Friends Archives | Finger Lakes Wine Country

The wine trails. The gorges and waterfalls. A sunset tasting on a winery patio with a view that doesn’t feel real. If you’ve already done these things, you already know Finger Lakes Wine Country delivers. Every time.

But here’s what seasoned visitors eventually discover: this region has layers. The more you explore, the more it reveals. Beneath the well-loved classics is a whole second Finger Lakes, one that locals navigate quietly, returning to the same farm stand every Saturday, the same tucked-away gorge every summer, the same small producer whose wine never makes it to a retail shelf.

Consider this your invitation to go deeper. Not instead of the classics, but beyond them.

Start Small. Start in Burdett.

Most visitors blow straight past Burdett, and that’s exactly why locals love it. This village of roughly 300 people sits on the east side of Seneca Lake, six minutes from Watkins Glen, and it has quietly become one of the most satisfying little clusters in all of wine country.

Start your morning at Overlook Coffee Company on Main Street. This husband-and-wife-owned specialty roaster brews its own beans and sources locally baked sweets and local milk. There is outdoor seating next to a small waterfall, the kind of detail that feels almost embarrassingly perfect. It’s closed on Tuesdays. Go any other day.

From there, wander. The Elf in the Oak does homemade scones, breakfast sandwiches, and chicken and waffles that have no business being this good in a town this small. Hungry Burd handles the casual end. Solera Taphouse has live music and trivia if you’re staying into the evening.

And Burdett is right in the middle of some of the best east-side Seneca wineries you’ll find anywhere: Atwater Vineyards, Osmote Wine (low-alcohol, terroir-driven, the winemaker will genuinely make you feel at home), and Hillick and Hobbs for Riesling lovers who want the full lake-view experience. You won’t need a long itinerary. Just stay in the pocket and let the day unfold.

Then Stop in Hector for the Best Breakfast You Didn’t Know You Were Looking For

A few miles up Route 414, there’s a place simply called Here. After 25 years, the former owners of the beloved Just a Taste restaurant in Ithaca found their way to a small roadside spot in Hector and set up something genuinely special. The menu changes weekly and centers on scratch cooking using local ingredients from farms such as Muddy Fingers Farm, Crosswinds Farm and Creamery. The focaccia French toast is a destination unto itself. So is the smoked bologna egg sandwich, which sounds like a dare and tastes like a revelation.

It’s open Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Worth the drive. Worth planning your entire weekend around, honestly.

Eat Where the Farmers Eat

Skip the Waterfront Restaurants. Find the Farm Stands.

The Finger Lakes sit inside one of the most fertile agricultural belts in the Northeast, and most visitors drive straight past the best food it produces. From late spring through fall, the roadsides along Routes 89, 414, and 96A are lined with farm stands selling produce, eggs, honey, maple syrup, and baked goods that will make you question every grocery store you’ve ever shopped in.

What to look for: stands with hand-painted signs and no credit card reader. Those are the ones run by actual farm families, not produce resellers. Grab a dozen eggs, a jar of raw wildflower honey, and whatever fruit is in season. This is your breakfast. It costs about six dollars.

Hit a Farmers Market Before You Do Anything Else

The region has genuinely great markets, and they’re the single best way to orient yourself before a day of exploring. The Corning Farmers Market (Steuben County, Thursdays in season at Centennial Park) draws loyal locals every week for fresh produce, baked goods, and artisan vendors in the heart of the Gaffer District. The Bath Farmers Market (Saturdays and Wednesdays, May through October) is a classic small-town market with the kind of friendly, unhurried energy that reminds you why you left the city.

In Schuyler County, the Montour Falls Farmers Market is one of the most community-rooted markets in the region, bringing together 35-plus vendors, prepared-food providers, and nonprofits. It’s the kind of market where the vendors know your name by your second visit. Look for Plow and Star Farm’s hand-cut bouquets, Aurora Bath and Beauty‘s locally made soaps, and the Montour Falls Tea Company, which recently closed its storefront, but is still offering made-to-order cold drinks with local ingredients at the market. It’s not a tourist attraction. It’s a town gathering with good taste.

The Watkins Glen Farmers Market in Schuyler County is small, curated, and perfectly located for stocking up before a day on Seneca Lake. Grab what looks good, find a picnic spot near the water, and you’ve already won the morning.

Then There’s Montour Market

Unlike the farmers market, Montour Market is an everyday community food hub in Montour Falls, open Tuesday through Saturday (though we recommend checking Google for any schedule updates) and built with a mission to connect Schuyler County residents with local farms and producers. Wide Awake Bakery bread. Hawk Meadow Farm mushrooms. Ort Family Farm jams. If you’re staying in the area for more than a day, this is where you stock your kitchen.

Diner Culture Is Alive and Real Here

Chain restaurants exist in the Finger Lakes, and you should ignore all of them. The region is dotted with old-school diners, lunch counters, and family-owned spots that have been feeding locals for decades. The Diner in Horseheads (Chemung County) is exactly what it sounds like: unpretentious, consistent, and the kind of breakfast that actually fuels a full day of wine tasting and waterfall hiking.

Rule of thumb: if the parking lot has pickup trucks and locals at 7 a.m., you’re in the right place.

Go to a Farm That Actually Feeds You

Dean Lane Food and Farmstead, Dundee

Down a quiet country road off Route 14 near Dundee sits one of the most quietly exceptional farms in the entire region. Dean Lane is a three-generation family farm run by chef Michael Dean and pastry chef Lisa Dean, and what they’ve built here is the kind of farm-to-table experience that isn’t using that phrase as a marketing line. The breakfast at their bed and breakfast is the real thing: lobster benedict on house-baked bread, curried carrot soup, butternut squash in the dessert, in a way that makes you reconsider everything. They also do catering and pop-up events throughout the Finger Lakes spring and summer. If you can time a stay here, do it.

LaBarr FarmS

Just off Seneca Lake in the little hamlet of Himrod, LaBarr Farms is a family-run operation doing exactly what a good farm stand should do: seasonal produce, vibrant cut flowers, and a genuine commitment to sustainable growing that goes beyond a label on a sign. The u-pick flower field opens in late July and runs through October, and it is the kind of place you stumble onto once and then put on the calendar every year after. Rows of zinnias, sunflowers, dahlias, and a rotating cast of seasonal blooms. Kids picking alongside parents. No rush, no crowds, just open fields and good light. The farm stand runs Monday through Sunday from June through October, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come for the tomatoes, stay for the flowers, leave with both.

Drink Wine Without Paying Tasting Room Prices

Here’s what most visitors don’t know: many of the smallest, best wineries in the Finger Lakes sell bottles directly at prices that never make it to retail. Some don’t even have formal tasting rooms, just a barn, a sign, and a winemaker who will pour you a glass and talk your ear off about the vintage for an hour if you let them.

Look beyond the well-marked wine trails for smaller, family-run operations on back roads. These producers make tiny quantities, get little press, and offer some of the most honest, terroir-driven wine in the region. A bottle that would cost $35 at a polished tasting room might be $18 here, sold by the person who grew the grapes. A great initiative to follow for events that bring winemakers like these together is Wineries Without Walls.

The Wine and Cheese Picnic Formula

Locals don’t pay for winery lunches. They stop at a farm stand, grab some artisanal cheddar Shtayburne Farm Creamery, pick up a loaf of fresh bread, add some smoked fish or charcuterie, and then pay the $5-$15 tasting fee at a winery with a great lawn and lake view. That’s the move. That’s a $25 afternoon that feels like a $150 one.

Best Picnic Spot You’ve Probably Never Heard Of: Champlin Beach Park, Hammondsport

Depot Park in Hammondsport gets most of the attention because it sits right on the water at the southern tip of Keuka Lake with lifeguards, docks, and a great town square nearby. But just a short walk away is Champlin Beach Park, a low-key lakeside spot with picnic tables, a small swimming area, and a public boat ramp. There’s an airplane sculpture rising out of the lake honoring Glenn Hammond Curtiss, the aviation pioneer born right here in Hammondsport. The park barely advertises itself. That’s the point.

Hammondsport’s village square itself is the kind of place that makes you feel like you wandered into a Gilmore Girls set, complete with a gazebo, historic buildings, and leafy side streets. It was voted America’s Coolest Small Town by Budget Travel, and locals will not argue with that.

The Trails Nobody Geotags

Watkins Glen gets all the attention, and it deserves it. But this region has a network of lesser-known trails, gorges, and waterfalls that locals treat as their own private backyard.

Start with the crown jewel most visitors don’t even know exists: Finger Lakes National Forest in Schuyler County, the only national forest in all of New York State. Over 16,000 acres of trails, ravines, gorges, open pastures, and woodland stretch across a ridge between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. The Interloken Trail and Burnt Hill Trail are the locals’ favorites. Fall foliage from the overlooks here rivals anything in New England, and on a weekday, you may share the trail with nobody but free-ranging cattle and the occasional Henslow’s sparrow. Camping is available, and it feels like the American West dropped into the heart of upstate New York.

In Schuyler County, don’t miss Havana Glen Park in Montour Falls, where a short trail leads through a gorge to Eagle Cliff Falls, a 41-foot plunge into a natural stone amphitheater that genuinely stops people in their tracks. It’s free, stunning, and most people drive right past it on the way to the famous stuff.

Over in Tioga County, Waverly Glen Park and Two Rivers State Park together offer miles of easy-to-moderate trails through the woods, along creeks and a reservoir, and on hilltop fields with sweeping valley views spanning the New York-Pennsylvania border. Waverly Glen Falls, a hidden 40-foot waterfall tucked just north of the PA line, is the definition of an off-the-radar find. The Waterman Conservation Education Center in Tioga County has well-maintained gorge and creek trails that feel more like a secret nature preserve than a public park.

None of these require more than a state park day pass, or are simply free. All of them are legitimately breathtaking, and none of them has a wait for parking.

The Events Locals Actually Go To

Owego in the Summer

The village of Owego in Tioga County is one of those places that rewards the visitor who pays attention. In summer, the Tioga Arts Council runs Concerts in the Park every Wednesday evening at Hickories Park, free music, real community, no cover charge. The Owego Strawberry Festival is now in its 40s as an annual tradition and draws everyone: block parties, fireworks, a parade, arts and crafts. It’s exactly what a small-town summer festival is supposed to be. The Tioga County Fair happens every August at Marvin Park in Owego, and it is as genuinely local as county fairs get: 4-H shows, demolition derbies, homemade pies, apple dumplings, and the kind of energy you can’t manufacture for a tourism campaign. And this is just one small town of many with fun things happening!

