How to Plan Your Finger Lakes Wine Country Trip

Season: Fall

You’ve heard about Finger Lakes Wine Country. Maybe a friend came back raving about the Rieslings. Maybe you saw a photo of Seneca Lake at golden hour and started building a tab. Maybe an article called it America’s best wine region, and you filed it under “soon.”

Soon is now. Here is how to actually plan the trip.

BOOKMARK US

Before anything else, bookmark our website: fingerlakeswinecountry.com and follow our social media. It is the official wine country planning hub: wineries, restaurants, lodging, events, trail maps, itineraries, and the kind of local-knowledge editorial content that turns a good trip into a great one. Everything you need to plan your visit lives there.

Understand the Region First

Finger Lakes Wine Country is not one lake. It is five counties, three primary wine trails, and eleven lakes, with Seneca, Keuka, and Cayuga doing most of the heavy lifting for wine tourism.

Seneca Lake is the largest and most winery-dense, anchored at its southern tip by Watkins Glen. More than 35 producers line its shores. This is where you go if wine is the primary mission.

Keuka Lake is shaped like a Y and ringed by some of the region’s oldest and most storied estates. It is quieter, more intimate, and rewards slow exploration.

Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes and home to a diverse trail with strong culinary and farm culture alongside its wineries.

The towns matter too. Corning, home of the Corning Museum of Glass, anchors the region’s western side and makes an excellent base. Watkins Glen offers gorge hiking steps from tasting rooms. Penn Yan sits at the head of Keuka Lake and has a strong local food scene. Hammondsport, at Keuka’s southern tip, is one of the most charming small towns in New York State.

When to Go

Every season has a case to make. Here is the honest breakdown.

May and June are the most underrated. Waterfalls run at full force from snowmelt, wildflowers line the gorge trails, and the wineries have just opened for the season without summer crowds. Shoulder season pricing applies.

July and August are peak season: full tasting rooms, boat rentals, outdoor concerts, and long lake days. Book accommodations well in advance.

September and October are the seasons locals love most. Harvest is underway this time of year. The hillside vineyards turn gold and amber. The air is cool and clean. Fall foliage usually peaks in mid-October and is genuinely spectacular over the lakes. Recently, we have seen a surge in visitors this season as well, so be ready for higher-than-normal lodging prices, similar to summer crowds… but trust us when we tell you, everyone should experience foliage season in Finger Lakes Wine Country!

November through April offers a quieter, more contemplative visit. Several wineries stay open year-round, lodging rates drop significantly, and the snowbound landscape over the lakes has its own stark beauty. Shoulder, or “mud season,” remains one that few venture to discover, but those who do are truly missing out!

Choose Your Wine Trail

All three major trails are accessible through fingerlakeswinecountry.com, with maps, member listings, and itinerary suggestions.

Seneca Lake Wine Trail — the largest and most varied. Strong for first-time visitors who want maximum options.

Keuka Lake Wine Trail — best for those who want depth over breadth. Fewer wineries, but many are destination-worthy on their own.

Cayuga Lake Wine Trail — the original organized wine trail in the country, established in 1983. Good balance of wine, food, and farm experiences.

Build Your Itinerary

A weekend visit works well, structured as two focused days rather than trying to cover the whole region. Pick one lake, give it two full days, and you will leave feeling like you actually saw something rather than drove through it.

For a longer visit of four to five days, base yourself in Corning or Watkins Glen and make day trips to different lakes and towns. fingerlakeswinecountry.com has curated multi-day itineraries organized by travel style: wine-focused, outdoor adventure, family, and culinary.

Plan Around the Food

The Finger Lakes has a culinary scene that consistently surprises first-time visitors. Farm-to-table restaurants, bakeries using local grain, cheesemakers and cider producers alongside the wineries, and a growing craft beverage culture that includes distilleries and craft breweries. Wine is the anchor, but food is the reason many visitors come back.

Local Tips Worth Knowing

These are the things the visitors who come back every year already know. Consider this your head start.

