Pour a Finger Lakes Riesling next to almost any other white wine, and it gives itself away immediately. Its intense natural acidity and striking aromatic profile are markedly sharper, brighter, and more alive on the tongue. That’s not an accident. It’s the depth of the glacial lakes, the drainage system of the shale hillsides, and intentional harvesting of a grape that’s been chasing this exact combination of environmental factors since it was introduced to the Finger Lakes Wine Country almost a century ago.
Riesling is the crown jewel of the Finger Lakes, and the reason why this region shows up on best-of-America lists and why nearly half of the wine grapes planted here are some delicious version of it. Here are five places, easily accessible on our scenic Seneca and Keuka Lake Wine Trails, where you can taste and learn exactly why.
1: Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery (Seneca County; Seneca Lake Wine Trail)
Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery is the kind of place where an hour turns into an afternoon; there’s enough here to fill a full day if you let it. As a family-owned-and-operated business, visitors can look to the knowledgeable fourth- and fifth-generation Wagners to guide them through the experience. The single-vineyard Caywood East Riesling, sourced from one estate site rather than blended, has picked up Double Gold and Best Riesling honors at regional competitions, and it’s worth asking your pourer what makes a single-vineyard bottling different from the rest of the lineup.
Visitors can tailor their experience by choosing from three wine tasting options: a self-guided tasting of wine or beer flights with gorgeous views from The Vantage Point deck, a guided tasting that helps visitors find their palates, and a special Library Wine Tasting where visitors dive deep into the technicalities and tastes of limited-edition vintage wines. With this large offering of wine tastings, visitors can truly choose their own adventure while asking any and all questions. The best part? Their Ginny Lee Cafe is an excellent lunch spot to visit before or after a wine tasting, with original recipes made with specific wine or beer pairings in mind and tailored to visitors’ tastes.
Visit Wagner Vineyards:
9322 State Route 414
Lodi, NY 14860
2: Heron Hill Winery (Steuben County; Keuka Lake Wine Trail)
Heron Hill Winery on the Keuka Wine Trail serves as proof that you really can have it all. Their commitment to sustainable farming, certified by the New York Sustainable Winegrowing Program, is evident in every facet of Heron Hill, including their hands-on approach to vine maintenance and grape harvesting. It is through these efforts that they are able to produce seven different cool-climate Rieslings, which is more Riesling styles than Finger Lakes vineyards typically produce.
In addition to this extensive selection of Rieslings to choose from, Heron Hill Winery is commonly praised for its unbeatable views. Designated by Travel + Leisure as one of the 10 most spectacular tasting rooms in the world, comparable to elite international wine destinations, the architecture reflects the historical, charming qualities of the Finger Lakes region. Overlooking the vineyard and Keuka Lake, the only Y-shaped lake in the world, Heron Hill offers instructional guided tastings that are curated to allow visitors to sample their wide variety of wines.
Visit Heron Hill Winery:
9301 County Route 76
Hammondsport, NY 14840
3: Red Newt Cellars (Schuyler County; Seneca Lake Wine Trail)
In the Finger Lakes Wine Country, we hold approachability and eagerness to share wine wisdom dear. Both are found at Red Newt Cellars. Their passion for growing the very best grapes and ingredients has resulted in the production of about 20,000 cases of highly-rated, aromatic white wine. Red Newt’s “Circle” Riesling is the approachable, well-priced entry point, but “The Knoll”, their single-vineyard bottling from highly elevated sandstone soil, was officially named one of Decanter’s global “Wines of the Year 2021”. It’s a rare case of an everyday Riesling and a critically decorated one coming from the same small producer, so ask to taste them side by side if you can.
Red Newt offers scenic views of Seneca Lake and an easy, traditional wine-tasting experience at their Tasting Bar, as well as a shared-table-style bistro inspired by their wines, available for lunch and dinner. Visitors can also attend their monthly Wine Dinners, providing a new way to experience the masterful blending of wine and cuisine. At every step of the way, Red Newt can answer any questions about their grape-growing process, the Finger Lakes region they call home, their rich history, and everything in between.