Concerts in the Park and Markets in Montour Falls

The farmers market and the Montour Market aren’t just places to buy things. They’re where the community shows up. If you’re in the area on a market day, go, linger, and talk to people. The vendors aren’t performing local color. They’re just local.

What a Real Weekend Costs

For travelers who’ve been priced out of wine country weekends elsewhere, the Finger Lakes is a genuine revelation. A decent lakeside Airbnb or inn can run $120-$180 a night outside of peak fall weekends. Tasting fees are typically $5-$15 per winery and usually applied toward a bottle purchase. A full day of eating, drinking, hiking, and exploring, done right, can cost well under $100 per person.

That’s not a budget compromise. That’s just what it actually costs here, because the region hasn’t yet decided to charge you for the privilege of enjoying it.

Go Before Everyone Else Does

Finger Lakes Wine Country is well-regarded enough to have real infrastructure and quality. It’s not yet overrun enough to have lost its soul. The locals know what we have. Now you know too.

Your Town-by-Town Guide to Finger Lakes Wine Country.

Real places, real food, real finds. From Corning to Owego and everywhere in between.

Here’s the thing about Finger Lakes Wine Country: the wine trails are the headline, but the towns are the story.

You can drive the wine trail, hit your three wineries, and get back on the highway. A lot of people do. But the ones who come back every year, who know the region like a second home, they’re the ones who figured out which diner opens at 6 a.m. in Penn Yan, which brewery has the best sunset view in the county, which Hammondsport shop is worth a longer look, and which Owego back street leads to the best dinner you didn’t see coming.

This is that guide.

Corning, NY (Steuben County)

America’s Crystal City and a lot more than glass

Corning is where most people enter the Southern Finger Lakes, and the first instinct is to stop at the Corning Museum of Glass and keep moving. Don’t. The museum is genuinely world-class: 3,500 years of glassmaking history, live hot glass demonstrations, and make-your-own workshops. But the Gaffer District earns equal time.

Historic Market Street punches well above its size. Three Birds Restaurant has been a locals’ institution for over 20 years, offering fine dining with steak, seafood, and a wine list that takes the surrounding region seriously. The Cellar has anchored the block with Finger Lakes bottles alongside international finds and fusion cuisine that surprises people who weren’t expecting food this good in a town this size.

The newest arrival is already getting talked about. Ellen and Michael Lanahan, the same couple behind The Cellar, opened Ellen and Michael’s Osteria at 68 West Market Street in early 2026, taking over the address that Sorge’s Restaurant had held for over 70 years. The concept is rooted in Michael’s Italian upbringing: handmade pasta, locally sourced ingredients, and the kind of Sunday dinner warmth that’s hard to manufacture and impossible to fake. Early reviews call the cacio e pepe exceptional and the gelato life-changing. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

For something more casual, Hand and Foot has carved out a loyal following since 2014. A bar and restaurant named for a family card game, with creative comfort food and a relaxed setting, a couple of blocks off the main strip. Liquid Shoes Brewing and Iron Flamingo Barrel House on Market Street are both great spots for craft beer.

For gifts and local finds, stop into Finger Lakes Unique for artisan goods. The old-school Palace Theatre still screens films. And if you have kids, or simply appreciate irreverent fun, the Kids Rockwell Art Lab at 36 East Market Street connects to the Rockwell Museum, the only Smithsonian Affiliate in Upstate New York, housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century Old City Hall.

Local Tip: Take the pedestrian bridge over the Chemung River to reach the Gaffer District. It’s one of those small regional details that make a city feel like itself. You can take the free shuttle to and from the Rockwell Museum and Corning Glass Museum, too!

Hammondsport, NY (Steuben County)

The village at the bottom of Keuka Lake that looks like a movie set

Hammondsport has a population of around 620 people. It also has a town square with a Victorian gazebo, a lake close enough to hear from most of the village, the oldest winery in New York State, and a culinary scene that has no business being this good for a place this small.

Pulteney Square is the center of everything: boutique shops, outdoor dining, and summer concerts on Thursday evenings in July and August. Cinnamon Stick is worth a stop for local gifts, gourmet food items, and jewelry. Browsers carries Keuka Lake gifts and apparel. And Opera House Antiques, inside the historic Frey Opera House on Shethar Street, is the kind of multi-dealer spot you walk into for 15 minutes and emerge from an hour later.

New to Shethar Street is Poppysea Floristry, a small, carefully considered shop that combines floral artistry with a curated mercantile of sourced goods and vintage finds. Owner Kelsea Winchell’s arrangements lean earthy and moody, with a nostalgia-inspired sensibility unlike anything else in the village. She also offers seasonal workshops for bouquet-making and arrangements. Worth checking the calendar before you visit.

For food: The Park Inn is the anchor for farm-to-table dining in Hammondsport, locally sourced, thoughtfully executed, and one of the most consistently praised restaurants on this end of Keuka Lake. It also operates as a cozy B&B right in the center of town. The Village Tavern on the square serves upscale comfort food, with a century-old bar, a vine-covered veranda, and an atmosphere that the word “cozy” doesn’t quite capture. Vern’s Bakery, opened in 2022 by a retired pastry chef, is the place for flaky croissants, cinnamon rolls, and desserts made with local seasonal ingredients. A morning stop that sets the tone for the day. Come early as pastries sell out fast!

For beer: Steuben Brewing Company and the Brewery of Broken Dreams are both within easy reach. And for one of the most dramatic views you’ll find at a brewery anywhere in the region, Abandon Brewing in its reconditioned 1800s barn overlooking Keuka Lake is worth the drive.

Worth knowing before your next stop on the trail: Dockside Wine and Spirits, formerly Parkview Wine and Spirits, reopened in January 2026 with a new name and a sharper focus. The shop is built around a love of Keuka Lake and the local producers that surround it, carrying Finger Lakes wines, distillery bottles, and a well-priced selection that makes it a natural first or last stop in the village. Small town, big taste, as the sign says.

Hammondsport is also the home of the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, which traces the life of the aviation and motorcycle pioneer who grew up here. The annual Wings and Wheels event in September at Depot Park is one of those small-town gatherings that people travel for hours to attend.

Depot Park, at the lake’s edge just steps from the square, is where the village and the water meet. Swim in summer, watch the sunset any time of year.

Local Tip: Come here to relax. The town is a little slower during the off-season, with many shops operating seasonally. Yet it remains a favorite place to slow down year-round.

Watkins Glen, NY (Schuyler County)

Where gorges, racing, and Seneca Lake converge

Most people come to Watkins Glen for the State Park: 19 waterfalls, ancient stone gorges, and trail bridges that feel borrowed from another world. That’s the right instinct. But the village at the southern tip of Seneca Lake has built a dining and drinking scene that keeps people around well past the day’s last hike.

Nickel’s Pit BBQ on North Franklin Street is a regional institution. Locally sourced, wood-smoked meats, and a casual, convivial atmosphere that works equally well for lunch between wine trail stops and dinner after a full day in the gorge. 3812 Bistro, a short drive north on Route 14 along Seneca Lake, is the intimate counterpoint: fireplace, lake views, seared salmon and scallops, and a carefully selected local wine and cider list. It’s a small spot. Reservations are smart.

At the Harbor Hotel on the water, Blue Pointe Grille offers lakeside dining from breakfast through dinner, with filet mignon, seafood, and a fire-pit patio when the weather cooperates. Rooster Fish Pub, one of New York’s first official farm breweries, serves small-batch housemade ales alongside a pub menu that includes creme brûlée nobody expects but everyone remembers.

Graft Wine Cider Bar has its own devoted following for cider and wine in a setting that feels more like a tucked-away Brooklyn find than something on Route 14. Tobey’s Donut Shop has lines that tell you everything you need to know before your morning hike. And Lucky Hare Brewing Bar and Grill, with its Seneca Lake marina location, is one of those stops where a planned quick drink turns into a two-hour afternoon – but it’s also a wonderful brunch spot!

Local tip: The marina at the harbor is also where you board Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Cruises for dinner cruises on the lake. A different angle on a landscape you’ve already fallen for on foot.

Penn Yan, NY (Yates County)

The town at the crossroads of two wine trails that serious visitors love

Penn Yan sits at the northern tip of Keuka Lake, a few miles from Seneca Lake, at the heart of Yates County. That makes it the unofficial base camp for anyone running both wine trails in a single trip. The town is compact, genuine, and increasingly interesting.

Outlet 111 is Penn Yan’s most talked-about restaurant: a farm-to-table dining room and bar tucked under the bridge on Liberty Street, right on the outlet that connects Keuka and Seneca Lakes. The wine list is a deliberate celebration of Finger Lakes women producers, and the staff are the kind of people who make out-of-towners feel like regulars within five minutes. Call ahead.

Seneca Farms is something else entirely. A beloved local institution at the north end of Keuka Lake serving fried chicken, corn fritters, and an ice cream counter with more than 50 flavors that has been drawing people back for over 50 years. It’s seasonal, roughly spring through fall, and it is worth the trip. The ice cream cake flurry has its own fan base.

For coffee: Amity Coffee on Main Street is a proper third-wave shop with pour-overs, lattes, and a quiet, unhurried atmosphere. Blue Heron Bakery adds organic sourdough, croissants, and daily specials to the mix.

Main Street has had a remarkable stretch of new openings. Plants on Main at 17 Main Street is exactly the kind of shop a town like this earns over time: houseplants, gardening supplies, thoughtful gifts, and workshops, all built around owner Sarah Habersroh’s belief that everyone deserves a connection to living things. Habersroh is a Navy veteran who found healing in plants after years of traveling the world, and that intention comes through in the space. Just down the block, WaxPax Records opened in March 2026 at 112 Main Street. Owner Mark Collier is a Penn Yan native who relocated his Pennsylvania shop back home, bringing with him new and used vinyl, vintage media, local art, and a no-judgment, discovery-first philosophy. The bins are alphabetized. The DVDs deliberately are not. He wants you to wander. It opened to a line out the door and is an official Record Store Day location.

The Windmill Farm and Craft Market, just south of Penn Yan on Route 14A, runs Saturdays from late spring through late fall, with over 175 indoor and outdoor vendors, including Amish produce, artisan crafts, local wineries, and food, making it a destination in its own right.