Always check hours before you go. This is one of the most important things we can tell you. Outside of peak summer season, many restaurants, shops, and even some tasting rooms are closed on Sundays, Mondays, and/or Tuesdays. Hours shift with the seasons, and a spot that was open on your last visit may keep a different schedule now. Check websites and call ahead. It saves real disappointment.

Call your favorite wineries for tasting reservations. During the busy season, especially on summer weekends and during the fall harvest, the most popular tasting rooms fill up fast. If you are traveling with a group of six or more, a reservation is not optional; it is essential. Many wineries require them regardless of group size during peak weekends. A quick phone call goes a long way.

Cell service is limited in parts of the region. Once you leave the main corridors and head down into the lake valleys or rural county roads, service can get spotty. Download your maps and save addresses offline before you head out for the day. It is a small thing that prevents a lot of frustration.

Pace yourself on the trail. Most wine trails have ten, fifteen, or twenty-plus stops. You are not meant to hit all of them in one day. Pick three to five, go deep, have real conversations, and actually taste what is in the glass. The visitors who try to run the full trail in a day usually remember very little of it.

Bring cash for small farm stands and producers. Some of the best finds in the region are roadside farm stands, small-batch jam makers, and the farmhouse selling eggs and honey at the end of a vineyard road do not take cards. A little cash keeps you from having to pass on something good.

This is a place that moves at its own pace. Match it. Visitors who get the most out of Finger Lakes Wine Country are the ones who let go of the schedule a little. If the person pouring your wine wants to tell you about the harvest, listen. If a side road looks interesting, take it. If a restaurant is slower than you are used to, settle in. The people who live and work here genuinely love this place, and that feeling is contagious when you are not in a rush. Kindness and patience go a long way, and they always come back to you doubled.

The One Thing to Remember

Finger Lakes Wine Country rewards slowing down. The best experiences here are when you take your time: a long tasting with a winemaker who knows every row of vines, a gorge trail that ends at a waterfall, a meal at a farmhouse restaurant with the kitchen garden visible through the window — do not happen on a rushed schedule. Build in a margin. Follow the side road. Ask the person pouring what they love about living here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Finger Lakes Wine Country? Finger Lakes Wine Country is the official regional tourism and branding organization for a five-county area of upstate New York encompassing Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Yates counties. Its website, fingerlakeswinecountry.com, serves as the primary planning resource for visitors.

Where is Finger Lakes Wine Country located? Finger Lakes Wine Country is located in south-central New York State, roughly between Rochester and Binghamton. The city of Corning, NY, serves as a western gateway. The region is approximately 4.5 to 5 hours from New York City and 1.5 hours from Rochester.

What is the best time to visit Finger Lakes Wine Country? Late spring (May-June) for waterfalls and uncrowded wineries, summer (July-August) for lake activities and peak season, and fall (September-October) for harvest season and foliage. Each season offers a distinct experience. fingerlakeswinecountry.com maintains a current events calendar for all seasons.

Do I need tasting reservations at Finger Lakes wineries? During peak season and fall harvest weekends, reservations are strongly recommended, especially for groups. Many popular tasting rooms fill up quickly on summer and fall weekends. Call ahead or check each winery’s website before visiting.

How many wineries are in Finger Lakes Wine Country? The five-county Finger Lakes Wine Country region is home to more than 100 wineries across three primary wine trails: the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, and the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.
Where do I start planning a Finger Lakes Wine Country trip? Start at fingerlakeswinecountry.com, the official regional planning hub with winery listings, itineraries, lodging guides, event calendars, and editorial travel content for the full five-county region.

You Do Not Have to Know Wine to Love It Here

A lot of wine writing talks to people who already know wine. This is not that.

This is for the person who has been curious about wine country but figured it was not really for them. For the group of friends who want to spend a weekend somewhere beautiful and interesting without being talked down to. For the Millennial who orders natural wine at their favorite restaurant and wonders where that ethos actually lives in the ground. For the Gen Z traveler who wants to understand what they are drinking without having to sit through a lecture to get there.

Finger Lakes Wine Country is for all of you. It always has been. The region just has not always been loud enough about saying so.

