Finger Lakes Blog

It’s the season of romance and what better way to show your affection, appreciation, and love to your sweetheart than shopping local this Valentine’s season and gifting a slice of the Finger Lakes?

Whether you’re a classic romantic who buys flowers and chocolates or you’re looking for something a little more personalized or unique, we’ve recommended some ideas for gift-giving this sweet time of year.

Sweet Treats

There’s no sweeter gift than sugary confections for your significant other whether

In the early months of the year, the region transforms into a beautiful winter wonderland. If you enjoy quieter settings and fewer crowds, or just want to escape the chaos of everyday life, you’ll enjoy a winter retreat in Finger Lakes Wine Country.

Beat the winter blues with a breathtaking getaway to Finger Lakes Wine Country. There are plenty of ways to escape, relax, and rejuvenate in this cozy winter wonderland. From indoor oases to outdoor escapes, we’ve rounded up some unforgettable

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

Looking for some new unique cocktail recipes to try? Here are five FLX fortified wine cocktail recipes to try at home using some of our favorite fortified wines from Finger Lakes Wine Country.

What’s a fortified wine? Fortified wine is when winemakers add a distilled spirit, like brandy, to the wine. They are typically higher in alcohol content and often considered dessert wines. For these recipes we are going to use two of the most popular fortified wines; sherry and port.

Below are the types

Finger Lakes Wine Country is an all-season getaway, we even like to say that there are five seasons of fun here. Winter is easily one of the most underrated seasons to visit the region and one of the quietest, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Here are just a few of the incredible outdoor activities to enjoy in Finger Lakes Wine Country in the winter.

Snowshoe Rentals

A fun adventurous activity fit for the whole family in winter is

Perfect for the holidays or any special celebration are these 5 Easy FLX Sparkling Celebration Cocktails using the finest sparkling wines from Finger Lakes Wine Country.

Try any of these simple recipes using the region’s finest bubbly to celebrate!

Cheers!

Sparkly Raspberry

• 1 bottle of chilled J.R. Dill Winery Cayuga White Rise
• 1 bottle of Finger Lakes Distilling Raspberry Liqueur
• Raspberries for Garnish

Fill your champagne glass or martini glass 3/4 full with your chilled J.R. Dill Winery

Finger Lakes Wine Country offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in New York State. The region is also a haven for waterfall chasing. One might assume that waterfall viewing is best done in the warmer months, but waterfalls truly come to life and are spectacular to see during the winter months. Enjoy sparkling snowy scenes when you visit these five magical waterfalls this winter.

For more ideas of how to spend this season in wine country read our guide to outdoor activities to enjoy in

Tis the season to be shopping and there’s no better time to shop small and shop local. Our Shop Small Holiday Gift Guide highlights some of the best local businesses and boutiques to shop in Finger Lakes Wine Country. We also thought outside the box and included gift certificates, community memberships, and gift donations.

Looking for gifts for the Travel Lover on your holiday shopping list? How about some Romantic Gift suggestions? Not only are we telling you what to gift the Foodies,

Tis’ the season for holiday movie binging! And if you are fans of holiday movies like we are, you might have noticed those Hallmark movies giving us the warm and fuzzy feels are set in charming small towns. These quaint villages are full of friendly faces and small town holiday cheer -- inevitably making your heart yearn for a white Christmas in a small town upstate.

Well, you are in luck! You can live out your holiday fantasies by visiting one of these Finger Lakes Wine Country picture-perfect

It sneaks up on you. One day, you find yourself appreciating the heat emanating from your coffee mug. You notice your morning dog walks have become a bit more bundled. The leaves have changed to yellows, burnt oranges and reds, and the weather feels perfect for cable knit sweaters, thick socks, and cozy blankets. Suddenly it’s soup season, yule log channels return, and twinkling lights bring actual neighborhood cheer as the sounds of Mariah Carey can be heard on repeat. The holidays are back!