Local Tip: We would recommend committing two or three days to exploring this area – not included on this list are the multiple wineries and antique shops found around the lake, just a short drive from town, and many more cute shops to visit right on Main St.

Elmira, NY (Chemung County)

Mark Twain country, a world-class performing arts scene, and craft beer that surprises people

Elmira doesn’t always make the wine country itinerary, but it should. Chemung County is where the Southern Finger Lakes meets the Southern Tier, and the combination produces a city with more going on than most visitors expect.

Mark Twain spent over 20 summers here. He wrote some of his most important works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Life on the Mississippi, in a study on the campus of Elmira College. His grave is in Woodlawn Cemetery. The Mark Twain Study and Exhibit is open seasonally and is one of those places that feels unexpectedly moving in person.

The Clemens Center is Elmira’s performing arts anchor: a legitimate regional theater hosting Broadway touring productions, concerts, and dance performances that draw audiences from across the region. The lineup is consistently more ambitious than visitors from larger cities expect.

For food and drink: The Rye Bar runs a well-regarded happy hour every evening from 4 to 6 p.m., with a Saturday steak night that has developed its own following. Upstate Brewing Company has been the craft beer cornerstone of the area since 2011, a production microbrewery with a taproom worth lingering over. Horseheads Brewing, just minutes away, is a family-owned complement: hand-crafted, unpretentious, and priced to make a flight an easy decision. Their satellite location at the Watkins Glen marina operates seasonally.

Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum sits on the edge of a landscape that transitions from the city to the open countryside in a way particular to this part of the region. Worth a slow walk.

Owego, NY (Tioga County)

The riverfront antique capital at the southern gateway

Owego is the kind of town people stumble into by accident and return to on purpose. Sitting on the banks of the Susquehanna River at the southern edge of the Finger Lakes, it has the best-preserved 19th-century downtown in the region: brick storefronts, walkable blocks, and the kind of independent retail mix that bigger towns spend millions trying to engineer.

The Owego Kitchen is the go-to for breakfast, lunch, and light fare, with a menu generous to vegetarians and gluten-free diners and a setting that locals treat as their neighborhood anchor. Owego Donut and Beer is exactly what it sounds like and delivers on both counts. For dinner, Barstow House, a ten-minute drive from downtown, has built the kind of quiet reputation that only spreads by word of mouth: locally sourced, beautifully prepared, reservations strongly encouraged.

Early Owego Antique Center is a two-floor, 21,000-square-foot multi-dealer operation with over 90 vendors. The rare antique mall where serious collectors and casual browsers both walk out with something. Bostwick Antique Mall and Auctions and Black Cat Gallery contribute to an antiques-and-arts scene that makes Owego a real destination for such a weekend. Riverow Bookshop and Spellbound Books serve the readers and bookshop lovers.

For coffee and art in the same room: Carol’s Coffee and Art Bar has built a following for exactly what its name promises. The Tioga Arts Council and Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center anchor an arts scene that punches well above its size.

If visiting during the fall season, Iron Kettle Farms in Candor draws families with its greenhouse, farm animals, and gift barn. Tioga Downs Casino Resort brings a full-scale gaming and entertainment operation to the county, with nine restaurants on-site, including P.J. Clarke’s.

The Owego Riverwalk along the Susquehanna is worth a slow afternoon. Bald eagle sightings over the tree line happen more often than you’d think.

The Big Picture

Finger Lakes Wine Country is five counties, three wine trails, and more than 3,000 square miles of hills, lakes, gorges, and small towns that most of the country hasn’t discovered yet. The wine brings people. The communities keep them coming back.

Pick a town you haven’t been to. Walk down its main street. Order something local. Ask someone where they’d eat if they only had one night. The answer will be better than anything on this list.

Check out our many other travel guides and itineraries for more travel inspiration!

Here’s a season nobody puts on a brochure: mud season.

Late March into April in Finger Lakes Wine Country, the last frost has lost its grip and the first green is just beginning to push through the vineyard floor. The roads through wine country are quiet. The lakeshores smell like cold water and turned earth. The tasting rooms are open, warm, and almost entirely yours.

The crowds don’t come until May. They don’t know what they’re missing.

What Is Mud Season, and Why Is It Actually Great?

Mud season is the shoulder period between winter and spring — the six or so weeks when the snow has gone soft, the ground hasn’t quite firmed up, and the Finger Lakes are doing the quiet work of becoming themselves again. It’s not Instagram-perfect. The vines are bare sticks. The hillsides are brown and gold and getting greener by the day. The roads leading to hilltop wineries sometimes earn their reputation.

But here’s the thing: some of the most interesting moments in wine country happen in mud season. The winemakers are finishing their barrel work. New vintages are being bottled. The tasting room staff have time — real time — to talk about what’s in the glass, where it came from, and why this particular valley’s drainage produces Riesling with that particular character.

You won’t get that conversation in July.

Is the Finger Lakes Open During Mud Season?

Yes — and this is worth knowing, because a lot of people assume the wineries close down after the holidays and don’t wake up until Memorial Day. They don’t. The three wine trails — Seneca Lake Wine Trail, Keuka Lake Wine Trail, and Cayuga Lake Wine Trail (America’s oldest, established in 1983) — all have wineries open year-round, including during the shoulder season.

What changes in mud season: hours tend to be slightly reduced on weekdays, and calling ahead or checking a winery’s site before you go is smart. What doesn’t change: the wine is excellent, the views are extraordinary, and you’ll almost certainly get a more personal experience than any other time of year.

The Case for Mud Season: Five Reasons Worth Knowing

*The absolute best time to visit waterfalls!*

1. You get the winemakers. During peak season, tasting rooms run at full tilt. In mud season, you’re more likely to end up in conversation with the owner, the winemaker, or someone who has been farming this land for decades. That conversation is part of what people come back for — it just usually takes multiple visits to find it. In mud season, it finds you.

2. The value is real. Accommodations along the lakes — boutique inns, lakeside B&Bs, farmhouse rentals — are at their lowest rates of the year during the shoulder season. Wine country on a weekday in April is wine country without the weekend premium.

3. The waterfall timing is extraordinary. The gorges and waterfalls of the region — Watkins Glen State Park, Havana Glen, Eagle Cliff Falls near Montour Falls — run at their most dramatic in spring, fed by snowmelt and April rains. Watkins Glen’s famous gorge trail reopens in mid-May, but the overlooks are accessible year-round. Catching a Finger Lakes gorge in full spring flow, before the crowds arrive, is genuinely memorable.

4. New vintages are coming out. Late winter and early spring is when many Finger Lakes producers release the previous year’s wines. Being in the tasting room when a new vintage of dry Riesling or Cabernet Franc is making its debut — and being one of the first to taste it — is the kind of thing wine lovers specifically seek out. In mud season, that’s just what’s happening.

5. The landscape does something unusual. Late March and April in the Finger Lakes is the season of contrast: bare vines against pewter-colored lakes, the first green pushing through brown hillsides, the air carrying that particular combination of cold lake water and warming soil. It’s dramatic in a completely different way from autumn foliage. Photographers and painters have known about mud season for years.

Where to Go During Mud Season

Start on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, where you’ll find over 35 wineries running the length of the largest of the Finger Lakes. Watkins Glen, at the southern tip, makes an ideal home base — the village itself is compact, charming, and walkable, with good food options even in the off-season.

For a quieter, more intimate wine trail experience, the Keuka Lake Wine Trail — the Y-shaped lake tucked between Seneca and Canandaigua — has some of the most scenic winery drives in the region. Hammondsport at the lake’s southern tip is one of those small American towns that punches well above its size in character, dining, and historic architecture. And it’s worth noting: Hammondsport’s own Weis Vineyards is the reigning New York Wine Classic Winery of the Year — named the best winery in the state in both 2024 and 2025.

The Bigger Picture

The Finger Lakes was named Wine Enthusiast‘s 2025 American Wine Region of the Year — the highest profile recognition an American wine region can receive, awarded to a community of more than 140 wineries across 10,000 acres of vineyard. The judges called it a “hotbed of innovation,” praised its cool-climate Riesling, Cabernet Franc, and sparkling wines, and singled out the collaborative, family-owned culture that makes the region genuinely different from larger, more corporate wine destinations.

All of that is true in August. It’s also true in April — with 80% fewer people, open tables at your first choice of restaurant, and a winemaker sitting across from you with time to talk.

That’s mud season. Go anyway. You’ll be glad you did.

You’ve probably heard people talk about the Finger Lakes the same way they talk about that restaurant you keep meaning to try. It’s always on the list. Never quite happens. But here’s the thing: if you’re in New York City and you’ve been putting off this trip, spring 2026 is the season to stop procrastinating.

Four hours north of the city, tucked between eleven glacial lakes and rolling hills that look almost impossibly green when they wake up in April, Finger Lakes Wine Country offers something no weekend trip to the Hamptons or a flight to Napa can replicate: world-class wine, genuinely warm hospitality, stunning scenery, and a pace of life that actually lets you exhale. And the accolades have started to catch up with what locals have always known. In 2025, Wine Enthusiast awarded the Finger Lakes its prestigious Wine Star Award for American Wine Region of the Year — recognizing two centuries of innovation, sustainability, and cool-climate excellence. That honor landed on top of multiple USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice wins for Best Wine Region in America, a reader-voted title the Finger Lakes has claimed more than once against competition from regions with far bigger marketing budgets and far more name recognition. This is not a hidden gem anymore. It is a legitimately world-class wine destination. And spring is the best time to experience it before the summer crowds catch on.

Here’s how to do it right.

Start Where American Winemaking Began — Keuka Lake

*Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery’s 1886 Experience*

If you want to understand the Finger Lakes, start at Keuka Lake. It is where American winemaking was born. In 1860, Pleasant Valley Wine Company was established on its shores and became the first bonded winery in the United States. Nearly a century later, Dr. Konstantin Frank planted the first vinifera vines in the eastern United States, here, sparking what became known as the Vinifera Revolution — the moment the Finger Lakes stopped being a regional curiosity and started being taken seriously on the world stage. That history is still alive and pourable today.