What Makes This Place Different

Wine Enthusiast named the Finger Lakes American Wine Region of the Year in 2025. The New York Times called it the leading cool-climate wine region in the country. VinePair listed it among the world’s top ten wine destinations.

Those are real accolades earned over decades of serious work. But the reason the Finger Lakes keeps winning conversations is not the awards. It is the culture of the place.

The producers here are, by and large, people who chose a harder road to make wine with more integrity. The region’s cool climate and short growing season do not forgive shortcuts. Grapes have to earn their way to harvest. That kind of farming builds a certain kind of producer: patient, attentive, honest about what the land is doing and what the vintage actually gave them.

That transparency is not a marketing strategy. It is a survival skill. And it creates a wine experience that feels fundamentally different from regions where the goal is to impress you before you even take a sip.

The Terroir, Without the Jargon

Here is what actually matters about how the Finger Lakes are shaped.

Glaciers carved it. The ice age left eleven long, narrow lakes running north to south through central New York, and those lakes run deep. Seneca Lake reaches 618 feet. That depth stores summer warmth and releases it slowly through the fall, which is what allows wine grapes to survive and thrive at this latitude. Without the lakes, there is no wine region. The lakes are not background scenery. They are the whole reason.

The soils are a mix of shale, slate, limestone, and glacial till. Different hillsides have different compositions, which is why two wineries on the same lake can make wines that taste genuinely different from each other. That is what people mean when they say terroir. It is not mysticism. It is geography expressing itself in the glass.

Cool temperatures slow ripening down. That is a good thing. Grapes that ripen slowly hold onto their acidity, which is what gives Finger Lakes wines their freshness, their structure, and their ability to age. The wines here do not hit you over the head. They build.

Riesling: The One Everyone Should Try First

Riesling has a reputation problem in America that it does not deserve. People assume it is sweet. A lot of it is not. The Finger Lakes make Riesling across the full spectrum, from steely and bone dry to lusciously off-dry to the rare late-harvest versions made in exceptional years.

The dry Rieslings from this region are some of the most interesting white wines made anywhere in the country. They are high in acidity, mineral-forward, and complex without being heavy. They work with food in a way that many bigger, oakier white wines simply do not. They are also the kind of wine that gets more interesting the more you pay attention to it, which makes them a genuinely good entry point for people who want to go deeper without spending a lot.

Ask the person pouring for their recommendation. Tell them where you are on the sweet-to-dry spectrum if you know, or tell them you are not sure and let them guide you. That conversation is one of the best things about visiting this region. Nobody is going to make you feel bad for not knowing.

Cabernet Franc: The Red That Changed the Conversation

For a long time, Cabernet Franc was an afterthought in American wine. A blending grape, mostly. Something used to round out the bigger, more famous reds.

The Finger Lakes changed that narrative, and the broader wine world is now paying attention.

In a cool climate, Cabernet Franc comes into its own. The variety ripens slowly, holds onto freshness, and develops a profile that is deeply its own: bright red fruit, a savory herbal edge, structured tannins that are present but never punishing. It is a food wine in the truest sense. It is also the kind of red that people who think they do not like red wine sometimes find themselves finishing the bottle of.

Several Finger Lakes producers are now making Cabernet Franc that earns serious scores from serious critics. More importantly, they are making it at price points that mean you do not have to be a collector to drink it.

The Part the Industry Does Not Talk About Enough

Wine has a well-documented problem with pretension. The jargon, the ritual, the implicit suggestion that enjoyment requires expertise. Many younger drinkers have simply opted out of that dynamic, and the industry is slowly figuring out how to respond.

The Finger Lakes did not build itself on prestige. It built itself on craft and community, on small producers doing the hard work of farming a difficult climate because they believe in what it produces. That is a genuinely different foundation, and it shows in how the region feels to visit.

You will taste wines made by the same person who grew the grapes, picked the fruit, and can tell you exactly what the season was like. You will not be handed a scripted tasting note and pointed toward the gift shop. The conversations in tasting rooms here tend to be real.

