Wine Trail Event Photos

Spring in the Finger Lakes is one of the seasons most underrated by travelers looking for an escape. But this spring, the region is abuzz with exciting events for wine lovers and fun family-friendly activities! Here are some of the Spring Happenings in Finger Lakes Wine Country that you should add to your social calendar.

Chemung Restaurant Week

When: Friday, March 24, 2023 - Sunday, April 2, 2023

Time: Varies by restaurant.

Where: Participating restaurants in Chemung County. See list here

Cost: N/A

Head to Chemung County for the 2nd Annual Chemung Restaurant Week. Presented by The Chemung County Chamber of Commerce and Elmira Downtown Development, Inc. This  foodie-filled week participating restaurants will offer specials, Prix Fixe menus, and special menu items for you to try. You’ll get to relish in the delicious specials and menu offerings while simultaneously supporting local businesses. No tickets or passes are required.

Don’t forget to share your Chemung Restaurant Week experience on social media with the hashtag #ChemungFoodie! 

 

Chemung County Restaurant Week

 

CeleBrunch: A 40th Anniversary Celebration

When: Saturday, April 1, 2023 - Sunday, April 2, 2023

Time: 10 AM - 5 PM

Where: Various Wineries on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

Cost: General: $75, Designated Driver: $37,  Tickets available here.

CeleBrunch commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail! They are inviting everyone to travel the Trail for brunch. 10 participating wineries are whipping up some delectable brunch items paired with carefully selected wines for your sampling. 

Select a specific starting winery for you and your friends to start at. This is where you’ll receive your fluted wine glass! Travel the trail as you please after your first stop. Some wineries will be offering the standard bar tasting while others will be offering a sit-down experience that may take longer. Each ticket is good for the whole weekend to visit each winery once, so take your time and enjoy!

Pro-tip: Sunday tends to be a lighter day, so the wineries won’t be as crowded, which makes for an excellent time to visit and get more one-on-one attention with less waiting.

 

Celebrunch

 

Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce Egg-stravaganza

When: Saturday, April 1, 2023 - Saturday, April 8, 2023 

Time: 10 AM - 3 PM

Where: Participating locations will be announced here each day!

Cost: Free

Join the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce for a bit of fun this Easter. 25 glass eggs from the Corning Museum of Glass will be hidden every day at local businesses and organizations for you to find! By participating, you'll be entered into a drawing for some great prizes!

When you find an egg, register it here then scroll down to learn more about the Egg-stravangza artists.

 

Easter Buffet at Veraisons Restaurant

When: Sunday, April 9, 2023

Time: Seatings at: 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM 

Where: Veraisons Restaurant at the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars, 5435 State Route 14, Dundee, NY 14837-8804

Cost: Adult: $45+, Children 12 and under: $22+, Tickets available here.

You’re invited to the Glenora Wine Cellars Easter Buffet at Veraisons Restaurant. This celebratory Easter buffet will feature seasonal cuisine, holiday favorites, and house-made baked goods!

 

Easter Brunch

When: Sunday, April 9, 2023

Time: 10:30 AM – 3 PM 

Where: The Ginny Lee Cafe, 9322 State Route 414, Lodi, NY 14860

Cost: Adults $29.95 | Children 10 and Under $12.95

The Ginny Lee Cafe is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and you’re invited to their annual Easter Brunch! Reservations are required so call 607-582-6574 or use their contact form

 

Easter

 

Easter Brunch

When: Sunday, April 9, 2023

Time: 10 AM -2 PM

Where: Once Finger Lakes, 655 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14424

Cost: Reservations are $5 per person, Tickets available here.

Chef Samantha Buyskes from Simply Red Events will be cooking an a-la-carte menu of everyone’s favorites plus some innovative internationally-inspired creations. Pair them with wine glasses specials and mimosas. The reservation fee, besides guaranteeing a table enters each guest into a raffle to take home the Once Easter Basket that includes local wines, foods, and merchandise.

Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are strongly encouraged due to high demand and limited availability. Reserve your table here.  

 

Brunch

 

Spring Wine and Cheese Weekend

When: Friday, April 14, 2023 - Sunday, April 16, 2023

Time: Friday, April 14 – 12 PM - 5 PM, Saturday, April 15 - Sunday, April 16 – 10 AM - 5 PM

Where: Various Wineries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

Cost: Tasting $80, Designated Driver $25, Tickets available here.

During the Spring Wine & Cheese Weekend, enjoy a self-guided tour around the beautiful Seneca Lake Wine Trail while exploring delicious pairings of local wines with a variety of cheese-themed dishes. 

When you purchase tickets, you will do so by selecting a starting winery. Begin the tour at your starting winery because that is where you’ll pick up your event tickets. The person whose name is on the order must be present to pick up tickets and will show a government-issued photo ID to claim their tickets.

 

Spring

 

A Global Journey through Chocolate

When: Friday, April 14, 2023 & Saturday, April 15, 2023

Time: Two Seatings: 11:00 AM & 2:30 PM

Where: Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, 9749 Middle Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840

Cost: Club Members: $76, Public: $95, Tickets available here.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery invites you on A Global Journey through Chocolate. Indulge in an intimate, three-course seated lunch featuring savory and sweet-inspired culinary creations that will transport you all over the globe! Provisions artfully crafted by Lake Life highlighting chocolate by Hedonist Chocolatiers. An interactive demonstration and special takeaway gift included!  

The space is limited to 9 total tables. Each reservation will be seated at individual tables. 

