about the Finger Lakes fairly regularly in Everyday Drinking. I just mentioned one of my favorite FLX producers, Forge Cellars, just a couple of weeks ago. Before that, I published my travel guide to region’s cider trail (I consider the Finger Lakes to be the premier cider region in America). And I recommended cabernet franc and riesling from Forge, Nathan Kendall, and Bloomer Creek for Thanksgiving last year.

But with fall just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about how lovely September and October in the Finger Lakes can be. If you’ve never been, I urge you to go this fall. Seneca Lake, where I am recommending for your wine tour, is roughly a five-hour drive from either New York and Philadelphia.

For years, people have been talking about the Finger Lakes as an “up and coming” wine region, but I think that kind of talk is too diminishing. The Finger Lakes may be the best cool-climate wine region in America, full stop. And the wine value you can find for $25 to $30 per bottle is incredible. Below are my top ten (ok, 11) wineries to visit, along with some suggestions for where to eat, drink, and stay.