That is what the next generation of wine drinkers is actually looking for. Not cheaper. Not simpler. More honest.

Not a Wine Drinker? Come Anyway.

The Finger Lakes region has one of the most dramatically beautiful landscapes in the eastern United States. Watkins Glen State Park has nineteen waterfalls accessible on foot, minutes from the Seneca Lake wine trail. The gorge trails are genuinely stop-and-stare beautiful. The Corning Museum of Glass is one of the great art-and-science institutions in the country. There are working farms, craft distilleries, a strong local food culture, and small towns that have their own character rather than existing to serve tourists.

Craft beverages beyond wine are well worth exploring, too. Regional cideries, meaderies, and distilleries are part of the same producer culture that built the wine region: small-scale, transparent, genuinely proud of what they make.

The wine is the headline. The place is the reason people come back.

Plan Your Visit

The best starting point for a Finger Lakes Wine Country trip is our Resources pages, where we have curated itineraries, tips, and info, like these, lodging, dining, events, and editorial content from people who actually live and work here.

The Finger Lakes does not ask you to love wine already. It just asks you to show up open to it.

That tends to be enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Finger Lakes a good wine region for beginners? Yes. It is one of the most approachable wine regions in the country for people new to wine, primarily because the producer culture here is built on honest conversation rather than intimidation. Most tasting rooms welcome questions at any level of knowledge. Riesling is an excellent starting point.

Is the Finger Lakes a good wine region? Yes. The Finger Lakes is Wine Enthusiast’s 2025 American Wine Region of the Year and is consistently ranked among the top wine destinations in the United States. The region is especially known for Riesling and Cabernet Franc made by independent producers with deep roots in the land.

How does Finger Lakes wine compare to Napa or Willamette Valley? The Finger Lakes is its own thing. Stylistically, it is closer to cool-climate European wine than to Napa’s warm-climate Cabernet. It shares some sensibility with Willamette Valley but produces a distinct range of varietals, with Riesling as its signature rather than Pinot Noir. For drinkers who find Napa too heavy or too expensive, the Finger Lakes is often a revelation.

What grapes grow best in the Finger Lakes? Riesling is the flagship and the region’s highest critical achievement. Cabernet Franc has emerged as a serious and increasingly recognized red variety. Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, and a range of hybrid varieties also perform well in the cool climate.
Where can I plan a Finger Lakes wine trip? fingerlakeswinecountry.com is the official regional planning resource, with winery listings, trail maps, itineraries, lodging, events, and editorial travel content for the full five-county Finger Lakes Wine Country region.

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!

No matter the season, Finger Lakes Wine Country is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway, whether for the weekend or more. Here are some ideas to help you plan a Lover’s Escape to wine country. For more information about our wine trails and the year-round events they host to enhance this experience, click here.

In Corning, NY

Start with our list of lodging, whether you’re looking for a cozy boutique stay or want a more resort-like feel.

The Hilton Garden Inn is steps from all the happenings in Corning, NY. Book one of their spacious rooms, relax in the hotel’s heated pool, or grab a drink and food at the hotel’s in-house restaurant and bar. Take a sunset stroll across the walking bridge into Centerway Square and explore the local shops, bars, and restaurants along Market St.

Centerway Square

Reserve a table next to the window or a cozy corner booth at The Cellar for a romantic farm-to-table dinner, cocktails, or wine. Don’t miss out on dessert—it’s always a delightful treat!

View of Market St.

For a casual, year-round brunch experience, visit Ella’s Acres Homestead, a popular breakfast spot with its locally sourced menu and espresso drinks. Note: There is often a longer wait time during weekend brunch.

A stroll up and down Market St. will introduce you to many more options for a complete day and night out.

Purchase a combination museum ticket at The Rockwell Museum, and take the free shuttle to the Corning Museum of Glass, just steps from your hotel. Reserve a make-your-own-glass experience for a personalized souvenir of your visit.

Corning Museum of Glass

Pamper yourself at Safala Medical with a facial and massages. Take an easy hike through Spencer Crest Nature Center (2.3 miles) or Houghton Land Preserve (1.6 miles) for a leisurely outdoor bonding experience.

