Fall is the most popular time of year to visit Finger Lakes Wine Country and it's no wonder why. The fall foliage is some of the most gorgeous in the country. Rolling hills become speckled with rich red, orange and gold.

The fall also means harvest time in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Take part in harvest festivals where you can pick, sample and buy the freshest Finger Lakes produce and even take part in grape stomping. U-pick farms are a wonderful way to spend time with the family. The Finger Lakes offers a variety of locations to pick apples, berries, pumpkins and a plethora of other fruits and vegetables. Finger Lakes Wine Country, is the ultimate destination for fall fun!

The grape harvest

Harvest time in Finger Lakes Wine Country has begun with the first crushing of the grapes. An exciting time of year to visit the over 100 wineries in the region. See first hand the grapes being harvested from the vineyards and brought in for the big crush. For all the details of harvest 2009, check out the official Harvest Report.  

Wine tasting

You can’t say harvest in Finger Lakes Wine Country without thinking wine. The vineyards are looking lush and the grapes are ready to be harvested in the coming weeks. Get great wine tasting tips and enjoy tastings at some of the over 100 wineries in the region. Savor world-class Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and many other award-winning varietals.

U-Pick Farms

Locally harvested produce is one of the main attractions during fall in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Take a bite into a freshly picked apple when hiking through the orchards or carve the perfect jack-o-lantern from the pumpkin you picked in the pumpkin patch. There are multiple U-Pick farms that allow you to do the work, or if you’d rather just do some sampling, visit a Farmers Market.

Local Flavors

The use of local food in the restaurants is very important for the chefs in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Fall is a wonderful time to taste the local flavors of the region. Heather Tompkins is the new executive chef for The Café at Fox Run Vineyards on Seneca Lake. Heather’s philosophy is simple; the more local, the better. “Local products offer a fresh and vibrant flavor to any dish,” Heather says. “The magic that happens when you find the perfect pairing of Finger Lakes food with Finger Lakes wine is unbelievable. It’s the ultimate way to taste the Finger Lakes.”

The Great Glass Harvest

Pumpkins aren’t only in the patches this year in Finger Lakes Wine Country, there is also the Glass Harvest at The Corning Museum of Glass. To make this event even more exciting, the talented gaffers at The Corning Museum of Glass have created the world’s largest blown-glass pumpkin. Make your own glass pumpkin while visiting the museum in a Make Your Own Glass workshop. For further information on the world’s largest glass pumpkin and making your own glass pumpkin, visit CMOG.org.