 

Opening Weekend at Watkins Glen International

When: Friday, April 14, 2023 - Sunday, April 16, 2023

Time: Friday, April 14 – 5 PM - 7 PM, Saturday, April 15 - Sunday, April 16 – 1 PM - 4 PM

Where: Watkins Glen International, 2790 County Route 16, Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Cost: Watkins Glen Area Chamber Members: $10-$28, Public: $20-$28, Register for the Pep Rally here. Get tickets for Opening Weekend at The Glen here.

Friday, April 14 is the Pep Rally, kicking off the racing season at Watkins Glen International (WGI) racetrack. Opening Weekend at Watkins Glen International happens on Saturday and Sunday when visitors are welcome to Drive the Glen! New this year will be food, live music, and opportunities to win tickets to upcoming events at WGI. 

 

Watkins Glen International

 

Discover FLX Wineries Tasting

When: Sunday, April 16, 2023 

Time: 12:30 PM 

Where: Once Finger Lakes, 655 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14424

Cost: $70, Tickets available here.

Once is partnering with Discover FLX Wineries which supports small up-and-coming small wineries to promote their wines. They are going to be hosting a food & wine pairing tasting at Once to showcase the wines from Bravery Wines. The owner and winemaker will be the ones leading the tasting. 

 

Tapas & Bubbles

When: Monday, April 17, 2023 

Time:  5.30 PM - 7.30 PM 

Where: Once Finger Lakes, 655 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14424

Cost: Reservations are $5 per person

Once’s Signature 11th Hour Happy Hour is back! This month indulge in a Tapas & Bubbles menu featuring some of the region’s finest sparkling wines paired with a family-style tapas menu exclusively created for this occasion by Around the Corner Catering. Live music by Sam Swanson. 

Contact Once Winery to reserve your table. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are strongly encouraged due to high demand and limited availability.

 

Wine & Cheese Lovers Immersive Wine & Food Experience

When: Saturday, April 29, 2023 

Time: 10 AM - 5 PM

Where: Heron Hill, Hunt Country Vineyards, Keuka Spring Vineyards, Vineyard View Winery, and Weis Vineyards.

Cost: $125, Tickets available here.

Enjoy a unique, specially-prepared experience at the Wine & Cheese Lovers Immersive Wine & Food Experience. Each of the five member wineries is along the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. You’ll have a custom itinerary for the day where you’ll be treated to special tastings, wine samples, and light food pairings featuring items curated by a local chef with cheese as the star ingredient.

This is not just your average tasting! Experiences range from owner/winemaker-led tastings, behind-the-scenes discussions, vertical tastings, tasting unreleased wines, and more! 

 

wine and cheese lovers

 

Wine & Herb

When: Saturday, April 29, 2023 

Time: 10 AM - 5 PM 

Where: Various Wineries on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

Cost: Single: $95, Couple: $140, DD: $45. Each ticket is good for the weekend to visit each winery once. Tickets available here

Drink. Eat. Garden. Repeat. Get a head start on your herb garden at Wine & Herb on the Cayuga Wine Trail. Collect the potted herbs and veggies featured in all the food samples along with the matching recipe collection. Herbs this year are hot pepper, cilantro, dill, oregano, tomato, parsley, cauliflower, sweet pepper, basil, and cabbage.

As you savor herb-prepared cuisine, you’ll be offered a wine that compliments that dish and be able to take home the recipes, so that you can be the highlight at your next get-together. You’ll also be offered up to 3 additional wine tastings.

Select one of the 10 wineries as your starting point. This is where you’ll receive your fluted wine glass and your first potted herb or vegetable plant! Travel the trail as you please after your first stop, collecting potted herbs or vegetable plants as you go.

 

Wine & Herb

 

Cheeseboard Workshop

When: Friday, May 12, 2023 

Time: 6 PM - 7:30 PM 

Where: Heron Hill Winery, 9301 County Route 76, Hammondsport, NY 14840-9685

Cost: $60, Tickets available here April 1, 2023. 

The Make your Own Cheeseboard Workshop teaches participants how to make a standard charcuterie board. You’ll learn basic cutting and design skills of the cheese and of course, a salami rose. The cost of the class includes all materials needed to make the board, a take-home box, crackers and a glass of wine.

 

Mother’s Day Brunch

When: Sunday, May 14, 2023 

Time: 10 AM - 2 PM 

Where: Once Finger Lakes, 655 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14424

Cost: Reservations are $5 per person

Treat Mom to an unforgettable brunch featuring classic and contemporary bites. Chef Ardys Otterbacher will be serving a prix fixe variety of bite-size foods family-style for a fun, shareable experience. Wine glasses specials and our signature Mamosa will be the perfect pairings for this special occasion. 

Contact Once Winery to reserve your table. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are strongly encouraged due to high demand and limited availability.

 

Music, Food, & Wine Series 

When: Sunday, May 28, 2023 - Sunday, September 3, 2023

Time: 1 PM to 4 PM

Where: Keuka Spring Winery, 243 State Route 54 East Lake Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Cost: Free

Enjoy the Music, Food, & Wine Series at Keuka Spring Winery every Sunday afternoon from May 28th to September 3rd for live music, food, and delicious wine! Along with your family and friends, don't forget to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy our panoramic view of Keuka Lake! You'll get to enjoy a wide variety of musical talent this year. Lunch and wine will be available for purchase. 

 

Memorial Day 11th Hour Happy Hour! 

When: Monday, May 29, 2023

Time: 5.30 PM - 7.30 PM 

Where: Once Finger Lakes, 655 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14424

Cost: Reservations are $5 per person

Enjoy Live Music while taking a culinary trip to the Mediterranean through Chef Samantha Buyskes’ specially designed menu highlighting the flavors of Greece, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Wine specials from Heart & Hands and Trestle 31 wineries will be the quintessential pairings for these fascinating dishes. 

Contact Once Winery to reserve your table. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are strongly encouraged due to high demand and limited availability.