For more on what to do in Corning, NY, check out our small-town guide here.

IN ELMIRA, NY

Stay in a cozy vacation rental at Rye Bar and Restaurant. With three different room styles, you will surely find one that fits your vibe. Perks of staying here include the restaurant and bar right downstairs, offering big-city-style Sunday brunch, jazz night on Thursdays, and Happy Hour every night, Wednesday through Sunday, from 4-6 PM. The Garage, a favorite coffee shop in town, is located right next door and is open every day, Monday through Sunday, to get you started with a perfect cup of jo and freshly baked pastries and breakfast sandwiches.

Tanglewood Nature Center

For a more private and “regal” stay, book at the Castle by The Glen. Tucked in a hillside neighborhood in Elmira, NY, it offers all the comfort and aesthetics of a weekend of pampering.

Photo credit: The Castle by The Glen

Speaking of pampering, book a Couples Massage at Namaste Spa for a 60- or 90-minute relaxation experience.

Another romantic dining option is Hill Top Inn (open March through December), which, on warmer days, offers outdoor seating reservations overlooking the Elmira cityscape and Jerusalem Hill’s natural landscape.

Photo credit: Hill Top Inn

Spend an afternoon exploring the Arnot Museum and hiking the trails of the Tanglewood Nature Center.

For more on what to do in Elmira, NY, check out our small-town guide here.

In Owego, NY

The Village of Owego makes for the perfect laid-back romantic getaway, starting with a stay at the historic Belva Lockwood Inn. This beautiful bed and breakfast has several beautifully decorated rooms and a delicious continental breakfast, and it is within walking distance of all the main sights in town.

The Cellar Restaurant and Lounge (not affiliated with the above-mentioned Cellar in Corning) is an excellent spot for a romantic dinner and drinks. The dark wood and leather decor create a warm, intimate dining experience, and their globally inspired menu makes for a perfect date night.

Photo credit: The Cellar Lounge and Bar, Owego

Other favorite local spots are Owego Beer and Donuts for the sweet tooth, Riverrow Bookshop for the curious bookworm, or Spellbound for those who prefer a fairytale, fantasy, and folk tale bookstore – that also serves coffee! Carol’s Coffee and Art Bar will surround you with paintings by local artists (for sale). Try your luck at the nearby Tioga Downs Casino, and then treat yourself to a massage at their Serenity Spa.

For a romantic time outdoors, stroll along the Owego Riverwalk or take a more committed hike along the Oakley Corners State Forest trails.

For more on what to do in Owego, NY, check out our small-town guide here.

In Penn Yan, NY

This lake town has so much to offer, from the long drives along scenic plains to afternoons spent on the Keuka Lake shores. It’s no wonder it is a popular spot for vacation travelers. But it also offers many cute, intimate experiences for a little love-fest getaway.

Stay at The Laurentide Inn right in the heart of the Village of Penn Yan. This bed and breakfast has stunning, comfortable rooms and little nooks in the public sitting areas for reading or enjoying a glass of wine after a day of exploring. The food served is top-notch, and the adjacent Laurentide Beer Co. is a great place to enjoy some brews and live music during the warmer months.

Walk along Penn Yan’s Main St. to explore antique stores, cafes like Amity, and cute shops and craft stores. Make a reservation for cocktails and dinner at 18th Amendment, or stop in for wine tasting and bites at Burnt Rose Wine Bar. For dining and drinks with lake views, head over to Main Deck, and for a more casual affair with views of the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, stop into Outlet 111.

Keuka Lake Outlet Trail

Rent a bike or hike along the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail (7 miles), or take a dip into the lake and set up a romantic picnic at the Keuka Lake State Park. Want to make sure the picnic experience is unique and catered to your visit? Check out Finger Lakes Picnic Co..

For more on what to do in Penn Yan, NY, check out our small-town guide here.

In Hammondsport, NY

Designated the Coolest Small Town in America, Hammondsport is a postcard-perfect destination. With its sweet little gazebo in the park, where bands play live in the summer, and its pedestrian-friendly streets, it is the spot for lake-life lovers in the summer and quiet escape seekers in the colder months.

