Top 10 Finger Lakes Wineries You Must Visit This Summer
The short list - after 100+ wineries and 2,000+ Finger Lakes wines vetted.
Over the past five years, I’ve personally vetted more than 100 Finger Lakes wineries and tasted upwards of 2,000 wines from this region alone. Not casually — professionally. As a wine pro with global experience across Europe, Australia, and the West Coast, I approach the Finger Lakes with the same lens I bring to Burgundy, the Rhône, or Adelaide Hills: site expression, structural integrity, consistency, and hospitality.
This list isn’t a roundup. It’s a filtration.
Out of more than a hundred wineries operating across the lakes, these ten consistently deliver high-quality wines, focused stylistic identity, and tasting experiences that feel dialed in rather than diluted. If you want the sharpest expression of what the Finger Lakes does best right now, start here.
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars
Lamoreaux Landing sits high above Seneca Lake with the kind of confidence that comes from doing things right for decades. Family-owned and estate-driven, they farm extensive vineyard acreage with discipline and consistency. The tasting room is polished but relaxed — a place that understands both hospitality and standards.
What makes the wine special: This is one of the most balanced portfolios in the region. Chardonnay shows restraint and structure, Cabernet Franc carries savory lift, and their traditional-method sparkling wines — aged extensively on the lees — deliver fine mousse and depth without the Champagne markup. Vintage after vintage, the through-line is precision.
Why you must visit: It’s one of the few wineries that nails view, value, and vinous integrity all at once. Their sparkling program alone is worth the trip.
Apollo's Praise
Apollo’s Praise operates with a small-production, vineyard-first mindset. The focus here is not volume — it’s identity. Tastings are thoughtful, often guided by people who know the vineyards intimately.
What makes the wine special: Textural whites with aromatic nuance and reds that show lift instead of heaviness. There’s confidence in allowing structure and acidity to frame the wines rather than polishing them into neutrality. The wines evolve in the glass, which is always a good sign.
Why you must visit: Because this is where you go when you want to taste intention. It’s boutique in scale, serious in execution.
Ravines Wine Cellars
Ravines brings unmistakable Old World sensibility to the Finger Lakes. The approach favors dryness, structure, and cellar-worthiness over crowd-pleasing sweetness. Hospitality here feels grounded and informed.
What makes the wine special: Cabernet Franc shows savory spice and fine tannin, Chardonnay leans taut and mineral, and their traditional-method sparkling wines are brisk, refined, and quietly elite — without elite pricing. These are wines that belong on the dinner table, not just in a tasting flight.
Why you must visit: Ravines consistently delivers some of the most food-intelligent wines in the region. And their sparkling lineup is one of the best value plays in New York.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
You can’t talk about serious Finger Lakes wine without talking about Dr. Frank. The winery’s historic role in proving vinifera could thrive here changed everything. Today, the estate feels both legacy-driven and modern.
What makes the wine special: Beyond flagship Riesling, the diversity stands out — Grüner Veltliner, Rkatsiteli, elegant reds, and some of the most consistently impressive traditional-method sparkling wines in the region. The sparkling wines, in particular, overdeliver on texture, acidity, and finesse.
Why you must visit: It’s foundational — but it’s not nostalgic. The wines remain competitive on a global stage, especially the sparkling program overlooking Keuka Lake.
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
Hermann J. Wiemer remains a benchmark producer. Decades of disciplined vineyard management and restrained cellar work have earned it a reputation that extends well beyond New York. There’s nothing flashy here — just clarity and intent.
What makes the wine special: Site transparency. Single-vineyard bottlings clearly articulate soil and slope differences, and the wines show tension and ageability. Even their sparkling wines reflect structural precision rather than overt richness.
Why you must visit: This is where you recalibrate your palate. Wiemer sets the quality ceiling for the region.
Forge Cellars
Forge Cellars operates with a transatlantic philosophy, thanks to its partnership with Château de Saint Cosme in France. The emphasis is terroir first, winemaking second. The tasting formats reflect that seriousness.
What makes the wine special: Vineyard-designate bottlings highlight microclimate variation across Seneca Lake. Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir show finesse and savory structure, while the whites emphasize salinity and linear acidity. There’s intellectual rigor behind every cuvée.
Why you must visit: Forge is one of the most globally contextual wineries in the Finger Lakes. It bridges continents without losing regional identity.