The Keuka Lake Wine Trail is the most intimate of the region’s trails, and that’s its greatest strength. You can drive the entire lake circuit in just over an hour, so a full day of tasting feels leisurely rather than rushed. Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is the essential first stop — their Rieslings set the benchmark for the entire region, and the tasting room overlooks some of the oldest vinifera vineyards in America. The 1886 Wine Experience pairing, consistently ranked among the best winery tours in the country, is worth booking in advance if you want to go deep. Heron Hill Winery, whose vaulted tasting hall was named one of the most spectacular tasting rooms in the world by Travel + Leisure, produces seven distinct styles of Riesling alongside a Cabernet Franc that rewards the patient taster. And Keuka Spring Vineyards, perched on a hillside with sweeping lake panoramas, has built four decades of quiet excellence into a welcome that feels like visiting a family who genuinely loves what they do. It’s precisely that cool-climate precision and generational commitment to craft that earned the region its Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award — and one afternoon on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail makes the case more convincingly than any award citation could.

Time Your Trip Around Keuka in Bloom

Spring on Keuka Lake has its own signature event, and it is one of the most charming things happening anywhere in New York State in May. Keuka in Bloom sends ticketholders on a self-guided tour of all the trail’s wineries, where each stop pairs herb-inspired food with a featured wine and sends you home with a flower and an herb in a 4-inch pot, ready to plant — from every winery you visit. By the time you’ve made the full circuit, you have a weekend’s worth of memories, a case’s worth of new favorite bottles, and enough plants to start a respectable garden. It sells out every year without exception. Buy tickets the moment they go on sale.

The Seneca Lake Wine Trail runs its own themed spring weekends through March and April — chocolate, cheese, and pasta pairings that turn a self-guided trail into something closer to a progressive dinner party. And March brings New York State Maple Weekends across the region, when local farms open their sugarhouses for tours and tastings. A Finger Lakes Gewürztraminer with fresh maple candy is one of those combinations that sound unlikely until you try them.

Don’t Skip the Museums — Seriously

This might be the most underrated part of a Finger Lakes spring trip, especially if you’re traveling with someone who isn’t a dedicated wine enthusiast.

If you’re basing yourself on Keuka Lake, the charming village of Hammondsport at the southern tip deserves at least a morning. It’s a beautifully preserved small town with lake views, independent shops, and the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum — a world-class aviation and early motorsport collection that tells the story of the man the region’s own called the “Father of Aviation.” It’s an unexpectedly fascinating few hours and pairs well with lunch on the village square before an afternoon of tasting.

A short drive south, the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning is one of the genuinely great museums in the northeastern United States — full stop. It houses over 50,000 glass objects spanning 3,500 years of human history, and the live glassblowing demonstrations are mesmerizing in a way that’s difficult to explain until you’re standing there watching a molten gather transform into a vessel in under two minutes. Spring is an ideal time to visit because the museum is far less crowded than summer, and you can book a hands-on glassblowing class that makes for an unexpectedly memorable afternoon. Right around the corner, The Rockwell Museum — the only Smithsonian Affiliate in upstate New York — explores American art and identity through an exceptional permanent collection housed in a beautifully converted Victorian-era building.

Both museums sit in Corning’s Gaffer District, a walkable historic downtown full of independent shops, galleries, and restaurants that feels genuinely alive rather than tourist-groomed. Plan a full afternoon here.

Where to Eat Well

The farm-to-table movement didn’t arrive in the Finger Lakes as a trend — it’s just always been how people eat here, because the farms are right there.

In Hammondsport, The Switzerland Inn — known locally as “The Switz” — is a beloved casual spot with an irresistible waterfront deck on a warm spring evening. It’s the kind of place where you order something simple and leave wondering why you don’t live here. NOTE: It reopens for the season at the end of April.

For a genuinely special dinner, Stonecat Café in Hector on Seneca Lake is a must. Housed in a renovated farmstead with sweeping lake views and a menu built almost entirely on local sourcing, it’s the kind of restaurant that makes you understand why people move to the Finger Lakes. They carry an excellent regional wine list that puts the Wine Enthusiast’s award picks front and center. Book ahead. NOTE: It reopens for the season end of March.

In Watkins Glen, GRAFT Wine + Cider Bar has earned a devoted following for its rotating seasonal menu built around local producers. Chef and owner Orlando Rodriguez treats regional ingredients with genuine creativity, and the beverage program — local wines, ciders, and craft spirits — is one of the best curated lists in the region. Small enough that dinner there feels like an event rather than a transaction. (See our other Romantic Restaurants to Visit in FLWC!)

For a perfect Saturday morning before a day on the trail, visit a farmers market (most run on weekends starting in April!). Some recommendations are: The Windmill Farm & Craft Market (Penn Yan), which reopens for the season on the last Saturday in April. This is a massive market with 200+ vendors, including local produce, wineries, and baked goods. Indian Pines Farm Market (Penn Yan), which is a seasonal roadside stand that opens in early spring for produce, pies, and baked goods.

The Logistics That Make It Easy

The drive from New York City to Keuka Lake takes approximately four hours, making it a genuinely doable weekend without the stress of a flight. Hammondsport, at the southern tip of the lake, is the most historically significant and logistically convenient base — it puts you within walking distance of the village, minutes from the southern trail wineries, and an easy drive to Corning and the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum. For another scenic spot on the northern end of the lake, Penn Yan offers small-town charm, a Saturday farmers’ market, and easy access to the eastern shore wineries and the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, with waterfall views.

Spring weekends — particularly April and May — hit the sweet spot of mild weather, blooming hillside vineyards, and tasting rooms that are open and fully staffed but not overwhelmed. Accommodation prices are also meaningfully lower than the summer and fall peaks, which means you can justify staying somewhere considerably nicer.

The Bottom Line

Wine Enthusiast doesn’t hand out Wine Star Awards to regions that are merely fine. USA Today readers don’t vote the same destination Best Wine Region in America multiple times because the marketing is good. Finger Lakes Wine Country keeps earning its recognition the hard way — through exceptional wine, genuine hospitality, and a landscape that holds its own against any wine destination in the country. Start at Keuka Lake and let the rest of the region unfold from there. Spring 2026 is your window. Check out our other Itineraries and travel guides to help with your planning.

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 in the warmer months, but waterfalls truly come to life and are spectacular to see in the winter. Enjoy sparkling snowy scenes when you visit these five magical waterfalls this winter.

For more ideas on how to spend this season in wine country, please read our guide to outdoor activities to enjoy in the winter in the Finger Lakes. Bookmark our complete waterfall guide for future visits!

Watkins Glen State Park

The famous waterfalls of Watkins Glen State Park attract visitors from near and far every year and every season. While the famous Gorge Trail, which takes you directly through the gorge and past 19 cascading waterfalls, is closed in the winter for safety due to icy conditions, the South Rim Trail is open year-round. It offers a glimpse of a true winter wonderland from above, overlooking the gorge and its waterfalls.

The South Rim Trail passes the scenic stone-arched Sentry Bridge, which offers visitors a glimpse of the canyon and Keyhole Falls.

What’s great about visiting this popular natural attraction in the winter is not only the stunning scenery, but also the fact that it’s less popular, allowing you to take in the surrounding beauty with fewer people.

As with any winter hike, use caution, as there may be ice.

Seneca Mills Falls

Located just outside of Penn Yan along the 7-mile Keuka Outlet Trail that connects Keuka Lake to Seneca Lake, you can find another gorgeous waterfall in any season. A sight to see with a layer of snow at Seneca Mills Falls, located in the ruins of a former mill.

This 40-ft waterfall can be accessed by foot along the Keuka Outlet Trail or by enjoying other winter activities such as snowshoeing, horseback riding, and snowmobiling.

If you’re looking for the quickest way to visit Seneca Mills Falls, you will want to find the small parking area on Outlet Road, around three miles outside of the town of Penn Yan. From here you can enjoy the easy walk along the trail for about .3 miles before approaching the scenic waterfall.

Aunt Sarah Falls

Another roadside waterfall in wine country that is especially beautiful in winter is Aunt Sarah Falls, located on State Route 414 just north of the village of Montour Falls.

This is one of the region’s waterfalls that is highly dependent on water flow. During a dry summer, you won’t be able to see Aunt Sarah Falls, but luckily, in the colder days of winter, the flow freezes and makes for a stunning frozen waterfall and giant icicle scene.

There is a parking area right next to the falls, making it a straightforward and quick stop, even on the coldest of days!

She-Qua-Ga Falls

Towering above the village of Montour Falls at 156 feet, She-Qua-Ga Falls is another scenic gem of the region and absolutely gorgeous in the winter. Situated between residential homes and the village of Montour Falls, you can witness this stunning waterfall from the viewing platform, driving through the town, and from Main Street.

The name of She-Qua-Ga Falls means ‘tumbling waters’ in the Seneca language,e as this site was formerly a Seneca Tribe village.

During an arid season, it’s hard to see this waterfall, but in the winter, you not only get water flow but also all the frozen beauty around it.

Honorable Mention

Hector Falls

Catch a glimpse of one of the most well-known waterfalls in the region while driving along State Route 414. The cascading Hector Falls is truly stunning every season of the year – and it can be viewed right from your car!

In the winter, you are rewarded with a view of the cascading water, dusted with snow and ice. From this spot, you’re witnessing the upper falls. What you won’t be able to see from this vantage point are the series of waterfalls below the bridge you’re driving on, flowing into Seneca Lake.

Please note: the highway where this waterfall is located is fast-moving and can be very dangerous. If possible, avoid exiting your car. If you do, please watch out for oncoming vehicles – some of which are not easily visible around the bend.

The region transforms into a beautiful winter wonderland in the early months of the year. If you enjoy quieter settings and fewer crowds or 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 many ways to escape, relax, and rejuvenate in this cozy winter wonderland. From indoor oases to outdoor escapes, we’ve rounded up some unforgettable activities and events you can enjoy this season in the region.

Indoor Oases

Spas

It’s not a retreat if self-care isn’t a priority. Winter is a great time to recoup, revitalize, and re-energize. Is there a better way to relax than to enjoy a pampering service or two at a spa? Your stress and anxieties will melt away after a relaxing treatment.

The Isabella Spa Salon at Belhurst in Geneva, New York, offers various services, including massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials.

Namaste Spa, in Horseheads, NY, will help you find your zen. They offer massage services, cupping, body treatments, and spa day packages, including up to four hours of pampering.

Saphala Medical, in Corning, NY offers bespoke care for weight management and nutrition, microneedling, fillers, massages, and more. They also offer a menu of services specific to men’s care.