Stay at the Park Inn, which has snug rooms and a cozy ambiance. Make a reservation for the downstairs restaurant. Have breakfast (or ice cream!) at Crooked Lake Ice Cream, pastries at Vern’s Bakery, and coffee at the newly opened (in April of 2025!) Service Station cafe.

Plan leisurely strolls to Depot Park for quiet conversations by the lake. Set up a picnic, swim, or rent a boat to enjoy all Keuka Lake has to offer. Visit the historic, quaint public library, or go antiquing at the many shops in town.

For more on what to do in Hammondsport, NY, check out our small-town guide here.

In Watkins Glen, NY

Along the shores of Seneca Lake is the town of Watkins Glen. For many, this is where one comes for high-speed fun and water adventures, but it is also a place to rest your head before venturing along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail or to take in the views from Seneca Harbor during sunset. During the colder months, the town is especially calm, making it a wonderful romantic retreat for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Stay at the luxurious Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, and if you can book a room with a lake view, that would be even better. The hotel offers services from an in-house bar, restaurant, and a newly installed workout facility, and often hosts events for the community and visitors.

Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel

Or reserve a room at the newly opened Benjamin Hotel for a more intimate stay.

Start your romantic evening with a stroll along Franklin St., with a stop for cocktails at J.R. Dill Wine Bar, downstairs from The Benjamin.

Then, walk further down the street for a romantic dinner at Graft Wine and Cider Bar. Walk-ins are only greeted by a friendly team of servers and a beautiful selection of local ciders and wines. The primarily farm-to-table menu is delightful, often complemented by the chef and owner’s Dominican heritage and its spices and flavors.

While the lower trails in Watkins Glen State Park are closed, the upper trails remain open, providing access to the park and waterfall views. For more winter fun for two, visit the ice skating rink at Clute Park during the winter months.

For more on what to do in Watkins Glen, NY, check out our small-town guide here.

In Dundee, NY

Dundee, NY, is not far from Watkins Glen but is more centered between the Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake Wine Trails. It is the perfect spot for those who want to spend their time traveling to the wineries and their surrounding restaurants.

Stay at the historic Victorian Manor, 1897 Beekman House Bed and Breakfast, for a truly intimate and romantic stay. This B&B offers five elegant guest rooms, each with a private bath, to choose from, and your stay comes with a gourmet, three-course breakfast served daily.

1897 Beekman House

If you’d like to do more than explore the nearby wine trails and wineries, check out the Dundee and Himrod, NY Small Town Guide here.

There’s something about the way the light hits the Finger Lakes in late November—the vineyards resting quietly, the lakes reflecting soft gold, and the air carrying that mix of woodsmoke and anticipation. Thanksgiving here isn’t just a meal—it’s a gathering of place, people, and the stories we pour into our glasses.

Bringing the Finger Lakes to the Table

When you live—or love—Finger Lakes Wine Country, you know that the story of this region is best told through its wines. From crisp Rieslings to silky Pinot Noirs, each bottle carries the essence of the lakes, the soil, and the hands that made it.

And there’s no better time to showcase those wines than at Thanksgiving, when food and family meet gratitude and comfort. Whether you’re cooking a traditional roast turkey or adding your own creative spin (perhaps with our White Wine Turkey Gravy made with local wine), here are a few ways to make Finger Lakes bottles the stars of your table.