Hillick & Hobbs Estate
Hillick & Hobbs reflects the Finger Lakes vision of Paul Hobbs — steep slopes, tight spacing, and vineyard precision. The setting above Seneca Lake reinforces the focus on site.
What makes the wine special: Structure and longevity define the wines here. The craftsmanship is deliberate, with careful extraction and polish. The opportunity to taste select Paul Hobbs wines alongside the estate bottlings adds rare global perspective.
Why you must visit: It’s one of the most refined single-estate experiences in the region. Serious vineyard work translates directly into serious wine.
Living Roots Wine & Co.
Living Roots brings a dual-hemisphere perspective, crafting wines in both the Finger Lakes and Australia’s Adelaide Hills. The approach feels modern but grounded in technical competence. The tasting experience is dynamic and energetic.
What makes the wine special: Cross-continental contrast defines the lineup. Cool-climate Australian Chardonnay and Syrah sit alongside vibrant New York bottlings, plus experimental releases like pét-nats and skin-contact wines. It’s global thinking with local execution.
Why you must visit: Few wineries let you compare hemispheres in one sitting. It’s intellectually engaging — and genuinely fun.
Trestle Thirty One
Trestle Thirty One brings Master of Wine credibility to downtown Geneva. Founded by Nova Cadamatre, the winery merges serious winemaking with a chic, urban tasting environment. It feels contemporary without being performative.
What makes the wine special: Chardonnay is the quiet star — cool-climate, structured, and balanced with restraint. The wines reflect analytical precision and thoughtful blending decisions. Nothing feels accidental.
Why you must visit: It’s proof that top-tier wine doesn’t require a rural barn setting. The downtown Geneva location makes it an ideal evening anchor.
Kemmeter Wines
Kemmeter remains one of the more intimate, small-production stops on Seneca Lake. The hospitality is personal, the pacing unhurried. It’s a reminder that boutique scale can still mean serious quality.
What makes the wine special: Balanced, food-friendly wines that prioritize harmony over flash. Whites stay crisp and lifted; reds show elegance rather than weight. The precision makes them especially versatile at the table.
Why you must visit: Pair a tasting with Sans Dumplings and you’ve unlocked one of the most authentically local pairings in the region. It’s relaxed, delicious, and completely unpretentious.
The Final Word
After evaluating more than 100 Finger Lakes wineries and over 2,000 wines from this region alone, these ten stand apart. Not because they’re trendy — but because they’re consistent, stylistically focused, and hospitable without sacrificing standards.
And here’s the part that matters: these are the wineries where it feels entirely guiltless to spend real money. To buy by the case. To join the wine club. To commit.
If you’re going to keep wine club memberships anywhere, these are the wineries that deserve your dollars the most. They reward loyalty with consistency, quality, and wines you’ll actually want to drink year after year — not bottles that quietly collect dust. In a region full of good producers, these are the ones worth investing in — season after season, vintage after vintage.
About The Author
When it comes to discovering the best of Finger Lakes wine, spirits, beer, and dining, Kevin San Jose is your go-to expert. As the Wine & Spirits Editor for the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance (Explore Finger Lakes | fingerlakes.org), he is a trusted voice on where to sip, dine, and experience the region like a local.
The Director of Wine & Spirits for VINIFERA New York—a premier authority on Finger Lakes wine with multiple locations across New York State, Kevin has spent years tasting through hundreds of local wines, working alongside producers, and curating exceptional wine lists that showcase the best of the region. His expertise extends beyond wine—he’s also an authority on craft spirits, breweries, cocktail bars, and hospitality trends, ensuring visitors get the full Finger Lakes experience.
A highly credentialed wine and spirits professional, Kevin holds the WSET Diploma, is an Advanced Sommelier Candidate with the Court of Master Sommeliers, and has earned numerous distinctions in global wine education. But beyond the certifications, his true passion lies in telling the stories behind the wines, the people who craft them, and the places that bring them to life.
As a Contributing Writer for Wine Enthusiast Magazine and a Wine Enthusiast Future40 Innovator & Tastemaker (2023), Kevin’s insights are nationally recognized. And while he continues to work toward his ultimate goal of becoming a dual Master Sommelier and Master of Wine — two of the most prestigious titles in the industry — he remains deeply committed to celebrating and elevating the Finger Lakes beverage scene.
For the ultimate guide to Finger Lakes wine, spirits, and hospitality, Kevin San Jose is the authority to trust — leading you to unforgettable experiences, one sip at a time.