K. Rae Salon in Corning, NY, offers a full list of services, from hairstyling to waxing, facials, and more!

Couple massage, hands or spa therapist for relax, luxury or wellness treatment for health, lifestyle or zen at resort. Healthcare, beauty salon or black woman and man for body, skincare or therapy

Treat yourself to a massage, facial, or laser service at Ageless Spa in Corning, New York. Their extensive menu of services has something for anyone looking to indulge in some self-care and cosmetic treatments.

Floatation Therapy is a relaxation treatment that allows you to tune into your heartbeat and breathing, resulting in deep calm and various other benefits. Inner Peace Floats in Watkins Glen offers this unique experience and massage.

Wine Tasting

A winter vineyard visit to the Finger Lakes is breathtaking. Have you ever seen a snow-covered vineyard? Winter is a great time to visit these award-winning wineries if you enjoy a slower, more relaxed pace. The tasting rooms, restaurants, and lodging on all three of our Wine Trails are open year-round.

Check out the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, Seneca Lake Wine Trail, and Keuka Lake Wine Trail for our winery and restaurant suggestions.

Wondering what to do as a non-drinker in Finger Lakes Wine Country? If you’re searching for wine-free activities in the area, check out our The Non-Drinkers Guide to Finger Lakes Wine Country. This guide will help you create an unforgettable day amongst the vines sans vino.

Local Breweries

Although the Finger Lakes is famous for its wines, take advantage of “hoppy” hour at a local brewery. Most wineries, breweries, and distilleries stay open all year, including Finger Lakes Distilling, Seneca Lake Brewing Company, and The Grist Iron Brewing Company.

Craft brewing has exploded so much in the region in the last decade that there are a variety of breweries offering an array of experiences. Our FLX Breweries, Cideries, and Distilleries Guide breaks down each area’s best breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

Museums

Learn something new with a visit to some of the Finger Lakes’ most fascinating museums, like The Rockwell Museum in Corning, New York. Peruse various intricate art pieces from different American artists or stroll through engaging exhibits.

The Corning Museum of Glass is another must-see attraction. If you’ve ever wondered how glass is made, you can see the process before your own eyes. You can even try a glass-blowing class to make your glass creations. The Corning Museum of Glass is also home to Netflix’s Blown Away, a competition series featuring the art of glassmaking.

Arnot Art Museum, New York, in Elmira, is housed in a historic Greek-Revival building from 1833, founded by local banker Matthias Hallenback Arnot, who gifted the museum to the city. It has a permanent collection of 17th through 19th-century European paintings, 20th-century American art, and contemporary art from the 21st century. In addition to the permanent and original art collection, you can also experience their temporary exhibitions featuring artwork from all over the world.

Outdoor Escapes

Ice Fishing

Winter is one of the best seasons for fishing in the Finger Lakes. When the lakes freeze over, the region becomes a hotspot for trout, smallmouth bass, bluegills, and numerous pickerel.

The north end of Cayuga Lake is a good place to try for northern pike, pickerel, and panfish. The northern tip of Keuka Lake is a popular area for ice-fishing enthusiasts. Here, you can easily find rentals along the lake to enjoy ice fishing every day of your winter getaway.

Snow Sports

Strap on the cross-country skis or snowshoes and explore our many state parks and trails this winter. The crisp air, picturesque snowscapes, and serene silence are pure magic. On a cold or rainy day, head to an Elmira Mammoth hockey game in Elmira, New York, for fun indoor entertainment.

Tanglewood Nature Center’s trails in Elmira, New York, are open to the public all year long. In the winter, they make for a wonderful snowshoeing experience. Tanglewood has two separate trail systems, Gleason Meadows and Personius Woods. The trail systems are not connected, but they are a very short distance by car drive from each other. See their trail maps here.

The Keuka Outlet Trail offers seven miles stretching between Keuka and Seneca Lakes from Penn Yan to Dresden, NY. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are very popular here in the winter.

The Finger Lakes National Forest in Hector, New York, is another great location for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.

Ice Skating

Clute Park’s Ice Skating Rink in Watkins Glen, New York, and Corning’s Civic Center Ice Rink in Corning, New York, are great places to enjoy one of winter’s most iconic activities. Don’t own a pair of ice skates? No worries! You can rent them on-site.

Winter Waterfalls

Most assume that waterfall viewing is best done in warmer months, but waterfalls truly come to life during winter. The combined ice and waterfall are truly spectacular. A major bonus is significantly less foot traffic on the trails in the winter. So you can enjoy sparkling snowy scenes when you visit these Five Magical Waterfalls this winter.

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 snowshoeing on the trails at Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum in Elmira. The trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk, however if you don’t have your own snowshoes or crampons you can rent snowshoes for both children and adults from Tanglewood Nature Center during their hours of operation.

Visitors typically spend anywhere from one to three hours exploring the trails and there are trail options for beginners to advanced snowshoe enthusiasts. Please call ahead of your visit as their seasonal hours are different and the facilities are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Snowmobile & Cross Country Ski Trails

Two favorite wintertime sports to enjoy after a fresh dumping of snow is snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The Keuka Outlet Trail offers seven miles bordering the Keuka Outlet stretching between Keuka and Seneca Lakes from Penn Yan to Dresden, NY.

Along the trail, for both winter activities you will be rewarded with the serene nature surroundings as well as gorgeous views of Seneca Mills Falls.

Be sure to visit our small town guide to Penn Yan for before or after your winter adventures where you can grab a bite to eat, shop, or grab a cup of hot coffee to warm you up.

Maple Syrup

Another end of winter time favorite to enjoy in the region is tasting a bit of nature’s candy during maple syrup season! Many of our region’s farms and orchards produce pure maple syrup and you can not only sample this season’s tasty syrup, but also bring it back home to your kitchen.

Be sure to call ahead any of the farms or markets in advance to ensure they are open during your visit, many have special seasonal hours.

Check out some of our farmer’s markets that are open year-round like Parluski’s Farms in Bath, Engelbert Farms in Nichols, Stewart’s Family Farm in Hornell, Chamberlain Acres Farmer’s Market in Elmira, Painted Post Farmers Market in Painted Post, Oak Hill Bulk Foods in Penn Yan, Apple Barrel Orchards in Penn Yan, Thyme Stands Still Farm Stand in Burdett, and Oak & Osage Farm in Hammondsport to name a few.

Winter Wines

Winter in Wine Country is one of the most exciting times to enjoy some of our award winning wines from our region. While enjoying a tasting at one of our wineries requires a little planning ahead as some tasting rooms are only open seasonally and those that do have wine tasting available often have a different schedule for the slower, winter months.

We advise to call ahead to any wineries you plan on visiting before your visit to ensure they are open during that time/day.

You can still enjoy some of our wines without visiting our cellars and wineries by picking up bottles at the winery retail shops or any of our local wine retailers who are open year round.

During the winter months, you may want to enjoy some of our specialty wines from the colder months including ice wines which are a type of dessert wine which are known for being sweeter produced from grapes that have been frozen still on the vine.

Another wintertime favorite for drinking are fortified wines like Sherry or Ports known for their higher alcohol content. Winemakers add a neutral grape spirit, like brandy, to the wine which is where you get the elevated alcohol content from and is often consumed in the colder months.

There’s also something so nice about a good red wine on a cold winter day or night which our region has a great selection of red wines.

Winter Horseback Riding

Just outside one of Watkins Glen you can enjoy winter horseback riding at Painted Bar Stables who offers horseback riding experiences year round by appointment only.

Bundle up and saddle up for a wintery horseback riding adventure.

Visit our small town guide for Watkins Glen for more ideas nearby before or after your winter horseback riding adventure.

Winter Camping

Not for the faint of heart, but another adventurous winter activity in the region for those who love the chilly wilderness is primitive backcountry camping in Italy Hill State Forest in Branchport off of Keuka Lake.

This style of camping offers no amenities and are for the serious outdoor enthusiasts who like to camp with everything on your back and the winter backdrop and crisp cool air make for an unforgettable experience. Anyone participating in primitive camping in the area must follow these guidelines from New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

There’s an excitement in the air this time of year in wine country. In part, it’s because of the buzzing energy around harvest, and the busy weekends full of travelers coming to admire the changing foliage and enjoy the seasonal fruit picking at local farms. But for visitors and locals alike, this time of year kicks off Spooky Season and all the festivities it brings. We’ve compiled a little list of some of the best events to look out for when in the region during this fun time of year

Small Town Fun

Days of Incandescence in Corning, NY, was just recently named one of the best Halloween festivals in the U.S. and offers a bit of historical lore and family-friendly fun during the three days of festivities. Bonus: Mingle with the community at their annual Trick or Treat along Market Street on Halloween Day!

Trick or Treat at The Windmill in Penn Yan is a great way to engage with over 150 vendors, shop, and enjoy the season’s festivities.

Owego, NY’s Halloween Fest takes place in the Central Historic District and features a series of events like pumpkin painting, a “Not So Scary Haunted House,” and a costume parade.

The annual Elmira Ghost Walk is a mix of live theater performances and local lore, featuring evening walks through the historic Woodlawn Cemetery.

The Village of Hammondsport hosts its annual Halloween Happenings with a fun, family-friendly “Witches of the Southern Tier” dance followed by Trick or Treating. Bonus: The Witches of the Southern Tier also host a dance at Montour Falls every year!

For Some Extra-Spooky Fun

While this time of year is perfect for apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, and corn mazes, many of our farms also elevate the spookiness to a whole new level! Just some of the highlights include:

The Coldbrook Curse at Bradley Farms, a popular haunted attraction in Elmira, New York, is open on Friday and Saturday nights in October. It features a walk-through haunted village, zombie paintball, and other scare attractions based on the legend of a cursed village that vanished centuries ago.

Tagsylvania in Big Flats, NY, at the Tags concert venue, features multiple haunted houses as well as carnival games and shows. The attraction operates on select weekends each fall, generally from late September through October.

For more seasonal fun, check out Thrills & Chills, a roundup of all things spooky, cozy, and quintessentially fall in Chemung County.

Don’t Miss The Festivities Along The Wine Trails

For a complete list of all the events happening at the different wineries, it’s best to follow the Seneca, Keuka, and Cayuga Lake Wine Trails. Look for annual celebrations that welcome the whole family, including your four-legged companions, live music, wine tasting, and pairings.

There is no shortage of scenic views in Finger Lakes Wine Country and the best way to cover the most ground and enjoy many of our sweeping and stunning landscapes is by enjoying any of these 5 scenic drives through the region.