Start with a Welcome Pour

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery

Keuka Lake’s pioneer in vinifera winemaking offers sparkling wines that bring celebration to the table. Pour a glass of their Blanc de Blancs as guests arrive—bright, refined bubbles that set a joyful tone and pair beautifully with soft cheeses, savory appetizers, or simply the first toast of the day. Visit Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery »

Turkey & Trimmings

Weis Vineyards

Perched on Keuka Lake, Weis brings a touch of Old World craftsmanship to Finger Lakes terroir. Their Dry Riesling shines with roasted turkey and all the savory fixings—it’s crisp, citrusy, and cuts right through the richness of gravy and stuffing. Their Dry Rosé is also an excellent choice!  Visit Weis Vineyards »

Glenora Wine Cellars

The first winery on Seneca Lake, Glenora has been part of family gatherings for generations. Try their Chardonnay with buttery mashed potatoes or creamy casseroles. Its gentle oak and smooth finish add comfort to every bite. Visit Glenora Wine Cellars »

Wagner Vineyards

A family-run gem overlooking Seneca Lake, Wagner’s Pinot Noir is the kind of red that belongs at every Thanksgiving table. Elegant and food-friendly, it’s perfect with roasted turkey, mushroom stuffing, or roasted squash. If you’re serving multiple wines, let the Pinot follow your whites—it brings warmth without overpowering the meal. Visit Wagner Vineyards »

Sides That Shine

Heron Hill Winery

Heron Hill’s Reserve Riesling dances with dishes that have a hint of sweetness—think roasted root vegetables or glazed carrots. Its balance of citrus and minerality makes each bite feel bright and fresh. Visit Heron Hill Winery »

Lakewood Vineyards

From their family’s vineyards near Watkins Glen, Lakewood offers wines that feel approachable and celebratory. A Pinot Gris for the table keeps everyone happy—lively and versatile enough to handle a classic green bean casserole, sweet potato soufflé, and even creamy mac and cheese. Visit Lakewood Vineyards »

Reds That Warm the Table

J.R. Dill Winery

Small, soulful, and rooted on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, J.R. Dill crafts expressive reds that are made for cozy gatherings. Their Cabernet Franc brings soft spice and cherry notes that play beautifully with cranberry sauce and roasted turkey, while their Merlot adds velvety depth alongside hearty dishes like stuffing or roasted sweet potatoes. Visit J.R. Dill Winery »

Sweet Finishes

When the plates clear and the table settles into candlelight, it’s time to linger with dessert—and the Finger Lakes truly shines here.

A late-harvest Gewürztraminer makes an unexpected power pairing with apple pie—its floral spice and touch of sweetness mirror cinnamon and baked fruit in a way that feels both familiar and surprising.

And for the ultimate finale, an ice wine from almost any of these producers (Weis, Heron Hill, or Lakewood) is nothing short of decadent with pumpkin or pecan pie—sweet, rich, and kissed by the cold air that defines the region.

A Local Toast

As the laughter lingers and the fire burns low, raise your glass to the land that makes these wines, to the people who craft them, and to the community that gathers around them.

The Finger Lakes isn’t just a place on a map—it’s a feeling: rooted, warm, and full of heart. This Thanksgiving, pour a little of that story into every glass and let the region’s beauty fill your table.

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

Days of Incandescence (Explore Steuben)

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. 

As any Upstate New Yorker knows, the weather in February is always a gamble. Nancy Tisch and Kit Kalfs, co-owners of Bet The Farm Winery, decided to roll the dice and host a ticketed event celebrating a small group of wineries without walls. 

“I was surprised anyone showed up,” laughed Tisch. It was a wintry Sunday afternoon on Cayuga Lake, and the weather brought snow and the continuation of a cold snap. “It was just one of those days, and our parking lot was covered in ice.”

She came up with the idea while on vacation with her husband, Kalfs, during the slower months. It’s their annual tradition to brainstorm new ideas for the upcoming season. “I kept seeing pop-ups for all of these independent winemakers and thought, wouldn’t it be cool to host a whole bunch of them together here.”

Bet The Farm Winery. Photo provided.

She and Kalfs got to planning. They invited five up-and-coming microwineries, including Little Clover Wine Company, Echelon Wine Farm, Vagabond Wines, Barry Family Cellars, and Entelecheia Wine Cellars. 

Despite the weather, ticket holders packed the space, with over 75 guests meeting the new producers, enjoying samples, and purchasing bottles. Initially planned as part of the Ithaca Loves Teachers weekend, the event grew into a fundraiser for the victims of the devastating Ovid Fire, which hit especially close to home for Tisch. They donated the majority of the proceeds.