Visit Red Newt Cellars:
3675 Tichenor Rd
Hector, NY 14841
4: Domaine LeSeurre Winery (Steuben County; Keuka Lake Wine Trail)
© 2026 Domaine LeSeurre Winery
Céline and Sébastien LeSeurre hail from two corners of France, met while working at a vineyard in New Zealand, and brought that international winemaking experience to the shores of Keuka Lake, where Domaine LeSeurre Winery now introduces the region’s terroir to authentic French winemaking tradition. Six generations of practice stem from a focus on bottle taste and quality over production quantity, resulting in highly acclaimed wines, with Riesling as their signature.
Domaine LeSeurre transports visitors to France upon entrance, but no French is required to understand what’s in the glass. They offer three culturally immersive seated tastings: a Taste of France Wine and Macaron pairing, a Signature Wine & Food Pairing, and a guided Educational Wine Tasting. These experiences and straight views of Keuka Lake are enjoyed throughout their tasting room, barrel room, and terrace. Adding Domaine LeSeurre to your list of Keuka Lake Wine Trail stops adds a great pièce de résistance, rounding out your Finger Lakes Wine Country visit with something distinctly French.
Visit Domaine LeSeurre Winery:
13920 State Route 54
Hammondsport, NY 14840
5: Keuka Spring Vineyards (Yates County; Keuka Lake Wine Trail)
© 2026 Keuka Spring Vineyards
Keuka Spring’s Rieslings were awarded Best Late Harvest Wine and multiple Gold Medals at the 2026 Los Angeles International Wine Competition, competing among hundreds of entries from across the world. The winery’s founders planted their original vines here in 1981, betting that Keuka’s lakeside soil specifically could produce world-class wine. Some of those same vines are still bearing fruit today, and are available for you to try.
Keuka Spring Vineyards is centered around the idea that “Life Happens at the Table”, and this is most certainly true during their staff-guided tastings at tables with panoramic lake views at their recently renovated Penn Yan location. Additionally, Keuka Spring’s Vista Table food-pairing tasting experience provides visitors with structured, from-scratch food-and-wine pairing menus that are constantly updated, meaning you can try something new with every visit on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.
Visit Keuka Spring Vineyards:
243 Route 54, East Lake Road
Penn Yan, NY 14527
Plan Your Finger Lakes Visit
When it comes to a wine grape as multi-faceted as Riesling, there is boundless information to discover. Where better to pick up some wine jargon than the Finger Lakes Wine Country? After all, you never know when it’ll come in handy! One visit to any of these vineyards is guaranteed to leave you wanting to know more.
Wine tastings are a key activity at the Finger Lakes, whether you’re journeying through a wine trail or specific stops. If these picks unfortunately don’t fit into your itinerary, there are plenty of other vineyards and wineries not mentioned that offer great tastings, views, and vines as well. Check out our website for tips on planning your tastings, helpful maps, and all things Finger Lakes. As always, please make sure to check each individual establishment’s website for more details, including openings and closings, current or seasonal offerings, and how to book a tasting.
FAQs
Why is Riesling the Finger Lakes’ signature grape?
Riesling is a cool-climate grape originally from Germany’s Rhine region, brought to the Finger Lakes in the mid-1900s. The region’s glacier-carved lakes moderate temperature swings — slowly releasing stored summer heat through the winter — allowing Riesling vines to survive cold that would otherwise damage them. This combination imparts a distinctive freshness to the wine, which is why most of the Riesling grown in New York State comes from the Finger Lakes.
What does Riesling taste like, and how do I know if I’ll like it?
Riesling ranges from dry to very sweet, but it’s defined less by sweetness than by acidity. It is the sharp acid-to-sugar balance that keeps even the sweeter styles tasting bright rather than heavy. Most bottles carry an International Riesling Foundation (IRF) taste scale on the back label, a sliding gauge from dry to sweet, so you don’t have to guess before you order.
Do I need wine knowledge to enjoy a Riesling tasting here?
No, these five vineyards are set up for both first-time tasters and people who already know their way around a wine list. Guided tastings typically walk you through the IRF scale and the basics of the region as you go. Additionally, the staff at these picks pride themselves on their full, direct commitment to their vineyards, meaning they are ready to explain any term, concept, recipe, or technique.