The Seneca Lake Wine Trail is a picturesque and renowned wine region located on the east side of Seneca Lake in New York. It is home to various exceptional wineries and vineyards that offer diverse and exquisite wine-tasting experiences. The trail is mainly celebrated for producing outstanding Riesling alongside other varietals such as Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gewurtztraminer, and more. These unique wine varieties are sure to intrigue and excite any wine enthusiast. Find some of the highlights from our editor’s trips, and we will keep adding more insights as we continue to explore this beautiful New York wine region.
We visited Seneca Lake for the first time in January 2018, and I still hold duplicates of bottles I brought from there. Home of the most fantastic Riesling made in America, you have to try the New York varietal expression that holds on to the cool climate and brings up their best acidity in the grape, far from those sweet Riesling you thought. Of course, Riesling is growing in this area, but Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Gewurtztraminer are also thriving there. Read below a summary of three wineries you have to visit.
What a beautiful winery! It has a vast and fantastic tasting room that can host more than 20 tables, making it perfect for celebrating a significant wedding here. The terrace has a great view of the vineyards. Small cheese plates and fresh oven-baked pizza pair perfectly with the bold reds. So grab a bite, take the tasting outside, and enjoy the view.
Hermann J. Weiner produces award-winning top American Rieslings you could ever have. The tasting room is cozy and modern; the service is stunning. You will have a one-on-one experience. They will pour you excellent Rieslings from different vintages and vineyards within the same producer. They will explain their terroir, and you will also love their reds. Their vineyards are inaccessible like other wineries, but you can still walk through them.
The second time around, I visited in 2019 and visited Atwater Vineyards and Fox Run Vineyards, and we loved the pizza there. However, the highlight of this trip was Lakewood Vineyards.
A family-owned winery in Finger Lakes AVA produces an outstanding Lemberger and Cabernet Franc on top of their Rieslings. I loved their Cabernet Franc. Three generations have perfected their Riesling, but they are also doing a remarkable job with the Lemberger. They have a cozy tasting room on the patio at the vineyard level. My tip and insider trick will be to taste wine at the deck, sip, and enjoy the view. The stunning views of Seneca Lake will inspire and awe any visitor.
On the third time, I found fresh air on Seneca Lake Wine Trail, trying more whites and Rosé; our focus was sparkling wines. From Pet Nats to Sparkling wines non-vintage to vintage, we tried some profound and refreshing bubbles that helped us enjoy the heat felt during the summer months. This time, we included our kids in our itinerary, and I have to say it was an enjoyable yet more slow-down experience, which helped us enjoy the moment and slow down our winery hopping.
Three Brothers Winery is famous in the Seneca Lake region of New York. It is known for its beautiful vineyard, high-quality wines, and various tasting experiences. The winery offers a diverse range of wines and wineries, including reds, whites, and sparkling wines, and it’s an excellent place for wine enthusiasts to explore and enjoy. The diverse range of wines, from reds to whites to sparkling, will excite and entice any wine lover. As its name describes, there are three brothers offering three different styles of wine. We visited the winery that produces wines from an organic vineyard, and we brought a kids’ tasting of sodas to our children, which they loved. Additionally, the winery offers some food, and due to its multiple wineries on site, it is a popular destination for locals and tourists.
Wagner Vineyards is a well-known winery in the New York Seneca Lake region. It is celebrated for its picturesque location, delicious wines, and warm hospitality. The winery offers an assortment of wines, including a wide range of Riesling styles, Sparkling Wines, and Rosé, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc, and provides wine enthusiasts with various tasting experiences. Wagner Vineyards also features a brewery on site, adding to the diversity of the offerings. With stunning views of the lake and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a popular destination for wine lovers and visitors. They have a local cafe within their location where lunch is served, along with a kids-friendly tasting of soda, lemonade, and apple cider, which the kids loved!
This was our second time at Atwater Vineyards because we love their winemaking and breathtaking views of Seneca Lake, making it a delightful place to unwind and savor the local wine culture. The winery is well known for its unique forward wines, picturesque vineyard setting, and commitment to sustainability. It offers an impressive selection of wines, including Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Petillant Naturel, with different unique varieties. This time around, we tried Pet Nat, which was made of 60% diamond and 40% Zweigelt. Their garden is a work of floral art that provides visitors with memorable tasting experiences. In addition to its superb wines and views, the featured products are all local, which makes you appreciate the local culinary culture.
The Seneca Lake Wine Trail provides a delightful and diverse wine-tasting experience. It is a popular destination for wine enthusiasts and visitors looking to savor the local wine culture in a beautiful setting.
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