The holiday season in Finger Lakes Wine Country is one of the most festive and exciting times in the region. As the weather cools and the days become shorter, the holiday spirit fills the air and the region bursts with merry surprises!
Here’s the scoop on celebration-worthy wines, local arts and hand-crafted products perfect for gifting, and festive decorations and traditions. We’ve created this guide to help you enjoy the best of the holidays in Finger Lakes Wine Country.
Safety Notice: This holiday season may require advance planning when visiting many of our region’s restaurants, museums, wineries, and more. Call in advance to find out our business’s latest guidelines or to book reservations. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing wherever you may visit in the region.
Wines Perfect for the Holiday Season
The holiday season is the perfect time to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate with those closest to you. Finger Lakes Wine Country offers a variety of great bubbly options for your holiday festivities. For the perfect pairing anytime of year, check out the recommendations on our website!
Try J.R. Dill Winery Cayuga White Rise or Glenora Wine Cellars Brut for sparkling white wines. If you’re looking for a bit of color in your sparkle, try Heron Hill Winery Lady of the Lakes Bubbly Blush or Dr. Konstantin Frank Célèbre Rosé.
For wines that pair well with your holiday dinners at home, try one of our region’s dry red wines, like Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon or Ravines Wine Cellars Pinot Noir. Our region’s celebrated white wines, such as Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, or Pinot Gris, pair perfectly with white meat like turkey. And no Finger Lakes-inspired holiday is complete without Riesling, the region’s shining star. Wagner Vineyards offers a variety of Rieslings, ranging from dry to sweet. We love the Semi-Dry Riesling, which is always a crowd pleaser.
Don’t forget dessert! Pair your sweets with one of our region’s fortified wines like Ravines Wine Cellars Ampersand Port. Want to sip something on the sweeter side? Try Riesling Ice Wine from Wagner Vineyards or a fruit wine from Glenora Wine Cellars.
We also recommend following your favorite wineries on social media for their latest releases and holiday specials!
Local Gift Ideas
Finger Lakes Wine Country is home to many independent shops selling unique items that make perfect, thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Check our small towns for great gift ideas and locally made products. The region is also full of quaint antique shops for those who love collecting valuables and items from the past.
Staving Artist Woodwork in Penn Yan offers handmade artwork and furniture made from wine barrel staves. For the wine lover or Finger Lakes fan on your list, Staving Artist Woodwork is a must-visit! They also offer online shopping and quick shipping options. Other special spots in Penn Yan include the Potter’s Gallery for unique pottery items made by local potters and artisans, and Plants on Main to choose among an array of selections for the green thumb in your life.
Just south of Hector is Watkins Glen, home to antique shops, Famous Brands, and Watkins Glen International’s The Shop, which is sure to please any race fan in your life. Franklin St. Gallery offers artwork by local artists, photography for purchase, gift cards, and other items to commemorate your visit. Ivy Lane Flowers is the spot to pick up a floral arrangement to decorate your holiday table, as well as small gifts. Bonus: it is located right at J.R. Wine Bar, so you can enjoy a nice glass of wine or cocktail between your shopping!
Spend an afternoon in Corning’s Gaffer District, where you’ll find many shops on Market Street. Check out Heathered Grey for beautifully curated home goods and thoughtful gift items, or Connors Mercantile for fun and seasonal gifts for anyone on your list. Crystal City Olive Oil is perfect for the foodies in your life, who will surely delight over specialty holiday gift baskets. Stop into Dimitri’s Confectionery for some sweet treats and sugary gifts!
Visit The Rockwell Museum, the only Smithsonian Affiliate in upstate New York, where you can find unique gifts in their shop. Just across Centerway Bridge, you’ll find The Shops at The Corning Museum of Glass for one-of-a-kind, artisan glass products and gifts, many of which are handmade, blown glass. You can also find household staples like Corelle ware and Pyrex.
Give the gift of pampering with a certificate to Safala Medical for a menu of personalized, specialized treatments, or to Ageless Spa for massages and facials.
In general, we recommend planning a day at Corning because the list of shops and sweet little spots to explore will definitely be worth your time!
If driving from Corning to Elmira, stop in at Antiques Revival to browse their incredible collection from every era.
Spend an afternoon exploring the quaint shops in Owego. Stop into The Laughing Place for the kiddos on your list. And don’t miss Katie’s Kreations or Early Owego Antiques while in town.
Most of our wineries in the region offer small retail areas filled with gifts perfect for wine lovers, as well as locally sourced products to fill stockings.
Stop in or call any of our restaurants, shops, wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries, or museums to purchase gift certificates for loved ones. Gift cards are the perfect way to share Finger Lakes Wine Country if you’re not able to join us this holiday season. Read our complete Small Holiday Gift Guide for more inspiration.
Holiday Festivities & Activities
Our small towns get decked out for the holidays, so plan a drive or stroll through the region’s charming towns of Owego, Elmira, Corning, Hammondsport, and Watkins Glen to enjoy the holiday decorations.
Twinkle Town at Bradley Farms in Elmira offers a drive-through holiday lights-and-music spectacular. An unforgettable experience for the whole family; Twinkle Town even makes a sweet romantic date. While you’re in Elmira, make a reservation at Hill Top Inn on Jerusalem Hill, where you not only enjoy sweeping views of the valley below, but also witness the world’s largest lighted Christmas wreath.
Don’t miss holiday activities at The Corning Museum of Glass, where you can participate in a hands-on workshop making your very own blown glass ornament or snowman. While you’re there, make sure to get your photo in front of their 14 glass ornament tree. Also in Corning, delight in confectionery amazement at the Gingerbread Invitational at The Rockwell Museum.
Book a wine tasting appointment at any of our region’s 130+ wineries to decide which wines will pair perfectly with your holiday meals or should feature at your holiday celebrations. Whether you check out Cayuga, Keuka, or Seneca Lake Wine Trails, take advantage of discounted shipping and online offers when shopping from home. Read our full list of Holiday Events for more information.
Find the Perfect Christmas Tree
Nothing says holiday more than cutting down your own Christmas tree. We recommend visiting a few local farms and bringing the family together for tree hunting and fun. Towner Tree Farms in Addison, NY, sells fresh Christmas trees precut and displayed, or you can take your family into their field and cut your own! They also feature wreaths of different shapes and sizes: standard round, crosses, hearts, snowflakes, swags & more! VanDerZee Christmas Tree Farm in Trumansburg offers both pre-cut and cut-your-own trees, as well as wreaths. Head to Bradley Farms for their pre-cut trees and drive through their Twinkle Town, November 22, 2024, through December 28, 2024, 5-10 PM. Cabins in the Clouds Christmas Forest in Campbell, NY, is a tree farm that offers trees, wreaths, and other arrangements. Tree species include Douglas Fir, Concolor Fir, and Blue Spruce. Hober Tree Farm in Wayland, NY, offers a variety of competitively priced Christmas trees. Their selection of premium firs includes trees of all sizes, including Douglas, Fraser, Concolor, Balsam, and Grand Fir. Highland Tree Farm in Branchport, NY, has trees to choose from, hosts a sweet holiday market, and is home to real live Highland cows!