These scenic drives will take you past some of our region’s charming towns, antique shops, museums, our lakes, wine trails, breweries, cideries, distilleries and more.

Along the way pay attention to farm stops in the countryside, many of which offer U-Pick experiences, and roadside farm stands to pick up some of the best local ingredients to take home with you.

Seneca Lake Scenic Byway

One of the most well-known scenic drives in Finger Lakes Wine Country is the Seneca Lake Scenic Byway running along the east side of Seneca Lake. This is the perfect drive to get a taste of the Finger Lakes as you’ll be passing wineries, cideries, distilleries, breweries, restaurants, and farms. This makes for great stops along the way as well as many great places to catch one of our beautiful Finger Lakes sunsets overlooking Seneca Lake.

We recommend seeing our small town guide to Watkins Glen for ideas of what to see and explore here before starting off on your scenic adventure up the east side of Seneca Lake up to Lodi Marine State Park where you can picnic, watch a gorgeous sunset, and swim and enjoy the pebble beach in the warmer months. (Just note that you will have to pay an $8 per car parking fee at Lodi Marine State Park.)

You’ll be driving along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail which is dotted with wineries that offer more incredible views and passing by one of the best roadside attractions in New York State, Hector Falls, which cascades right along a bridge you’ll be driving on Route 414.

The wineries close at around 5:00 pm, so for a great sunset view we recommend stopping at Two Goats Brewing or Grist Iron Brewing for views and a drink.

Penn Yan to Dresden

A hidden gem and one of the most scenic drives in the Finger Lakes is the road that follows the Keuka Outlet Trail. This trail follows an outlet that connects Keuka Lake into Seneca Lake.

The Keuka Outlet Trail is a 7-mile path that is easily walkable and bike-friendly. You can drive along the Outlet Road for several different access points. But the drive itself is also pretty, especially during the fall foliage and spring months.

Starting in Penn Yan on East Elm Street which turns into Outlet Road, you will be leaving town and pass through a wooded road that has a few different stops where you can get out and enjoy a section of the Keuka Outlet Trail.

If you’re looking to stretch your legs, be sure to park and walk towards Seneca Mills Falls or Cascade Falls. There is a parking area that gives you access to the trail with signs that point you in the direction for both waterfalls. Seneca Mills is the quickest to access with a 5-7 minute walk.

Continuing the scenic drive towards Dresden you will pass beautiful farmscapes on Hopeton Road.

For more ideas on what to do while you’re in Penn Yan, be sure to read our small town guide to this charming Finger Lakes town.

Owego to Corning

Driving between the charming towns of Owego to Corning offers some picturesque countryside views. Be sure to read our small town guides to both Owego and Corning for ideas of what to do in each of these beautiful destinations. Not only are these great places to stop and stay a bit longer, there are also great opportunities to check out the shops, restaurants, cafes, and cultural attractions.

Leaving Owego on Route 96 you will pass through the rural rolling hills driving along the Catatonk Creek passing some of the region’s most beautiful farmland.

Continuing on Route 96 through Spencer you will continue to pass more scenic farms on Route 223 before getting on the Interstate 86-West with breathtaking views of the Chemung River before arriving in Corning.

Elmira to Jerusalem Hill

One of the shorter scenic drives to enjoy starts in the city of Elmira and wanders up Jerusalem Hill Road where you will be rewarded with views of Elmira’s historic landscape along the Chemung River, continuing into more countryside farmscapes and wooded scenery headed towards Maple Hill State Forest.

For a breathtaking sunset experience with dinner, be sure to make a reservation at the Hill Top Inn which opens for dinner and has a large outdoor seating area and patio overlooking the valley and the town of Elmira and the Chemung River below.

The restaurant at Hill Top Inn doesn’t open until 5:00 pm, so this is only an evening experience. We recommend calling ahead and making a reservation to enjoy the breathtaking views from their prime location.

For more ideas for what to do in Elmira, be sure to read our small town guide for information and activities you can enjoy here.

Along Keuka Lake

Drive around the Crooked Lake for some of the most majestic scenery Finger Lakes Wine Country has to offer. We recommend seeing our small town guides to the villages of Hammondsport and Penn Yan for ideas of what to see and explore here before starting off on your scenic adventure.

Exploring the West side of Keuka Lake you have three different route options to choose from, The Lower Road (West Lake Road/ Route 54A) along the shores of the lake, Middle Road which connects to Route 76 and offers views of the lake and vineyards from a higher point, and The Upper Road (Greyton H. Taylor Memorial Drive).

Along the drive you can stop at many of the region’s spectacular wineries including Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Heron Hill Winery, and Ravines Wine Cellars. For beer fans there are stops like Keuka Brewing and Steuben Brewing Company.

Exploring the East Side of Keuka Lake you are rewarded with incredible panoramic views from more of the wineries along the Keuka Lake Wine Trail including Keuka Spring Vineyards, McGregor Vineyards, and Hunt Country Vineyards.

For a bite to eat, try stopping at Seneca Farms (open seasonally from the first Friday in March through the end of October) in Penn Yan to take to Keuka Lake State Park where you can picnic with waterfront views.

Did you know that our region boasts some of the best farmland in the state? This means that food and handicraft products are direct from the farmer or artisan to the customer, easily accessible at our various farm stores and stands.

This also means finding the freshest produce of the season, local ingredients, and pantry items like meats, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, and seasonings is easy to do in Finger Lakes Wine Country.

When planning a trip to our region, don’t miss out on the opportunity to try some of our best local, quality ingredients and maybe even bring some of your food finds back home to use in your kitchen.

Note: It’s always best to double-check hours of operation during the specific dates of your visit by calling ahead or visiting each of these farm stores and farmers’ markets’ websites to help you plan your visit.

FARM STORES

Many farm stores in Finger Lakes Wine Country are open throughout the year, making bringing home farm fresh ingredients convenient–even if you miss out on the farmers’ markets season. Here are some of our favorites:

Apple Barrel Orchards in Penn Yan is a family-owned fruit farm that offers U-pick apples and grapes, as well as their small farm store that sells local produce like pears, apples, and grapes. They have a cidery on-site, and often host live music to enjoy while enjoying the cider from their orchard and other fresh fruits from the farm. They are open seasonally from September through February.

The Burdett Exchange, located in the sweet town of Burdett, is a fairly new market to open in the area. They have local produce, crafts, meats, dairy goods, and some home goods. Our favorite is the salted bread and other bakeries!

Indian Pines Farm Market is a roadside market in Penn Yan that sells locally grown produce and products like baked pies, bread, cookies, and other seasonal goodies. As the seasons change, so does the selection. This seasonal stand is open from spring through mid-December, ending its season with Christmas trees, greenery, and poinsettias.

Yesterday’s Roots is a farm market offering a great selection of local produce, meats, dairy products, pantry items, baked goods, gifts, and more. They also have a coffee bar and cafe!!!!

Tomion’s Farm Market in Penn Yan is a family-owned and operated farm market that has been growing strawberries for over 60 years. When in season, it offers U-Pick berries, rhubarb, and tomatoes. The market has a rustic atmosphere and sells home-grown fresh produce, baked goodies, and even gifts. It is open seasonally and will kick off its season in mid-May.

Dave’s Produce Greenhouse and Farmstand in Bath, NY, offers seasonal produce, locally grown meats, and other products. It’s a fun stop for holiday photos and fall goodies. Bonus: they are located next to Emmie’s Ice Cream & Grill!

Stewart’s Family Farm and Creamery in Hornell offers a farm store that is open 4 days a week year-round, selling their dairy products like milk, goat cheese, and ice cream in addition to bulk food and pantry items, including baking ingredients and seasoning, to fresh baked goods and soft serve ice cream. If you’re not able to make it to their farm store on your visit, you have an opportunity to try or buy their products from the Corning Farmers Market in the summer season.

Oak Hill Bulk Foods in Penn Yan offers a store filled with local products, ingredients, staple bulk food items, and a deli that is open year-round. Additionally, they serve freshly made breakfast and lunch items at Oak Leaf Cafe & Bakery. Everything from hearty soups to sandwiches and wraps is served here, as well as fruit smoothies made from their fresh ingredients. And take home a pie!

Photo credit: Oak Hill Bulk Food

Stoney Acres Country Market in Bath is a farm store open year-round offering everything from in-season produce and products like eggs, honey, and maple syrup from local farmers, kitchen ingredients like spices, jams, and pickled products, to crafts and plants, including hanging baskets to Christmas trees around the holidays.

Bradley Farms in Elmira is a seasonal farm and flower store that opens each spring in May, kicking off the season with spring flowers, hanging baskets, and bedding plants. You can also find fresh, in-season produce from their commercial vegetable farm to bring back home to your kitchen, as well as family-friendly activities in the fall, including a corn maze, haunted attractions, and Twinkle Town during the winter holiday season.

Engelbert Farms in Nichols is the first certified organic dairy farm in the United States since 1984 and offers certified organic products in their farm store and kitchen located in a historic creamery building. Here you can find farm-raised organic meats, cheese, and produce, including eggs, raw honey, maple syrup, and fruit bitters, open year-round, Thursday through Saturday.

Sunset View Creamery in Odessa offers a selection of artisan cheeses made using fresh milk from their family-owned and operated dairy farm, fresh raw milk, and other locally-produced food items in their farm store open year-round, five days a week. They also offer tours, and now they allow visitors to cuddle cows!

The Keuka Trail Farm Market in Branchport offers freshly made baked goods and other locally made products like honey, essential oils, and spices.

FARMERS MARKETS

Photo credit: Elmira Downtown Development

When visiting our small towns, make sure to take part in the fun around our seasonal farmers’ markets. Local vendors sell produce, farm products, baked goods, artisan crafts, gifts, and more, providing visitors and the community with wholesome food and goods to bring home.

It’s best to check each farmer’s market’s social media or website for up-to-date information during your visit, including their hours, as these sometimes change. Most of these markets are seasonal and are held throughout the week; however, the markets that have both summer and winter farmers’ markets usually have different hours once the season changes.

Corning Farmers Market is located at the Riverfront Centennial Park every Thursday from June through October, offering a variety of vendors selling fresh local produce, flowers, baked goodies, handmade gifts, local wine, and a changing selection of goods each week.

Wisner Market in Elmira, NY takes place every Wednesday with more vendors every year. With everything from produce to flowers, popcorn, and goodies from local food trucks, it makes for a lovely afternoon surrounded by local community residents.