“The energy was great – things just sort of clicked,” remembers Erin McMurrough of Little Clover. She called the event serendipitous. “We were all meeting new people and making sales, which is so important for small producers, especially in the slower months.” McMurrough released her first selection of méthode champenoise wines in 2023.

McMurrough pouring wines at a pop-up on Seneca Lake. Photo provided.

Matt Denci of Entelecheia agrees. “Doing something on your own can feel a little lonely,” he explains. As a new producer in a popular region with many flagship wineries at the forefront, pop-up experiences are key to Denci’s success. “The level of enthusiasm was really encouraging for a lot of us. It was nice to feel like people cared.”

McMurrough looked around the room and thought this event could expand beyond one snowy Sunday in February. She reached out to the group of microproducers and suggested a summer tasting. The response was a resounding ‘yes’. 

UPLIFTING COMMUNITY

There isn’t a sole organizer of Wineries Without Walls, but their efforts have become a shared lift between the microproducers involved, each bringing something unique. Their goal is to pop up at least monthly in different spaces across all the lakes, removing location as a barrier to entry. In July, they’ll pop up at Apollo’s Praise and the Finger Lakes Welcome Center. 

Denci harvesting Riesling. Photo provided.

“I think they found out they did better when they worked together,” smiles Tisch, who says this might be her favorite takeaway from the event. She’s experienced the collegiality of the Finger Lakes wine industry firsthand, calling Damiani Wine Cellars integral to the development of Bet The Farm. “It’s part of the Finger Lakes wine culture that people work together instead of against one another.”

Tisch is eager to pay it forward to other small businesses. She and Kalfs are especially excited about the future: “We’ve come full circle and will have a tenant winery of our own, which is how we got started.”

She’s in good company. Each Winery Without Walls is driven by an entrepreneur busy making ends meet while chasing their dreams. For example, Denci is cutting his teeth as the winemaker at Treleavan Wines. McMurrough worked for years at Lakewood Vineyards before jumping into Little Clover full-time. Dillon Buckley and Theresa Kelley of Echelon honed their skills at Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard. And Ian Barry runs his namesake label, Barry Family Cellars, when he’s not crafting the wines at Six Eighty.

In the past, Barry served tastings out of a small historical house in Burdett, stocking wines from microproducers like Nine-Four and Osmote alongside his own. Barry may have been ahead of his time, but his work underscored the importance of collaboration in the industry.

“I think that there’s something to be said for the bigger and more established wineries supporting and making space for the little ones,” says Alex Bond of Vagabond Wines. 

Bond making her popular sparkling red wine. Photo provided.

Bond worked at Hector Wine Company and Forge Cellars for 10 years before starting her brand in 2022. She currently makes her wines at Damiani. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without them.” 

AN OPEN INVITATION

McMurrough says fostering community amongst each other is essential. “It speaks volumes to take the time to learn what your peers are making and what drives them,” she says. “If we can collaborate in a way that allows us to learn each other’s stories and support each other’s strengths, Wineries Without Walls could become so much more than just tastings.” 

John Monnier agrees. At Denci’s encouragement, Monnier became a recent addition to the group after launching John Albert Wines earlier this year. He is the Assistant Winemaker at Ravines Wine Cellars and uses his personal brand for creative exploration. “For little guys like us, it’s slightly harder to find where we fit in,” he explains. “This group is an invaluable opportunity as a microwinemaker.”

Since February, the group has expanded from five to nine microproducers, including what McMurrough calls a “cidery without ceilings” in the queer-owned Sylvan Farm & Cidery. 

Co-owners and husbands, Josh Jenkins and Charlie Treichler, aren’t strangers to popping up around the lakes. When not making cider, they’re slinging 100% NY organic beef smash burgers through their other company, Yummy Burger. This group of microproducers contains multitudes. 

McMurrough hopes Wineries Without Walls continues to expand. “I’m sure there’s even more that we don’t know about, and we would love to welcome them into the fold,” she says. “The more the merrier! There’s no walls here – come on in.”

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.

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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.

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