Painted Post Farmers Market, located outside the Painted Post-Erwin Museum, is a weekly Saturday market featuring local vendors who sell farm-fresh produce, naturally raised meats, eggs, homemade maple syrup, raw honey, and baked goods. In November through March, you can enjoy their winter market at the Ramada Inn in Painted Post on the first and third Saturdays of every month.

Bath Farmers Market at Pulteney Square Park in Bath during July through October on Wednesdays and Saturdays, offering a variety of local meats and cheeses, produce, handicrafts, and artisanal items by local crafters and businesses, and even food trucks.

Point of The Bluff Farmers Market, in Hammondsport, brings together wine-tasting, live music, and farm fresh produce from Glenn Scott Farm every Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm, from June through the end of September.

The Windmill Farm & Craft Market is the largest of the farmers markets in Finger Lakes Wine Country, with over 200 vendors in Penn Yan, offering a wide range of products, including local produce, fresh baked goods, wine and spirits, artisan crafts and goods, plus an array of dining options at their indoor and outdoor set up. You can visit on Saturdays only from late April through the end of November.

Penn Yan Farmers Market runs from late May through mid-October, offering in-season and rotating produce directly from local farmers on Saturdays from 8 to 1:30 pm, on the sidewalk along central Main Street in the village of Penn Yan, rain or shine!

Chamberlain Acres Farmers Market in Elmira is a garden center open year-round to the public for their flowers, seeds, and planting needs for home gardens. Every Sunday, they host a weekly farmers market with fresh produce, local meats, baked goods, and other locally made food products like honey, artisanal cheeses, maple syrup, and more.

Owego Farmers Market is held on Tuesdays and Fridays from June through October at the Walgreens parking lot in Owego, selling in-season fruits and vegetables directly from local farmers.

During your visit to Finger Lakes Wine Country, we want to ensure you take in everything our wine trails, small towns, and lakes have to offer. We would be remiss if we didn’t also suggest a unique farm experience to complement your visit. Here are some of our favorites:

Every fall, Apple Barrel Orchard in Penn Yan opens its rows and rows of orchards to residents and visitors looking for a day of apple picking. From Gala to Northern Spy and so many other favorites, you are sure to find the perfect fruit. But apple-picking is not the only reason to visit. They also have their very own cidery where they produce cider from apples that are grown, harvested, and fermented here on the farm! Enjoy a glass in their tasting room, where you can select from 11 different ciders on tap. Other u-pick experiences include cherries and grapes. Visit their website for a full list of events.

Sunset View Farms in Odessa, NY, is an artisan cheese farmstead and production facility. Their on-site creamery doesn’t just serve up some of the most delicious ice cream in the region; they also have 12 varieties of raw and pasteurized milk cheese, thirteen varieties of cheese curd, Cream on Top milk, raw milk, locally sourced beef, pork, and chicken, free-range eggs, and so much more! And if that isn’t special enough, how about cow-cuddling? Hug, rest against, and hang out with the ladies – and in the process, learn something new! Visit their website for more information on this and other farm experiences.

If you are interested in learning more about the conservation efforts happening across the region, an experience at Sweet Farm, a non-profit animal sanctuary in Himrod, NY, gives visitors insight into how they are working towards those efforts. You can book a tour to meet the different animals they have rescued and learn more about their educational programs, which cover topics such as plant-based living and sustainable regenerative agriculture. Want to rest after walking through the farm? Be sure to visit Vineyard View Winery right next door! Tip: You can purchase a wine tasting ticket with your farm tour. Also, for more farm animal rescue goodness, visit the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY.

For a winter farm experience that you won’t forget, visit the Highland Tree Farm in Branchport, NY! If you are celebrating a holiday stay in wine country, this sweet little farm has gorgeous Christmas trees to choose from. But, if you are simply looking to envelop yourself in holiday joy and visit a Christmas market, with some views of Highland cows for extra cuteness, this is the place to be! They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday starting November 29 to December 21. Visit their website for more information.

Live, work, play, and enjoy! The Southern Finger Lakes is ideally situated for those who wish to be close to metropolitan areas, yet live a life made far richer by connecting to nature and community, making a difference in the lives of their neighbors, and enjoying a fulfilling work/life balance that ideally suits who they are.

Innovative career opportunities abound near picturesque towns, lakes, and waterfalls in upstate New York. Outside of work, engage with nature, indulge in destination experiences, take part in cultural activities, and build your community. Enjoy the pace of life away from traffic jams and frenzied crowds, while retaining access to high-quality healthcare and education to ensure you and your family thrive.

Discover your next move

Celebrate the season with the perfect wine, beer, and non-alcoholic pairings for your holiday favorites. Whether you’re serving roast lamb on Easter Sunday, matzah at your Passover seder, or nibbling on jellybeans and chocolate bunnies, we’ve got you covered.

🐣 Traditional Easter Foods

🍳 Deviled Eggs

Wine: Prosecco or Champagne – Bubbles cut through the rich yolk and refresh the palate. (Try: Dr. Konstantin Frank Blanc de Blancs)

Beer: West Coast IPA – The hoppy bitterness balances the creamy filling. (Try: Lucky Hare Brewing Co. Who Runs the Word West Coast IPA—all-women brewed)

Non-Alcoholic: Sparkling lemonade or citrus seltzer – Bright acidity works like bubbles to cleanse your palate.

🥗 Spring Salad with Vinaigrette

Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris – High acidity complements the tang of vinaigrette and freshness of greens. (Try: J.R. Dill Winery Pinot Gris)

Beer: Witbier – Citrusy and herbal to match fresh veggies. (Try: Lucky Hare Conan the Barvarian Hefeweizen)

Non-Alcoholic: Cucumber or lime-infused water – Crisp and hydrating, perfect with fresh produce.

🍖 Roast Leg of Lamb

Wine: Lemberger or Cabernet Franc – Full-bodied reds with tannins that cut through the fattiness of lamb. (Try: Fox Run Vineyards Lemberger or Lucas Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Franc)

Beer: Scotch Ale or Syrah-inspired brews – Malty depth balances the gamey richness. (Try: Grist Iron Brewing Co. Scotch Ale)

Non-Alcoholic: Blackberry or cherry juice spritzer – Bold flavors mimic a red wine experience.

🍯 Honey-Glazed Ham

Wine: Off-dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer – Sweetness echoes the glaze while acidity refreshes. (Try: Boundary Breaks Off-Dry Riesling or Wagner Vineyards Gewürztraminer)

Beer: Saison – Earthy and dry, a perfect foil to the ham’s salt and sweetness. (Try: Brewery of Broken Dreams Change of Saisons)

Non-Alcoholic: Apple cider or pear juice – Natural sweetness and a touch of tartness play well with salty meat.

🍗 Herb-Roasted Chicken

Wine: Chardonnay or Viognier – Medium body and floral/herbal notes enhance the seasoning. (Try: Heron Hill Ingle Vineyard Unoaked Chardonnay)

Beer: Pilsner – Clean profile lets the herbs shine. (Try: Steuben Brewing Barva Pilsner)

Non-Alcoholic: Herbal iced tea (chamomile or mint) – Light and botanical to match the chicken’s herbal profile.

🥦 Asparagus with Hollandaise

Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner – Herbaceous and crisp to match the vegetal notes and creamy sauce. (Try: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Grüner Veltliner)

Beer: Pilsner – Clean and bubbly enough to refresh the palate. (Try: Steuben Brewing Co. Pedersen Pilsner)

Non-Alcoholic: Lemon-infused sparkling water – Citrus brings brightness without overpowering the sauce.

🥕 Roasted Root Vegetables

Wine: Pinot Noir or Grenache – Earthy reds to match the caramelized sweetness of the roots. (Try: Dr. Konstantin Frank Old Vines Pinot Noir)

Beer: Amber Ale – Toasty malt flavors mirror roasted veggies. (Try: Wagner Valley Brewing Amber Lager)

Non-Alcoholic: Pomegranate juice or unsweetened cranberry blend – Earthy and tart to balance sweet veggies.

✡️ Traditional Passover Foods

Although the suggested Passover pairings are not certified Kosher, they are thoughtfully intended to honor the spirit of the holiday by offering flavor profiles that complement the traditional foods of the Seder and during Passover.

🌿 Karpas (Greens in Salt Water)

Wine: Dry Rosé – Light and refreshing, just like the veggies. (Try: Anthony Road Wine Company Dry Rosé of Cabernet Franc or Dry Rosé of Lemberger)

Beer: Berliner Weisse (for non-observant guests) – Tart and delicate. (Try: Wagner Valley Brewing Company Franc-in-Weizen)

Non-Alcoholic: Strawberry basil sparkling water – Crisp and light with a subtle herbal twist.

🔥 Maror (Bitter Herbs)

Wine: Sweeter style wine – Softens the intensity of horseradish or romaine. (Try: Lakewood Vineyards Abby Rose or Swedish Hill Winery Cayuga White)

Beer: Fruited wheat beer – Mild sweetness tames bitterness. (Try: Finger Lakes Beer Company Watermelon Wheat)

Non-Alcoholic: Sweet grape juice or peach nectar – Cools down the spice and bitterness.

🍲 Chicken Soup (with Matzah Balls)

Wine: Chardonnay – Full-bodied enough to complement the warmth and herbs. (Try: Glenora Wine Cellars Chardonnay)

Beer: Golden Ale – Clean and mild with a soft malt profile. (Try: Brewery Ardennes Belgian Golden Ale)

Non-Alcoholic: Ginger tea or sparkling apple juice – Warmth and spice enhance the broth.

🍖 Main Courses (Brisket, Chicken, Lamb)

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot – Rich and tannic wines stand up to meaty, hearty dishes. (Try: Lucas Vineyards Cabernet Franc or Idol Ridge Merlot)

Beer: Porter or Bock – Dark beers echo the depth of flavor in roasted meats. (Try: Keuka Brewing Company Imperial Bock)

Non-Alcoholic: Spiced plum juice or pomegranate molasses spritz – Adds depth and richness without alcohol.

🐟 Fish Dishes

Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris – Acidic whites cut through the richness of oilier fish. (Try: Lamoreaux Landing Pinot Gris or Hosmer Sauvignon Blanc)

Beer: Blonde Ale or Kölsch – Crisp and not overpowering. (Try: Grist Iron Brewing Blonde Ale)

Non-Alcoholic: Citrus seltzer or coconut water with lime – Bright and palate-cleansing.

🍰 Passover Desserts (Macaroons, Apple Cake, Chocolate Matzah)

Wine: Late-harvest Riesling or Muscat – Sweet and aromatic wines enhance coconut and chocolate. (Try: Weis Vineyards Riesling Ice Wine)

Beer: Chocolate Stout or Milk Stout – Perfect with rich or chocolatey desserts. (Try: Wagner Valley Brewing “Sugar House” Maple Porter)

Non-Alcoholic: Sparkling grape juice or cinnamon apple tea – Adds warm spice and sweetness.

🍬 Easter & Springtime Desserts & Candy Pairings

🥕 Carrot Cake

Wine: Sweeter-style bubbly or late-harvest Riesling – Sweet and lightly sparkling to mirror the spices and sweetness. (Try: Atwater Vineyards Bubble Riesling or Lakewood Vineyards Glaciovinum)

Beer: Barleywine – Rich, complex maltiness enhances the spiced cake. (Try: Ithaca Beer Co. Old Habit)

Non-Alcoholic: Chai or spiced orange tea – Warms the palate and complements the nutmeg and cinnamon.

🐰 Milk Chocolate Bunny

Wine: Bubbly Rosé – Light and fizzy to balance the creaminess. (Try Heron Hill Winery Bubbly Blaufrankisch Rosé Dancing Bear)

Beer: Cream Ale – Soft and smooth to match milk chocolate’s texture. (Try: Scale House Brewing Cream Ale)

Non-Alcoholic: Chocolate almond milk or strawberry soda – Rich and sweet with a playful twist.

🍫 Dark Chocolate Bunnies

Wine: Port or Cabernet Franc – Deep and rich enough to meet the cocoa intensity. (Try: Glenora Wine Cellars Port or Keuka Spring Vineyards Cabernet Franc)

Beer: Imperial Stout – Roasted malt flavors blend with bitter chocolate. (Try: Two Goats Brewing Goatmeal Stout)

Non-Alcoholic: Espresso with vanilla syrup or dark chocolate almond milk – Bitterness and body match dark chocolate.

🍬 Jelly Beans

Wine: Sauvignon Blanc – Acid cuts through the sugar; fruity notes mirror candy. (Try: J. R. Dill Winery Sauvignon Blanc)

Beer: New England IPA – Juicy hops complement fruity jellybean flavors. (Try: Two Goats Brewing Golden Crush)

Non-Alcoholic: Fruit punch or mango sparkling water – Matches sweetness while keeping things fizzy.

🥚 Cadbury Creme Eggs

Wine: Oaked Chardonnay – Creamy texture complements the sweet filling. (Try: Fox Run Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay)

Beer: Brown Ale – Nutty and rich, it balances the gooey sweetness. (Try: Steuben Brewing Co. Brown Ale)

Non-Alcoholic: Vanilla cream soda – Echoes the filling’s creamy nature.

🟣 Whoppers Robin Eggs

Wine: Light and Fruity Red – Fruity and playful to match the malt. (Try: Weis Vineyards Schulhaus Red)

Beer: Bock or Doppelbock – Malt meets malt in this perfect candy pairing. (Try: Wagner Valley Brewing Doppelbock)

Non-Alcoholic: Malta Goya or chocolate oat milk – Sweet, malty, and rich like the candy center.

🐣 Peeps

Wine: Sweet sparkling wine or Moscato – Sugar meets sugar in a light bubbly treat. (Try: Lakewood Vineyards Bubbly Catawba)

Beer: Tart Gose or fruity sour – Contrasts the sugar with tangy brightness. (Try: Scale House Brewing Das Fruity Kettle Sour)

Non-Alcoholic: Strawberry lemonade or pink soda – Sweet and colorful to match the candy.

🥜 Peanut Butter Eggs

Wine: Red Blend – Bold enough to hold its own with chocolate and peanut butter. (Try: 3 Brothers Winery Red Wine Field Blend)

Beer: Chocolate Porter or Peanut Butter Stout – Classic pairing that mirrors candy’s richness. (Try: Abandon Brewing Chocolate Porter)

Non-Alcoholic: Café Mocha – All the flavor, none of the booze.

🧁 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re observing sacred traditions or just enjoying the sweets of the season, don’t overthink your drink. The best rule is to enjoy what you love. But when you’re ready to elevate the table? These pairings will make your springtime meals a celebration to remember.

🥂 L’chaim, Cheers, and Happy Spring! 🌼

Thinking about a trip to Finger Lakes Wine Country, New York? Good news — it’s super easy to get here! Whether you’re coming from a big city like New York or a smaller one like Harrisburg, there are major highways and interstates that lead straight to beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Country.

Here’s how you can get here:

From Boston (Approx. 6 hours)

Route: Take I-90 West (Massachusetts Turnpike) across Massachusetts into New York State.

· Stay on I-90 West (New York State Thruway) until you reach an exit near Syracuse or Rochester, depending on which lake or town you want to visit.

From New York City (Approx. 4 hours)

Route: Take I-80 West across New Jersey.

· Merge onto I-380 North toward Scranton, PA.

· Continue onto I-81 North toward Binghamton, NY.

· From Binghamton, head west on NY-17/I-86 West into eastern Tioga County — perfect for starting your journey to Finger Lakes Wine Country!

From Philadelphia (Approx. 4.5 hours)

Route: Take I-476 North (Northeast Extension) toward Scranton.

· Connect briefly to I-81 North near Scranton.

· Stay on I-81 North into New York.

· Near Binghamton, merge onto NY-17/I-86 West.

· Take the exit for Owego, NY — a great starting point for your trip!

From Washington, D.C. (Approx. 6 hours)

Route: Take I-270 North to I-70 West.

· Then hop onto I-76 West (Pennsylvania Turnpike).

· Near Harrisburg, pick up US-15/I-99 North.

· Stay on I-99 North into Corning, and you’ve arrived!

From Harrisburg (Approx. 3 hours)

Route: Take US-15/I-99 North straight into New York.

· You’ll pass through beautiful countryside and end up in Corning, right at the doorstep of Finger Lakes Wine Country.

From Pittsburgh (Approx 4.5 hours)

Route: Take I-376 East to connect to I-76 East (Pennsylvania Turnpike).

· Exit onto I-99 North near Bedford.

· Stay on I-99 North into New York, where it becomes US-15.

· Continue north to Corning — you made it!

From Cleveland (Approx. 4.5 hours)

Route: Take I-90 East across Ohio toward Erie, PA.

· Near Erie, switch to I-86 East.

· Follow I-86 East into New York, arriving in western Steuben County.

· Get off at exits for Hornell, Bath, Hammondsport, or Corning, depending on where you want to start your adventure.

From Buffalo (Approx. 2 hours)

Route: Take I-90 East toward Rochester.

· Then head south into the Finger Lakes region, using local highways to reach towns like Penn Yan, Watkins Glen, Corning, and Elmira.

No matter where you’re coming from, it’s mostly major highways and easy drives. Once you’re here, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views, charming small towns, and, of course, amazing wineries!

Pack a bag, cue up your favorite road trip playlist, and come enjoy Finger Lakes Wine Country!

As a farming community, we appreciate rainy days, but we understand rain may dampen your plans. Here is a little inspo for days better suited for indoor activities. We’ve shared the Finger Lakes museums to visit on a rainy day. Here are even more fun ideas that help you stay warm, dry, and entertained when raindrops fall over Finger Lakes Wine Country.

Attend a Workshop Series or Class

There is no better way to connect with locals and have fun than by joining a class at one of the region’s maker spaces. Here are some fun ways to get creative and even learn something new.

Rabbit Row Yarns & Haberdashery in Corning, NY, is the region’s only sustainably sourced needle and fiber craft product shop. It is tailored for knitters, crocheters, weavers, dyers, spinners, felters, and stitchers. They offer one-on-one and small group lessons for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, mending, darning, and felting.

FLX Studio and Maker’s Space in Montour Falls, NY, offers a variety of classes and workshops throughout the year for all ages and skill sets. Their courses, from fiber arts, drawing, and painting to jewelry and mixed media, are designed to help you express your unique creative voice.

Pixie Moss Meadows in Corning, NY, offers a variety of workshops featuring a new set of classes monthly designed to inspire creativity and community. They also host a unique DIY garden bar with beautiful succulents, decorative pots, dirt, moss, gravel, and sand.

Tioga Arts Council in Owego, NY, presents various artist series throughout the year and workshops on multiple skills, from writing to metalsmithing. They also often showcase artists’ exhibitions and sales. Equally, the Arts Center of Yates County hosts exhibitions, workshops, and a series of classes for those looking to do something creative on a rainy day.

Attend a Winery Event

Rainy days are a perfect backdrop for winery events and gatherings. Follow the Seneca, Keuka, and Cayuga Lake Wine Trails for all the happenings, from holiday-focused events and markets to wine pairing events, private dinners, and live music. Winery events are an excellent opportunity to meet the region’s winemakers and tastemakers and explore the wines that continue to elevate the Finger Lakes as a premier wine destination.

Enjoy a Concert or Theatrical Production

You don’t have to be in a big city to enjoy the performing arts. The Clemens Center in Elmira, NY, hosts a Broadway Series featuring many blockbuster theater productions, concerts, and other family entertainment. A visit to Powers Theater, one of two theater performance spaces, is an experience. The architecturally stunning space has been restored to its vaudevillian-era grandeur, displaying magnificent murals, gold-leaf details, and reconstructed opera boxes, reviving its 1925 glory.

The Civic Music Association has hosted performances in the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) Auditorium since 1951. Visit their website for information on concerts in jazz, choral, and other popular music genres.

A Little Something For the History Lovers

On warmer, sunnier days, the Schuyler County Historical Society hosts free walking tours around Watkins Glen’s prominent landmarks. But for days when it’s best to stay inside, definitely check out their open houses hosted at various locations, including the Brick Tavern Museum, Wickham Rural Life Center, and the Lawrence Chapel. The Chemung County Historical Society not only hosts a series of exhibits to walk through, but they also host a variety of programs for adults throughout the year, including book talks, art workshops, and other events.

Visit a Local Library

The Southern Tier Library System is comprised of 48 member libraries, each with its own unique feel and look. Some are large, contemporary buildings, while others are in historic buildings with refined details—such as Tiffany stained glass windows! You can find the complete list of libraries here and check out what family-friendly events they are hosting throughout the year.

Finger Lakes Wine Country, But Like a Local